San Jose is a vibrant city filled with history, life, and nature. Despite its small population, it is an incredibly beautiful, modern, and vibrant city. To witness all its beauty, check out our guide on the best ways to travel from Monteverde to San Jose!
The Central Valley is the geographic heart of Costa Rica, and this heart has a city that beats at it with the strongest blood. It’s San Jose, Costa Rica’s humming business and cultural capital.
Like any major capital city, San Jose is a sprawling city with a lot going on. From museums to booming nightlife and a seemingly perpetual festival, there is a lot of stuff to keep travelers busy for a few days.
You can not go to San Jose without stopping at Plaza de la Cultura, where you’ll see many impressive sculptures. But walking up and down Avenida Central will give you an excellent feel for the pulse of this city.
Our recommendation?
A 4-hour city tour of San Jose with a local guide will bring you face-to-face with Costa Rica’s vibrant nightlife. The evening will end with a traditional dinner along with wine or beer tastings. It’s an experience not to be missed!
So what are you waiting for?
Here are the best options for getting from Monteverde to San Jose, and here you can find more information about transportation in Costa Rica.
How far is San Jose from Monteverde?
Between Monteverde and San Jose, there are 137.9 kilometers or 85.7 miles.
Your journey will generally take approximately 3-4 hours, depending on your mode of transport.
Transportation Options from Monteverde to San Jose
The following table outlines all transportation options from Monteverde to San Jose:
| Method | Travel time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Coach Bus from Monteverde to San Jose | 4 hours | USD 15 |
| Shared Shuttle from Monteverde to San Jose | 4 hours 30 minutes | USD 60-USD 65 |
| Private Transfer from Monteverde to San Jose | Custom Time | USD 245 |
| Public Bus from Monteverde to San Jose | 4-5 hours | USD 6 |
| Taxi from Monteverde to San Jose | 3 hours | – |
| Rental Car | 3 hours | – |
Getting to San Jose from Monteverde
1. Public Bus from Monteverde to San Jose
Journey Duration: 4-5 hours
Transmonteverde S.A. runs the majority of the city’s buses. These buses run between Monteverde and San Jose. Buses heading to San Jose leave from Terminal 7-10, the new bus station.
The new terminal has three levels of shops. If you want to purchase a bus ticket, you should go to level two. Bus tickets cost USD 6. These buses operate daily at the same time.
Be mindful that the station is not in the safest part of San Jose, so do not leave anything unattended! Though it is a direct bus, it stops so that people can get on and off the bus on the way and there is a food/bathroom stop en route.
Monteverde to San Jose Bus Schedule
- Every day, 06:30 AM to 02:30 AM: Bus to San Jose
- Total price: USD 6
GuateGo
On GuateGo, you can check all available transportation options from Monteverde to San Jose. It is a reliable and easy-to-use platform to compare prices & schedules and make a booking online.
2. Interbus Shared Shuttle from Monteverde to San Jose
Journey Duration: 4-4:30 hours
Shared shuttle buses are an economical way to travel. Monteverde is easy to reach from San Jose, so the journey shouldn’t be a big hassle, and it’s absolutely worth the money to choose this option!
Shuttle service provider Interbus also provides hotel pick up and drop off, so you don’t have to worry about your luggage.
There are two fares, taking off at different times of the day, so choose what’s best for you!
- 08:00 AM to 12:30 PM: Shared shuttle to San Jose, Pick up and Drop off at the hotel.
Total price: USD 60
- 01:00 PM to 05:30 PM: Shared shuttle to San Jose, Pick up and Drop off at the hotel.
Total price: USD 65
3. Private Transfer from Monteverde to San Jose
Journey Duration: Custom time
For those willing to splurge a bit more for comfort, a private transfer option is the best for you!
You can travel to San Jose with a private transfer comfortably and conveniently. Your driver will even be able to make stops when needed. This way, you won’t have to worry about schedules and have a carefree trip.
This is the option we recommend, especially for groups and families.
Prices for a private transfer to San Jose:
- 1 to 13 passengers: USD 245
GuateGo
On GuateGo, you can check all available transportation options from Monteverde to San Jose. It is a reliable and easy-to-use platform to compare prices & schedules and make a booking online.
4. Transmonteverde Coach Bus from Monteverde to San Jose
Journey Duration: 4 hours
A coach bus is always the best way to travel most economically. This travel option is provided by Transmonteverde, which also operates with daily public transportation.
Although the departure time is early, you’ll catch the day when you arrive in San Jose and make the most of it!
- 05:30 AM to 09:30 AM: Coach Bus to San Jose.
- Total price: USD 15
5. Driving with Rental Car
Journey Duration: 2 hours 53 minutes
Traveling by rental car is also an excellent choice since Monteverde is only 95.7 miles or 137.9 kilometers away from San Jose.
By renting a car, you can stop for lunch and visit places on the way, all without worrying about luggage limitations (as long as it fits in the vehicle).
6. Uber or Taxi
Journey Duration: 2 hours 53 minutes
You can also hire a taxi to get to San Jose. It’s important to consider that taxis in the Monteverde area do not use meters – a list of set prices (according to destination) is displayed in each vehicle. However, you should negotiate the price when you get in.
Best day tours in San Jose, 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 San Jose, Costa Rica.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monteverde Costa Rica worth visiting?
It is absolutely worth visiting Monteverde, even if you only have time to spend two nights there. There’s no question that cloud forests are incredibly unique and may disappear in this century, so it’s worth the trip to see them.
Do you need a 4×4 to get to Monteverde?
The best routes to take to reach Monteverde are routes 145 and 606. In the end, if you want to explore Monteverde and drive yourself around, a 4wd or high clearance car is your safest option.
Does Costa Rica have Uber or Lyft?
Didi is a Costa Rican alternative to Uber. Compared to Uber, it is about the same or 10-20% cheaper, but there are fewer drivers. However, Lyft does not operate in Costa Rica at present.
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