There are 9 ways to get from Iowa City to Costa Rica by bus, plane, train, car, shuttle, or bus (Greyhound, Flixbus)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus to The Eastern Iowa Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
best- Take the bus from Court St Transportation Center to GTC Bay 9bus
- Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane CID - SJO
11h 34mDrive to Burlington Municipal Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
cheapest- Drive from Iowa City to Burlington Municipal Airport (BRL)car
- Fly from Burlington Municipal Airport (BRL) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane BRL - SJO
12h 52m$145–573Bus, train via Mexico City
- Take the bus from Iowa City to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to San Marcos Amtraktrain
- Take the bus from San Marcos to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Nortebus
- Take the bus from Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte to Tapachulabus
- Take the bus from Tapachula to San Salvadorbus
- Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus
4d 13h$712–1,374Drive 5,113.2 km
- Drive from Iowa City to San Josécar 5,113.2 km
2d 16h$686–991Bus to Quad City International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Take the bus from Iowa City to Moline Center Stationbus
- Fly from Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane MLI - SJO
12h 5m$162–671Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Take the bus from Iowa City to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane ORD - SJO
13h 12m$239–495Bus to The Eastern Iowa Airport, fly to Liberia International Airport, shuttle
- Take the bus from Court St Transportation Center to GTC Bay 9bus
- Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane CID - LIR
- Take a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas
14h 53mBus
- Take the bus from Iowa City to Denver Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Fort Worth Downtownbus
- Take the bus from Fort Worth to Hyatt Regency Houstonbus
- Take the bus from Houston to San Salvadorbus
- Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus
5d 15h$618–1,076Bus, train
- Take the bus from Iowa City to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Longviewtrain
- Take the bus from Longview Bus Station to Houston Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Houston to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Terminal Managua - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus
5d 22h$577–1,150
The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Iowa City to Costa Rica is to drive and fly which costs $140 - $600 and takes 12h 52m.
The fastest way to get from Iowa City to Costa Rica is to bus and fly which takes 12h 5m and costs $160 - $700.
The distance between Iowa City and Costa Rica is 3688 km. The road distance is 5113.2 km.
The best way to get from Iowa City to Costa Rica without a car is to bus which takes 5 days 15h and costs $600 - $1,100.
It takes approximately 11h 34m to get from Iowa City to Costa Rica, including transfers.
Costa Rica is 1h behind Iowa City. It is currently 12:42 AM in Iowa City and 11:42 PM in Costa Rica.
Yes, the driving distance between Iowa City to Costa Rica is 5113 km. It takes approximately 2 days 16h to drive from Iowa City to Costa Rica.
There are 759+ hotels available in Costa Rica.
What companies run services between Iowa City, IA, USA and Costa Rica?
You can take a bus from Iowa City to Terminal Atlántico Norte via Denver Union Station, Fort Worth Downtown, Fort Worth, Hyatt Regency Houston, Smith St @ Dallas St, West Bellfort Park & Ride, Houston, San Salvador, and Terminal San Carlos - CCA in around 5d 15h.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 4m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,000
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,000
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 34m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,000
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,000
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–650
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 13m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Burlington Municipal Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Liberia International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $600–2,400
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Liberia International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $600–2,400
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Liberia International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 3m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $550–2,400
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 20m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $150–650
Flights from Burlington Municipal Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 15m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 19m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $130–550
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 19m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $150–650
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Liberia International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $550–2,400
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Burlington Municipal Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport, San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 30m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–700
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $300–490
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Guatemala City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–490
- Website
- spirit.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Fort Lauderdale
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–390
- Website
- suncountry.com
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Liberia International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 58m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $650–2,600
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to San Marcos Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 41m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $340–750
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Longview
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $230–550
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-319-362-0375
- Website
- 380express.com
Bus from Court St Transportation Center to GTC Bay 9
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Website
- https://www.380express.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.380express.com/schedule/
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Iowa City to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–70
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Iowa City to Moline Center Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $9–19
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Iowa City to Denver Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–250
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Longview Bus Station to Houston Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–65
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 800 923 1799
- contactus@omexusa.net
- Website
- omnibusexpress.com
Bus from San Marcos to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 17m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $140–230
- Schedules at
- omnibusexpress.com
- Phone
- +52 55 4386 4652
- solucioneshola@ado.com.mx
- Website
- ado.com.mx
Bus from Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte to Tapachula
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 50m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $100–180
- Schedules at
- ado.com.mx
- Book at
- ado.com.mx
- Phone
- +𝟓𝟎𝟑 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟒 𝟔𝟓𝟒𝟖
- elcondorinternacional@gmail.com
- Website
- facebook.com
Bus from Tapachula to San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
- Phone
- +52 962 625 2435
- info@ticabus.com
- Website
- ticabus.com
Bus from Tapachula to San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Website
- https://www.ticabus.com/en/
- Phone
- +504 9919 5375
- Website
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
Bus from Terminal San Carlos - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 20h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Schedules at
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
- Road
- $65–95
Bus from Terminal Managua - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 12h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
- Road
- $30–50
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- info@ridecr.com
- Website
- ridecr.com
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $269
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from Monteverde to Puntarenas
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $209
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–69
- Website
- https://tropicaltourshuttles.com/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Denver Union Station to Fort Worth Downtown
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $110–190
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 844-866-5263
- inquiries@vonlane.com
- Website
- vonlane.com
Bus from Fort Worth to Hyatt Regency Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $127–137
- Website
- https://vonlane.com
- Adult
- $127
- adult
- $137
- Phone
- +1 213 368 1172
- info@boletosdebus.com
- Website
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Houston to San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 3d
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $180–390
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Houston to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 1h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $230–390
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
Want to know more about travelling around Costa Rica
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide




























