How To Get From San Juan del Sur to San Jose Best Way – You can go by van, bus, taxi and private transfer.
What Is The Distance From San Juan del Sur to San Jose?
The distance from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is 330 kilometers. Click here to book online Costa Rica activities and day trips
The travel time by car from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is around 7 hours. You will have to cross the border but it’s a really fast and easy process. Read here San Jose to San Juan del Sur the reverse way.
What Is The Best Way From San Juan del Sur to San Jose?
The best way from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is by shared van for $74 USD you can book online. The van travel time from San Juan del Sur to San Jose will be around 7 hours with the waiting time included.
Read here how to get from San Juan del Sur to Liberia, San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna and San Juan del Sur to Tamarindo
What Is The Cheapest Way From San Juan del Sur to San Jose?
The cheapest way from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is by local buses for $20-25 USD. The bus travel time from San Juan del Sur to San Jose will be around 8-10 hours with the transfers and the waiting time included. You book online a direct bus from Rivas to San Jose for $29 USD!
How Much Is The Crossing Border Taxes Between Nicaragua And Costa Rica For Foreigners?
The Crossing Border Taxes between Costa Rica and Nicaragua for foreigners is $4 USD when leaving Nicaragua and when entering to Costa Rica you don’t have to pay taxes but you will have to show proof a flight out ticket or bus ticket within 90 days for leaving Costa Rica.
SIM CARD AT COSTA RICA AIRPORT
I wouldn’t recommend you buy a sim card at San Jose Costa Rica or Liberia 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.
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.
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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 JUAN DEL SUR TO SAN JOSE
BUS/SHARED VAN FROM SAN JUAN DEL SUR TO SAN JOSE (BEST WAY)
The best way from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is by shared van for $74 USD you can book online. You will have to cross the border but everything will be easy just follow the instructions from the driver to put the stamps and pay the taxes leaving Nicaragua and entering to Costa Rica you will have to show a proof of flight or bus that you are leaving Costa Rica.
SHARED VAN SCHEDULE FROM SAN JUAN DEL SUR TO SAN JOSE (BEST WAY)
The shared van schedule from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is leaving early morning. The shared van fare from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is around $74 USD you can book online. The travel time from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is around 7 hours.
The shared van option will go directly from your hotel in San Juan to San Jose and will drop you at the hotel and not will start in Rivas as the TICA Bus (cheaper price).
BUS FROM SAN JUAN DEL SUR TO SAN JOSE (CHEAPEST WAY)
The cheapest way from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is by local buses. There are no direct buses going from San Juan del Sur to San Jose only shared vans or shuttle buses for tourists (you can book online).
First you will have to take the bus from San Juan del Sur to Rivas (you will get the bus at San Juan del Sur city center). The bus from Rivas to San Juan del Sur will take less than 1 hour. From Rivas you will have to get a bus to the border in Penas Blancas.
The bus fare for the two buses will be around $5 USD ($2.5 USD for each bus) and they are running every 20-30 minutes.
Bus From Penas Blancas to Liberia
Once you crossed the border. You will have to get the bus from Penas Blancas to Liberia. The bus from Penas Blancas to Liberia will take 1 hour and 30 minutes. The bus fare from Penas Blancas to Liberia is around $4-5 USD.
Bus From Liberia To San Jose
The bus schedule from Liberia to San Jose is running every 1-2 hours starting from 6 am to 8 pm. The bus fare from Liberia to San Jose is around $10 USD. The travel time from Liberia to San Jose is around 4-5 hours.
The total bus fare from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is around $20 USD. The total travel time from San Juan del Sur to San Jose by local buses is around 10 hours with the transfers and waiting time. You will have to leave San Juan del Sur early morning.
TICA BUS FROM SAN JUAN DEL SUR TO SAN JOSE (MOST POPULAR)
TICA Bus from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is the most popular way for travelers. The TICA Bus from San Juan del Sur to San Jose will start at Rivas which is 30 kilometers far from San Juan del Sur. You book online a direct bus from Rivas to San Jose for $29 USD!
You will have to take a local bus from Rivas to San Juan del Sur for $2 USD and 45 minutes of travel time. You can also take a taxi for $20 USD (you can split with more people) and 30 minutes travel time direct to your accommodation.
The TICA Bus fare from Rivas to San Jose is $42 USD. The travel time is around 7-8 hours by TICA Bus.
CAR RENTAL IN SAN JUAN DEL SUR
There are many options for renting a car in San Juan del Sur. But for this time with a border crossing between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I wouldn’t recommend renting a car and I would choose a shared van or a bus if you are on a budget. Or a private transfer if you wish for more comfort.
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BEST WAY FROM SAN JUAN DEL SUR TO SAN JOSE
SHARED VAN VS TICA BUS VS PUBLIC BUSES
The best way from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is by bus and shared van for $74 USD you can book online for a total of 7 hours of travel time and they will drop you at the hostel area in San Jose.
The best way from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is by local buses for $20-25 USD if you go on a tight budget and it will take around 10 hours or even longer depending on the transfer and waiting time. You book online a direct bus from Rivas to San Jose for $29 USD!
The best way from San Juan del Sur to San Jose is by TICA Bus for $45 USD if you go on a budget but you prefer they organize it for you. It will take around 8-9 hours or even longer depending on the transfer and waiting time. The bus will start in Rivas and you will have to get local buses from San Juan del Sur to Rivas ($2 USD) or a shared taxi for 45 minutes ($10 USD per person) or $20-25 USD you can get for the taxi depending your skills negotiating.
The Crossing Border Taxes between Costa Rica and Nicaragua for foreigners is $4 USD when leaving Nicaragua and when entering to Costa Rica you don’t have to pay taxes but you will have to show proof flight out ticket or bus ticket within 90 days for leaving Costa Rica.
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Happy Travels!