There are 4 ways to get from Santa Monica to Costa Rica by plane, bus, 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 to Juan Santamaría International Airport
best- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane LAX - SJO
8h 54m$102–385Bus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Managua to Terminal Tica Busbus
4d 17h$373–451Drive 5,355.1 km
- Drive from Santa Monica to San Josécar 5,355.1 km
2d 18h$719–1,038Fly to Liberia International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane LAX - LIR
- Take a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas
12h 5m$927–2,304
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Monica to Costa Rica is to fly which costs $100 - $390 and takes 8h 54m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Monica to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 8h 54m and costs $100 - $390.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Monica to Costa Rica. However, there are services departing from 5th / Santa Monica and arriving at Terminal Tica Bus via Westlake Ave & Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles and Managua. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4 days 17h.
The distance between Santa Monica and Costa Rica is 4406 km. The road distance is 5355.1 km.
The best way to get from Santa Monica to Costa Rica without a car is to bus which takes 4 days 17h and costs $370 - $460.
It takes approximately 8h 54m to get from Santa Monica to Costa Rica, including transfers.
Santa Monica to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Buses USA Tours, depart from Los Angeles station.
The best way to get from Santa Monica to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 8h 54m and costs $100 - $390. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $370 - $460 and takes 4 days 17h.
Santa Monica to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Buses USA Tours, arrive at Managua station.
Costa Rica is 2h ahead of Santa Monica. It is currently 4:11 AM in Santa Monica and 6:11 AM in Costa Rica.
What companies run services between Santa Monica, CA, USA and Costa Rica?
Alaska Airlines, Inc., Delta, and four other airlines fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from 5th / Santa Monica to Terminal Tica Bus via Wilshire / Alvarado, Westlake Ave & Wilshire Blvd, Union Ave & James M Wood Blvd, Los Angeles, Managua, and Managua in around 4d 17h.
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 6m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–350
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Guatemala City
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–350
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 41m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 36m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $320–1,400
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,500
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $320–1,400
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 52m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,500
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $320–1,400
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 39m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $420–1,700
- Website
- volaris.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Guatemala City
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–310
- Website
- aeromexico.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
- Website
- jetblue.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Fort Lauderdale
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 30m
- When
- Friday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $410–1,700
- 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
- +52 962 625 2435
- info@ticabus.com
- Website
- ticabus.com
Bus from Managua to Terminal Tica Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Website
- https://www.ticabus.com/en/
- 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
- $223
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from Monteverde to Puntarenas
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $171
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
- Phone
- +506 2640 1900
- info@tropicaltourshuttles.com
- Website
- tropicaltourshuttles.com
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–75
- Website
- https://tropicaltourshuttles.com/
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Why you should take the train in the US, How to get from Heathrow Airport into central London, and Best ways to travel around Australia - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Monica to Costa Rica is 5355 km. It takes approximately 2 days 18h to drive from Santa Monica to Costa Rica.
There are 775+ hotels available in Costa Rica.





