There are 8 ways to get from San Jose to Costa Rica by plane, train, bus, car, subway, 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 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
10h 28m$264–754BART 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
11h 35m$178–763Train, bus
- Take the train from San Jose to Los Angelestrain
- Take the train from Los Angeles 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 22h$836–1,684Drive 5,870.9 km
- Drive from San Jose to San Josécar 5,870.9 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
9h 59m$286–1,321Caltrain 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 49m$629–2,598Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane SJC - LIR
- Take a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas
13h 18m$776–2,682Bus
- 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$426–505
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 $280 - $1,400 and takes 9h 59m.
The fastest way to get from San Jose to Costa Rica is to Caltrain and fly which takes 9h 59m and costs $280 - $1,400.
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 4853 km. The road distance is 5870.9 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 $420 - $550.
It takes approximately 10h 28m 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 10h 28m and costs $260 - $800. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $420 - $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 12:51 AM in San Jose and 1:51 AM in Costa Rica.
What companies run services between San Jose, CA, USA and Costa Rica?
Delta, Southwest Airlines, and three 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 30m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $170–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 29m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,500
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–1,600
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–1,700
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- When
- Friday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $220–900
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 8m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $210–900
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 48m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $170–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 38m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $380–1,600
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 47m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $430–1,800
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 7m
- When
- Monday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $500–2,200
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 8m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $210–900
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 48m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $170–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,500
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $360–1,500
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 56m
- When
- Monday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $500–2,200
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–900
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 30m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $170–750
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 15m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 50m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $550–2,400
- 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
- $270–1,400
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–700
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $210–900
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 5m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $650–2,700
- Website
- aeromexico.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact 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
- $110–250
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Los Angeles to San Marcos Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 32h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $390–900
- 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
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Coliseum
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–8
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
- 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
- $140–220
- 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
- $95–170
- 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
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1970
- 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
- +1 714-839-3500
- 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
- $340–400
- 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 5871 km. It takes approximately 3 days 0h to drive from San Jose to Costa Rica.
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