There are 11 ways to get from San Jose to Santa Elena by train, plane, shuttle, bus, car, or subway
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, shuttle
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 a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
13h 2m$315–1,196Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to La Fortuna Arenal Airport, drive
cheapest- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON)plane SFO - FON
- Drive from La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) to Santa Elenacar
14h 52m$227–787Bus
- 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 La Irmabus
4d 22h$464–607Drive 5,762.4 km
- Drive from San Jose to Santa Elenacar 5,762.4 km
2d 22h$773–1,117Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane SJC - SJO
- Take a shuttle bus from Alajuela to Monteverde
13h 15m$732–1,426Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport, 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 a shuttle bus from Alajuela to Monteverde
12h 56m$756–1,143BART to Oakland International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport, 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 a shuttle bus from Alajuela to Monteverde
14h 36m$529–1,135Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane SJC - LIR
- Take a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
13h 50m$352–1,378Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Managua Airport, shuttle
- 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 a shuttle bus from Peñas Blancas to Monteverde
18h 9m$1,185–1,541Bus, shuttle
- Take the bus from San Jose Diridon Station to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus Managua to Liberiabus
- Take a shuttle bus from Liberia to Monteverde
5d 2hTrain, bus, shuttle
- Take the train from San Jose to Los Angelestrain
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to Terminal Metropolitana de Busesbus
- Take a shuttle bus from Terminal Metropolitana de Buses to San Juan del Sur
- Take a shuttle bus from San Juan del Sur to Monteverde
5d 8h$661–875
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Liberia International Airport (LIR) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Jose to Santa Elena is to Caltrain and fly and drive which costs $220 - $800 and takes 14h 52m.
The fastest way to get from San Jose to Santa Elena is to Caltrain and fly and shuttle which takes 12h 56m and costs $750 - $1,200.
No, there is no direct bus from San Jose to Santa Elena. However, there are services departing from Santa Clara & 6th and arriving at La Irma via San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich, Cesar E Chavez / Vignes, Los Angeles and Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4 days 22h.
The distance between San Jose and Santa Elena is 4917 km. The road distance is 5762.4 km.
The best way to get from San Jose to Santa Elena without a car is to bus which takes 4 days 22h and costs $460 - $650.
It takes approximately 13h 2m to get from San Jose to Santa Elena, including transfers.
San Jose to Santa Elena bus services, operated by Hoang Express, depart from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich station.
San Jose to Santa Elena bus services, operated by Hoang Express, arrive at Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station.
Santa Elena is 1h ahead of San Jose. It is currently 1:30 PM in San Jose and 2:30 PM in Santa Elena.
Yes, the driving distance between San Jose to Santa Elena is 5762 km. It takes approximately 2 days 22h to drive from San Jose to Santa Elena.
What companies run services between San Jose, CA, USA and Santa Elena, Puntarenas, Costa Rica?
You can take a bus from Santa Clara & 6th to Santa Elena 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, and La Irma in around 4d 22h.
- Website
- united.com
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
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 Managua Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
- 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
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Managua Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $550–900
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 15m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to La Fortuna Arenal Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 44m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to La Fortuna Arenal Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 34m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to La Fortuna Arenal Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,100
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 15m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to La Fortuna Arenal Airport via Los Angeles, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 44m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to La Fortuna Arenal Airport via Las Vegas, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 34m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to La Fortuna Arenal Airport via San Salvador, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,100
- Website
- alaskaair.com
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
- 8h 48m
- When
- Friday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $420–1,600
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 35m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $330–1,300
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,400
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 7m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $480–1,800
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,100
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 8m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 35m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $330–1,300
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,400
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Managua Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–900
- 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
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 50m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $330–1,200
- Website
- aeromexico.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 10m
- 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
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Managua Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 35m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–750
- 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
- volaris.com
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Guadalajara
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 37m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $270–750
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Managua Airport via Panama City
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
- 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
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- BART
Subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Coliseum
- Ave. Duration
- 44 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–9
- Website
- BART
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Jose to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–280
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- [email protected]
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $269
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Alajuela to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $315
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Alajuela to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $315
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Alajuela to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $315
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $269
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Peñas Blancas to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $416
- Website
- RIDE CR
- Phone
- +506 2640 1900 / 2640 0811
- [email protected]
- Website
- Tropical Tours Shuttles
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–69
- Website
- Tropical Tours Shuttles
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–69
- Website
- Tropical Tours Shuttles
- 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
Bus from Los Angeles to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 6h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $330–400
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Los Angeles to Terminal Metropolitana de Buses
- Ave. Duration
- 3d 20h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $310–380
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
- Phone
- +52 962 625 2435
- [email protected]
- Website
- Tica Bus
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador to La Irma
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 42m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–80
- Website
- Tica Bus
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus Managua to Liberia
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 59m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Website
- Tica Bus
- Phone
- +1 586 310 8389
- [email protected]
- Website
- EasyRide CR
Shuttle from Granada to Peñas Blancas
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $149
- Schedules at
- EasyRide CR
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from San Jose Diridon Station to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from San Jose Diridon Station to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–90
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- Phone
- +502 7762 0694
- [email protected]
- Website
- marvelustravel.com
Shuttle from Liberia to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 23m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Book at
- Marvelus Travel
Shuttle from San Juan del Sur to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85
- Book at
- Marvelus Travel
- Phone
- +504 2425 3931
- [email protected]
- Website
- Roneey Shuttle
Shuttle from Terminal Metropolitana de Buses to San Juan del Sur
- Ave. Duration
- 14h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $130
- Website
- Roneey Shuttle
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