Costa Rica Monteverde

How to get from San Jose to Monteverde

In this in-depth route guide, you can compare the best ways to travel the 135 kilometers (84 miles) from San Jose to Monteverde. Our team of indpendent travel experts researched each route — breaking down each option by travel time, price, and comfort. Plus, we’ll share the best booking options to help you get the best deal.

Written by Ela - Senior Travel WriterReviewed by Maarten - Trip Planning ExpertLast updated: January 11, 2025

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Why visit 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).

What are the 3 ways to travel from San Jose to Monteverde?

There are 3 ways to travel the 135 kilometers (84 miles) from San Jose to Monteverde. You can choose between the bus, minivan and private transport. The journey takes 2 to 5 hours and the quickest way is by private transport. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 3,890 CRC ($7.70).

Transport

Duration

Pricing

Transport Options

Bus

From 3,890 CRC ($7.70)

Minivan

2h 45m - 5h

From 25,000 CRC ($50)

Book Tickets

Private Transport

2h - 3h 50m

From 95,000 CRC ($190)

Book Tickets

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

Duration: 4h

Costs: 3,890 CRC ($7.70)

Duration: 4h

Costs: 3,890 CRC ($7.70)

On a budget? A public bus is a popular option with locals and backpackers because it is cheaper than a minivan.

It’s worth noting that because of traffic and its many stops, the bus can be the slowest option. Travel time from San Jose to Monteverde takes around 4 hours or more.

Transmonteverde is the only bus company operating on this route. It offers two daily departures at 06:30 and 14:30.

We highly recommend booking online because tickets sell out fast. A ticket costs 3,890 CRC ($7.70) plus a booking fee on the Transmonteverde website. You can also pre-book a ticket through BookAway, but expect higher prices.

Departure and arrival station

This public bus departs in San Jose centre from Terminal 7-10 and parks at Transmonteverde bus station in Santa Elena, the gateway to Monteverde.

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 schedule from San Jose to Monteverde

Terminal 7-10

Standard

Transmonteverde Bus Terminal

06:30

10:30

14:30

18:30

TransMonteverde

3,890 CRC ($7.70)

Get Your Tickets

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 sold out.

San Jose to Monteverde by Minivan

Duration: 2h 45m - 5h

Costs: 25,000 CRC ($50)

Duration: 2h 45m - 5h

Costs: 25,000 CRC ($50)

The minivan is an easy and comfortable way to reach Monteverde from San Jose, with some journeys taking less than 3 hours! But depending on the company and traffic conditions, the trip can take anywhere from 2 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours.

Ticket prices start from 25,000 CRC ($50) and usually include drop-off at your hotel in Monteverde. Some companies will pick you up right from your hotel, while others have set pick-up spots. Just double-check where you need to be when you book! You can also grab a minivan from San Jose Airport.

You can choose from at least eight companies operating on this route.

IMPORTANT: Some minivan operators require a minimum of two passengers for booking.

Minivan schedule from San Jose to Monteverde

Amigo Rent a Car - San Jose

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

06:00

10:00

Amigo Transfer

25,000 CRC ($50)

Get Your Tickets

InterContinental Costa Rica at Multiplaza Mall

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

06:30

3h 30m

10:00

Amigo Transfer

25,000 CRC ($50)

Get Your Tickets

Denny's Alajuela Diner

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

07:15

2h 45m

10:00

Amigo Transfer

25,000 CRC ($50)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose Airport (SJO)

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

13:00

4h 30m

17:30

14:40

17:40

RideCR

From 28,000 CRC ($55)

San Jose Airport (SJO)

Shuttle

Monteverde - Hotel List

14:00

2h 52m

16:52

Monteverde Shuttle Bus

28,000 CRC ($55)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose - Hotel List

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

14:00

3h 10m

17:10

Maple Tico Tours

28,000 CRC ($55)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose Airport (SJO)

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

14:00

2h 55m

16:55

Maple Tico Tours

28,000 CRC ($55)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose Airport (SJO)

Standard

Monteverde - Any hotel

14:00

17:00

Jorge’s Taxis and Shuttles

28,000 CRC ($56)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose - Hotel List

