What to expect when visiting Monteverde
Monteverde is a nature lover’s paradise in the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range. Up in the clouds is where you’ll find one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica, Monteverde Cloud Forest, one of the most popular things to do here.
With its lush mountains forever touching the clouds, Monteverde is rich in flora and fauna — 2,500 species of plants, 400 types of birds, and 100 varieties of mammals! This district is green, moist, and beautiful all year round. But if you want to enjoy all the best things to do in Monteverde with a bit of sunshine, visit during the dry season (December to April).
3 ways to get from San Jose to Monteverde
There are 3 ways to travel the distance of 135 kilometers (84 miles) from San Jose to Monteverde by bus (4 hours), minivan (2 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours) and private Transfer (2 hours to 3 hours 50 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 2 to 4 hours and the quickest way is by private transfer. The lowest priced tickets start from 6,800 CRC ($13.10) for the bus.Where to stay in Monteverde?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Monteverde.
San Jose to Monteverde by Bus
On a budget? A public bus is a popular option with locals and backpackers because it is cheaper than a minivan — a ticket only costs 6,800 CRC ($13.10). It’s worth noting that because of traffic and its many stops, the bus is also the slowest. Travel time from San Jose to Monteverde can take around 4 hours.
Transmonteverde is the only bus company operating on this route. It offers one daily bus trip and you can pre-book a ticket through BookAway. We highly recommend booking online because tickets sell out fast.
Departure and arrival station
This public bus departs in the centre from Terminal 7-10 and parks at Transmonteverde bus station in Santa Elena city centre.
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Bus schedule from San Jose to Monteverde
PRO TIP: Tickets are cheaper when you buy them at the bus station on the day of your trip. But we don’t recommend this because there’s a risk of tickets being already sold out.
San Jose to Monteverde by Minivan
The minivan is an easy and comfortable service that brings you in 2 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours hours to Monteverde from San Jose. Ticket prices start from 26,000 CRC ($50) — this already includes free pick-up. You can also book a minivan that picks you up at San Jose Airport.
The most popular minivan companies for this route are Amigo Transfer, RideCR, Monteverde Shuttle Bus, Maple Tico Tours, Super Shuttle Costa Rica, Easy Ride and Montetravel.
Pick-up and drop-off
All minivans provide free pick-up from your hotel in San Jose. After a 2.5 to 4-hour scenic trip, you will be dropped off at your destination in Santa Elena and Monteverde area.
Minivan schedule from San Jose to Monteverde
BookAway is our preferred booking website for its top-notch customer service and availability of all mentioned minibus operators.
San Jose to Monteverde by Private Transfer
Travelling in a group? You can book a 4-seater private transport from San Jose to Monteverde/Sante Elena from 98,000 CRC ($190). Divide the cost and that’s just about 24,000 CRC ($47) per person.
Private Transfer options from San Jose to Monteverde
Frequently Asked Questions about San Jose to Monteverde
What is the airport code for San Jose Costa Rica?
Note that San Jose, Costa Rica airport is often confused with San Jose airport in California, which is officially named “San Jose International Airport”, but has the ITATA code SJC.
What is the best time to visit Monteverde?
If you want to visit Monteverde with less rain, we recommend going in the dry season which is between November to May. The rainy season lasts from June to October, but you can still be lucky to find some good weather in July and August. Same for the dry season, even during these months, you might even experience heavy rainfalls outside of the rainy season.
Don’t let the weather put you off, though. The misty clouds forming Monteverde cloud forest are a sight on its own. The mysterious clouds and animal sounds will give you a true jungle experience that you won’t find in Costa Rica’s coastal towns.
Can I visit the Arenal Volcano from Monteverde?
We would rather recommend taking the minivan to La Fortuna that we mentioned above. La Fortuna offers lots of fun activities to experience and is one of our favourite destinations in Costa Rica.
Can I visit the Arenal Volcano from Monteverde?
We would rather recommend taking the minivan to La Fortuna that we mentioned above. La Fortuna offers lots of fun activities to experience and is one of our favourite destinations in Costa Rica.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from San Jose to Monteverde. 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.
