Best Ways: How to Get from San Jose to Santa Teresa

Are you looking for the best ways to get from San Jose to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica? Santa Teresa is one of the most popular beach destinations in Costa Rica, so don’t miss it on your Costa Rica Itinerary.

Santa Teresa is a paradise for surfers, famous for its beautiful beaches, lush jungles, diverse wildlife, and world-class waves.

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

In this ultimate guide, you will find all the ways to get from San Jose to Santa Teresa, 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 it from San Jose to Santa Teresa?

The distance between Santa Teresa and San Jose is about 180 km, which is 5-6 hours, depending on traffic and mode of transport.

Getting from San Jose to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

There are several ways to get to Santa Teresa from San Jose: by car (5 hours), by bus (6 hours), and by minivan (5 hours).

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

How to Get from San Jose to Santa Teresa by Flight

Unfortunately, there is no airport in Santa Teresa. The nearest airport to Santa Teresa is in Tambor, approximately 50 minutes away.

Tambor has a small airport with domestic flights only, the Tambor Airport (airport code TMU). The airfare and airport transfers make this one of the most expensive options to get to Santa Teresa.

Most travelers to Costa Rica arrive in San Jose at Juan Santamaria International Airport (airport code SJO).

TIP
Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to San Jose, Costa Rica.

Sansa Airlines operates many daily flights from San Jose to Tambor. The flight takes just 40 minutes, and plane tickets start from 120 USD (without luggage) per person for one way.

After arrival, you can take a taxi or private transfer from Tambor Airport to Santa Teresa. The journey time is approximately 50 minutes, and the taxi costs around 60 USD.

San Jose Airport to Santa Teresa by Taxi, Private Transfer

One of the most comfortable and fastest ways to reach Santa Teresa is by taxi.

You should agree with the taxi driver whether he will take you all the way to Santa Teresa or just to the ferry port of Puntarenas.

A taxi from San Jose Airport to Santa Teresa starts from 200 USD, depending on the number of passengers, time of day, etc. If you are not traveling alone, the price is affordable!

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

The journey time is 5 hours, depending on traffic.

Alternatively, you can book a private transfer from the airport/city to Santa Teresa (any hotel) starting from 201 USD, and 6 pax allowed. Private minivans depart every hour, and the surfboard is free of charge.

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San Jose to Santa Teresa by Minivan

One of the best and most popular ways to get to Santa Teresa is by air-conditioned minivan, which allows 20 kg of bag and 1 handbag per passenger. You can also carry a surfboard for an extra charge. The minivan departs once daily at 8:15 AM.

A shuttle minivan from San Jose Airport to Santa Teresa Beach (any hotel) starts from 67 USD. The journey time is 6.5 hours, depending on traffic.

Get Minivan tickets here.

San Jose to Santa Teresa by Shuttle Bus + Ferry

One of the best ways to get to Santa Teresa is by air-conditioned minivan + ferry.

The shuttle bus fare from San Jose Airport/City to Santa Teresa (any hotel) starts from 61 USD, which includes the ferry ticket. The journey time takes 6 hours, depending on traffic.

Each passenger is allowed 25 kg of luggage and 1 handbag. Transfers run twice daily, so we recommend booking in advance.

Book Shuttle Bus + Ferry ticket.

San Jose to Santa Teresa by Car

The easiest way to get from San Jose to Santa Teresa is by car + ferry. You can easily rent a car at San Jose International Airport.

During our travels, we always use Discover Cars for car rentals. Because they always offer the best deals and provide free cancellation 48 hours before your reservation.

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.

Recommended post → How to Renting a Car in Costa Rica

Driving from San Jose to Santa Teresa

The drive from San Jose to Santa Teresa takes around 5-6 hours, depending on the traffic.

We recommend renting a 4×4 as the road conditions are only good until Montezuma. The roads to Santa Teresa are unpaved and very bumpy.

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

From San Jose to Santa Teresa, take Route 27 highway to Puntarenas. The distance between San Jose and Puntarenas is around 95 km, with a travel time of approximately 1.5 hours.

The ferries depart several times daily between 5 AM and 8:30 PM, and the ferry ride lasts 70 minutes.

From Puntarenas, take the ferry to the Paquera. After arriving in Paquera, continue driving to Santa Teresa, approximately 70 km away. The journey time is 1.5 hours, depending on traffic.

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!

Ferry Schedule from Puntarenas to Paquera

Make sure you get on the right ferry! One ferry goes to the southern region (Santa Teresa, Malpais, Montezuma, Tambor), and the other to the northern region (Samara, Nosara, Nicoya, Playa Coyote).

A simple car with a driver costs 24 USD per direction. The ferry ticket from Puntarenas to Paquera costs 1.50 USD per person.

The ferries run frequently from Puntarenas to Paquera:

05:30
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
20:30

You can purchase your ferry ticket online at the Nicoya Peninsula website, or you can buy it in local cash (Costa Rican Colones) at the ferry port on arrival.

San Jose to Santa Teresa by Bus

The cheapest way to reach Santa Teresa is by public bus. If you don’t want to rent a car or cannot drive, you can take a bus from San Jose to Santa Teresa.

The bus takes you directly to the ferry port, then you have to cross to Paquera by ferry. Be sure to keep your ticket to get back on the bus when you arrive in Paquera.

The bus ride takes about 6-6.5 hours, depending on traffic and multiple stops.

The Transportes Cobano buses depart from Terminal 7-10 in San Jose city center to Santa Teresa. The bus ticket costs around 15 USD, which includes the ferry ticket.

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.

You can purchase tickets at the San Jose bus station (Terminal 7-10), so arrive at least one hour before departure.

Direct buses run twice daily at 6 AM and 2:30 PM. But bus timetables are subject to change! So we recommend asking locals for the current bus schedule!

Good to know
The bus does not stop at Santa Teresa hotels. So, you will need to take a private shuttle or taxi once you get off the bus.

Where to Stay in Santa Teresa

Although Santa Teresa is a laid-back beach town, the accommodation options are available for all budgets. You can choose from cheap hostels to mid-range hotels and beach resorts. These are our accommodation recommendations.

Best hotels in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Luxury: Gigi Brown Beachfront Santa Teresa
Mid-Range: Lua Villas or Selina Santa Teresa South
Budget: La Posada – Hostel

more hotels in santa teresa

More Travel Guides about Costa Rica

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

Travel Resources

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

Best Ways: How to Get from San Jose to Santa Teresa