Bus from San Juan del Sur to Rivas
Local microbuses + taxis · ~30 minutes · US$2-5 · Frequent + onward Ometepe ferry + Costa Rica border
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The San Juan del Sur → Rivas route is a short hop in the Pacific southwest — used by travelers heading to Ometepe (via San Jorge ferry) or Costa Rica (via Peñas Blancas border).
Spring Bus connects you to operators on this route — frequent microbuses + taxis ($2-5 USD microbus, $5-15 USD private taxi).
Route details: San Juan del Sur to Rivas
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 San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur central beachfront / hotels
Drop-off at Rivas
Rivas central bus terminal — onward microbus to San Jorge ferry port (Ometepe ~5 km) or local bus to Peñas Blancas Costa Rica border (~30 min)
About the journey
The San Juan del Sur → Rivas route is a very short hop in the Pacific southwest — ~30 minutes. Used by travelers heading from SJDS to Ometepe (via San Jorge ferry from Rivas) or to the Costa Rica border (Peñas Blancas).
Travel tips for San Juan del Sur → Rivas
- Microbus is the budget option — $2-5 USD, every 30-60 min.
- Private taxi for groups or with luggage — $5-15 USD.
- Onward to Ometepe: short taxi to San Jorge ferry port (~5 km, $2-5 USD) + ferry to Moyogalpa (~1 h, $1.50-3 USD).
- Onward to Costa Rica via Peñas Blancas: local bus from Rivas (~30 min, $3-8 USD) + walk-across border + Costa Rica buses to Liberia + San José.
- Currency: USD widely accepted.
- Most international travelers use Rivas only for transit — minimal overnight needed.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the bus from San Juan del Sur to Rivas?
**About 30 minutes** on local microbus or taxi.
How much is the bus from San Juan del Sur to Rivas?
**C$30-60 / US$2-5 per person** on microbus. **US$5-15** for private taxi.
Why go from SJDS to Rivas?
**Rivas is the Pacific southwest transit hub** — for travelers heading to **Ometepe** (via San Jorge ferry, 5 km east of Rivas) or **Costa Rica** (via Peñas Blancas border, 30 min south of Rivas).
What time do microbuses run from SJDS to Rivas?
**Frequent** — typically every 30-60 minutes during daytime.
Can I go from SJDS to Ometepe directly?
**No — must transit Rivas + San Jorge.** SJDS → Rivas (~30 min) + Rivas to San Jorge ferry port (~15 min) + ferry to Moyogalpa Ometepe (~1 h). Total ~2 hours SJDS to Ometepe.
Going the other direction?