San Jose to La Fortuna

Want to know how to get from San Jose to La Fortuna? In this post, we’ll share a summary of the seven ways to get there and compare each option on duration, costs and level of comfort. For each option, we go into more detail to help you decide which transport provider to book with and where to buy your tickets.

What to expect when visiting La Fortuna

La Fortuna translates to “The Fortune” in English, which seems pretty accurate as you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot while visiting here. As the gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna attracts hiking and nature lovers eagerly waiting to explore the park’s two volcanoes — the still very active Arenal and the inactive dormant Chato.

And let’s not forget about the incredible views that this laidback town is blessed with too. From virtually any spot in La Fortuna, you can see Arenal Volcano standing guard over the area.

7 ways to get from San Jose to La Fortuna

There are seven ways to travel the distance of 160 km (99 miles) from San Jose to La Fortuna: by direct bus (4-5 hours), minivan (3h-4h40m), private transfer (3 hours), flight (1h10m), indirect bus (1h10m), day trip (14 hours) and car rental (3.5 hours). The journey takes between 1h10m - 14h and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from $4 (2,000 CRC) for the direct bus.

San Jose to La Fortuna by Direct Bus

Duration: 4-5 hours

Starts from: $4 (2,000 CRC)

Duration: 4-5 hours

Cost: $4 (2,000 CRC)

The direct bus is the cheapest option for the San Jose to La Fortuna route, but unlike the minivan, you’ll need to travel to and from the bus terminals. Ticket prices start from only $5.50 (3,000 CRC) and travel time is around 4 hours, sometimes longer depending on traffic.

Operated by Autotransportes San Carlos, there is only one direct bus available daily and it departs every morning at 08:40. Note that it is not airconditioned, and the heat can be uncomfortable.

Departure and arrival station

The bus departs from Terminal 7-10 in San Jose city centre. Upon arrival at the bus station, be aware of scammers. They will tell you that the bus has already left and will then offer expensive taxi rides. Immediately look for the bus or head to the ticket counter.

You will be dropped off at La Fortuna Bus Station, which is just within walking distance from most accommodations in La Fortuna.

Direct bus schedule from San Jose to La Fortuna

Alternative: Direct Bus from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna

Duration: 3.5 hours

Costs: $4 (2,000 CRC)

Duration: 3.5 hours

Costs: $4 (2,000 CRC)

When coming from Juan Santamaria International Airport, you don’t have to go all the way to San Jose city centre to take the bus. There is also one direct bus departing for La Fortuna from La Radial Bus Station, which is less than 2 km away from the airport.

The thing is, this direct bus departs at 06:50 in the morning. That means you can only take it if you arrive very early at San Jose Airport, or if you spend the night in the area.

A bus ticket from La Radial to La Fortuna costs about $4 (2,000 CRC). The bus journey takes around 3 hours.

If you arrive at the airport later in the day — but still before lunch — you can still take the bus from La Radial, but only up to Ciudad Quesada. From here, you can take another bus to La Fortuna. Check out the next section by indirect bus for more details.

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 La Fortuna by Indirect Bus

Duration: 1h10m

Starts from: $7 (4,000 CRC)

Duration: 1h10m

Cost: $7 (4,000 CRC)

The indirect bus via Ciudad Quesada is a good alternative if you don’t like to plan and would rather just show up at the bus terminal. You will have to take two buses, but it comes with the advantage that buses depart more frequently. This option is just $1.50 more expensive than a direct bus with combined rates from $7 (4,000 CRC).

When taking the indirect bus journey from San Jose to La Fortuna, you will first take a bus from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada and then another bus from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna. Total travel time is 5-6 hours.

Step 1: San Jose to Ciudad Quesada by Bus

Duration: 3hrs 40m

Costs: $4.20 (2,000 CRC)

Duration: 3hrs 40m

Costs: $4.20 (2,000 CRC)

Ciudad Quesada is a district located 95 km northwest of San Jose.

The buses bound for Ciudad Quesada also depart from Terminal 7-10. These buses are available from 05:00 until 18:00 with a 40-minute interval.

There is also no need to buy a ticket beforehand. You can buy them from the driver for around $4.20 (2,000 CRC). Travel time from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada is almost 4 hours, but the ride can take longer depending on the traffic.

Indirect Bus options from San Jose to La Fortuna

Step 2: Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna by Bus

Duration: 1hr 30m

Costs: $2.80 (1,000 CRC)

Duration: 1hr 30m

Costs: $2.80 (1,000 CRC)

For the second part of this journey, you can choose between two bus routes from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna:

via El Tanque to the north (a bit faster)

via Chachagua to the south (more scenic)

The routes via El Tanque and Chachagua cost the same and take the same time.

