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How to get fromSantiago to San Joséby bus, shuttle, car, or plane

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There are 6 ways to get from Santiago to San José by bus, shuttle, car, or plane

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, shuttle

    best
    1. Take the bus from Santiago to Fronterabus bus
    2. Take the bus from Ciudad Neily to Dominicalbus bus
    3. Take a shuttle bus from Dominical to San Joséshuttle bus
    9h 23m
    $52–437

  2. Bus

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from Santiago de Veraguas to Terminal Tica Busbus bus Panamá / ...
    12h
    $40–65

  3. Drive 533.8 km

    1. Drive from Santiago to San Josécar car 533.8 km
    9h 13m
    $73–106

  4. Bus, bus to Golfito, fly

    1. Take the bus from Santiago to Fronterabus bus
    2. Take the bus from Paso Canoas to Golfitobus bus
    3. Fly from Golfito (GLF) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane plane GLF - SJO
    4. Take the bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14bus bus
    8h 52m
    $198–269

  5. Bus via Paso Canoas

    1. Take the bus from Santiago to Davidbus bus
    2. Take the bus from David to Fronterabus bus
    3. Take the bus from Paso Canoas to San Josébus bus
    13h 11m

  6. Bus to Tocumen International Airport, fly, bus

    1. Take the bus from Santiago to Paraíso, Panamá Provincebus bus
    2. Fly from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane plane PTY - SJO
    3. Take the bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14bus bus
    9h 46m
    $201–422

Santiago to San José by bus

Calendar36Weekly Buses
Duration12hAverage Duration
Ticket$40Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Santiago to San José.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 535.6 km
  • Duration: 9h 23m

What companies run services between Santiago, Panama and San José, Costa Rica?

Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter) operates a bus from Santiago de Veraguas to Terminal Tica Bus 4 times a day. Tickets cost $45–65 and the journey takes 12h. Tica Bus also services this route once daily.

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Bus operators

Want to know more about travelling around the world?

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Train travel in Spain: A guide to Renfe, French strikes 2018: What are my alternative transport options?, and What are the different types of Renfe trains in Spain? - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

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