You can get from San Jose to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, by air, bus, shuttle, and boat! Learn more about the different modes of transportation that you can take.
Santa Teresa in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, is a small beach village and a popular destination amongst surfers and beachgoers.
Check out our guide on traveling from San Jose to Santa Teresa. Here you can find more information about Costa Rica transportation.
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How far is Santa Teresa from San Jose?
The distance between San Jose and Santa Teresa is 114.3 miles or 184 kilometers.
Transportation Options from San Jose to Santa Teresa
The following table outlines all transportation options from San Jose to Santa Teresa:
| Method | Travel time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus + Boat from San Jose to Santa Teresa | 6 hours | USD 12 |
| Shared Shuttle + Boat from San Jose to Santa Teresa | 5 hours | USD 50 |
| Private Transfer + Boat from San Jose to Santa Teresa | 5 hours | USD 330+ |
| Flight from San Jose to Santa Teresa | 1 hour 10 minutes | USD 75+ |
| Rental Car | 5 hours | USD 33+ |
| Zuma Tours Shuttle Boat | 5 hours | USD 89 |
Getting to Santa Teresa from San Jose
1. Bus from San Jose to Santa Teresa
Journey Duration: 6 hours
You can take a bus to Santa Teresa from San Jose. As of the moment, two public bus connections are offering this route.
Buses depart from terminals 7-10 in San Jose. The trip takes 6 hours and costs about 12 USD, including ferry fees.
If you are starting at Juan Santamaria International Airport, you can cut the travel time and take a taxi to Villa Bonita Bridge in Alajuela first. The buses coming from the terminal stop at this place.
GuateGo
On GuateGo, you can check all available transportation options from San Jose to Santa Teresa. It is a reliable and easy-to-use platform to compare prices & schedules and make a booking online.
2. Shared Van Shuttle
Journey Duration: 5 hours
Shared minibus shuttles offer a convenient way to reach Santa Teresa from San Jose for a rate of 50 USD, which includes the ferry fees.
Three trips are offered daily by the bus company Tropical Tours Shuttles. They depart at 05:30 AM, 07:15 AM, and 01:30 PM.
You will reach Santa Teresa via a shared shuttle in about five hours. Compared to the others, this option is good if you are not keen on driving your vehicle to your destination and would like to relax in the comfort of your seat.
3. Private Transfer from San Jose to Santa Teresa
Journey Duration: 5 hours
Private transfer rates start from 330 USD, including ferry fees. For this price, a maximum of fifteen passengers can board the shuttle van.
The total travel time for this option is five hours, depending on the frequency of stops you want to make along the way.
Enjoy the convenience of a door-to-door transport service that will follow your preferred departure time in San Jose. This eliminates the stress of meeting the baggage and time requirements usually come with public transportation.
GuateGo
On GuateGo, you can check all available transportation options from San Jose to Santa Teresa. It is a reliable and easy-to-use platform to compare prices & schedules and make a booking online.
4. San Jose to Santa Teresa Flight
Journey Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
To get to Santa Teresa from San Jose via air, you can book a flight from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Tambor with Nature Air or Sansa Airlines.
The flight time from San Jose to Tambor is 35 minutes. From Tambor, you have to continue by car or taxi, which takes another 35 minutes.
The domestic flight from SJO to Tambor costs about 75 USD. This is the fastest way to get to Santa Teresa if you come from San Jose.
5. Driving with Rental Car
Journey Duration: 5 hours
Driving by car from San Jose to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, takes around five hours.
Take Route 27 until you reach the ferry terminal. On the other side of the water, continue to your left at Route 21, and you will arrive at Santa Teresa.
The cost of renting a car starts at 33 USD per day, which includes 200 free kilometers. There is no option to drop off the vehicle in a location near Santa Teresa, so you will have to drive the car back to San Jose.
6. Taxi Boat
Journey Duration: 5 hours
Zuma tours offer an exciting way to travel from San Jose to Santa Teresa. The tour company provides a private shuttle from the airport that will take you to Plaza Herradura.
From there, you will board a boat north of Jaco, at Herradura beach. This boat will take you along the Gulf of Nicoya to Santa Teresa.
The taxi boat costs $89USD per person, with a minimum of 2 persons.
Best day tours in Santa Teresa, 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 Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.
