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How to get fromSan José to Santa Elenaby bus, car, or shuttle

Find Transport to Santa Elena

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There are 6 ways to get from San José to Santa Elena by bus, car, or shuttle

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Bus

    best
    1. Take the bus from Alajuela to Las Juntasbus bus Las Juntas
    5h 7m
    $9–14

  2. Bus, drive

    1. Take the bus from Empresarios Unidos to San Ramónbus bus San José
    2. Drive from San Ramón to Santa Elenacar car
    2h 48m
    $16–22

  3. Bus, shuttle

    1. Take the bus from Terminal del Mercado de la Coca Cola to Alajuelabus bus San José / ...
    2. Take a shuttle bus from Alajuela to Monteverdeshuttle bus Private / ...
    3h 13m

  4. Bus via Puntarenas

    1. Take the bus from Empresarios Unidos to Puntarenasbus bus San José
    2. Take the bus from Puntarenas to Cañitasbus bus 625
    6h 10m
    $12–15

  5. Bus via Quesada

    1. Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesadabus bus 205
    2. Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos to Terminal Transpisa La Fortunabus bus
    3. Take the bus from La Fortuna to Santa Elenabus bus
    10h 6m
    $64–67

  6. Drive 138.2 km

    1. Drive from San José to Santa Elenacar car 138.2 km
    2h 33m
    $19–27

Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from San José to Santa Elena.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 169 km
  • Duration: 5h 7m

What companies run services between San José, Costa Rica and Santa Elena, Puntarenas, Costa Rica?

Autotransportes Colorado de Abangares operates a bus from Alajuela to Las Juntas once daily. Tickets cost $4–9 and the journey takes 2h.

Operators

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