Costa Rica

How to get from Jaco to Montezuma

In this in-depth route guide, you’ll find the best ways to travel the 185 kilometre (115 miles) distance from Jaco to Montezuma. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Montezuma as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.

Written by Ela - Senior Travel WriterReviewed by Maarten - Trip Planning ExpertLast updated: January 9, 2026

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Why visit Montezuma?

Montezuma is an untouched gem on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It boasts a vibrant jungle and pristine beaches, inviting nature enthusiasts for a serene escape. Explore Montezuma Falls, a majestic waterfall that’s a hiker’s dream. If you’re in for a more serious hike, you can also visit the nearby Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve.

This picturesque town also offers a laid-back bohemian atmosphere, with beaches for both swimming (Playa Montezuma) and surfing (Playa Grande). At Montezuma town centre, you’ll find a wide range of cafes with international cuisine, yoga classes, and artisan shops.

What are the 2 ways to travel from Jaco to Montezuma?

There are 2 ways to travel the 185 kilometre (115 miles) distance from Jaco to Montezuma. You can choose between the minivan and Shuttle + taxi boat. The journey takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes and the quickest way is by shuttle + taxi boat. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by shuttle + taxi boat with tickets starting at 27,000 CRC ($55).

Transport

Duration

Pricing

Transport Options

Shuttle + Taxi Boat

1h 30m

From 27,000 CRC ($55)

Book Tickets

Minivan

5h 45m

From 30,000 CRC ($60)

Book Tickets

Jaco to Montezuma by Shuttle + Taxi Boat

Duration: 1h 30m

Costs: 27,000 CRC ($55)

Duration: 1h 30m

Costs: 27,000 CRC ($55)

The most popular way to travel the 50 km distance from Jaco to Montezuma is with a combined taxi boat and shuttle. This takes 1 hour 30 minutes and rates start from 27,000 CRC ($55).

Zuma Tours and Tropical Tours Shuttle are the companies offering combined taxi boat and shuttle rides for this route. Both are trusted operators so you can choose which suits you best.

There are only two trips available from Jaco to Montezuma daily. But thanks to this, the journey has become faster and easier! Before, travellers had to travel north to Puntarenas Port, hop on a slow car ferry to Paquera, and then continue by land to Montezuma — a journey that easily took 3 to 4 hours!

What to expect in the taxi boat + shuttle journey

You will be picked up from your hotel in Jaco. From here, it’s a 30-minute shuttle ride to Playa Herradura, a port town 10 km north.

At the pier, you will transfer to a boat that will take you to the main beach in Montezuma. And then, you will board another shuttle van to your hotel.

Shuttle + Taxi Boat Schedule

Zuma Tours Jaco

Shuttle

Zuma Tours Montezuma

09:00

1h 30m

10:30

Zuma Tours

From 27,000 CRC ($55)

Jaco

Montezuma Beach

09:00

1h 30m

10:30

Tropical Tours Shuttle

31,000 CRC ($62)

Get Your Tickets

Book your tickets in advance

It’s best to buy your tickets early for a better chance of getting a seat on your desired date. You can do that online through the minivan companies’ respective websites.

Zuma Tours is usually cheaper through BookAway, where it’s easy to find availability for travel on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. If you’re travelling on other days, we recommend visiting the official Zuma Tours website instead.

Are you returning to Jaco after exploring Montezuma? You can save on costs by booking a round-trip ticket with Zuma Tours via BookAway, which offers a 20% discount.

Jaco to Montezuma by Minivan

Duration: 5h 45m

Costs: 30,000 CRC ($60)

Duration: 5h 45m

Costs: 30,000 CRC ($60)

Do you get seasick easily? You can also travel from Jaco to Montezuma completely overland by minivan.

However, instead of completing the journey in just 1.5 hours, the minivan trip will take at least 5 hours 45 minutes.

If you don’t mind sitting in a minivan that long, Santa Teresa Adventure offers minivan trips from Jaco to Montezuma. A seat costs 30,000 CRC ($60).

Minivan options from Jaco to Montezuma

Jaco - Any hotel

Shuttle

Montezuma - Any hotel

15:00

5h 45m

20:45

Santa Teresa Adventure

30,000 CRC ($60)

Get Your Tickets

Rounding it up

We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Jaco to Montezuma. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.

PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!

Frequently Asked Questions about Jaco to Montezuma

What is the distance from Jaco to Montezuma?

The distance from Jaco to Montezuma is 185 kilometre (115 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from Jaco to Montezuma?

The fastest way to get from Jaco to Montezuma is by shuttle + taxi boat and takes 1 hour 30 minutes.

What is the cheapest way to get from Jaco to Montezuma?

The cheapest way to get from Jaco to Montezuma is by shuttle + taxi boat with ticket costs starting from 27,000 CRC ($55).

About the author(s)

Ela

Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.

Maarten

Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.