There are 9 ways to get from San Jose to Playa Ballena by plane, bus, shuttle, train, car, subway, or taxi
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport, bus, shuttle
best- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane SJC - 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 Uvita
13h 51m$914–1,610Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Drake Bay, drive
cheapest- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Drake Bay (DRK)plane SFO - DRK
- Drive from Drake Bay (DRK) to Playa Ballenacar
17h 15m$232–795Train, bus
- Take the train from San Jose to Los Angelestrain
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Managua to Terminal NicaBusbus
- Take the bus from San José to Uvitabus
5d 5h$545–768Drive 5,987.8 km
- Drive from San Jose to Playa Ballenacar 5,987.8 km
3d 2h$803–1,160Caltrain 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 Uvita
13h 31m$937–1,327BART to Oakland International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport, bus, shuttle
- Take the subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Coliseumsubway
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane OAK - 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 Uvita
15h 12m$710–1,319Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Liberia International Airport, shuttle
- 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 a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Uvita
15h 2m$739–1,623Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Quepos La Managua Airport, taxi
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Quepos La Managua Airport (XQP)plane SFO - XQP
- Take the taxi from Quepos-Airport-XQP to Playa Ballenataxi
12h 14m$336–940Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Puerto Jiménez Airport, drive
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Puerto Jiménez Airport (PJM)plane SFO - PJM
- Drive from Puerto Jiménez Airport (PJM) to Playa Ballenacar
14h 29m$233–795
Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Jose to Playa Ballena is to Caltrain and fly and drive which costs $230 - $800 and takes 14h 29m.
The fastest way to get from San Jose to Playa Ballena is to Caltrain and fly and taxi which takes 12h 14m and costs $330 - $950.
The distance between San Jose and Playa Ballena is 5116 km. The road distance is 5987.8 km.
The best way to get from San Jose to Playa Ballena without a car is to train and bus which takes 5 days 5h and costs $500 - $800.
It takes approximately 13h 51m to get from San Jose to Playa Ballena, including transfers.
Playa Ballena is 1h ahead of San Jose. It is currently 12:46 PM in San Jose and 1:46 PM in Playa Ballena.
Yes, the driving distance between San Jose to Playa Ballena is 5988 km. It takes approximately 3 days 2h to drive from San Jose to Playa Ballena.
There are 497+ hotels available in Playa Ballena.
What companies run services between San Jose, CA, USA and Playa Ballena, Costa Rica?
There is no direct connection from San Jose to Playa Ballena. However, you can take the line 60 bus to SJC Airport Terminal A, walk to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), walk to 50 m este Del Aeropuerto, take the bus to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14, walk to San José, take the shuttle to Uvita, then take the taxi to Playa Ballena. Alternatively, you can take a train from San Jose to Playa Ballena via Los Angeles, Union Station - Metro B & D Lines, Westlake / MacArthur Park Station, Westlake Ave & Wilshire Blvd, Union Ave & James M Wood Blvd, Los Angeles, Managua, Terminal NicaBus, San José, and Uvita in around 5d 5h.
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 5m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Puerto Jiménez Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Puerto Jiménez Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Puerto Jiménez Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,000
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Puerto Jiménez Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 45m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Puerto Jiménez Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport, Golfito
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 10m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Drake Bay via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 25m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Drake Bay via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $320–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Drake Bay via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- When
- Friday, Saturday, Monday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Drake Bay via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 5m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Puerto Jiménez Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Puerto Jiménez Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Puerto Jiménez Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,000
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Puerto Jiménez Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 45m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Drake Bay via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 25m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Drake Bay via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $320–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Drake Bay via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- When
- Friday, Saturday, Monday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Drake Bay via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 25m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–800
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $190–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $170–650
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 29m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,000
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $330–1,300
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,400
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 18m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $410–1,600
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 33m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $420–1,600
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $430–750
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $320–750
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $330–1,300
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,400
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,100
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $190–750
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $200–800
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–750
- Website
- aeromexico.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–650
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–750
- Website
- volaris.com
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Guadalajara
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 37m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $270–750
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from San Jose to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–280
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- 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
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- 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
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- 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
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- 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
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Coliseum
- Ave. Duration
- 44 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–9
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
- 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
- $1–2
- Schedules at
- 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
- $1–2
- Schedules at
- 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
- $1–2
- Schedules at
- grupotuasa.com
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- [email protected]
- Website
- ridecr.com
Shuttle from San José to Uvita
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $477
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from San José to Uvita
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $477
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from San José to Uvita
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $477
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $269
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from Monteverde to Uvita
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $406
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
- Phone
- +1 213 368 1172
- [email protected]
- Website
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Los Angeles to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 6h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $330–400
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
- Phone
- +505 2222 2276
- [email protected]
- Website
- nicabus.com.ni
Bus from Managua to Terminal NicaBus
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $37–38
- Website
- https://nicabus.com.ni/en/
- Phone
- +506 2221 4214
- [email protected]
- Website
- tracopacr.com
Bus from San José to Uvita
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 9m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $14–17
- Schedules at
- tracopacr.com
- Colectivo
- $14–17
- Phone
- +506 2640 1900 / 2640 0811
- [email protected]
- Website
- tropicaltourshuttles.com
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–69
- Website
- https://tropicaltourshuttles.com/
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