How To Get From San Jose Airport To City Center – All Possible Ways (Updated 2023)

Last updated on January 19th, 2023 at 08:42 pm

How To Get From San Jose Airport To City Center – You can go by bus, taxi and private transfer. The distance from Juan Santamaría Airport to city center is 18 kilometers. Click here to book online Costa Rica activities and Day Trips

The travel time by taxi from San Jose airport to city center is 25 minutes depending on the traffic. The taxi fare from San Jose airport to San Jose city center is $25 USD. Read here how to get from San Jose airport to Liberia airport

What Is The Cheapest Way From San Jose Airport To City Center?

The cheapest way from San Jose airport to city center is by bus as cheap as $1 USD. The bus travel time from San Jose airport to downtown is around 45 minutes travel time.

What Is The Best Way From San Jose Airport to City Center?

The best way from San Jose airport to downtown is by shared van for $18 USD per person and 30 minutes travel time and you can book online.

You can rent a car at San Jose airport or get a private transfer and prices will be around $25 USD.

SIM CARD AT SAN JOSE COSTA RICA AIRPORT

I wouldn’t recommend you to buy a sim card at San Jose Costa Rica airport. If you wish comfort you can buy eSim online and if you aren’t in a hurry just go around phone shops in the city and compare prices to buy the cheapest sim card in San Jose Costa Rica. Read here Costa Rica eSim and best Costa Rica Sim card for tourist

You can find the cheapest Costa Rica eSim with Airalo Costa Rica eSim prepaid for $8 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). for $8 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days. For $20 USD with 3 GB data and for $30 USD with 5 GB data. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%)

You can get an eSim for Costa Rica for €24 with 4 GB data valid for 14 days with MTX Connect eSim. Holafly Costa Rica eSim for $42 USD with 6 GB data in Costa Rica valid for 15 days and use our discount code GAMINTRAVELER.

Read here how to get from San Jose airport to Puerto Viejo, San Jose airport to Tamarindo, San Jose airport to La Fortuna, San Jose airport to Monteverde, San Jose airport to Montezuma and San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio

Read here breakfast in Costa Rica and best restaurants in San Jose. Also read here Costa Rican food, Budget travel in Costa Rica and Backpacking Costa Rica!

WHERE TO STAY IN SAN JOSE

There are dormitory rooms that you can rent the bed for as low as $8 USD a night if you want the cheapest option. AirBnb is also available, mostly for about $20-25 USD a night. Double-room hostels can cost up to $30-40 USD a night while mid-range hotels cost more or less $80 USD a night.

Click here if you want to find the best deals with Booking in Costa Rica

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

You can read Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full Heymondo Travel Insurance Review

You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included

HOW TO GET FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT COSTA RICA TO CITY CENTER

BUS FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER (CHEAPEST WAY)

The cheapest way is by bus from San Jose airport to city center. There are two bus services running from San Jose airport to city TUASA (Red and white buses) and Station Wagon (Yellow and Orange buses). The buses are running every 10 minutes starting from 4 am until 11 30 pm.

The total travel time from San José Juan Santamaría Airport to city is 30-40 minutes. The bus fare is 675 CRC which is $1.10 USD for one way and you don’t have to pay extra for the luggage.

The buses are leaving from the main road outside the airport and you can buy the ticket direct to the bus driver. The final destination for both bus companies is Tuasa Terminal which is on Second Avenue at Merced Park in San Jose city center.

SHARED VAN FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER (BEST WAY)

The best way from San Jose airport to city center is by shared van direct to your hotel. The van travel time from San Jose airport to city center is around 30 minutes.The van fare from San Jose airport to downtown is $18 USD and you can book online.

TAXI FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER

If you go from San Jose airport to city center by taxi the most comfortable, available 24/7 and fastest way. The travel time by taxi from San Jose airport to downtown is around 25 minutes.

The taxi fare from San Jose airport to city center is around $25 USD. The prices and travel time aren’t fixed and it will depend on traffic and your final destination.

UBER FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN

Uber App can be useful for traveling around Costa Rica but they have similar fares to taxis going from the airport to city center $20-25 USD depending on the traffic or time of the day.

CAR RENTAL AT SAN JOSE AIRPORT

There are many options for renting a car at San Jose’s airport. It’s the most convenient option if you have a place to park your car in San Jose or planning to move around. It will take you 30 minutes to get to San Jose from the airport in a private car. There are a few agencies like Hertz, Avis, Centauro available in the airport for $30 USD per day.

Click here to get the best deals renting a car in San Jose!

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN

Hotel transfers are also very easy and convenient but can be a little bit pricey. The transfers are usually available 24 hours and are only ideal if you have the budget and you really want comfort after your flight to San Jose. Prices are around $30 USD and you will be able to fit up to 4 people. It could be $7 USD per person.

Click here to get your discount booking online your private transfer!

BEST WAY FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO SAN JOSE CITY CENTER

BUS VS VAN PROS AND CONS

The best way from San Jose airport to city center is by bus for $1 USD if you go on a budget and 40 minutes travel time.

The best way from San Jose airport to downtown is by van for $18 USD and you can book online if you prefer comfort and get directly to your hotel. After a long flight, you will be in 35 minutes at your hotel without any other transfer.

If you are traveling in a group or with so much luggage you can go by taxi or get a private transfer to your accommodation in San Jose.

ACCOMMODATION BUDGET TRAVEL IN SAN JOSE

There are dormitory rooms that you can rent the bed for as low as $8 USD a night if you want the cheapest option. AirBnb is also available, mostly for about $20-25 USD a night. Double-room hostels can cost up to $30-40 USD a night while mid-range hotels cost more or less $80 USD a night.

Click here if you want to find the best deals with Booking in Costa Rica.

FOOD BUDGET TRAVEL IN COSTA RICA

Breakfast will be the cheapest meal of the day and you can load up on Gallo Pinto, tortillas, eggs, fried plantains and some fresh fruit too for around $3-4 USD per person. At lunch you might want a chicken sandwich for $8-10 USD salad, burger and pizza with a fresh fruit drink for $3 USD.

You can have a budget of $15-20 USD a day and it can already get you more then enough decent meals. Costa Rica is a little bit pricey compared to other countries like Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in Central America.

BEST TIME TO VISIT COSTA RICA

In Costa Rica their summer (December to April), there are fewer rains than normal. In their winter (May to November), the rains are almost non-stop. For most tourists best time to visit Costa Rica is from December to April because of easier transport. 

Click here to know more about the weather in Costa Rica!

CASH AND ATMS IN COSTA RICA

The currency of Costa Rica is called Colòn and as of now, $1 USD is worth 600 Colòn. Do not exchange your currency at the airport because you’ll get less than what you’ll get with the city’s exchange. Anyway if you are bringing USD you can use them while traveling around Costa Rica no need to exchange them.

Bank or debit cards in an ATM are the recommended way to access your funds while traveling in Costa Rica. Know real-time currency exchange here!

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Happy Travels!