There are 6 ways to get from Arenal to San José by bus, shuttle, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus, shuttle
best- Take the bus from Terminal Arenal to Terminal Transpisa La Fortunabus 1202 Ciudad Quesada
- Take a shuttle bus from La Fortuna to AlajuelaPrivate / ...
3h 24m$260–263Bus via Terminal Arenal
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal Arenal to Terminal San Carlosbus 1202 Ciudad Quesada
- Take the bus from Ciudad Quesada to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus CD Quesada / ...
5h 58m$4–13Drive, bus
- Drive from Arenal to San Ramóncar
- Take the bus from San Ramón to Empresarios Unidosbus San José
3h 18m$19–26Bus, fly
- Take the bus from Terminal Arenal to Tanquebus
- Fly from La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane FON - SJO
- Take the bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14bus
4h 41m$143–228Bus
- Take the bus from Terminal Arenal to Terminal San Carlosbus 1202 Ciudad Quesada
- Take the bus from Ciudad Quesada to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus 205
5h 38m$9–13Drive 164.9 km
- Drive from Arenal to San Josécar 164.9 km
3h 9m$23–32
La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Arenal to San José is to bus via Terminal Arenal which costs $4 - $13 and takes 5h 58m.
The fastest way to get from Arenal to San José is to drive which takes 3h 9m and costs $22 - $35.
No, there is no direct bus from Arenal to San José. However, there are services departing from Terminal Arenal and arriving at Terminal Atlántico Norte via Ciudad Quesada. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 38m.
The distance between Arenal and San José is 180 km. The road distance is 164.9 km.
The best way to get from Arenal to San José without a car is to bus and shuttle which takes 3h 24m and costs $260 - $263.
It takes approximately 3h 24m to get from Arenal to San José, including transfers.
Arenal to San José bus services, operated by Transpisa, depart from Terminal Arenal station.
Arenal to San José bus services, operated by Transpisa, arrive at Terminal San Carlos station.
Yes, the driving distance between Arenal to San José is 165 km. It takes approximately 3h 9m to drive from Arenal to San José.
There are 750+ hotels available in San José.
What companies run services between Arenal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica and San José, Costa Rica?
You can take a bus from Terminal Arenal to Terminal Atlántico Norte via Ciudad Quesada in around 5h 38m.
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from La Fortuna Arenal Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–220
Flights from La Fortuna Arenal Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Quepos
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–220
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from La Fortuna Arenal Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–220
Flights from La Fortuna Arenal Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Quepos
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–220
- Phone
- +506 2460 1012
- [email protected]
- Website
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal Arenal to Terminal Transpisa La Fortuna
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal Arenal to Tanque
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–6
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal Arenal to Terminal San Carlos
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $3–7
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal Arenal to Terminal San Carlos
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $3–7
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- [email protected]
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from La Fortuna to Alajuela
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $258
- Website
- RIDE CR
- Phone
- +506 2221 6600
- [email protected]
- Website
- Empresarios Unidos de Puntarenas
Bus from San Ramón to Empresarios Unidos
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $4
- Schedules at
- Empresarios Unidos de Puntarenas
- Phone
- +506 2442 6900
- [email protected]
- Website
- grupotuasa.com
Bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Schedules at
- grupotuasa.com
- Phone
- 2661-1345
- Website
- Transportes Queros Puntarenas S.A.
Bus from Ciudad Quesada to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6
- Schedules at
- Transportes Queros Puntarenas S.A.
Bus from Ciudad Quesada to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- Autotransportes San José a Venecia de San Carlos S.A.
- Phone
- +506 8356 1555
- [email protected]
- Website
- Transportes San Carlos
Bus from Ciudad Quesada to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–6
- Schedules at
- Transportes San Carlos
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