How to get from Montezuma to San Jose
Why visit San Jose?
San Jose is a bustling urban landscape in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Being the capital city, it may not be as pretty as the beach and jungle destinations that the country is known for. But if you are stopping by anyway, might as well explore for a few hours or a day before moving on to your next stop.
You will find plenty of things to do in San Jose. Within the city, you can check out the colonial buildings turned museums at Barrio Amon, try out the famed restaurants at Barrio Escalante, or party the night away in El Pueblo. If you want to venture outside the city limits, the Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens are highly recommended!
What are the 4 ways to travel from Montezuma to San Jose?
There are 4 ways to travel the 170 kilometre (106 miles) distance from Montezuma to San Jose. You can choose between the bus + ferry, minivan + ferry, private transport and flight via Cobano. The journey takes 1 hour 55 minutes to 7 hours and the quickest way is by flight via Cobano. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus + ferry with tickets starting at 8,500 CRC ($17.90).
Where to stay in San Jose?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in San Jose.
Montezuma to San Jose by Bus + Ferry
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to get from Montezuma to San Jose, then pick the bus. You can get a ticket for only 8,500 CRC ($17.90) and still be able to enjoy a comfortable ride. Just pack in some patience because the bus might make a lot of stops to pick up and drop off passengers.
Transportes Cobano operates one bus trip daily from Montezuma to San Jose. The advertised travel time is about 4 hours 30 minutes, but it can take longer depending on the number of stops.
If you’re travelling on a weekend or during the busy season (December to April), it’s best to book your ticket online a few days to a week in advance.
You can also buy tickets directly at the bus stop at Montezuma Beach, which is usually fine for weekday travel or if you purchase a few days in advance. It’s usually a few dollars cheaper — but there’s no guarantee seats will still be available.
PRO TIP: Local travel links, including the bus station in San Jose, can attract thieves, so keep your belongings in sight. Don’t board the bus until your bigger bags are inside the luggage compartment, and be sure to get your luggage ticket. It’s best to keep smaller bags, containing your valuables, in front of you or between your feet, instead of in overhead storage.
Bus + Ferry Schedule from Montezuma to San Jose
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What to expect on the bus + ferry ride:
The bus will take you from Montezuma Beach through the rough but beautiful roads going north to Paquera Port. Here, you are to get off the bus and walk up to the ferry. You can leave your bigger bags inside the bus, but take your valuables!
The ferry departs around 14:30 and will take you across the strait to Puntarenas Port in about 1.5 hours. Once back on land, return to your bus (make sure to remember which one it is!). It will then take you east to San Jose.
If you are heading to Juan Santamaria International Airport, notify the driver so he’ll know where to drop you off. The bus makes its final stop at TIG Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste, San Jose city centre.
Attention: Terminal 7-10 closed in April 2025. Transportes Cobano used to arrive at San José’s Terminal 7-10. This was the main hub for buses from Cóbano, Monteverde, San Carlos, Jacó, and even international routes to Nicaragua and El Salvador.
Montezuma to San Jose by Minivan + Ferry
For a door-to-door but shared transfer, go for the minivan. With rates from 19,000 CRC ($40), you won’t have to worry about finding your way to and from bus terminals.
The minivan to San Jose from Montezuma will take the same route as the bus: you’ll travel by land from Montezuma to Paquera, take the ferry to Puntarenas, and then continue by land to San Jose city centre or San Jose Airport.
The main difference is that the minivans pick you up from your hotel in Montezuma and then drop you off at your destination in San Jose.
You can choose from five companies operating minivans for this route: Santa Teresa Adventure, Transporzuma, Tropical Tours Shuttle, Interbus and Zuma Tours.
The travel time from Montezuma to San Jose with the minivan varies — it can take 2 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours. Zuma Tours is the fastest and most expensive because it can cut the travel time to under 3 hours — it uses a speedboat instead of a slow ferry to cross the strait.
Minivan schedule from Montezuma to San Jose
For the best chance of securing a minivan seat on your preferred date and time, we recommend booking a few days in advance on BookAway.
Montezuma to San Jose by Flight via Cobano
The flight is the fastest option from Montezuma to San Jose. There are no direct flights, but the nearest airport — Cobano Airport — is just about 5 km away from Montezuma.
Combined rates, including airport transfer, start from 69,000 CRC ($145). Total travel time is about 1 hour 55 minutes.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: How to get to Cobano Airport
From Montezuma, the easiest way to get to Cobano Airport is by taxi. Rates start from 9,400 CRC ($20) for a journey that takes 15 minutes.
Step 2: Flight from Cobano to San Jose
Sansa Airlines, Green Airways, and Hahn Air operate several daily flights from Cobano to San Jose.
Airfares start from 59,000 CRC ($125) and flight time is around 40 minutes.
IMPORTANT: Previously, flights from Montezuma departed from Tambor Airport. But in 2023, Sansa Airlines (the sole operator for this route at that time) moved its airport to Cobano.
Step 3: Bus from San Jose Airport to San Jose City Centre
From San Jose Airport, it’s either a 1-hour bus or a 30-minute taxi to San Jose City centre.
The bus is both cheap and comfortable, but often gets stuck in traffic. You can choose from two companies: TUASA (coloured red and white) and Station Wagon (coloured orange and yellow). You can get them on the main road just outside the airport.
A bus ticket costs around 710 CRC ($1.50) and buses are available every 10 minutes from 04:00 to 23:00. They park at TUASA Terminal in the city centre.
If you don’t mind spending more for the convenience of being dropped off at your hotel’s doorstep, then you can take a taxi. You will want to hail them from the main road unless you’re willing to pay an airport surcharge.
Another option is to hail one via the Uber app. Either way, rates start from 15,000 CRC ($31).
PRO TIP: There is still a question in terms of the “legality” of Uber in Costa Rica. Although many travellers have had great experiences with it, there have also been rare cases of Uber trips being stopped and passengers being forced to transfer to a taxi. To avoid any inconvenience, it might be better to just take a regular taxi from the airport.
Montezuma to San Jose by Private Transport
If travelling in a group from Montezuma to San Jose, booking a private transfer can be a good option.
Note though, that you only get a private transfer when travelling by land. Like other options, this option includes a public ferry ride from Paquera to Puntarenas.
Private transfers from Montezuma to San Jose are available from 187,000 CRC ($395) for a 4-seater car. Divide the cost and that’s about 47,000 CRC ($99) per person.
Private Transport options from Montezuma to San Jose
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Montezuma to San Jose. 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 San Jose
What is the distance from Montezuma to San Jose?
The distance from Montezuma to San Jose is 170 kilometre (106 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Montezuma to San Jose?
The fastest way to get from Montezuma to San Jose is by flight via Cobano and takes 1 hour 55 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Montezuma to San Jose?
The cheapest way to get from Montezuma to San Jose is by bus + ferry with ticket costs starting from 8,500 CRC ($17.90).
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.
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.
