There are 10 ways to get from Costa Rica to California by plane, bus, train, car, or shuttle
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Juan Santamaría International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
best- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane SJO - LAX
9h 27m$316–503Fly Limón International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
cheapest- Fly from Limón International Airport (LIO) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane LIO - LAX
12h 9m$168–626Bus, train
- Take the bus from San José to San Salvadorbus
- Take the bus from San Salvador to Tapachulabus
- Take the bus from Tapachula to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Nortebus
- Take the bus from Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte to San Antoniobus
- Take the train from San Antonio Station to Los Angelestrain
4d 11h$1,093–1,693Drive 3,329.4 mi
- Drive from San José to Los Angelescar 3,329.4 mi
2d 17h$859–1,240Fly Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane SJO - SFO
10h 10m$174–652Fly Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane SJO - SAN
11h 47m$199–785Fly Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tijuana International Airport
- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ)plane SJO - TIJ
13h 30m$290–882Shuttle, shuttle to Liberia International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from Puntarenas to Monteverde
- Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Liberia Airport
- Fly from Liberia International Airport (LIR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane LIR - LAX
11h 51m$521–1,492Fly Juan Santamaría International Airport to General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport, bus
- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport (MXL)plane SJO - MXL
- Take the bus from Mexicali to Tijuanabus
15h 57m$276–985Bus
- Take the bus from Terminal NicaBus to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Managua to Los Angelesbus
4d 15h$368–439
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Costa Rica to California is to fly which costs $160 - $650 and takes 12h 9m.
The fastest way to get from Costa Rica to California is to fly which takes 9h 27m and costs $310 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from Costa Rica to California. However, there are services departing from Terminal NicaBus and arriving at Broadway / 1st via Managua and Olympic / Union. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4 days 15h.
The distance between Costa Rica and California is 2756 miles. The road distance is 3348.8 miles.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to California without a car is to bus which takes 4 days 15h and costs $360 - $440.
It takes approximately 9h 27m to get from Costa Rica to California, including transfers.
Costa Rica to California bus services, operated by Nica Bus, depart from Terminal NicaBus station.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to California is to fly which takes 9h 27m and costs $310 - $550. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $360 - $440 and takes 4 days 15h.
Costa Rica to California bus services, operated by Nica Bus, arrive at Managua station.
California is 2h behind Costa Rica. It is currently 11:45 PM in Costa Rica and 9:45 PM in California.
What companies run services between Costa Rica and California, USA?
United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Inc., and three other airlines fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Terminal NicaBus to Broadway / 1st via Managua, Los Angeles, and Olympic / Union in around 4d 15h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 28m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–600
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–700
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 55m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $220–900
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Diego International Airport via San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 37m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from Liberia International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 12m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,000
Flights from Liberia International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,100
Flights from Liberia International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,200
Flights from Liberia International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 35m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $290–1,200
- Website
- aeromexico.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tijuana International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–750
Flights from Limón International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport, Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–600
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–900
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 14m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,000
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 4m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from Limón International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 50m
- When
- Tuesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,000
Flights from Liberia International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 1m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $470–1,700
Flights from Liberia International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 36m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,100
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Guatemala City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–950
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–950
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Guatemala City
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $320–1,100
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tijuana International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,400
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 14m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,000
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 39m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $290–1,100
Flights from Limón International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 50m
- When
- Tuesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,000
Flights from Liberia International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 1m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $470–1,700
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Houston Hobby Apt
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–600
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Houston Hobby Apt
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from Liberia International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Houston Hobby Apt
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,100
- Website
- volaris.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tijuana International Airport via Cancun
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 43m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–800
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tijuana International Airport via Guadalajara
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 21m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $310–700
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–950
- Website
- vivaaerobus.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tijuana International Airport via Monterrey
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 57m
- When
- Tuesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,400
Flights from Limón International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport, Guadalajara
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 10m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $250–600
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport via Monterrey
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 45m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $360–1,600
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Limón International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport, Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–600
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Antonio Station to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 50m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $750–1,200
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +503 7841 5688
- elsalvador@transportedelsol.com
- Website
- Transporte del SOL
Bus from San José to San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 23h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60
- Schedules at
- Transporte del SOL
- Phone
- +𝟓𝟎𝟑 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟒 𝟔𝟓𝟒𝟖
- elcondorinternacional@gmail.com
- Website
- El Condor Internacional
Bus from San Salvador to Tapachula
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50
- Schedules at
- El Condor Internacional
- Phone
- +52 55 4386 4652
- solucioneshola@ado.com.mx
- Website
- ado.com.mx
Bus from Tapachula to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $90–170
- Schedules at
- ado.com.mx
- Book at
- ado.com.mx
- Phone
- +1 800 923 1799
- contactus@omexusa.net
- Website
- Omnibus Express (OMEX VIP)
Bus from Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte to San Antonio
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 2m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $140–210
- Schedules at
- Omnibus Express (OMEX VIP)
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- info@ridecr.com
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Puntarenas to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $209
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Monteverde to Liberia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $269
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Monteverde to Liberia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–69
- Website
- Tropical Tours Shuttles
- Phone
- +52 664 104 7400
- servicioalcliente@geb.mx
- Website
- abc.com.mx
Bus from Mexicali to Tijuana
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $19–35
- Schedules at
- abc.com.mx
- Book at
- abc.com.mx
- Phone
- +505 2222 2276
- Nicabusinternacionalsa@gmail.com
- Website
- Nica Bus
Bus from Terminal NicaBus to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $37–38
- Website
- Nica Bus
- Phone
- +1 213 368 1172
- info@boletosdebus.com
- Website
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Managua to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 6h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $330–400
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
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Yes, the driving distance between Costa Rica to California is 3349 miles. It takes approximately 2 days 17h to drive from Costa Rica to California.
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