Travel time from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna takes around 1.5 hours. If you cannot decide which route to take, just take the next departing bus.

Buses are available from 04:00 to 21:30. A ticket costs $2.80 (1,000 CRC) and you can buy them from the bus driver.

Indirect Bus options from San Jose to La Fortuna

Alternative: Indirect Bus from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna

Duration: 5 hours

Costs: $6 (3,000 CRC)

Duration: 5 hours

Costs: $6 (3,000 CRC)

You can also take an indirect bus from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna. It’s basically the same process, you’ll just have to take the bus from the bus terminal in La Radial, instead of Terminal 7-10 in San Jose centre.

Here’s how your journey will go:

From San Jose Airport, take a 10-minute taxi to La Radial Bus Terminal. This should cost around $5 (3,000 CRC).

At La Radial, take a bus to Ciudad Quesada. These buses depart at 08:05, 09:05, 10:05, 11:05 and 18:05. Buses from San Jose city centre also make a stop here. So you should be able to catch a bus every hour. A ticket costs around $3 (2,000 CRC).

From Ciudad Quesada, transfer to a bus going to La Fortuna. These buses are available from 05:00 to 19:30 and a ticket costs $2.50 (1,000 CRC).

Combined travel time by indirect bus from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna is around 5 hours.

San Jose to La Fortuna by Car Rental

Duration: 3.5 hours

Starts from: $25 (13,000 CRC)

Duration: 3.5 hours

Cost: $25 (13,000 CRC)

Driving from San Jose to La Fortuna is also possible. The roads between the two cities are paved and easy to manoeuvre, even for tourists. Still, it’s best to drive only when you plan to arrive in La Fortuna before 17:00.

We don’t recommend driving this route at night. It gets dark pretty early in this region. And there are a lot of twists and turns in some areas, which might not be safe if you’re not familiar with the roads. Also, there are plenty of trucks taking these roads at night!

Why rent a car from San Jose to La Fortuna

We especially recommend renting a car when you’re coming back to San Jose after visiting La Fortuna. Car rental prices are cheaper that way — about 1/4 the price compared to when you’re dropping off the car in La Fortuna.

If you’re travelling in a group, your rental car can also come in handy when exploring La Fortuna. The town centre itself is just a few blocks of accommodations and places to eat. Its highlights, however, are far apart.

You’ll need a car (or a motorbike) to travel between Arenal Volcano, Chato Volcano, Fortuna Waterfalls, El Salto, and the town’s other attractions.

There are taxis in town, but they can be expensive, even for short distances. Buses are also available, but don’t depart frequently. So having your own car can definitely help you do more and go to more places!

Where to rent a car in San Jose

There are plenty of car rental shops in Costa Rica’s capital city or at San Jose Airport. You should be able to rent a car whether you plan to return to San Jose or not. Just expect additional costs when you drop off the vehicle in another city, like La Fortuna.

You can ask your hotel for recommendations on where to rent a car, or you can just find one online.

We normally recommend checking Skyscanner for the best car rental prices (and flights), but occasionally you might find even better prices on Kayak. Both are reliable search engines which make it easy to search for the cheapest car deals and apply relevant filters.

One-day car rental costs around $25 (13,000 CRC) per day when you’re returning the car to San Jose. If you’re dropping off the car in La Fortuna or elsewhere in Costa Rica, rental prices are significantly more expensive, starting at $115 (60,000 CRC) on the first day.

Check Car Rentals on Skyscanner

Driving directions from San Jose to La Fortuna

There are two routes you can take when driving from San Jose to La Fortuna: via San Ramon and via Ciudad Quesada. San Ramon is the most direct, and usually the route that will be recommended to you when you use Waze or Google Maps.

From San Jose, take the Pan-American Highway (Carretera Interamericana) going to Puntarenas. Exit at San Ramon. Drive through the town and continue on to Route 702. In case your Waze stops working, don’t worry. There will be plenty of road signs pointing the right way to La Fortuna.

Prepare for winding roads (and amazing landscapes) as you enter Route 702. These roads are still paved, but we recommend driving a bit slower for safety.

The entire drive from San Jose to La Fortuna takes about 3.5 hours, unless you decide to make a stop along the way — something you are definitely free to do when renting your own car!

San Jose to La Fortuna by Minivan

Duration: 3h-4h40m

Starts from: $36 (19,000 CRC)

Duration: 3h-4h40m

Cost: $36 (19,000 CRC)

Taking a minivan shuttle from San Jose to La Fortuna is the most popular option, and also the best way to travel this route.

