There are 8 ways to get from San Jose to Nicoya by train, plane, bus, car, 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.
Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Liberia International Airport, bus
best- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane SFO - LIR
- Take the bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Nicoyabus
12h 47m$251–925Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Nosara Airport
cheapest- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Nosara Airport (NOB)plane SFO - NOB
13h 9m$153–529Bus
- Take the bus from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich to Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to San Salvadorbus
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador to Liberiabus
- Take the bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Nicoyabus
4d 19h$394–522Drive 5,746 km
- Drive from San Jose to Nicoyacar 5,746 km
2d 21h$771–1,113Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport, bus
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane SJC - LIR
- Take the bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Nicoyabus
13h 53m$318–1,208Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport, bus, shuttle
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane SFO - SJO
- Take the bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14bus
- Take a shuttle bus from San José to Nicoya
13h 36m$710–1,244Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Tamarindo Airport, shuttle
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Tamarindo Airport (TNO)plane SFO - TNO
- Take a shuttle bus from Tamarindo to Nicoya
12h 29m$416–833Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Managua Airport, shuttle, bus
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Managua Airport (MGA)plane SFO - MGA
- Take a shuttle bus from Granada to Peñas Blancas
- Take the bus from Peñas Blancas to Liberia - Estación de Servicio EMESAbus
- Take the bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Nicoyabus
18h 30m$395–932
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Liberia International Airport (LIR) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Jose to Nicoya is to Caltrain and fly which costs $150 - $550 and takes 13h 9m.
The fastest way to get from San Jose to Nicoya is to Caltrain and fly and shuttle which takes 12h 29m and costs $410 - $850.
No, there is no direct bus from San Jose to Nicoya. However, there are services departing from Santa Clara & 6th and arriving at Nicoya via San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich, Cesar E Chavez / Vignes, Los Angeles, Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador and Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4 days 19h.
The distance between San Jose and Nicoya is 4898 km. The road distance is 5746 km.
The best way to get from San Jose to Nicoya without a car is to bus which takes 4 days 19h and costs $390 - $550.
It takes approximately 12h 47m to get from San Jose to Nicoya, including transfers.
San Jose to Nicoya bus services, operated by Hoang Express, depart from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich station.
San Jose to Nicoya bus services, operated by Hoang Express, arrive at Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station.
Nicoya is 2h ahead of San Jose. It is currently 10:58 AM in San Jose and 12:58 PM in Nicoya.
Yes, the driving distance between San Jose to Nicoya is 5746 km. It takes approximately 2 days 21h to drive from San Jose to Nicoya.
What companies run services between San Jose, CA, USA and Nicoya, Costa Rica?
You can take a bus from Santa Clara & 6th to Nicoya via Tully & King, San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich, Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station, Cesar E Chavez / Vignes, Los Angeles, San Salvador, Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador, Liberia, and Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia in around 4d 19h.
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tamarindo Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tamarindo Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–850
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tamarindo Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 2m
- When
- Friday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Nosara Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–500
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Nosara Airport via Houston, Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–500
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Nosara Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–800
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Nosara Airport via Guatemala City, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 45m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–800
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tamarindo Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tamarindo Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–850
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tamarindo Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 2m
- When
- Friday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Nosara Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–500
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Nosara Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 15m
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–800
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Nosara Airport via Guatemala City, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 45m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–800
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–900
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Guatemala City
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $260–900
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Managua Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $330–1,100
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 14m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,000
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Managua Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–700
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $430–1,600
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 14m
- When
- Tuesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $430–1,600
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 22m
- When
- Tuesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $500–2,000
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Managua Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
- Website
- aeromexico.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Managua Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 7m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $170–700
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 55m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $310–1,200
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Managua Airport via Panama City
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–850
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- Cal Train
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
- Phone
- +506 2665 7520
- [email protected]
- Website
- Transportes La Pampa
Bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Nicoya
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5
- Schedules at
- Transportes La Pampa
Bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Nicoya
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5
- Schedules at
- Transportes La Pampa
Bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Nicoya
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5
- Schedules at
- Transportes La Pampa
Bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Nicoya
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5
- Schedules at
- Transportes La Pampa
- Phone
- +1 714-839-3500
- [email protected]
- Website
- Hoang Bus
Bus from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich to Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Book at
- GoToBus - Hoang Express
- Website
- Hoang Bus
- Adult One-way
- $45–60
- Phone
- +1 213 368 1172
- [email protected]
- Website
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Los Angeles to San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 3d 15h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $290–380
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
- Phone
- +52 962 625 2435
- [email protected]
- Website
- Tica Bus
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador to Liberia
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 9m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $50–85
- Website
- Tica Bus
- Phone
- +506 2442 6900
- [email protected]
- Website
- grupotuasa.com
Bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Schedules at
- grupotuasa.com
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- [email protected]
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from San José to Nicoya
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $272
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Tamarindo to Nicoya
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $251
- Website
- RIDE CR
- Phone
- +506 8812 4012
- [email protected]
- Website
- EasyRide CR
Shuttle from Granada to Peñas Blancas
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $149
- Schedules at
- EasyRide CR
Bus from Peñas Blancas to Liberia - Estación de Servicio EMESA
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $5–8
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $5–8
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