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How to get fromSan Francisco to Costa Ricaby plane, bus (Flixbus), car, or shuttle

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There are 5 ways to get from San Francisco to Costa Rica by plane, bus (Flixbus), 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.

  1. Fly San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport

    best
    1. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane plane SFO - SJO
    9h 15m
    $430–962

  2. Fly Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport

    cheapest
    1. Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane plane OAK - SJO
    11h 10m
    $166–658

  3. Bus

    1. Take the bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles Union Stationbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Los Angeles to Managuabus bus
    3. Take the bus from Managua to Terminal NicaBusbus bus
    4d 23h
    $428–529

  4. Drive  5,941.4 km

    1. Drive from San Francisco to San Josécar car 5,941.4 km
    3d
    $797–1,151

  5. Fly San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport, shuttle

    1. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane plane SFO - LIR
    2. Take a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverdeshuttle bus
    3. Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Puntarenasshuttle bus
    12h 4m
    $514–1,391

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights

Calendar38Weekly Planes
Duration9h 5mAverage Duration
Ticket$137Cheapest Price
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Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from San Francisco to Costa Rica.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 4,920.5 km
  • Duration: 9h 15m

What companies run services between San Francisco, CA, USA and Costa Rica?

United Airlines, Avianca - Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A., and Aeroméxico fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) 5 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from San Francisco to Terminal NicaBus via Los Angeles Union Station, Cesar E Chavez / Vignes, Los Angeles, and Managua in around 4d 23h.

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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.

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