What to expect when visiting 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!
6 ways to get from La Fortuna to San Jose
There are 6 ways to travel the distance of 130 kilometers (81 miles) from La Fortuna to San Jose by bus (4 hours), minivan (2 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes), private Transfer (2 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours), flight (2 hours 20 minutes), Indirect bus (4 to 6 hours) and Car Rental (3 hours 30 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 2 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours and the quickest way is by minivan. The lowest priced tickets start from €5 for the bus.Where to stay in San Jose?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in San Jose.
La Fortuna to San Jose by Bus
The bus is the cheapest option at €5. However, you’ll need extra transfers to and from bus terminals, which also adds extra cost. Buses are not as reliable as minivans too, with pickpockets known to be lurking around unknowing travellers. If you become a victim, you might end up spending more than a minivan ticket.
There is only one direct bus available from La Fortuna to San Jose. This is operated by Transportes San Carlos. It departs from the town’s bus terminal at 14:45 and arrives at Terminal 7-10 in San Jose city centre at around 18:45.
Note that travel time is highly dependent on traffic. So it really can take between 4 to 6 hours. You can buy your ticket at La Fortuna Bus Station for €5.
PRO TIP: It’s always best to be mindful of your luggage. When leaving them at the compartment below the bus, watch the driver put them in and get your luggage ticket before boarding. As for the smaller bags with your valuables, it’s safer to put them in front of you than on the overhead bin.
La Fortuna to San Jose by Minivan
Most tourists prefer to take a minivan for comfort and convenience. Although shared, minivans will take you door-to-door from your hotel in La Fortuna to your hotel in San Jose, or to the airport if that’s where you’re headed. Fares start from €42 — quite expensive, but well worth it.
You can choose from seven minivan operators: RideCR, Amigo Transfer, Volcano Travel, My Pink Bus, Interbus, Tropical Tours Shuttle and Tropicalia Tours and Transportation.
Travel time is 2 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes depending on where you’re headed — to the city centre or San Jose Airport. When you book your tickets, make sure to pick the correct arrival point to avoid any hassle on the day of your trip.
You can see a more detailed list of schedules and prices in the table below. We also did the work of finding the cheapest rates so you can easily book them using the respective booking links!
Minivan schedule from La Fortuna to San Jose
We don’t recommend buying minivan tickets onsite on the day of your trip because there’s a risk of tickets being sold out. Better to book them online beforehand, it’s more convenient and you can just wait for the minivan to pick you up from your hotel.
You can book Paradise Shuttle, Interbus and Volcano Travel on BookAway. Meanwhile, Tropical Tours is a bit more expensive and can only be booked on its own websites.
La Fortuna to San Jose by Indirect Bus
If the direct bus doesn’t fit your schedule, you can take an indirect bus via Ciudad Quesada, a town 45 km southwest of La Fortuna. Combined rates cost around €6.40 and travel time is 4 to 6 hours.
Step 1: La Fortuna to Ciudad Quesada by Bus
There are a number of buses operating from La Fortuna to Ciudad Quesada from 05:00 in the morning to 19:30 in the evening.
You can choose from two routes: via El Tanque to the north and via Chachagua to the south. The El Tanque route is a bit faster, but the Chachagua route is more beautiful. Either way, you will arrive at Ciudad Quesada Terminal after 1 hour.
A ticket costs €2.60 and you can buy them at La Fortuna Bus Terminal.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you’re out of La Fortuna before 17:00 if you want to make it in time for the last connecting bus from Ciudad Quesada to San Jose.
Step 2: Ciudad Quesada to San Jose by Bus
At Ciudad Quesada Bus Stop, you can then transfer to another bus going to San Jose. You should be able to catch one any time between 04:30 to 18:15.
The bus journey from Ciudad Quesada to San Jose takes around 3 hours without traffic. You can get a ticket for €3.90. Buses park at Terminal 7-10 at Paso de la Vaca, San Jose city centre.
La Fortuna to San Jose by Car Rental
Do you plan on going on a road trip around Costa Rica? It’s an easy enough drive from La Fortuna to San Jose. The roads are paved and easy to manoeuvre, even for tourists.
