How to get from Tamarindo to San Jose
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!
What are the 4 ways to travel from Tamarindo to San Jose?
There are 4 ways to travel the 260 kilometre (162 miles) distance from Tamarindo to San Jose. You can choose between the bus, minivan, private transfer and flight. The journey takes 2 to 7 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 6,700 CRC ($14.30).
Where to stay in San Jose?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in San Jose.
Tamarindo to San Jose by Bus
The bus is the cheapest option when travelling from Tamarindo to San Jose, with fares from 6,700 CRC ($14.30). However, they are not as reliable as minivans.
The bus schedule below shows a duration of 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours, but the number of stops and level of traffic along the way make it really more like a 7-hour journey. Another reason for the delay is that some buses take the route via Liberia, which adds at least 30 minutes to the journey.
Transporte Inteligente Guanacaste (TIG) is the only bus company operating on this route. They offer four daily trips from Tamarindo to San Jose:
- Via Liberia: departing at 03:30 and 07:00
- Via Puente de La Amistad: departing at 05:30 and 15:00
Empresa Alfaro and Empresa Tralapa used to offer budget-friendly bus service, but it appears they no longer operate on this route.
Bus schedule from Tamarindo to San Jose
- 24/7 customer support
If you’re travelling on a weekend or during the peak season (December to April), we recommend booking your ticket at least a day in advance. You can do that directly with Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste or through BookAway, which offers 24/7 customer service.
Transporte Inteligente buses depart from the TIG Terminal near Pacific Park and arrive at Terminal de Autobuses (TIG) in San Jose city centre.
PRO TIP: Do be careful with your luggage. If you can, put your smaller bags with your valuables in front of you instead of the overhead bin. Bigger bags will be stored in the luggage compartment below. Wait until it is safely inside before you board the bus. Also, get your luggage ticket from the driver.
Tamarindo to San Jose by Minivan
The minivan is the most popular option for tourists travelling from Tamarindo to San Jose. What we like about this option is that some minivan companies offer free hotel pickup and drop-off. This saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to and from bus stations.
Prices for a minivan ride start at 27,000 CRC ($59). The journey takes 4 to 7 hours.
Shared minivans are generally faster than buses because they don’t make as many stops. They’re also safer and more comfortable.
RideCR, Super Shuttle Costa Rica, Easy Ride, Interbus, Amigo Transfer and Costa 24/7 are the minivan operators for this route.
Minivan schedule from Tamarindo to San Jose
Book your ticket online at least a few days before your trip to secure a seat!
Tamarindo to San Jose by Flight
In a hurry? A flight from Tamarindo to San Jose takes only 2 hours, including airport transfers. Combined rates start from 75,000 CRC ($160).
This is an option to consider if you’re short on time. But we’d like to remind you that short-haul flights like this can be very harmful to the environment and not worth their excessive emissions!
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 Tamarindo Airport
You will find Tamarindo Airport some 5 km northeast of the city centre. The only way to reach it is by taxi.
It’s a short ride, so you can get to the airport in 10 to 15 minutes. Rates start from 2,340 CRC ($5).
Step 2: Flight from Tamarindo to San Jose
Sansa Airlines and World Ticket offer several daily flights from Tamarindo to San Jose. Travel time is 50 minutes, and airfares start from 72,000 CRC ($155).
Flights arrive at San Jose Airport, also called Juan Santamaria International Airport.
Step 3: San Jose Airport to San Jose City Centre
From San Jose Airport, you’ll then have to travel 17 km southeast to get to the city centre. You have two choices: a 1-hour bus or a 30-minute taxi.
The bus is the cheaper option at 700 CRC ($1.50). You can choose from two bus companies: TUASA (coloured red and white) and Station Wagon (coloured yellow and orange). You can hail them outside the airport, on the main road.
Buses are available every 10 minutes from 04:00 to 23:30. They park at TUASA Terminal in San Jose city centre.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi for 14,000 CRC ($31). They are available 24/7 from the airport. If you have an Uber app, then you can also try hailing one through it. Fares are similar to that of a taxi.
PRO TIP: Although Uber has been gaining public and government trust in Costa Rica in the past few years, it is still technically “illegal.” Many have had great experiences using them. But every now and then there would be an incident of the car being stopped and the passengers forced to find another ride.
Tamarindo to San Jose by Private Transfer
Travelling in a group? A private transport can be cheaper than a shared minivan when you split the cost.
Rates start from 129,000 CRC ($275) for a minivan that can fit 6 people. That’s just about 21,000 CRC ($46) per person. There are also larger vehicles that can accommodate up to 18 passengers.
Private Transfer options from Tamarindo to San Jose
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Tamarindo 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 about Tamarindo to San Jose
What is the driving distance from Tamarindo to San José?
How long does it take to travel overland from Tamarindo to San José?
Can I fly from Tamarindo to San José?
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.
