There are 10 ways to get from San Jose to Costa Rica by plane, train, bus, car, subway, shuttle, or taxi
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
best- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane SJC - SJO
11h 47m$414–1,104BART to Oakland International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
cheapest- Take the subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Coliseumsubway
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane OAK - SJO
13h 8m$220–814Train, bus
- Take the train from San Jose to Los Angelestrain
- Take the train from Los Angeles to San Antonio Stationtrain
- Take the bus from San Antonio 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 18h$939–1,782Drive 5,874.9 km
- Drive from San Jose to San Josécar 5,874.9 km
3d$788–1,138Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane SFO - SJO
11h 27m$427–772Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Liberia International Airport, shuttle
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane SFO - LIR
- Take a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas
12h 52m$790–2,499Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Limón International Airport
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Limón International Airport (LIO)plane SFO - LIO
13h 8m$228–785Shuttle to Monterey Regional Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from SJC Airport Terminal B to Monterey Shuttle Station
- Fly from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane MRY - SJO
15h 26m$254–812Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Quepos La Managua Airport, taxi
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Quepos La Managua Airport (XQP)plane SFO - XQP
- Take the taxi from Quepos-Airport-XQP to San Isidrotaxi
12h 34m$346–940Bus
- Take the bus from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich to Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Managua to Terminal NicaBusbus
4d 22h$416–505
Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Jose to Costa Rica is to Caltrain and fly which costs $220 - $800 and takes 13h 8m.
The fastest way to get from San Jose to Costa Rica is to Caltrain and fly which takes 11h 27m and costs $420 - $800.
No, there is no direct bus from San Jose to Costa Rica. However, there are services departing from Santa Clara & 6th and arriving at Terminal NicaBus via San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich, Cesar E Chavez / Vignes, Los Angeles and Managua. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4 days 22h.
The distance between San Jose and Costa Rica is 4864 km. The road distance is 5874.9 km.
The best way to get from San Jose to Costa Rica without a car is to bus which takes 4 days 22h and costs $410 - $550.
It takes approximately 11h 47m to get from San Jose to Costa Rica, including transfers.
San Jose to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Hoang Express, depart from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich station.
The best way to get from San Jose to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 11h 47m and costs $410 - $1,100. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $410 - $550 and takes 4 days 22h.
San Jose to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Hoang Express, arrive at Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station.
Costa Rica is 1h ahead of San Jose. It is currently 2:11 AM in San Jose and 3:11 AM in Costa Rica.
What companies run services between San Jose, CA, USA and Costa Rica?
Southwest Airlines, Delta, and two other airlines fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) 3 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Santa Clara & 6th to Terminal NicaBus via Tully & King, San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich, Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station, Cesar E Chavez / Vignes, Los Angeles, and Managua in around 4d 22h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 25m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–800
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $170–650
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $210–800
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 29m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 3m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $210–800
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 39m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 15m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $220–850
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 50m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,000
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–1,300
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport, Roxana
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 25m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $320–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 5m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 50m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,000
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–1,300
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport, Roxana
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 25m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Limón International Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $320–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 5m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $340–1,300
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 31m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $370–1,300
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 18m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $420–1,500
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $420–1,500
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,300
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $430–750
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $330–700
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $340–1,300
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 31m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $370–1,300
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,100
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,300
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $210–800
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–750
- Website
- aeromexico.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–650
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–750
- Website
- volaris.com
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Guadalajara
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 37m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $280–750
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from San Jose to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–280
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Los Angeles to San Antonio Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $460–950
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Coliseum
- Ave. Duration
- 44 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–9
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
- Phone
- +1 800 923 1799
- contactus@omexusa.net
- Website
- omnibusexpress.com
Bus from San Antonio to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 3m
- 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
- $35–50
- 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
- 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
- +1 831-373-7777
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Shuttle from SJC Airport Terminal B to Monterey Shuttle Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Standard Rate
- $45–60
- Phone
- +1 714-839-3500
- admin@lowfarebus.com
- Website
- xedohoang.com
Bus from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich to Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Book at
- https://www.gotobus.com/hoangexpress/
- Website
- https://xedohoang.com/en
- Adult One-way
- $45–60
- Phone
- +1 213 368 1172
- info@boletosdebus.com
- Website
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Los Angeles to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 6h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $330–400
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
- Phone
- +505 2222 2276
- Nicabusinternacionalsa@gmail.com
- Website
- nicabus.com.ni
Bus from Managua to Terminal NicaBus
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $37–38
- Website
- https://nicabus.com.ni/en/
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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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between San Jose to Costa Rica is 5875 km. It takes approximately 3 days 0h to drive from San Jose to Costa Rica.
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