There are 5 ways to get from San José to El Arenal by bus, taxi, 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, taxi
best- Take the bus from Empresarios Unidos to San Ramónbus
- Take the bus from San Ramón to Los Ángelesbus
- Take the taxi from Los Ángeles to El Arenaltaxi
3h 24m$73–93Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesadabus 1508 San José / ...
- Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos to El Castillobus Ciudad Quesada
6h 23m$2–11Bus, drive
- Take the bus from Empresarios Unidos to San Ramónbus San José
- Drive from San Ramón to El Arenalcar
2h 56m$16–22Bus, 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
3h 35m$201–297Drive 141 km
- Drive from San José to El Arenalcar 141 km
2h 47m$19–28
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San José to El Arenal is to bus which costs $2 - $11 and takes 6h 23m.
The fastest way to get from San José to El Arenal is to drive which takes 2h 47m and costs $18 - $28.
No, there is no direct bus from San José to El Arenal. However, there are services departing from Terminal Atlántico Norte and arriving at El Castillo via Terminal San Carlos. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 23m.
The distance between San José and El Arenal is 150 km. The road distance is 141 km.
The best way to get from San José to El Arenal without a car is to bus and taxi which takes 3h 24m and costs $70 - $95.
It takes approximately 3h 24m to get from San José to El Arenal, including transfers.
San José to El Arenal bus services, operated by Transportes San Carlos, depart from Terminal Atlántico Norte station.
San José to El Arenal bus services, operated by Transportes San Carlos, arrive at Ciudad Quesada station.
Yes, the driving distance between San José to El Arenal is 141 km. It takes approximately 2h 47m to drive from San José to El Arenal.
There are 977+ hotels available in El Arenal.
What companies run services between San José, Costa Rica and El Arenal, Costa Rica?
You can take a bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to El Arenal via Terminal San Carlos and El Castillo in around 6h 23m.
- 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
- +506 2221 6600
- [email protected]
- Website
- empresariosunidos.cr
Bus from Empresarios Unidos to San Ramón
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $4
- Schedules at
- empresariosunidos.cr
Bus from Empresarios Unidos to San Ramón
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $4
- Schedules at
- empresariosunidos.cr
Bus from San Ramón to Los Ángeles
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $4
- Schedules at
- facebook.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 8356 1555
- [email protected]
- Website
- yoviajocr.com
Bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesada
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–6
- Schedules at
- yoviajocr.com
- Phone
- +506 2460 1012
- [email protected]
- Website
- transpisa.now.site
Bus from Terminal San Carlos to El Castillo
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Schedules at
- transpisa.now.site
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Estimated price
- $65–85
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