Visiting Corcovado National Park from San Jose is made possible by several available modes of transportation. Although the travel distance from San Jose to Corcovado is far, travel time greatly depends on your choice of transport.
How far is San Jose from Corcovado
The distance to Corcovado from San Jose is 102 miles or 165 kilometers.
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Here you can find more information about Costa Rica transportation.
Transportation Options from San Jose to Corcovado
The following table outlines all transportation options from San Jose to Corcovado:
| Method | Travel time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus from San Jose to Corcovado | 9 hours | USD 20 |
| Shared Shuttle from San Jose to Corcovado | ~5 hours | USD 79 |
| Flight from San Jose to Corcovado | ~1 hour | USD 111-USD 155 |
| Rental Car | ~5 hours | – |
GuateGo
Tip: On GuateGo, you can check all available transportation from San Jose to Corcovado. It is a reliable and easy-to-use platform to compare prices & schedules and make a booking online.
1. Driving from San Jose to Corcovado
Journey Duration: ~5 hours
You can rent a car at the Juan Santamaria International Airport and drive on your own from San Jose to Corcovado.
The fastest route comes from Route 27 and then exits to Route 34. From here on, you can take the road to either Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay.
Via Puerto Jimenez, continue towards the west to Route 245.
Via Drake Bay, continue to the town of Sierpe. From here, you can take a one-hour taxi boat to Corcovado.
The total driving time from San Jose to Corcovado is seven to nine hours. You will pass by tolls, so be ready for loose change.
With such long driving hours, it is better to stretch your travel to two days. Stay for the night in one of the scenic towns along the way for a more comfortable ride.
2. Taking a Bus from San Jose to Corcovado
Journey Duration: 9 hours
Via Puerto Jimenez, you can ride a bus from the San Jose bus station to TUASA Terminal. Your landmark is a Coca-Cola distribution center located nearby.
Search for the San Carlos Bus Terminal (also called Terminal Atlantico Norte) from this terminal. Book a Blanco Lobo bus which will take you to Puerto Jimenez. This two-bus trip takes nine hours and will cost you a little less than 20 USD.
Via Drake Bay, you can take a bus from the San Jose bus station with the TRACOPA bus company. You can choose the San Jose to Sierpe route, which will take eight hours and thirty minutes of travel time. From there, you can take a boat to Drake Bay and then go onwards to Corcovado.
3. Getting on a Shuttle from San Jose to Corcovado
Journey Duration: ~5 hours
Via Puerto Jimenez, you can take a shuttle service that will pick you up from your San Jose hotel. This shared shuttle service will take you to Puerto Jimenez in seven and a half hours.
The cost of this mode of transport is 89 USD. Easy Ride Shuttle Services has two schedules for this route – 4 AM and 2 PM.
Via Drake Bay, the shuttle service that picks you up from San Jose will bring you to Sierpe in five and a half hours. The cost of this mode of transport is 79 USD.
Easy Ride Shuttle Services also has two schedules for this route – 5 AM and 3 PM. From Sierpe, you can take a boat to Drake Bay and then go onwards to Corcovado.
If you bring your surfboard on any of these routes, a charge of 20 USD applies.
4. Flying from San Jose to Corcovado
Journey Duration: ~1 hour
Booking a flight to Corcovado from San Jose may be time-efficient, but it costs far more than the other public transport modes.
Via Puerto Jimenez, you can catch a flight directly from Juan Santamaria International Airport. Skyway services this route. It takes 40 minutes to reach Puerto Jimenez and will cost you from 111 to 155 USD.
Via Drake Bay, you must go on a flight from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Palmar Sur, which takes one hour and ten minutes.
Sansa Air and Skyway service this route. The airfare ranges from 110 to 137 USD. From Palmar Sur, you must go on a 20-minute taxi ride to the town of Sierpe. From there, you’ll ride a boat to Drake Bay and then go onwards to Corcovado.
There is also an option of a direct flight from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Drake Bay. Skyway services this route. It takes a little over an hour to reach Drake Bay and costs between USD 111 to 155.
Best day tours in Corcovado, 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 Corcovado, Costa Rica.