With a shuttle, you get an airconditioned ride that comes with free hotel pick-up/drop-off. The journey takes between 3-5 hours and minivan rates start from $36 (19,000 CRC).

Coming from the airport? You can even book a shuttle that picks you up for free at San Jose Airport. When you arrive, the driver will be waiting at the arrival hall holding a sign with your name on it. This way, you won’t need to spend an extra night in the city of San Jose and also save yourself taxi costs.

There are several companies operating minivan shuttles from San Jose to La Fortuna. Below, we give an overview of the schedule of the recommended companies.

Shared minivan schedule from San Jose to La Fortuna

San Jose to La Fortuna by Flight

Duration: 1h10m

Starts from: $115 (61,000 CRC)

Duration: 1h10m

Cost: $115 (61,000 CRC)

You can also take a flight from San Jose to La Fortuna, but we don’t really recommend it. When you include the airport transfers and the waiting time at the airport, you don’t really get to save time or money with this option.

Still want to take a flight? Read on for a step-by-step guide.

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 or Taxi

Duration: 40 minutes

Costs: $1.50 (1,000 CRC)

Duration: 40 minutes

Costs: $1.50 (1,000 CRC)

San Jose Airport, also called Juan Santamaria International Airport, is 15 km northwest of San Jose city centre. You can get there in 2 ways: a 40-minute bus or a 30-minute taxi.

On a budget? A bus ride only costs $1.50 (1,000 CRC) and it departs frequently throughout the day. Buses are available at TUASA Terminal every 10 minutes from 04:00 to 23:00. Just look for any of these two bus companies: TUASA (coloured red and white) and Station Wagon (coloured orange and yellow).

A taxi ride is more expensive with rates from $25 (13,000 CRC), but also more convenient because you don’t need to go to the bus terminal. You can just hail a taxi from the street or through the ride-hailing app Uber.

PRO TIP: While Uber is widely used in Costa Rica, it is still not entirely legal. There have been rare cases of Uber rides being stopped in the middle of the journey, not something you’d like to risk when in a hurry to make it to your flight. It’s best to confirm with your hotel whether it’s safe to use Uber before booking a ride.

Step 2: San Jose to La Fortuna by Flight

Duration: 1hr 10m

Costs: $100 (52,000 CRC)

Duration: 1hr 10m

Costs: $100 (52,000 CRC)

Sansa Airlines operates one daily flight from San Jose to La Fortuna. This departs at 12:00 noon every day.

Airfares start from $100 (53,000 CRC) and flight time is around 1 hour 10 minutes.

Step 3: La Fortuna Airport to La Fortuna City Centre

Duration: 20 minutes

Costs: $15 (8,000 CRC)

Duration: 20 minutes

Costs: $15 (8,000 CRC)

All flights arrive at Arenal Airport, about 8 km east of La Fortuna centre. The best way to get to your hotel would be to take a taxi.

Expect to pay around $15 (8,000 CRC) for the 20-minute taxi ride.

San Jose to La Fortuna by Private Transfer

Duration: 3 hours

Starts from: $135 (70,000 CRC)

Duration: 3 hours

Cost: $135 (70,000 CRC)

If you travel from San Jose to La Fortuna in a group, a private transfer is often more convenient. There’s no need to pick up other guests and the driver will bring you straight from your hotel or San Jose Airport to your accommodation in La Fortuna. Also, a private minivan is already cheaper if you travel with 3 or more people.

Private minivans for 6 people usually cost $135 (70,000 CRC) — that’s just around $22 (12,000 CRC) per person if you’re in a group of 6. Bigger vehicles are also available for larger groups of up to 18 people and these vans cost around $330 (174,000 CRC).

San Jose to La Fortuna by Day Trip

Duration: 14 hours

Starts from: $170 (88,000 CRC)

Duration: 14 hours

Cost: $170 (88,000 CRC)

Short on time? You can also visit La Fortuna via a day trip from San Jose. This group tour takes around 14 hours, including roundtrip transfers. We don’t think that’s enough time to fully explore La Fortuna, to be honest. But good enough if you really don’t have more time to spare.

We recommend booking your day trip with GetYourGuide, which will allow you to enjoy the best of La Fortuna: La Paz and San Fernando Waterfalls, hot springs on the base of Arenal Volcano, zip lining, wildlife sighting, and authentic Costa Rican lunch and dinner, among others.

Prices start from $170 (88,000 CRC) per person.