How To Get From San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio – All Possible Ways (Updated 2023)

Last updated on February 13th, 2023 at 11:14 am

How To Get From San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio – You can go by bus, van, taxi and private transfer.

What is The Distance From San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio?

The distance from Juan Santamaría Airport to Manuel Antonio is 161 kilometers. Click here to book online Costa Rica activities and Day Trips

The travel time by taxi from San Jose Costa Rica airport to Manuel Antonio is around 2 hours and 45 minutes. The taxi fare from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is around $150 USD. Read here how to get from Manuel Antonio to San Jose airport

What Is The Cheapest Way From San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio?

The cheapest way from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is by bus for $10 USD. If you go by bus the travel time will be around 3 hours and 30 minutes from San Jose to Manuel Antonio.

What Is The Best Way From San Jose To Manuel Antonio?

The best way from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is by shared van for $38 USD per person and 3 hours travel time and you can book online.

You can rent a car at San Jose airport, Uber or private transportation prices will be around $150 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 how to get from San Jose airport to city center, Liberia airport to San Jose airport, San Jose airport to Tamarindo, San Jose airport to La Fortuna, San Jose airport to Santa Teresa, San Jose airport to Tortuguero, San Jose airport to Jaco Beach, San Jose airport to Monteverde and San Jose airport to Puerto Viejo De Talamanca

WHERE TO STAY IN MANUEL ANTONIO

There are dormitory rooms where you can rent the bed for as low as $8-10 USD a night if you want the cheapest option in Manuel Antonio. A double room hostel 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 Manuel Antonio

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

SAN JOSE TO MANUEL ANTONIO

BUS FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO MANUEL ANTONIO (CHEAPEST WAY)

The cheapest way from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is by bus. First you will have to ride a local bus going to San Jose Tracopa where the buses are leaving to Manuel Antonio. 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 around 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. You will have to walk outside to get the buses leaving from the main road outside the airport. 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 where you can walk 15 minutes distance to San Jose Tracopa to get the bus to Manuel Antonio.

BUS SAN JOSE COSTA RICA TO MANUEL ANTONIO

The bus from San Jose to Manuel Antonio is leaving from San Jose Tracopa. The buses are leaving every hour starting from 6 am to 6 30 pm. The bus fare from San Jose to Manuel Antonio is around $9 USD and the travel time from San Jose to Manuel Antonio is 3 hours and 30 minutes.

If you take the colectivo will take 2 hours more since is stopping and getting passengers the whole way. Check here Tracopa Bus schedule and route!

The bus from San Jose to Manuel Antonio will stop at the city center and at the beach where you can go walking to most of the places for accommodation. Make sure you get the bus getting to Manuel Antonio, if you get to Quepos just 4 kilometers away. You will have to get a taxi or a local bus for less than $1 USD.

The total bus fare from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is $10 USD and the total travel time is around 4 hours and 30 minutes including a few minutes waiting time and it can be two hours long if you take the colectivo.

SHARED VAN FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO MANUEL ANTONIO (BEST WAY)

The best way from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is by shared van direct to your hotel. The van travel time from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is 3 hours.

The van fare from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is $38 USD and you can book online.

TAXI FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO MANUEL ANTONIO

If you go from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio by taxi the most comfortable, available 24/7 and fastest way. The travel time from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio by taxi is around 2 hours and 45 minutes.

The taxi fare from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is around $150 USD. The prices and travel time aren’t fixed and it will depend on traffic and your final destination.

UBER FROM SAN JOSE COSTA RICA AIRPORT TO MANUEL ANTONIO

Uber App can be useful for traveling around Costa Rica but they have similar fares to taxis. You can expect to go from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio for around $150 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 Manuel Antonio or if you would love to move around. It will take you 2 hours and 45 minutes to get to Manuel Antonio from San Jose 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 Costa Rica!

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO MANUEL ANTONIO

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 $160 USD and you will be able to fit up to 4 people. It could be $40 USD per person.

Click here to book your transportation with Bookaway in Costa Rica!

BEST WAY FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO MANUEL ANTONIO (SAN JOSE TO MANUEL ANTONIO)

BUS VS VAN PROS AND CONS

The best way from San Jose Costa Rica airport to Manuel Antonio is by bus if you go on a budget for a total of 4 hours and 30 minutes travel time. You will pay around $10 USD including the bus coming from San Jose Costa Rica airport to Manuel Antonio.

The best way from San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio is by van for $38 USD and you can book online if you prefer comfort and get directly to your hotel. After a long flight, you will be in 3 hours at the beach without any other transfer.

If you wish more comfort taxi, Uber or private transportation from San Jose to Manuel Antonio is around $150 USD and 2 hours and 45 minutes travel time.

ACCOMMODATION BUDGET TRAVEL IN MANUEL ANTONIO

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 Manuel Antonio.

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 than enough decent meals. Costa Rica is a 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!

Feel free to use our links for discounts. By using our links, you will help us to continue with the maintenance of the website and it will not cost you anything. Thanks for the love guys. 

Happy Travels!