There are 6 ways to get from San José to Arenal by shuttle, bus, 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.
Shuttle, bus
best- Take a shuttle bus from Alajuela to La FortunaPrivate / ...
- Take the bus from Terminal Transpisa La Fortuna to Terminal Arenalbus 1202 Ciudad Quesada
4h 10m$260–263Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesadabus 1508 San José / ...
- Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos to Terminal Arenalbus 1202 Ciudad Quesada
6h 30m$3–13Bus, drive
- Take the bus from Empresarios Unidos to San Ramónbus San José
- Drive from San Ramón to Arenalcar
3h 19m$19–27Bus, fly
- Take the bus from Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14 to 50 m este Del Aeropuertobus
- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON)plane SJO - FON
- Take the bus from Tanque to Terminal Arenalbus
5h 35m$143–228Bus #2
- Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesadabus 205
- Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos to Terminal Arenalbus 1202 Ciudad Quesada
6h 30m$10–14Drive 165.3 km
- Drive from San José to Arenalcar 165.3 km
3h 10m$23–32
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San José to Arenal is to bus which costs $3 - $13 and takes 6h 30m.
The fastest way to get from San José to Arenal is to drive which takes 3h 10m and costs $22 - $35.
No, there is no direct bus from San José to Arenal. However, there are services departing from Terminal Atlántico Norte and arriving at Terminal Arenal via Terminal San Carlos. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 30m.
The distance between San José and Arenal is 171 km. The road distance is 165.3 km.
The best way to get from San José to Arenal without a car is to shuttle and bus which takes 4h 10m and costs $259 - $263.
It takes approximately 4h 10m to get from San José to Arenal, including transfers.
San José to Arenal bus services, operated by Transportes San Carlos, depart from Terminal Atlántico Norte station.
San José to Arenal bus services, operated by Transportes San Carlos, arrive at Ciudad Quesada station.
Yes, the driving distance between San José to Arenal is 165 km. It takes approximately 3h 10m to drive from San José to Arenal.
There are 180+ hotels available in Arenal.
What companies run services between San José, Costa Rica and Arenal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica?
You can take a bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Terminal Arenal via Terminal San Carlos in around 6h 30m.
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to La Fortuna Arenal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–220
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to La Fortuna Arenal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–220
- 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
- Phone
- +506 2460 1012
- [email protected]
- Website
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal Transpisa La Fortuna to Terminal Arenal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
Bus from Tanque to Terminal Arenal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–6
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal San Carlos to Terminal Arenal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $3–7
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal San Carlos to Terminal Arenal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $3–7
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
- Phone
- +506 2221 6600
- [email protected]
- Website
- Empresarios Unidos de Puntarenas
Bus from Empresarios Unidos to San Ramón
- 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 Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14 to 50 m este Del Aeropuerto
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Schedules at
- grupotuasa.com
- Phone
- +506 8356 1555
- [email protected]
- Website
- Transportes San Carlos
Bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesada
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–6
- Schedules at
- Transportes San Carlos
- Phone
- 2661-1345
- Website
- Transportes Queros Puntarenas S.A.
Bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesada
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $7
- Schedules at
- Transportes Queros Puntarenas S.A.
Bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesada
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- Autotransportes San José a Venecia de San Carlos S.A.
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