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

07:00

4h 30m

11:30

14:00

4h 30m

18:30

Interbus

30,000 CRC ($59)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose Airport (SJO)

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

07:00

12:00

14:00

19:00

Interbus

30,000 CRC ($59)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose Airport (SJO)

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

08:00

2h 50m

10:50

15:00

2h 50m

17:50

Super Shuttle Costa Rica

30,000 CRC ($59)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose - Hotel List

Standard

Monteverde - Hotel List

07:15

3h 35m

10:50

14:20

3h 30m

17:50

Super Shuttle Costa Rica

30,000 CRC ($59)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose - Hotel List

Standard

Monteverde - Any hotel

07:00

11:00

Easy Ride

31,000 CRC ($61)

Get Your Tickets

San Jose Airport (SJO)

Standard

Monteverde - Any hotel

08:00

3h 30m

11:30

13:00

3h 30m

16:30

Easy Ride

31,000 CRC ($61)

Get Your Tickets

Show 9 more operator(s)

Pick-up and drop-off

Minivans pick you up either from your hotel in San Jose or from designated points in the San Jose city centre. After a 2.5 to 5-hour scenic trip, you will be dropped off at your destination in the Santa Elena and Monteverde area.

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 Transport

Duration: 2h - 3h 50m

Costs: 95,000 CRC ($190)

Duration: 2h - 3h 50m

Costs: 95,000 CRC ($190)

Travelling in a group? You can book a 4-seater private transport from San Jose to Monteverde/Sante Elena from 95,000 CRC ($190). Divide the cost and that’s about 24,000 CRC ($47) per person.

Travel time is around 2 hours to 3 hours 50 minutes.

Private Transport options from San Jose to Monteverde

Standard

Standard Car 4 PAX

Price per person = 24,000 CRC ($47)

Montetravel

95,000 CRC ($190)

Get Your Tickets

Standard

Standard Car 4 PAX

Price per person = 24,000 CRC ($47)

Montetravel

95,000 CRC ($190)

Get Your Tickets

Standard

Standard Minivan 5 PAX

Price per person = 20,000 CRC ($40)

Transportes Varela Monteverde CR

100,000 CRC ($200)

Get Your Tickets

Standard

Standard Minivan 5 PAX

Price per person = 20,000 CRC ($40)

Jorge’s Taxis and Shuttles

100,000 CRC ($200)

Get Your Tickets

SUV

SUV Car 4 PAX

Price per person = 26,000 CRC ($52)

Central Taxi Airport

106,000 CRC ($210)

Get Your Tickets

Standard

Standard Minivan 5 PAX

Price per person = 24,000 CRC ($48)

Transportes Varela Monteverde CR

121,000 CRC ($240)

Get Your Tickets

Standard

Standard Minivan 9 PAX

Price per person = 15,000 CRC ($31)

Interbus

139,000 CRC ($275)

Get Your Tickets

SUV

SUV Car 4 PAX

Price per person = 98,000 CRC ($195)

Relaxury

393,000 CRC ($780)

Get Your Tickets

SUV

SUV Car 4 PAX

Price per person = 98,000 CRC ($195)

Relaxury

393,000 CRC ($780)

Get Your Tickets

Show 4 more operator(s)

Frequently Asked Questions about San Jose to Monteverde

What is the airport code for San Jose Costa Rica?

The official airport code (IATA) for San Jose, Costa Rica is “SJO”. This IATA code is derived from the official name of San Jose airport: “Juan Santamaría International Airport”.
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?

To start with, when visiting Monteverde don’t expect a bright blue sky with high temperatures. Due to Monteverde’s high altitude at 4,662 feet (1,440 m) above sea level, temperatures are colder than in the rest of Costa Rica. Temperatures in Monteverde are around 24 degrees (75°F) all year round, but it can cool down significantly overnight.
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?

In theory yes, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Although the direct route from Santa Elena/Monteverde to Arenal Volcano is only about 115 km, the road is full of bumps and in bad condition.
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?

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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About the author(s)

Ela

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.

Maarten

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.