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How to get fromSanta Elena to Cartagenaby shuttle, plane, bus, or ferry

Find Transport to Cartagena

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There are 3 ways to get from Santa Elena to Cartagena by shuttle, plane, bus, or ferry

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Shuttle, fly

    best
    1. Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Alajuelashuttle bus
    2. Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Cartagena (CTG)plane plane SJO - CTG
    6h 27m
    $510–752

  2. Bus, ferry via Portobelo

    1. Take the bus from Santa Elena to La Fortunabus bus
    2. Take the bus from La Fortuna to Queposbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Quepos to Terminal Albrookbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Panama City to Sabanitasbus bus
    5. Take the ferry from Portobelo to Cartagenaferry ferry
    7d 1h
    $1,136–1,161

  3. Bus, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Santa Elena to La Fortunabus bus
    2. Take the bus from La Fortuna to Queposbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Quepos to Terminal Albrookbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Panama City to Sabanitasbus bus
    5. Take the bus from Sabanitas to Puerto Lindobus bus
    6. Take the ferry from Puerto Lindo to Cartagenaferry ferry
    7d 1h
    $1,137–1,162

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Cartagena (CTG) flights

Calendar39Weekly Planes
Duration3h 36mAverage Duration
Ticket$54Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Santa Elena to Cartagena.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,102.5 km
  • Duration: 6h 27m

What companies run services between Santa Elena, Puntarenas, Costa Rica and Cartagena, Colombia?

There is no direct connection from Santa Elena to Cartagena. However, you can take the line 625 bus to Monteverde, walk to Monteverde, take the shuttle to Alajuela, walk to Terminal TUASA Alajuela, take the line 200 bus to El Cacique, walk to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) airport, fly to Cartagena (CTG), walk to Carrera 4, then take the bus to María Auxiliadora. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Santa Elena to Cartagena via La Fortuna, Quepos, Quepos, Terminal Albrook, Panama City, Sabanitas, Portobelo, and Portobelo in around 7d 1h.

Airlines
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Ferry operators

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