How to get from San Jose to Corcovado
Why visit 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!
What are the 4 ways to travel from San Jose to Corcovado?
There are 4 ways to travel the 355 kilometre (221 miles) distance from San Jose to Corcovado. You can choose between the bus via Puerto Jimenez, minivan via Puerto Jimenez, private transport via Puerto Jimenez and flight via Puerto Jimenez. The journey takes 2 hours to 8 hours 40 minutes and the quickest way is by flight via Puerto Jimenez. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus via Puerto Jimenez with tickets starting at 8,000 CRC ($17).
San Jose to Corcovado by Bus via Puerto Jimenez
The cheapest option from San Jose to Corcovado is the bus with fares starting from 8,000 CRC ($17). 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.
You can buy your tickets from the bus station in San Jose.
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 Corcovado via Puerto Jimenez. Travel time is faster at 7 hours 25 minutes to 8 hours 30 minutes, but it comes with a higher price, starting from 42,000 CRC ($91).
Although more expensive, minivans offer a few advantages. It’s up to you whether they’re worth the extra cost.
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- Travel time is faster because minivans don’t make as many stops as the bus. You can complete the journey in around 8 hours, compared to a bus which can take up to 10 hours.
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- Minivans include free hotel pickup and drop-off, so you won’t have to worry about finding your way to and from bus stations.
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- Taking a minivan is generally safer — you can be more at ease with your belongings throughout the journey.
Easy Ride and Super Shuttle Costa Rica are two of the more trusted minivan operators for this route.
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.
Minivan schedule from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez
- 24/7 customer support
- 24/7 customer support
Book your ride online beforehand through BookAway or directly on the minivan company’s website. This way, you won’t have to go to the minivan offices and just wait to be picked up from your hotel on your desired date and time.
San Jose to Corcovado by Flight via Puerto Jimenez
The flight is definitely the fastest way to get from San Jose to Corcovado. Even including transfers, travel time takes only 2 hours. Combined fares start from 73,000 CRC ($155).
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: How to get to San Jose Airport
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 935 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 bus 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 15,000 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: Flight from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez
Sansa Airlines, Green Airways, World Ticket, and Hahn Air operate a number of flights from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. Flights are available throughout the day during the high season (December to April), but expect fewer choices if you travel in the off-peak season.
Rates start from 70,000 CRC ($150) for the flight that takes around 50 minutes.
We highly recommend booking your tickets early because airfares can go well beyond 94,000 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 2,340 CRC ($5).
San Jose to Corcovado by Private Transport via Puerto Jimenez
If you’re travelling in a group, taking a private transfer to Corcovado from San Jose might cost about the same as a shared minivan ride — but with the added bonus of more comfort and flexibility.
Rates start from 235,000 CRC ($500) for a 4-seater car. When you split the cost, that’s about 59,000 CRC ($125) per person.
We’ve found three reliable companies offering private transfers for this route: Central Taxi Airport, Coach Costa Rica and Costa 24/7.
Book your private transport online through BookAway, which offers spacious cars that come with trusted drivers.
Private Transport via Puerto Jimenez options from San Jose to Corcovado
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!
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 kilometre (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 8,000 CRC ($17).
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.
