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 bus for $30 USD you can book online and it will take around 7 hours with the waiting time included.
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.
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.
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
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN JOSE
There are dormitory rooms that you can rent the bed for as low as $20 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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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). (Only Available in High Season)
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 cross 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 San Juan del Sur. You book online a direct bus from Rivas to San Jose for $30 USD!
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.
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 for $30 USD you can book online for a total of 7 hours of travel time and they will drop you at Bus Terminal 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.
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.
Happy Travels!
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues to share his travel experiences alongside his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.