Costa Rica

How to get from Montezuma to Jaco

In this in-depth route guide, you’ll find the best ways to travel the 142 kilometre (88 miles) distance from Montezuma to Jaco. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Jaco 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 8, 2026

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Why visit Jaco?

Jaco is a vibrant coastal town offering more than just sun and surf. Despite its small size, Jaco is among the country’s most popular beach spots — thanks mainly to its close proximity to the capital San Jose.

Discover its diverse charm as you explore the city and experience the local nightlife. Indulge in water sports like fishing or go zip-lining down the lush rainforest. Jaco promises a memorable vacation experience in the stunning Puntarenas Province.

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

There are 2 ways to travel the 142 kilometre (88 miles) distance from Montezuma to Jaco. You can choose between the minivan and taxi boat + Shuttle. The journey takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 6 hours and the quickest way is by taxi boat + shuttle. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by taxi boat + shuttle with tickets starting at 27,000 CRC ($55).

Transport

Duration

Pricing

Transport Options

Taxi Boat + Shuttle

1h 30m

From 27,000 CRC ($55)

Book Tickets

Minivan

From 30,000 CRC ($60)

Book Tickets

Montezuma to Jaco by Taxi Boat + Shuttle

Duration: 1h 30m

Costs: 27,000 CRC ($55)

Duration: 1h 30m

Costs: 27,000 CRC ($55)

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

Years ago, the only way to travel the winding road up north to Paquera was to board a slow car ferry, and then travel by land again to Jaco. This would have taken 3 to 4 hours! The opening of this more direct route made it easier and faster for tourists to travel between these two popular destinations.

There are two companies offering combined taxi boat and shuttle rides to Jaco from Montezuma. These are Zuma Tours and Tropical Tours Shuttle. Both are trusted operators so you can choose which suits you best.

What to expect in the taxi boat + shuttle journey

A shuttle van will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the main beach in Montezuma. From here, you will take a 1-hour taxi boat to Playa Herradura.

Back on land, you will then transfer to another shuttle van that will take you to the town of Jaco in around 30 minutes. You will be dropped off at your hotel.

Taxi Boat + Shuttle Schedule

Zuma Tours Montezuma

Shuttle

Zuma Tours Jaco

08:30

1h 30m

10:00

Zuma Tours

From 27,000 CRC ($55)

Montezuma Beach

Jaco

08:30

1h 30m

10:00

Tropical Tours Shuttle

27,000 CRC ($55)

Get Your Tickets

Book your tickets in advance

Due to the limited number of trips, we highly recommend booking your ticket days ahead. You can do that directly via the minivan company’s website.

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 going back to Montezuma after visiting Jaco? If yes, then you might want to book a round-trip ticket to save a bit. BookAway offers a 20% discount for roundtrip tickets.

Montezuma to Jaco by Minivan

Duration: 6h

Costs: 30,000 CRC ($60)

Duration: 6h

Costs: 30,000 CRC ($60)

If you’re not keen on travelling by sea to get from Montezuma to Jaco, you can also travel this route completely overland by minivan.

However, instead of completing the journey in just 1.5 hours, the minivan trip will take at least 6 hours.

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

Minivan options from Montezuma to Jaco

Montezuma - Any hotel

Shuttle

Jaco - Any hotel

06:30

12:30

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 Montezuma to Jaco. 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 Montezuma to Jaco

What is the distance from Montezuma to Jaco?

The distance from Montezuma to Jaco is 142 kilometre (88 miles).

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

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

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

The cheapest way to get from Montezuma to Jaco is by taxi boat + shuttle 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.