There are 5 ways to get from San José to Cartagena by bus, car, plane, 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.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to Cartagenabus 1502
2h 43m$10–12Drive 238.1 km
- Drive from San José to Cartagenacar 238.1 km
4h 26m$32–47Bus, 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 Tamarindo Airport (TNO)plane SJO - TNO
3h 52m$226–322Shuttle
- Take a shuttle bus from San José to Cartagena
4h 56m$235Bus via Liberia
- Take the bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to Liberiabus 1502
- Take the bus from Liberia to Cartagenabus 1502
3h 26m$18–21
San José to Cartagena by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San José to Cartagena is to bus which costs $10 - $12 and takes 2h 43m.
The fastest way to get from San José to Cartagena is to bus which takes 2h 43m and costs $10 - $12.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Central Autobusera Inteligente and arriving at Cartagena. Services depart four times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 2h 43m.
The distance between San José and Cartagena is 274 km. The road distance is 238.1 km.
The best way to get from San José to Cartagena without a car is to bus which takes 2h 43m and costs $10 - $12.
The bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to Cartagena takes 2h 43m including transfers and departs four times a day.
San José to Cartagena bus services, operated by Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste, depart from Central Autobusera Inteligente station.
San José to Cartagena bus services, operated by Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste, arrive at Cartagena station.
Yes, the driving distance between San José to Cartagena is 238 km. It takes approximately 4h 26m to drive from San José to Cartagena.
There are 98+ hotels available in Cartagena.
What companies run services between San José, Costa Rica and Cartagena, Costa Rica?
Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste operates a bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to Cartagena 4 times a day. Tickets cost $10–18 and the journey takes 2h 43m.
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tamarindo Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–260
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tamarindo Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–260
- Phone
- +506 4404 0505
- [email protected]
- Website
- tiguanacaste.com
Bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to Cartagena
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 43m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $10–18
- Schedules at
- tiguanacaste.com
- Book at
- tiguanacaste.com
Bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to Liberia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 51m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $9–18
- Schedules at
- tiguanacaste.com
- Book at
- tiguanacaste.com
Bus from Liberia to Cartagena
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $8–10
- Schedules at
- tiguanacaste.com
- Book at
- tiguanacaste.com
- 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 2221 7878 / 2221 7373
- [email protected]
- Website
- jungletomsafaris.com
Shuttle from San José to Cartagena
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 56m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $235
- Website
- https://www.jungletomsafaris.com/
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