There are 5 ways to get from San José to Lago de Nicaragua by bus, plane, shuttle, 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.
Bus via Liberia
best- Take the bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to Liberiabus 1502
- Take the bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Peñas Blancasbus 521 Frontera Norte
5h 30m$13–17Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal Pulmitan De Liberia to Peñas Blancasbus San Jose
7h 38m$12–14Bus, fly to La Fortuna Arenal Airport, shuttle, drive
- 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 a shuttle bus from La Fortuna to Los Chiles
- Drive from Los Chiles to San Carloscar
5h 18m$416–504Bus #2
- Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Rivasbus Sjo
9h 10m$24–35Bus, fly to Tamarindo Airport, shuttle
- 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
- Take a shuttle bus from Tamarindo to Peñas Blancas
5h 50m$493–579
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San José to Lago de Nicaragua is to bus which costs $11 - $14 and takes 7h 38m.
The fastest way to get from San José to Lago de Nicaragua is to bus and fly and shuttle and drive which takes 5h 18m and costs $410 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from San José to Lago de Nicaragua. However, there are services departing from Central Autobusera Inteligente and arriving at San Jorge via Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia, Peñas Blancas and Rivas. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 30m.
The distance between San José and Lago de Nicaragua is 325 km.
The best way to get from San José to Lago de Nicaragua without a car is to bus via Liberia which takes 5h 30m and costs $13 - $17.
It takes approximately 5h 30m to get from San José to Lago de Nicaragua, including transfers.
San José to Lago de Nicaragua bus services, operated by Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste, depart from Central Autobusera Inteligente station.
San José to Lago de Nicaragua bus services, operated by Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste, arrive at Liberia station.
There are 136+ hotels available in Lago de Nicaragua.
What companies run services between San José, Costa Rica and Lago de Nicaragua?
You can take a bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to San Jorge via Liberia, Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia, Peñas Blancas, and Rivas in around 5h 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
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 La Fortuna Arenal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–220
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 Liberia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 51m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $9–18
- Schedules at
- tiguanacaste.com
- Book at
- tiguanacaste.com
- Phone
- +506 2666 0517
- [email protected]
- Website
- Grupo Tranbasa
Bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Peñas Blancas
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $3–5
- Schedules at
- Grupo Tranbasa
- 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
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
- 1 800 715 1370
- [email protected]
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from La Fortuna to Los Chiles
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $252
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Tamarindo to Peñas Blancas
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $301
- Website
- RIDE CR
- Phone
- +506 2222 0610
- info@caribeños.com
- Website
- Pulmitan de Liberia
Bus from Terminal Pulmitan De Liberia to Peñas Blancas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $10–13
- Schedules at
- Pulmitan de Liberia
Bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Rivas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $24–35
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $24–35
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including How to get from Stansted Airport into central London, Travelling to and around Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and Want to know more about Flixbus? - to help you get the most out of your next trip.











