[View of Arenal Lake & Volcano]
Wondering to spend some Costa Rica vacations but not knowing how to travel inside the country? Here in the country it is possible to travel easily from one place to another. Costa Rica offers one-of-a-kind experience to all those who venture to drive in this wondrous haven.
So whether it’s full relaxation or high adventure that you seek for your vacation, this small but beautiful country provides boundless excitement and ultimate pleasure for an unforgettable Costa Rica vacation. Driving by your own in the country can be both challenging and fun and, additionally, it allows you to discover the country in so many exciting ways.
The traveling time that takes you to travel in the country, really depends on the road conditions, traffic and the also, the weather. It is preferable to travel during the dry season, as unpaved roads –mainly in rural places like beaches or mountains- tend to get washed away during the rainy season.
Costa Rica has a good public transportation system, as well as a private tourism buses and for those who want to explore the country on their own – car rentals are also available and we can help you booking yours-. Still those who prefer to travel in luxury and avoid any hassle can take direct flights from the various airports and airstrips around the country; and that way experience a luxury and more relaxed vacation.
Normally, the distances between places are relatively close but nowadays you have to take into consideration that the traffic in Costa Rica is dense and at certain hours it is preferable to plan your route –if you are driving- to get in time to your destiny.
Whether you travel by a plane, car or by bus, the table given below provides you with the approximate time table it takes to travel from one city to another one in Costa Rica.
From the main cities of the country, the best places to visit, all-inlcusive resorts, to the Costa Rica beaches, we hope this chart containing the main tourist attractions, distances in miles/kilometers and time you will need to get there will be useful to you.
** The distances below and the traveling times were calculated approximately.
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alajuela, Alajuela | 9 miles / 15 km | 30 min | 36 min | – |
| Cahuita, Limón | 252 miles / 403 km | 4 hr 30 min | 4 hr 30 min | – |
| Cañas, Guanacaste | 118 miles / 189 km | 3 hr | 3 hr | – |
| Cartago, Cartago | 12 miles / 20 km | 36 min | 42 min | – |
| Golfito, South Puntarenas | 193 miles / 309 km | 9 hr | 9 hr | 1 hr Taxi: 6 min |
| Heredia, Heredia | 9 miles / 15 km | 24 min | 30 min | – |
| Jacó Beach, Puntarenas | 73 miles / 117 km | 1 hr | 1 hr 30 min | – |
| La Fortuna, Alajuela | 94 miles / 150 km | 3 hr 30 min | 3 hr 30 min | 30 min Taxi: 6 min |
| Liberia, Guanacaste | 136 miles / 217 km | 2 hr 30 min | 3 hr | 48 min Taxi: 6 min |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 120 miles / 192 km | 2 hr 6 min | 2 hr 30 min | 30 min Taxi: 12 min |
| Monteverde, Puntarenas | 105 miles / 168 km | 3 hr 12 min | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| Papagayo Gulf, Guanacaste | 158 miles / 252 km | 5 hr | 5 hr | 48 min Taxi: 1 hr |
| Poás Volcano, Alajuela | 32 miles / 51 km | 1 hr 18 min | 1 hr 30 min | – |
| Puerto Limón, Limón | 88 miles / 141 km | 3 hr 30 min | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| Puerto Viejo, Limón | 256 miles / 410 km | 4 hr 30 min | 4 hr 30 min | – |
| Puntarenas, Puntarenas | 72 miles / 115 km | 1 hr 30 min | 1 hr 48 min | – |
| Quepos, Puntarenas | 116 miles / 185 km | 2 hr 12 min | 2 hr 30 min | 30 min |
| Santa Elena, Puntarenas | 103 miles / 165 km | 3 hr 12 min | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| Santa Rosa, Guanacaste | 168 miles / 269 km | 4 hr 30 min | 4 hr 30 min | 48 min Taxi: 30 min |
| Tamarindo, Guanacaste | 171 miles / 274 km | 4 hr 30 min | 5 hr | 48 min |
