There are 5 ways to get from San Diego to Arenal Volcano by plane, shuttle, train, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport, shuttle
best- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane SAN - SJO
- Take a shuttle bus from Alajuela to La Fortuna
9h 51m$426–814Train, bus, drive
- Take the train from San Diego to Los Angelestrain
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Managua Mercado Mayoreo to San Carlosbus
- Drive from San Carlos to Arenal Volcanocar
4d 16h$426–545Drive 5,092.7 km
- Drive from San Diego to Arenal Volcanocar 5,092.7 km
2d 15h$683–987Fly San Diego International Airport to Liberia International Airport, bus, shuttle
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane SAN - LIR
- Take the bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Cañasbus
- Take a shuttle bus from Cañas to La Fortuna
11h 40m$501–1,156Fly Tijuana International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane TIJ - SJO
- Take a shuttle bus from Alajuela to La Fortuna
14h 3m$576–1,726
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Diego to Arenal Volcano is to train and bus and drive which costs $420 - $550 and takes 4 days 16h.
The fastest way to get from San Diego to Arenal Volcano is to fly and shuttle which takes 9h 51m and costs $420 - $850.
The distance between San Diego and Arenal Volcano is 4342 km. The road distance is 5092.7 km.
It takes approximately 9h 51m to get from San Diego to Arenal Volcano, including transfers.
Arenal Volcano is 1h ahead of San Diego. It is currently 12:14 AM in San Diego and 1:14 AM in Arenal Volcano.
Yes, the driving distance between San Diego to Arenal Volcano is 5093 km. It takes approximately 2 days 15h to drive from San Diego to Arenal Volcano.
There are 648+ hotels available in Arenal Volcano.
What companies run services between San Diego, CA, USA and Arenal Volcano, Provincia de Alajuela, Costa Rica?
There is no direct connection from San Diego to Arenal Volcano. However, you can fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), walk to El Cacique, take the line 200 bus to Contiguo Al Cruce Al Hospital, walk to Alajuela, take the shuttle to La Fortuna, then take the taxi to Arenal Volcano. Alternatively, you can take a train from San Diego to Arenal Volcano via Los Angeles, Union Station - Metro B & D Lines, Westlake / MacArthur Park Station, Westlake Ave & Wilshire Blvd, Union Ave & James M Wood Blvd, Los Angeles, Managua, Plaza Inter, Managua Mercado Mayoreo, and San Carlos in around 4d 16h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 34m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $220–900
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 37m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $220–900
- Website
- aeromexico.com
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–650
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Houston Hobby Apt
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 50m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,100
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–600
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,000
- Website
- volaris.com
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Guadalajara
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 44m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–650
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–650
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Panama City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 49m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–600
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,100
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 54m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $420–1,600
- Website
- vivaaerobus.com
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Monterrey
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 42m
- When
- Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–650
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Diego to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 56m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- [email protected]
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Alajuela to La Fortuna
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $258
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Cañas to La Fortuna
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $240
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Alajuela to La Fortuna
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $258
- Website
- RIDE CR
- Phone
- +1 213 368 1172
- [email protected]
- Website
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Los Angeles to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 6h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $330–400
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Managua Mercado Mayoreo to San Carlos
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Schedules at
- estelibuses.web.app
- Phone
- +506 2663 1752
- [email protected]
- Website
- Reina del Campo
Bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Cañas
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $4–5
- Schedules at
- Reina del Campo
- Phone
- +506 2222 0610
- info@grupocaribeños.com
Bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Cañas
- Ave. Duration
- 58 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $2–4
Want to know more about travelling around Costa Rica
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide









