How to Get From Santa Teresa to San Jose
Minivan · Flight via Cobano · Private Transport · Indirect Bus + Ferry
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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 185 kilometre (115 miles) distance from Santa Teresa to San Jose. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach San Jose as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.
What are the 4 ways to travel from Santa Teresa to San Jose?
There are four ways to travel the 185 km distance from Santa Teresa to San Jose. You can choose between the minivan, flight, private, and indirect bus + ferry.
The journey takes between 2h 20m–5h and the quickest way is by flight (2h 20m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by indirect bus + ferry with tickets starting at 10,000 CRC ($23).
5h - 7h 15m
22,000 CRC ($48)
2h 20m
75,000 CRC ($165)
4h 30m - 6h 30m
144,000 CRC ($320)
5h
10,000 CRC ($23)
Where to stay in San Jose?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in San Jose at the bottom of this page.
Already in San Jose?
Onward from San Jose
Once you're in San Jose, here's where to next — 10 researched onward routes to pick from.
Santa Teresa to San Jose by Minivan
Taking a combined minivan and ferry is a straightforward way to get from Santa Teresa to San Jose. The minivan company handles your ferry transfer, so you don’t have to worry about tickets or connections.
With this option, you'll take a shuttle from Santa Teresa to Paquera Port. From there, you'll transfer to a ferry to cross the strait to Puntarenas. After the crossing, you will return to your shuttle, which will take you to San Jose.
Minivan rates for the Santa Teresa to San Jose route start from 22,000 CRC ($48) and the travel time is 5h - 7h 15m.
Minivan schedule from Santa Teresa to San Jose
Ready to book your minivan?
From 22,000 CRC ($48) · 5h - 7h 15m
Direct operator sites
Booking Tip
Santa Teresa to San Jose by Flight via Cobano
Travelling from Santa Teresa to San Jose by flight will take just a little over 2h 20m. It’s definitely the fastest, but it’s also quite expensive with rates from 75,000 CRC ($165).
Santa Teresa doesn’t have its own airport so you’ll first have to travel by land to Cobano Airport, and then take a flight from there to San Jose.
Step 1: How to get to Cobano Airport
From Santa Teresa, the most convenient way to get to Cobano Airport is by private transfer. You can request this from your hotel beforehand or you can just hail a taxi. Rates start from 18,000 CRC ($40) for the journey that takes 40 minutes.
Another option is to book your ride online via Tropical Tours Shuttle, with fares starting from 14,000 CRC ($30).
Step 2: Flight from Cobano to San Jose
Sansa Airlines, Green Airways and Hahn Air offer several daily flights from Cobano to San Jose.
Airfares start from 56,000 CRC ($125). The flight arrives at San Jose Airport after around 40 minutes.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Previously, you had to fly from Tambor to San Jose when travelling from Santa Teresa. But since October 2023, the flights have been moved to Cobano. Keep this in mind when booking your flight!
Step 3: Bus from San Jose Airport to San Jose City Centre
From San Jose Airport, you’ll then have to travel 17 km southeast to reach the city centre. There are two ways to do that: a bus for 1 hour that costs 680 CRC ($1.50) or a 30-minute taxi with rates from 14,000 CRC ($31).
To take the bus, you’ll have to hail them from the main road. They’re available every 10 minutes from 04:00 to 23:00. TUASA (coloured red and white) and Station Wagon (coloured orange and yellow) are the 2 bus companies you can choose from. They both arrive at TUASA Terminal in San Jose city centre.
If you're taking a taxi, we recommend hailing one from the main road (just a short walk from the airport arrivals hall) because there is an additional fee for airport taxis. Or you can also try getting a ride via Uber for around the same price.
Although widely used, Uber is still not 100% “legal” in Costa Rica. There have been rare accounts of tourists being stopped in the middle of the journey and asked to transfer to a taxi. If you’re not willing to take that risk, might as well take a regular taxi.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Santa Teresa to San Jose by Private Transport
Travelling in a group? A private transfer from Santa Teresa to San Jose might be cheaper than a minivan when you're travelling in a large group and sharing the cost.
BookAway offers various vehicles depending on the size of your group. Prices for private transfer start at 144,000 CRC ($320) for a 5-seater. Split it with your group, and it’s about 29,000 CRC ($64) each.
Private transfers from Santa Teresa to San Jose take two different routes: completely overland or including a ferry ride from Paquera to Puntarenas. This ferry ride costs 810 CRC ($1.80) per person and ferry tickets are not included in the cost of the private transfer.
If you don’t want to take a ferry, check the details first before booking your ride.
Travel time with a private transfer to San Jose from Santa Teresa takes around 4h 30m - 6h 30m.
Santa Teresa to San Jose by Indirect Bus + Ferry
An affordable way to travel from Santa Teresa to San Jose is to take the indirect bus. Combined fares start from 10,000 CRC ($23).
This option involves two separate buses and a ferry transfer. Travel time is around 5h.
Step 1: Bus from Santa Teresa to Cobano
There are several bus trips available from Santa Teresa to Cobano throughout the day. Make sure to take a bus that will give you enough time to transfer to your connecting bus in Cobano within the same day.
The bus will pass through the main road from Santa Teresa’s far end. You can simply hail it from the street. A ticket costs 1,000 CRC ($2.20) and you can buy one from the driver.
The bus arrives at Cobano Bus Stop after 1 hour.
Step 2: Bus and Ferry from Cobano to San Jose
Transportes Cobano operates the bus from Cobano to San Jose.
From Cobano Bus Stop, the bus takes you by land to Paquera Port, where you’ll transfer to a ferry heading to Puntarenas. After the ferry ride, you'll reboard the same bus, which continues by land to San Jose Airport and finally to the city centre. With just one trip available daily, we recommend booking your ride online beforehand. The combined bus + ferry ticket costs 9,100 CRC ($20). You can also buy it directly from the driver for a few dollars cheaper, but there's a risk of tickets selling out.Travel time is around 4h.
Our favourite places to stay in San Jose
Here are our favourite places to stay in San Jose for every budget.
Treat YourselfBarceló San José
Barceló Hotel blows most other city hotels out of the water. It has amenities usually only found in resorts, and for extortionate prices. Here you’ll find an outdoor pool, spa, gym, three squash courts and two tennis courts. Plus they offer a free airport shuttle.
If you don’t fancy venturing out of the hotel to get some food, no worries! There are three restaurants and a bar on site offering a variety of different cuisines. The rooms are spacious and clean, providing comfortable beds for a good night’s sleep.
- Outdoor swimming pool and spa
- Tennis courts
- Free airport shuttle
- Three onsite restaurants and a bar
Double rooms start from $90 per night
Treat YourselfIsla Verde Hotel
Isla Verde Hotel is a real gem within the urban jungle that is San Jose. They have so many extras that you wouldn’t expect for the price – a gym, free shuttle to the airport and a great breakfast every morning.
The hotel is ultra-modern, boasting some beautifully designed rooms and seating areas. All of which are very clean and comfortable. If you don’t feel like venturing too far for food, their onsite restaurant serving Cantonese food is highly reviewed!
- Free airport shuttle
- Delicious breakfast included
- Onsite gym
- Modern and clean rooms
Double rooms start from $90 per night
Mid-RangeEco Stay Hostel
Eco Stay Hostel starts to feel like home after a while, as it has a shared living room, communal kitchen, a lovely garden area, and even barbeque facilities. You can even spend your evenings at the hotel having a friendly competition of snooker or darts.
The friendly hosts add to the welcoming atmosphere. Making sure that your room is clean and comfortable, whilst offering their help in any way that they can. The rooms are basic, but nicely decorated and have everything you could need whilst in San Jose.
- Shared living room
- Communal kitchen
- Good location
- Friendly hosts
Double rooms between $50-90 per night
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Santa Teresa to San Jose. 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
The distance from Santa Teresa to San Jose is 185 km.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Why Visit San Jose?
San Jose is a bustling urban landscape in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Being the capital city, it may not be as pretty as the beach and jungle destinations that the country is known for. But if you are stopping by anyway, might as well explore for a few hours or a day before moving on to your next stop.
You will find plenty of things to do in San Jose. Within the city, you can check out the colonial buildings turned museums at Barrio Amon, try out the famed restaurants at Barrio Escalante, or party the night away in El Pueblo. If you want to venture outside the city limits, the Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens are highly recommended!
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About the Authors
Senior Travel Writer
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.
Founder & Trip Planning Expert
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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Ferry Schedule Notice
Ferry schedules can change due to weather, sea conditions, or seasonal adjustments. We recommend confirming departure times directly with the operator, especially during monsoon season.
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