| Tambor, Puntarenas | 103 miles / 165 km | 3 hr | 3 hr | 24 min |
| Tilarán, Guanacaste | 119 miles / 190 km | 3 hr 30 min | 4 hr | – |
| Turrialba, Cartago | 44 miles / 70 km | 2 hr | 2 hr | – |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacó, Puntarenas | 109 miles / 175 km | 2 hr 18 min | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 153 miles / 245 km | 3 hr | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| Monteverde, Puntarenas | 101 miles / 162 km | 3 hr | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| Puntarenas, Puntarenas | 71 miles / 113 km | 2 hr 30 min | 3 hr | – |
| San José Downtown | 94 miles / 150 km | 3 hr 30 min | 3 hr 30 min | 30 min Taxi: 6 min |
| Tamarindo, Guanacaste | 138 miles / 220 km | 3 hr | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alajuela, Alajuela 125 miles / 200 km | 3 hr 12 min | 3 hr 42 min | 1 hr 12 min | Taxi: 6 min |
| Dominical, Puntarenas | 193 miles / 309 km | 6 hr | 7 hr | – |
| Golfito, Puntarenas | 288 miles / 461 km | 9 hr | 10 hr | 2 hr 12 min Taxi: 6 min |
| Heredia, Heredia | 128 miles / 205 km | 2 hr 30 min | 3 hr | – |
| Jacó, Puntarenas | 121 miles / 193 km | 3 hr 30 min | 3 hr | – |
| La Fortuna, Alajuela | 91 miles / 145 km | 3 hr | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| Liberia International Airport | 3 miles / 5 km | 6 min | 6 min | – |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 164 miles / 263 km | 4 hr 12 min | 5 hr | – |
| Monteverde, Puntarenas | 88 miles / 140 km | 3 hr 30 min | 4 hr | – |
| Nicoya, Guanacaste | 52 miles / 83 km | 1 hr 12 min | 1 hr 42 min | – |
| Peñas Blancas, Guanacaste | 48 miles / 77 km | 2 hr 12 min | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste | 53 miles / 85 km | 54 min | 1 hr 12 min | – |
| Playa Panamá, Guanacaste | 28 miles / 45 km | 48 min | 1 hr | – |
| Playas del Coco, Guanacaste | 38 miles / 60 km | 42 min | 1 hr | – |
| Puntarenas, Puntarenas | 82 miles / 132 km | 1 hr 42 min | 2 hr | – |
| San Gerardo de Dota, SJO | 189 miles / 302 km | 6 hr 12 min | 7 hr | – |
| San José Downtown | 136 miles / 217 km | 3 hr 30 min | 4 hr | 1 hr 12 min Taxi: 6 min |
| Santa Cruz, Guanacaste | 35 miles / 56 km | 42 min | 1 hr | – |
| Tamarindo, Guanacaste | 43 miles / 69 km | 1 hr | 1 hr 30 min | – |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escazú, San José | 79 miles / 127 km | 2 hr 24 min | 3 hr | – |
| Jacó, Puntarenas | 94 miles / 150 km | 2 hr | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| La Fortuna, Alajuela | 101 miles / 162 km | 3 hr | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| Liberia, Guanacaste | 88 miles / 140 km | 3 hr 30 min | 4 hr | – |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 141 miles / 225 km | 3 hr 30 min | 4 hr | – |
| Puntarenas, Puntarenas | 50 miles / 80 km | 2 hr 30 min | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| San José Downtown | 105 miles / 168 km | 3 hr | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| Juan Santamaria Airport | 88 miles / 140 km | 2 hr 36 min | 3 hr 18 min | – |
| Tamarindo, Guanacaste | 109 miles / 175 km | 3hr | 3 hr 30 min | – |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacó, Puntarenas | 47 miles / 75 km | 1 hr 12 min | 1 hr 30 min | – |
| Liberia, Guanacaste | 82 miles / 132 km | 1 hr 42 min | 2 hr | – |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 96 miles / 154 km | 1 hr 30 min | 2 hr | – |
| Quepos, Puntarenas | 88 miles / 140 km | 2 hr | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| San José Downtown | 69 miles / 110 km | 1 hr 30 min | 2 hr | – |
| San Ramón, Alajuela | 33 miles / 53 km | 1 hr 6 min | 1 hr 30 min | – |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damas Island, Puntarenas | 8 miles / 12 km | 12 min | 18 min | – |
| Dominical, Puntarenas | 28 miles / 45 km | 36 min | 54 min | – |
