San Jose to Corcovado
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What to expect when visiting Corcovado
Standing proud on the southwest coast of Costa Rica is the gem of its natural parks, Corcovado National Park. It is said to hold 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity and is home to a wide variety of animal species, many of which are considered rare elsewhere.
Tapirs are a common sight on the Corcovado shores, scarlet macaws brighten its trees, bull sharks inhabit its rivers, and jaguars roam its forests.
Corcovado is the largest of Costa Rica’s national parks and is a traveller’s dream destination. It’s important to know that there are several entrances and each will lead you to different hiking trails.
Another thing you should know is that you can only enter Corcovado through a guided tour. These tours can be booked from any of its base camps in the Osa Peninsula. The most popular basecamps to visit Corcovado National Park are Puerto Jimenez and Drake Bay.
Via Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez?
Drake Bay is not just a jump-off point, but a destination on its own. One that deserves a few days in your Costa Rica itinerary. If you’re thinking of entering Corcovado through Drake Bay, check out our guide for San Jose to Drake Bay.
But if you don’t have the time to visit Drake Bay and want to enter Corcovado Park via Puerto Jimenez, you are at the right page! In the remainder of this post, we explain to you how to get from San Jose to Corcovado via Puerto Jimenez.
From Puerto Jimenez, you can book one of the many tours offered to Corcovado National Park. If your tour doesn’t include transportation, check out our guide on how to get from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado National Park.
New to Drake Bay/Corcovado? Our compact Drake Bay/Corcovado guide shows you the best areas to stay, restaurants you don’t want to miss and many more tips for your visit to Drake Bay/Corcovado!
4 ways to get from San Jose to Corcovado
There are four ways to travel the distance of 355 km (221 miles) from San Jose to Corcovado: by bus via Puerto Jimenez (8 hours 40 minutes), minivan via Puerto Jimenez (6h 30m - 8h), private transfer via Puerto Jimenez (5h 50m - 6h) and flight via Puerto Jimenez (2 hours). The journey takes between 2h - 8h 40m and the quickest way is by flight via puerto jimenez. The lowest priced tickets start from 8,600 CRC ($17) for the bus via puerto jimenez.San Jose to Corcovado by Bus via Puerto Jimenez
The cheapest option from San Jose to Corcovado is the bus with fares starting from 8,600 CRC ($17). The bus journey can take between 8-10 hours. Note that this bus only leaves once a day.
Operated by Grupo Blanco, the lone bus from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez departs at 12:00 noon daily. The scheduled travel time is 8 hours 40 minutes, but with the usual traffic, the journey might take up to 10 hours long.
You can buy your tickets from the bus station in San Jose, but we highly recommend that you pre-book your ride online via the Grupo Blanco website. There is a service charge that makes it $2 more expensive, but you can expect a seat on your desired travel date.
Bus schedule from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez
Grupo Blanco buses depart from Blanco Lobo Bus Terminal in San Jose city centre. They arrive at Puerto Jimenez Bus Station, also in the city centre.
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.
San Jose to Corcovado by Minivan via Puerto Jimenez
More comfortable than the bus is a minivan shuttle from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. Travel time is faster at 6h 30m - 8h, but it also comes with a higher price, starting from 49,000 CRC ($97).
When travelling by minivan from San Jose to Corcovado, there is also a way to go via Drake Bay. But this is not direct and can only take you up to Sierpe, from where you’ll have to transfer to a boat bound for Drake Bay.
Minivans are more expensive than buses, but they offer a few advantages. It’s up to you whether they’re worth the extra cost.
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- Minivan shuttles are faster because minivans don’t make as many stops as the bus. You can complete the journey in around 6h 30m - 8h, compared to a bus which can take up to 10 hours.
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- They include free hotel pick-up and drop-off so you won’t have to worry about finding your way to and from bus stations.
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- Minivans are generally safer, meaning you can be at ease with your belongings throughout the journey.
Easy Ride and Super Shuttle Costa Rica are 2 of the more trusted minivan operators for this route.
Minivan schedule from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez
Book your ride online beforehand through BookAway. This way, you won’t have to go to the minivan offices and just wait to be picked up from your hotel at your desired date and time.
San Jose to Corcovado by Flight via Puerto Jimenez
The flight is definitely the fastest way from the capital to Puerto Jimenez. Even including transfers, travel time takes only 2 hours. Combined fares start from 91,000 CRC ($180).
We are not big fans of taking short-haul flights like this, but we have to admit that for this route, it does save you a lot of time.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: San Jose City Centre to San Jose Airport by Bus
San Jose Airport is located some 15 km northwest of San Jose city centre. To get there, you can take either a 1-hour bus or a 30-minute taxi.
The bus offers good value for money because it costs only 1,010 CRC ($2) per ticket. Buses are available all day from 04:00 to 23:00, with a 10-minute interval. They depart from TUASA Terminal in the city centre.
You won’t have a hard time finding the 2 companies operating on this route: TUASA (coloured red and white) and Station Wagon (coloured orange and yellow).
If your hotel is a bit far from the bus station, you can also go directly to the airport by taxi. You can hail a taxi from the street or through the ride-hailing app Uber. Rates start from 16,000 CRC ($31).
PRO TIP: Uber is still not entirely legal in Costa Rica. Many tourists have had great experience using it, but there have also been rare cases of Uber rides being stopped in the middle of the journey. It’s best to confirm with your hotel whether it’s safe to use it before booking a ride.
Step 2: San Jose to Puerto Jimenez by Flight
Sansa Airlines and Costa Green Airways operate flights from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. You can expect at least 2 flights daily if you travel in the off-peak season and up to 5 flights during the high season (December to April).
Rates start from 88,000 CRC ($175) for the flight that takes around 50 minutes. We highly recommend booking your tickets early because airfares can go well beyond 101,000 CRC ($200) during the tourist season.
Step 3: Puerto Jimenez Airport to Town Centre
Flights arrive at Puerto Jimenez Airport, which is just on the eastern edge of the city centre. If you’re staying at a nearby resort, you can simply walk to your accommodation.
If your hotel is in the heart of the city, you can take a 5 to 10-minute taxi for around 2,520 CRC ($5).
San Jose to Corcovado by Private Transfer via Puerto Jimenez
If you’re travelling in a group, it can be cheaper to take a private transfer to Corcovado from San Jose. Rates start from 285,000 CRC ($565) for a 6-seater car. When you split the cost, that’s just about 47,000 CRC ($94) per person.
We’ve found 2 reliable companies offering private transfers for this route: Coach Costa Rica and Osa Wild.
Book your private transport online through BookAway, which offers spacious cars that come with trusted drivers.
47,000 CRC ($94)
30,000 CRC ($60)
Frequently Asked Questions about San Jose to Corcovado
What is the distance from San Jose to Corcovado?
The distance from San Jose to Corcovado is 355 km (221 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from San Jose to Corcovado?
The fastest way to get from San Jose to Corcovado is by flight via puerto jimenez and takes 2 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from San Jose to Corcovado?
The cheapest way to get from San Jose to Corcovado is by bus via puerto jimenez with ticket costs starting from 8,600 CRC ($17).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from San Jose to Corcovado. 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!
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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.
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