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 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 Santa Teresa from San Jose?
The distance between San Jose and Santa Teresa is about 185 km, which is 5-6.5 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 (6-6.5 hours), and by minivan (5-6 hours).
Scroll down for more information about which transport is the best for you, how long the journey takes, and how much a minivan or bus ticket will cost.
Read our → Costa Rica Itinerary
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 the Cobano Airport (airport code ACO), a 30-minute drive away. 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). Sansa Airlines operates many daily flights from San Jose to Cobano. The flight takes just 40 minutes, and plane tickets start from 120 USD (without luggage) per person for one way.
TIP
Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to San Jose, Costa Rica.
After arrival, you can take a taxi, private transfer, or minivan from Cobano Airport to Santa Teresa. You can book a minivan from the airport to Santa Teresa Beach (any hotel) HERE.
San Jose Airport to Santa Teresa by Taxi, Private Transfer
One of the most comfortable and fastest ways to get to Santa Teresa is by taxi. The journey time is 5 hours, depending on traffic. 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 costs between 200-350 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!
Alternatively, you can book a private transfer from the airport/city to Santa Teresa (any hotel) starting from 302 USD, and 4 pax are allowed.
Santa Teresa by Minivan
One of the best and most popular ways to get to Santa Teresa is by air-conditioned minivan, which allows 25 kg of luggage per passenger. You can also carry a surfboard for an extra charge. The minivan departs four times a day at 5:30 AM, 6:30 AM, 2 PM, and 3 PM.
A shuttle minivan from San Jose Airport to Santa Teresa Beach (any hotel) starts from 57 USD. The journey time is 5-6 hours, depending on traffic.
San Jose to Santa Teresa by Shuttle Bus + Ferry
The other best way to get to Santa Teresa is by air-conditioned van + ferry.
The shuttle bus to Santa Teresa Beach (any hotel) starts from 57 USD and includes the ferry ticket. The journey time takes 6 hours, depending on traffic.
San Jose to Santa Teresa by Car
The easiest way to get to Santa Teresa is by car + ferry. You can easily rent a car at San Jose International Airport or pick up your pre-booked car.
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.
Driving from San Jose to Santa Teresa + Ferry
The drive from San Jose to Santa Teresa takes around 5-6 hours, depending on 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.
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
From the airport 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. From Puntarenas, take the ferry to the Paquera. The ferries depart several times daily between 4 AM and 10 PM, and the ferry journey takes 70 minutes.
After arriving in Paquera, continue driving to Santa Teresa, approximately 50 km away. The journey time is 1.5 hours, depending on traffic.
Puntarenas to Paquera Ferry Schedule
The ferries run frequently from Puntarenas to Paquera:
- 04:00
- 06:30
- 08:00
- 09:00
- 12:00
- 15:00
- 18:00
- 20:00
- 22:00
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, Coyote, San Miguel).
The ferry ticket from Puntarenas to Paquera costs 1.50 USD per person. A simple car with a driver costs 24 USD one way. You can buy your ferry ticket at the ferry port (local cash only) or in advance online.
San Jose to Santa Teresa by Bus
The cheapest way to get to 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 the city center to Santa Teresa. The bus ticket costs around 19 USD, which includes the ferry ticket. You can purchase tickets at the San Jose bus station (Terminal 7-10), so arrive at least one hour before departure.
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.
Direct buses run only twice daily at 6 AM and 2 PM. But bus timetables are subject to change! So we recommend asking locals for the current bus schedule!
The bus does not stop at the hotels in Santa Teresa. So, once you get off the bus, you have to take a private transfer or taxi.
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 Travel Guides about Costa Rica
- The Ultimate Costa Rica Itinerary
- Best Beaches in Costa Rica
- 9 Best Things to Do in La Fortuna
- Best Areas and Hotels in La Fortuna
- 8 Best Things to Do in Monteverde
- Best Eco Lodges in 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 comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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