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How to get fromSan José to Playa del Carmenby bus, plane, shuttle, or car

Find Transport to Playa del Carmen

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There are 5 ways to get from San José to Playa del Carmen 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.

  1. Bus, fly, shuttle

    best
    1. Take the bus from Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14 to 50 m este Del Aeropuertobus bus
    2. Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Cancún International Airport (CUN)plane plane SJO - CUN
    3. Take a shuttle bus from Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún Terminal 2 to Playa del Carmen Bus Stationshuttle bus
    7h 37m
    $2,874–5,532

  2. Bus

    1. Take the bus from San José to San Salvadorbus bus
    2. Take the bus from San Salvador to Belize Citybus bus
    3. Take the bus from Belize City to Chetumalbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Chetumal to Playa del Carmen Alternabus bus
    47h 2m
    $3,754–18,728

  3. Drive 1,908.6 km

    1. Drive from San José to Playa del Carmencar car 1,908.6 km
    32h 23m
    $4,339–6,267

  4. Bus, shuttle

    1. Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Granadabus bus Sjo
    2. Take a shuttle bus from Granada to Estacion de Autobuses La Ceibashuttle bus
    3. Take a shuttle bus from Estacion de Autobuses La Ceiba to Punta Gordashuttle bus
    4. Take a shuttle bus from Punta Gorda to Belize Cityshuttle bus
    5. Take a shuttle bus from Belize City to Playa del Carmenshuttle bus
    2d 4h

  5. Bus via San Salvador

    1. Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus San José to Terminal Tica Bus San Salvadorbus bus
    2. Take the bus from San Salvador to Belize Citybus bus
    3. Take the bus from Belize City to Chetumalbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Chetumal to Playa del Carmen Alternabus bus
    2d 23h
    $3,815–19,133

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Cancún International Airport (CUN) flights

Calendar15Weekly Planes
Duration3h 30mAverage Duration
Ticket$1,590Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from San José to Playa del Carmen.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,414.9 km
  • Duration: 7h 37m

What companies run services between San José, Costa Rica and Playa del Carmen, Mexico?

You can take a bus from San José to Playa del Carmen Alterna via San Salvador, San Salvador, Belize City, and Chetumal in around 47h 2m.

Airlines
Bus operators

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