Bus from Rivas to San Juan del Sur
Local microbuses + taxis · ~30 minutes · US$2-5 · Frequent + from Ometepe / Costa Rica arrivals
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The Rivas → San Juan del Sur route is the standard transit for travelers arriving from Ometepe / Costa Rica heading to the Pacific surf town.
Spring Bus connects you to operators on this route — frequent microbuses + taxis ($2-5 USD microbus, $5-15 USD taxi).
Route details: Rivas to San Juan del Sur
Travel time
30 min
Distance
30 km
Typical fare
$2 – $8 USD per person
Frequency
Frequent microbuses + taxis
First departure
Approx. 5:30 AM
Last departure
Approx. 7:00 PM
Operators on this route
Local microbuses · Taxis
Pickup at Rivas
Rivas central bus terminal
Drop-off at San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur central beachfront / hotels
About the journey
The Rivas → San Juan del Sur route is the standard transit for travelers arriving from Ometepe (via San Jorge ferry to Rivas) or Costa Rica (Peñas Blancas border) heading to the Pacific surf town.
Travel tips for Rivas → San Juan del Sur
- Microbus for budget — $2-5 USD.
- Private taxi for groups or luggage — $5-15 USD.
- From Costa Rica via Peñas Blancas: local bus to Rivas (~30 min) + microbus to SJDS (~30 min). Total ~1 hour from border.
- From Ometepe via San Jorge: ferry to San Jorge (~1 h) + taxi to Rivas (~15 min) + microbus to SJDS (~30 min).
- Sunday Funday pool crawl is SJDS's signature party day.
- Playa Maderas for best surf — 25 min north of SJDS.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the bus from Rivas to San Juan del Sur?
**About 30 minutes** — same as inverse direction.
How much is the bus from Rivas to San Juan del Sur?
**C$30-60 / US$2-5 per person** on microbus. **US$5-15** for private taxi.
I just crossed from Costa Rica — how do I get to SJDS?
**Local bus from Peñas Blancas border to Rivas** (~30 min, $3-8 USD), then **microbus from Rivas to SJDS** (~30 min, $2-5 USD). Total ~1 hour border to SJDS.
Coming from Ometepe — how do I get to SJDS?
**Ferry from Moyogalpa Ometepe to San Jorge** (~1 h, $1.50-3 USD) + **taxi to Rivas** (~15 min, $2-5 USD) + **microbus to SJDS** (~30 min, $2-5 USD). Total ~2 hours Ometepe to SJDS.
What time do microbuses run from Rivas to SJDS?
**Frequent** — typically every 30-60 minutes during daytime.
Going the other direction?