Costa Rica

How to get from Montezuma to Jaco

Travel the 142 kilometres (88 miles) distance from Montezuma to Jaco with the best transport options available. We’ll guide you through the duration, cost, and comfort of each option — and show you where to book your tickets.

Written by Ela - Senior Travel WriterReviewed by Maarten - Trip Planning ExpertLast updated: January 15, 2025

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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.

How to get from Montezuma to Jaco?

The taxi boat + shuttle is the only suitable way for travellers to cross the distance of 142 kilometres (88 miles) from Montezuma to Jaco. The journey takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, and ticket prices start from 29,000 CRC ($57).

Transport

Duration

Pricing

Transport Options

Taxi Boat + Shuttle

1h 30m - 1h 45m

From 29,000 CRC ($57)

Book Tickets

Montezuma to Jaco by Taxi Boat + Shuttle

Duration: 1h 30m - 1h 45m

Costs: 29,000 CRC ($57)

Duration: 1h 30m - 1h 45m

Costs: 29,000 CRC ($57)

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 to 1 hour 45 minutes and rates start from 29,000 CRC ($57).

When travelling from Montezuma to Jaco, you will first take a taxi boat to Playa Herradura for about an hour. From here, you will then transfer to a shuttle van that will take you to the town of Jaco in around 30 minutes.

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

There are two companies offering combined taxi boat and shuttle rides to Jaco from Montezuma. These are Tropical Tours Shuttles and Zuma Tours. Both are trusted operators so you can choose which suits you best. You can book online through their official websites.

Another option for booking with Zuma Tours is via BookAway, where one-way and roundtrip tickets are slightly cheaper — but you’ll need to book for at least two passengers.

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

Taxi Boat + Shuttle Schedule

Zuma Tours Montezuma

Shuttle

Zuma Tours Jaco

08:30

1h 30m

10:00

08:30

1h 45m

10:15

Zuma Tours

From 29,000 CRC ($57)

Montezuma Beach

Jaco

08:30

1h 30m

10:00

Tropical Tours Shuttle

31,000 CRC ($62)

Get Your Tickets

The prices above include tax and other fees.

Are you going back to Montezuma after visiting Jaco? If yes, then you might want to book a roundtrip ticket to save a bit. Zuma Tours offers it for 57,000 CRC ($115) when you book through their website. If you’re travelling with at least one other person, BookAway has a cheaper option at 52,000 CRC ($105).

Zuma Tours departs from their office in Montezuma, while Tropical Tours Shuttle picks up passengers at Montezuma’s main beach.

Because there are limited trips, we highly recommend booking your ticket days ahead.

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 kilometres (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 29,000 CRC ($57).

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.