What Interbus does

Interbus (legal name: Interbusses Uno de Costa Rica S.A.) is a privately held Costa Rican tourist transportation company founded in 1996 by Marco Occhi and Nury Mora, acquired by the Quirós family in 2018, and currently led by José Seas and Andrés Lang. The company operates a fleet of Toyota minivans adapted to carry 9 passengers (reduced from the original 15-passenger capacity) with air conditioning, non-smoking policies, and complimentary Wi-Fi, serving as a shared and private transportation network connecting international tourists to major Costa Rica destinations including San José, Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio, the Caribbean coast, La Fortuna, and Monteverde.

The company runs over 180 routes with 9 operational bases across the country, transporting more than 10,000 passengers per month. Its core products are Shared Shuttle Service (per-person scheduled routes) and Private Shuttle Service (full 9-passenger van rental), supplemented by Multi-Destination Itineraries, Economy Shuttle, Web Specials, Advance Booking discounts, Multi-Ride Discounts, and Custom Request Service. Pricing is transactional with unit pricing per person or per van, with dynamic pricing tiers for early booking and multi-route packages.

Distribution is direct-to-consumer through an online booking platform (book.interbusonline.com) supplemented by WhatsApp, phone, and email reservations, plus a strong channel network of travel agencies, tour operators, and hotels that refer clients. The company holds CST, Blue Flag, and Marca País sustainability certifications, is a member of ICT and CANATUR, and operates a carbon offset program through FONAFIFO. TripAdvisor has recognized Interbus as a Travelers' Choice winner in 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Name

Interbus

Legal name

Interbusses Uno de Costa Rica S.A.

Website

https://interbusonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Interbus is a Costa Rican tourist transportation company operating 180+ shared and private shuttle routes across the country with a modern Toyota van fleet, serving international tourists, travel agencies, and hotels with hotel-to-hotel transport. Founded in 1996 and family-owned since 2018.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourist Ground Transportation

NAICS

Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (4852)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Airport Inter-Terminal & Landside Circulator Shuttles (THAIAFAI)

Keywords

• Shared shuttle transportation
• Private shuttle service
• Tourist ground transportation
• Airport transfer service
• Multi-destination itineraries

Headquarters

HQ city

San José

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Shared Shuttle Transportation: Per-person pricing for shared shuttle services connecting major Costa Rica destinations. Passengers share the vehicle with other travelers heading to the same destination at scheduled times.
2. Private Shuttle Service: Full van rental (up to 9 passengers) at a fixed rate per van, providing exclusive transportation with customizable schedule and route for groups or families.
3. Economy Shuttle Service: Budget-friendly option with predetermined pick-up and drop-off locations at reduced rates compared to regular shared shuttle service.
4. Extra Luggage Charges: Additional fee of $15.00 USD per extra luggage piece beyond the standard one carry-on and one checked bag allowance.
5. Child Discounts: Children under 12 years pay 50% of adult rate. Children between 6 months and 3 years must use baby car seat or booster (provided free of charge).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Interbus is a Costa Rican tourist transportation company that operates a fleet of Toyota minivans adapted to carry 9 passengers, providing shared shuttle and private shuttle services across more than 180 routes throughout Costa Rica. The company offers hotel-to-hotel transportation connecting airports, beaches, mountains, volcanoes, forests, and local communities, with services bookable online, by phone, via WhatsApp, or through email. Interbus also delivers pre-planned multi-destination itineraries and economy shuttle options for budget-conscious travelers.

