There are 6 ways to get from San José to Laguna de Arenal by bus, shuttle, 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, shuttle
best- Take the bus from Terminal del Mercado de la Coca Cola to Alajuelabus
- Take a shuttle bus from Alajuela to La Fortuna
- Take the bus from Terminal Transpisa La Fortuna to El Castillobus
3h 40mBus
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
5h 40m$2–11Drive 141 km
- Drive from San José to El Arenalcar 141 km
2h 47m$19–28Bus, 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$201–297Bus #2
- Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesadabus 205
- Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos to El Castillobus Ciudad Quesada
5h 40m$9–12Bus via Lago Arenal
- Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Ciudad Quesadabus 205
- Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos to Terminal Transpisa La Fortunabus
- Take the bus from La Fortuna to Lago Arenalbus
7h 50m
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San José to Laguna de Arenal is to bus which costs $2 - $11 and takes 5h 40m.
The fastest way to get from San José to Laguna de Arenal is to drive which takes 2h 47m and costs $18 - $28.
No, there is no direct bus from San José to Laguna de 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 5h 40m.
The distance between San José and Laguna de Arenal is 148 km. The road distance is 141 km.
The best way to get from San José to Laguna de Arenal without a car is to bus and shuttle which takes 3h 40m and costs .
It takes approximately 3h 40m to get from San José to Laguna de Arenal, including transfers.
San José to Laguna de Arenal bus services, operated by Transportes San Carlos, depart from Terminal Atlántico Norte station.
San José to Laguna de Arenal bus services, operated by Transportes San Carlos, arrive at Ciudad Quesada station.
Yes, the driving distance between San José to Laguna de Arenal is 141 km. It takes approximately 2h 47m to drive from San José to Laguna de Arenal.
There are 180+ hotels available in Laguna de Arenal.
What companies run services between San José, Costa Rica and Laguna de Arenal, Costa Rica?
You can take a bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to El Castillo via Terminal San Carlos in around 5h 40m.
- 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 2296 9788 / 7071 9386
- [email protected]
- Website
- Autotransportes Palmares
Bus from Terminal del Mercado de la Coca Cola to Alajuela
- Ave. Duration
- 29 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Schedules at
- Autotransportes Palmares
- 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 El Castillo
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $1–4
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal San Carlos to El Castillo
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal San Carlos to El Castillo
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
Bus from Terminal San Carlos to Terminal Transpisa La Fortuna
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Schedules at
- Transpisa
- 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
Bus from Terminal San Carlos to Terminal Transpisa La Fortuna
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $3–5
- 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
- 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.
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.
Bus from La Fortuna to Lago Arenal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 54m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- Willie's Tours Costa Rica Shuttles
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