We don’t recommend driving this route at night, though. 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 La Fortuna to San Jose
When you’re travelling in a group, having your own car in La Fortuna can come in handy. The town’s highlights are far apart and 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.
Once you’re done exploring La Fortuna, you can bring the same car to drive to San Jose.
Where to rent a car in San Jose
We don’t recommend renting a car in La Fortuna if you’re not going back here. Rental prices are significantly more expensive if you’re dropping off the car in another town, with rates starting from €86 on the first day.
If you’re starting your Costa Rican journey in San Jose and ending it there as well, it’s best to rent your car from the capital city. Prices are cheaper when you have the same pick-up and drop-off point, starting at €23 per day.
But if you don’t have a car yet when you arrive in La Fortuna, there are a few rental shops here you can choose from. 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.
Check Car Rentals on Skyscanner
Driving directions from San Jose to La Fortuna
There are two routes you can take when driving from La Fortuna to San Jose: 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 La Fortuna, drive south and follow the winding roads to Route 702. We recommend driving a bit slower for this part if you don’t know the roads well. You’ll pass through the towns of La Tigra, San Lorenzo, and San Ramon.
Turn left once you reach the Pan-American Highway (Carretera Interamericana) going to San Jose. Continue on this road until you reach the capital.
The entire drive from San Jose to La Fortuna takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, unless you decide to make a stop along the way — something you are definitely free to do when renting your own car!
La Fortuna to San Jose by Flight
The flight might seem like the fastest way to get from La Fortuna to San Jose. But when you add in the waiting time at the airport and the additional time you spend getting from one transfer to another, you don’t really get to save time compared to taking a door-to-door shared shuttle van or private transfer.
We don’t recommend taking a flight for this route unless your aim is to get a bird’s eye view of the Costa Rican landscapes.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: La Fortuna City Centre to La Fortuna Airport
Flights bound for San Jose depart from Arenal Airport, 8 km east of La Fortuna town centre. You can get to the airport in 20 minutes via taxi that costs around €13.80.
Step 2: La Fortuna to San Jose by Flight
Sansa Regional offers several flights from La Fortuna to San Jose every week. These flights are not available daily, though. So we recommend planning your trip and booking well beforehand if you have a strict schedule.
Airfares start from €92 and the flight takes around 30 minutes.
Step 3: San Jose Airport to San Jose City Centre by Bus or Taxi
All flights arrive at San Jose Airport, also called Juan Santamaria International Airport. From here, you’ll find San Jose city centre some 15 km southeast. You can get there in 2 ways: a 1-hour bus or a 30-minute taxi.
You can save on cash when you take the bus, which costs only €1.40. Buses are available every 10 minutes or so from the bus stop just outside the airport. It’s best to confirm with the driver if he’s going to San Jose city centre before boarding. Buses bound for Alajuela in the opposite direction also make a stop here.
Note that these buses can be crowded, especially during rush hour. It’s not rare for passengers to have to stand on the way to TUASA Terminal in San Jose city centre.
If you want to be more comfortable, you can also take a taxi for around €28. Note that airport taxis add extra fees so if you don’t want to spend even more, we recommend walking to the main road and hailing a taxi from there. You can also try hailing one through the Uber app.
PRO TIP: Uber is widely used in Costa Rica, but it is not entirely legal. There have been rare cases of Uber rides being stopped in the middle of the journey. In this case, the passengers were forced to transfer to a regular taxi.
La Fortuna to San Jose by Private Transfer
For groups, a private transfer can be cheaper than a shared minivan ride when you split the cost. You can choose from various types of vehicles — from regular cars to more luxurious ones.
Rates start from €155 for a 4-seater minivan from La Fortuna to San Jose. Divide the cost and that’s just about €39 per person.
We recommend that you book your private transfer through BookAway because they offer great customer service.
Private Transfer options from La Fortuna to San Jose
Frequently Asked Questions about La Fortuna to San Jose
What is the distance from La Fortuna to San Jose?
The distance from La Fortuna to San Jose is 130 kilometers (81 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from La Fortuna to San Jose?
The fastest way to get from La Fortuna to San Jose is by minivan and takes 2 hours 15 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to San Jose?
The cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to San Jose is by bus with ticket costs starting from €5.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from La Fortuna 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!
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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.
