How to get from San Jose to Jaco

How to Get

Apr 10

About traveling from San Jose to Jaco

Should you be traveling through Costa Rica, San Jose and Jaco are two distinct cities that can’t be missed. The lively capital city of San Jose in the Central Valley is full of museums, theaters and restaurants. The beach city of Jaco lies on the stunning Pacific coast and welcomes surfers and beach goers looking for a relaxing weekend. Both San Jose and Jaco have stunning natural features, rich histories, and unbeatable cuisines.

If you decide to take a car transfer from San Jose and Jaco, you can also enjoy some other impressive cities and sights including the fascinating Museo Historico Cultural Juan Santamaria, powerful Los Chorros Waterfalls, dizzying Crocodile Bridge, Catarata Bijagual, or the educational Neo Fauna.

How to get from San Jose to Jaco

If you’ve had enough of navigating the wild streets of San Jose, quiet beaches and endless waves await in Jaco. Refresh after a short journey out to the Pacific coast.

You have various options if you’re traveling from San Jose to Jaco. For travelers on a budget, the cheapest way to travel from San Jose and Jaco is by bus. Of course, in addition to being convenient, the fastest way is to travel from San Jose and Jaco is by private car. There are no direct flights from San Jose to coastal Jaco.

San Jose to Jaco by bus

While traveling from San Jose by bus is the most economical option, it does take the longest time. There are direct buses that leave San Jose to Jaco (Playa Jaco) every two hours. The public buses operate from the city center and depart from Terminal 7-10. You can purchase tickets on the second floor for San Jose to Playa Jaco.

The journey from San Jose to Playa Jaco takes approximately 2 hours and costs around $5 for the ~98 km ride.

San Jose to Jaco by bus

Time intervals

7 per day

First/Last Departure

7:00 AM/ 6:00 PM

Avg. Price

Distance

~98 km

Duration

~2 hr

San Jose to Jaco via Private Car Transfer

For speed and convenience, a private car transfer with Daytrip is the best way to travel from San Jose to Jaco. You will be picked up at your accommodation in San Jose and the driver will take care of your luggage. You’ll then be able to enjoy door-to-door service to your accommodation in Jaco and can even add sightseeing stops on the way!