There are different ways to travel from San Jose to Quepos. From public buses to shared shuttle vans to private transfers or even Uber.
I will share the best ways to travel from San Jose to Quepos. To make your trip stress-free, I recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance!
Here you can find more information about Costa Rica transportation.
How far is Quepos from San Jose
The distance from San Jose to Quepos is about 164 kilometers or 102 miles by car.
Transportation Options from San Jose to Quepos
The following table outlines all transportation options from San Jose to Quepos:
Method | Travel time | Price |
---|---|---|
Public Bus from San Jose to Quepos | ~4 hours 30 minutes | ~USD 8 |
Shared Shuttle from San Jose to Quepos | 4 hours | USD 54 |
Private Transfer from San Jose to Quepos | 3 hours | USD 253-USD 480 |
Taxi from San Jose to Quepos | 3 hours | USD 150 |
Flight from San Jose to Quepos | 17 minutes | – |
Rental Car | 3 hours | – |
Getting to Quepos from San Jose
1. Public Bus from San Jose to Quepos
Journey Duration: Around 4.5 hours
There are daily direct buses from San Jose to Quepos, Costa Rica, with Terminal Transportes.
This company offers direct connections and a Colectivo, which means the bus will make many stops from San Jose to Quepos.
The prices are about 5.000 Costa Rican Colones, depending on your chosen connection.
Busses depart from the terminal at Calle 5, Ave 18/20.
Schedule direct connection:
- 06:00 AM
- 09:00 AM (Monday to Saturday)
- 12:00 PM
- 02:30 PM (Monday to Saturday)
- 06:00 PM
- 07:30 PM
Schedule Colectivo:
- 07:00 AM
- 10:00 AM
- 02:00 PM
- 04:00 PM
- 05:00 PM (Monday to Friday)
2. San Jose to Quepos Shared Shuttle
Journey Duration: 4 hours
Another great way to travel from San Jose to Quepos is by shared shuttle van.
Gray Line offers two daily shared shuttles at 06:15 AM and 02:30 PM. You will get picked up at your hotel in San Jose and dropped off at your accommodation in Quepos. The price for this service is USD 54.
Alternatively, Caribe Shuttle offers one daily trip from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to the bus terminal in Quepos at 09:30 AM.

3. Private Transfer from San Jose to Quepos
Journey Duration: 3 hours
If you are traveling in a group and want to be more flexible regarding the departure time, a private transfer may be the best option!
You can book shuttles for up to 14 persons on Bookaway.
Prices for a private shuttle from San Jose to Quepos
- Private transfer up to 5 passengers: USD 253
- Private transfer up to 14 passengers: USD 480

4. Driving with Rental Car from San Jose to Quepos
Journey Duration: 3 hours
A rental car may be a good option if you want to travel independently to Quepos. The travel distance from San Jose is 164 kilometers or 102 miles.
5. Uber or Taxi from San Jose to Quepos
Journey Duration: 1 hour
Uber is available in Costa Rica, and a trip from San Jose to Quepos costs around 37.000 Costa Rican Colones (about USD 60) outside peak times. Note; however, that the price can increase drastically due to traffic.
A taxi from San Jose to Quepos costs around USD 150.

6. Flight from San Jose to Quepos
Journey Duration: 17 minutes
Sansa Air offers daily flights between San Jose Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and Quepos Airport.
The average flight time is just 17 minutes.
Best day tours in Quepos, 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.
Here you can find some of the best tours in Quepos, Costa Rica.