Product overview

Interbus is a Costa Rican tourist transportation company offering a unified platform of shuttle services with two primary products: Shared Shuttle Service (scheduled, per-person pricing for budget-conscious travelers) and Private Shuttle Service (exclusive van rental for groups up to 9 passengers). These core offerings are supplemented by value-added sub-products including Multi-Destination Itineraries (pre-packaged multi-stop circuits), Web Specials (last-minute deals), Advance Booking (early-bird discounts), Multi-Ride Discount (volume savings), and Economy Shuttle (budget option). The company operates a modern fleet of Toyota vans adapted to carry 9 passengers with air conditioning and non-smoking policies, serving over 180 routes across Costa Rica including popular destinations like La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Caribbean Coast, and Guanacaste beaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shared Shuttle Service Scheduled shared shuttle transportation connecting major Costa Rican destinations with per-person pricing in comfortable air-conditioned vans with reduced passenger capacity for added comfort. Targeted at individual international tourists and small groups.
• Private Shuttle Service Exclusive private van service for up to 9 passengers with dedicated driver, allowing customers to set their own schedule, pickup/drop-off locations, and travel time. Aimed at families, groups, and travelers needing flexible timing.
• Multi-Destination Itineraries Pre-packaged multi-stop shuttle circuits connecting iconic Costa Rica destinations such as San José, La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Caribbean Coast, Tamarindo, and Playas del Coco, designed for travelers planning multi-destination adventures.
• Economy Shuttle Lower-priced shuttle service with predetermined pickup and drop-off locations and fixed schedules, aimed at budget-conscious travelers needing point-to-point transportation.
• Custom Request Service Bespoke transportation planning service for routes, itineraries, or locations not covered by standard shuttle offerings, allowing customers to request custom travel arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 passengers transported monthly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tourism Costa Rican Institute (ICT)coreOthersICT is the rector and leader of tourism institution in Costa Rica. It works to strengthen strategic engagement, development, promotion, national coordination and strengthen sustainable tourism as the main economic activity of the country. Interbus actively participates in ICT programs and initiatives.
• Tourism National Chamber (CANATUR)coreOthersCANATUR is a non-profit organization integrating the private tourism sector and supporting sustainable development of the sector. Interbus is an active member representing national tourism industry interests.
• FONAFIFO (Forestry Financing Fund of Costa Rica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFONAFIFO captures financial resources for Payment for Environmental Services (PES) with direct impact on protection and improvement of the environment. Interbus offsets its entire annual carbon emissions through FONAFIFO's natural regeneration projects.
• Paniamor FoundationminorOthersPaniamor Foundation fights for the rights of minors in Costa Rica. Interbus participates in the Code of Conduct for Protection Against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, supporting child protection in tourism.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Viator: TripAdvisor-owned global marketplace for tours, activities, and ground transportation including airport transfers. Comparable as a competing distribution channel that aggregates and resells shuttle services, potentially disintermediating operators like Interbus.
• Uber: Global ridesharing platform operating in Costa Rica. Competes for tourist ground transport demand, particularly for shorter routes and on-demand airport transfers, though does not offer fixed-route scheduled service.
• Klook: Asia-based travel activities and services platform with expanding global coverage including ground transportation. Comparable as a digital distribution platform competing for tourist mobility spend.
• Greyhound: Iconic North American inter-city bus operator with extensive route network. Comparable as a long-distance passenger ground transport operator serving travelers between cities, though at much larger scale than Interbus.
• GetYourGuide: Global online marketplace for tours, attractions, and ground transportation bookings. Comparable as an indirect competitor that aggregates shuttle and transfer services from multiple operators globally.
• Megabus: North American inter-city bus operator with scheduled routes between cities. Comparable in offering scheduled, low-cost passenger transport between destinations using capacity-optimized vehicles.
• FlixBus: European inter-city bus operator with technology-driven booking platform. Comparable in business model (scheduled ground passenger transport between destinations), though operates at much larger scale in different geography.
• Lyft: North American rideshare platform. Comparable as a competitor for tourist mobility spend, though focused on on-demand urban rides rather than scheduled inter-city transport like Interbus.

Emerging players

• Wanderu: North American ground transportation comparison and booking platform aggregating bus and train options. Comparable as a digital distribution channel that could eventually aggregate shuttle services in Latin America.

Direct peers

• Gray Line Costa Rica: Established Costa Rica tourism transportation operator offering shared shuttles, private transfers, and city tours to international visitors. Directly comparable to Interbus in operating model, target customer base, and geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/interbus
• Instagraminstagram.com/interbuscostarica/?hl=es
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/interbuscr

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Interbus