How to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Are you looking for the best ways to get from San Jose to La Fortuna, Costa Rica? La Fortuna is our favorite place and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica, so don’t miss it on your Costa Rica Itinerary.

Getting to La Fortuna may seem difficult, but depending on your time and budget, there are several ways to get there. You can easily get to La Fortuna by shared and private transfer, taxi, bus, or car.

In this ultimate guide, you will find all the ways to get from San Jose to La Fortuna, such as the cheapest and quickest way to travel, journey times, and how much a bus ticket or taxi will cost.

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How far is La Fortuna from San Jose?

The distance between San Jose and La Fortuna is about 130 km, which is 2.5-5 hours, depending on traffic and mode of transport.

Getting from San Jose to La Fortuna, Costa Rica

There are several ways to get to La Fortuna from San Jose: by bus (4-5 hours), by minivan (3-3.5 hours), and by plane (30 minutes).

Scroll down for more information about which transport is the best for you, how long the journey takes, and how much a plane or bus ticket will cost.

Read our → La Fortuna Guide

How to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna by Flight

La Fortuna has a small airport with domestic flights only, the La Fortuna Arenal Airport (airport code FON). The airfare and airport transfers make this one of the most expensive options to get to La Fortuna.

The flight takes just 30 minutes, and plane tickets start from 107 USD (without luggage) per person for one way. (Some flights take 1 hour and 10 minutes.)

Sansa Airlines operates direct flights from San Jose Juan Santa Maria International Airport (airport code SJO) to Fortuna.

Another nearby airport is Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (airport code LIR), a 3-hour drive from La Fortuna.

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Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

If you are arriving by plane to La Fortuna, the distance from the airport to the town is approximately 8 km, and it takes just 20 minutes by taxi.

San Jose to La Fortuna by Shuttle Minivan/Bus

One of the best and most popular ways to get to La Fortuna is by air-conditioned minivan, which allows 25 kg of bag and backpack per passenger.

A shuttle minivan from San Jose Airport/City to La Fortuna (any hotel) starts from 44 USD. The journey time is 3-3.5 hours, depending on traffic.

Get Minivan Tickets via Bookaway or GetYourGuide.

San Jose to La Fortuna Day Trip

A day trip to La Fortuna is a great way to see the best of the town if you have limited time in Costa Rica. After Puerto Viejo, La Fortuna was our favorite place in the country, so even if you can only take a short visit, it’s still worth it.

Take a day trip to La Fortuna and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. You will visit La Paz & San Fernando Waterfall, experience zip lining, and relax at the Paradise Hot Springs.

The tour price includes round-trip transportation, a bilingual guide, a zipline, entrance fees, coffee, lunch, and dinner.

Book this excellent day trip via GetYourGuide or Viator.

San Jose Airport to La Fortuna by Taxi, Private Transfer

One of the most comfortable and fastest ways to get to La Fortuna is by taxi. The journey time is 3-3.5 hours, depending on traffic.

A taxi from San Jose to La Fortuna costs between 130 USD and 160 USD, depending on the number of passengers, time of day, etc. If you are not traveling alone, the price is affordable!

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The taxi drivers do not accept card payments, so you should bring local money!

Alternatively, you can book a private transfer from the airport to La Fortuna (any hotel) starting from 169 USD, and 4 pax allowed.

San Jose to La Fortuna by Car

The easiest way to get to La Fortuna is by car. You can easily rent a car at San Jose International Airport.

We did our 2-week Costa Rica Itinerary by rental car and enjoyed exploring the sights at our own pace.

The best way to explore Costa Rica is by renting a car. Although public transport is cheap, travel time is long, and some places are not accessible by bus. Renting a car in Costa Rica provides the freedom to explore at your own pace and visit hidden gems or get off the beaten path.

Book your rental car with Discover Cars here.

San Jose to La Fortuna Driving

The roads are in good condition, and you don’t need a 4×4 to visit La Fortuna.

Route 1 and Route 702 are the quickest way to reach La Fortuna, and the whole trip takes around 3-3.5 hours, depending on traffic. There is a toll on this route! As these are small tolls, we recommend you bring local money.

Book your car in advance to get the best price! Check car rental prices and availability HERE.

Good to know
It always gets dark early in Costa Rica (between 5:30 PM and 6 PM). So we don’t recommend driving at night!

Recommended post → How to Renting a Car in Costa Rica

San Jose to La Fortuna by Direct Bus

There is no train, so the local bus is the cheapest way to get to La Fortuna for just 4-5 USD. But the journey time is 4-5 hours, depending on traffic. The bus departs from Terminal 7-10 in San Jose city center and is usually not air-conditioned.

The Terminal 7-10 is about 20-30 minutes away from San Jose Airport, and you can only get there by taxi or Uber, so the cost adds up quickly!

Good to know
You cannot buy tickets online or reserve a seat on public buses, so you may have to travel standing or not be able to board the bus. You can purchase your bus tickets at the terminal, but we recommend arriving at least 1 hour before departure!

Bus Schedule from San Jose to La Fortuna

We found on the internet that these direct bus services run from San Jose to Fortuna:

06:15
08:40
11:50

But bus timetables are subject to change, and we have not found a reliable bus timetable! So we recommend booking online or asking locals for the current schedule!

La Fortuna by Indirect Bus

Alternatively, travel from San Jose (Terminal 7-10) to Ciudad Quesada (3.5-4 hours), then take another bus to La Fortuna (1.5 hours) for just 6 USD.

The total travel time is 5-6 hours, depending on traffic and the number of stops.

From San Jose to Ciudad Quesada, buses run every 30-45 minutes between 5 AM and 6 PM. Buses run from 5 AM to 7:30 PM from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna.

Take care of your valuables, as minor thefts or pickpockets may occur on public transport!

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.

Where to Stay in La Fortuna

We recommend staying in La Fortuna for at least 3-4 days to allow enough time to visit the best places. When you have a car, we suggest booking your hotel outside La Fortuna with a stunning view of the Arenal Volcano.

If you don’t have a rental car or are looking for budget accommodation, you should stay downtown. Because you’ll be close to restaurants and can easily book tours or shuttles to attractions.

Although La Fortuna is a small town, the accommodation options are available for all budgets. These are our recommendations.

Best hotels in La Fortuna

Luxury: Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa or Nayara Gardens
Mid-Range: Los Lagos Spa & Thermal Resort Experience
Budget: Arenal Xilopalo

more hotels in La Fortuna

We have a detailed post on the best areas and hotels in La Fortuna.

We hope our post on how to get from San Jose to La Fortuna will help you plan your next trip to Costa Rica. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.

More Travel Guides about Costa Rica

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway

How to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna, Costa Rica