Traveling from San Jose, Costa Rica, to Monteverde Cloud Forest by bus is the most economical way. However, you can also book a shared van, a private transfer, or drive with your rental car.
The Cloud Forest of Monteverde is one of the absolute highlights of the Central American country Costa Rica.
It is voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Costa Rica and offers numerous adventure activities.
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To help you better plan your trip to Monteverde, we created this guide with all available travel options from San Jose to Monteverde.
Here you can find more information about Costa Rica transportation, and don’t forget to check out our detailed Costa Rica travel guide.
How far is Monteverde from San Jose?
The distance from San Jose to Monteverde, Costa Rica, is about 140 kilometers or 87 miles.
Transportation Options from San Jose to Monteverde Cloud Forest
The following table outlines all transportation options from San Jose to Monteverde Cloud Forest:
| Method | Travel time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus from San Jose to Monteverde Cloud Forest | 4 hours 30 minutes | USD 15 |
| Shared Shuttle from San Jose to Monteverde Cloud Forest | 3 hours 30 minutes | USD 50 |
| Private Transfer from San Jose to Monteverde Cloud Forest | Custom Time | USD 175 |
| Taxi from San Jose to Monteverde Cloud Forest | 3 hours | – |
| Rental Car | 3 hours | – |
How to get to Monteverde from San Jose, Costa Rica
1. Public Bus from San Jose to Monteverde
Journey Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
The public bus is the most economical option if you want to travel from San Jose to Monteverde.
There are two daily, direct buses, and the journey takes around 4.5 hours.
Transmonteverde offers the route from San Jose to Monteverde from the San Jose downtown bus station at Terminal 7 – 10. A one-way ticket costs about 15 USD.
San Jose to Monteverde Bus Schedule
Buses depart daily at 06:30 AM and 02:30 PM from the bus terminal in San Jose.
GuateGo
On GuateGo, you can check all available transportation options from San Jose to Monteverde. It is a reliable and easy-to-use platform to compare prices & schedules and make a booking online.
2. Shared Van Shuttle
Journey Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
If you want a bit more comfort, you may want to book a shared shuttle. The driver will pick you up at your hotel or the airport in San Jose.
Shuttles depart daily at 8 AM and 02:30 PM from San Jose and 08:30 AM and 3 PM from San Jose Airport.
The trip takes about 3.5 hours, depending on your pick-up location, and costs a bit more than 50 USD per person.
3. Private Transfer
Journey Duration: Custom Time
If you are traveling in a big group or want to be more flexible, a private transfer from San Jose to Monteverde might be the best option.
You can decide when you want to depart and the driving time is only three hours. The price for one car that fits up to six people is 175USD one-way.
4. Flight from San Jose to Monteverde
Unfortunately, there is no airport in Monteverde. The closest airport is actually in San Jose.
GuateGo
On GuateGo, you can check all available transportation options from San Jose to Monteverde. It is a reliable and easy-to-use platform to compare prices & schedules and make a booking online.
5. Driving with Rental Car
Journey Duration: 3 hours
If you don’t want to depend on bus schedules or a transfer, you can also get to Monteverde by rental car.
The driving time from San Jose to Monteverde is approximately three hours, and the distance is around 140 kilometers.
Please be aware that the last 20 kilometers are not paved.
Best day tours in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Get Your Guide helps you find the best tours wherever you are heading to. It’s usually the first website I check when I plan a trip to a new place.
The following widget shows some of the best tours in Monteverde, Costa Rica.