| Esterillos Este, Puntarenas | 24 miles / 39 km | 36 min | 48 min | – |
| Golfito, Puntarenas | 122 miles / 195 km | 4 hr | 4 hr 30 min | – |
| Jacó, Puntarenas | 39 miles / 63 km | 1 hr | 1 hr 6 min | – |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 9 miles / 14 km | 12 min | 18 min | – |
| Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas | 37 miles / 59 km | 57 min | 1 hr 3 min | – |
| Playa Herradura, Puntarenas | 44 miles / 70 km | 1 hr 9 min | 1 hr 18 min | – |
| Playa Uvita, Puntarenas | 39 miles / 62 km | 1 hr | 1 hr 30 min | – |
| Juan Santamaria Airport | 119 miles / 190 km | 2 hr 48 min | 3 hr 12 min | 30 min |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alajuela, Alajuela | 139 miles / 222 km | 3 hr 54 min | 4 hr 42 min | – |
| Cartago, Cartago | 164 miles / 262 km | 5 hr 30 min | 6 hr | – |
| Heredia, Heredia | 146 miles / 234 km | 4 hr 12 min | 4 hr 42 min | – |
| La Fortuna, Alajuela | 166 miles / 265 km | 5 hr 12 min | 6 hr | – |
| Liberia, Guanacaste | 75 miles / 120 km | 2 hr | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| Monteverde, Guanacaste | 95 miles / 152 km | 4 hr | 4 hr 12 min | – |
| Nicoya, Guanacaste | 23 miles / 37 km | 30 min | 42 min | – |
| Playas del Coco, Guanacaste | 70 miles / 112 km | 2hr | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| Puntarenas, Puntarenas | 97 miles / 155 km | 2 hr 30 min | 3 hr | – |
| San José Downtown | 149 miles / 239 km | 4 hr 12 min | 5 hr | – |
| Tamarindo, Guanacaste | 68 miles / 109 km | 2 hr | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| Tambor, Puntarenas | 56 miles / 90 km | 2 hr | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carara, Puntarenas | 12 miles / 20 km | 18 min | 24 min | – |
| Damas Island, Puntarenas | 32 miles / 51 km | 54 min | 1 hr 6 min | – |
| Dominical, Puntarenas | 66 miles / 105 km | 1 hr 30 min | 2 hr | – |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 47 miles / 75 km | 1 hr 12 min | 1 hr 24 min | – |
| Monteverde, Puntarenas | 97 miles / 155 km | 2 hr | 2 hr 36 min | – |
| Playa Herradura, Puntarenas | 4 miles / 7 km | 12 min | 12 min | – |
| Puerto Caldera, Puntarenas | 31 miles / 50 km | 57 min | 1 hr 12 min | – |
| Puntarenas, Puntarenas | 47 miles / 75 km | 1 hr 12 min | 1 hr 30 min | – |
| Quepos, Puntarenas | 44 miles / 70 km | 1 hr | 1 hr 12 min | – |
| San José Downtown | 73 miles / 117 km | 1 hr 36 min | 2 hr 6 min | – |
| Tamarindo, Guanacaste | 152 miles / 243 km | 3 hr | 3 hr 24 min | – |
| Tambor, Puntarenas | 106 miles / 169 km | 2 hr | 2 hr 30 min Ferry: 1 hr 12 min | – |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alajuela, Alajuela | 173 miles / 277 km | 4 hr | 4 hr 30 min | – |
| La Fortuna, Alajuela | 155 miles / 248 km | 4 hr 30 min | 5 hr | – |
| Liberia, Guanacaste | 48 miles / 77 km | 2 hr 12 min | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| Punta Islita, Guanacaste | 134 miles / 215 km | 4 hr | – | – |
| Puntarenas, Puntarenas | 131 miles / 210 km | 2 hr 42 min | 3 hr | – |
| San José Downtown | 190 miles / 304 km | 4 hr 30 min | 5 hr | – |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartago, Cartago | 87 miles / 139 km | 3 hr | 4 hr | – |
| Golfito, Puntarenas | 95 miles / 152 km | 3 hr 30 min | 4 hr | – |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 62 miles / 100 km | 1 hr 30 min | 2 hr | – |
| Puerto Jiménez, Puntarenas | 109 miles / 175 km | 3 hr 42 min | 4 hr 18 min | – |
| Quepos, Puntarenas | 28 miles / 45 km | 42 min | 1 hr | – |
| San Isidro del General, Puntarenas | 18 miles / 28 km | 1 hr 30 min | 2 hr | – |
| San José Downtown | 101 miles / 162 km | 4 hr | 5 hr | – |
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer | Regular bus | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alajuela, Alajuela | 161 miles / 257 km | 4 hr 18 min | 4 hr 42 min | 48 min Taxi: 6 min |
| Dominical, Puntarenas | 223 miles / 357 km | 4 hr 48 min | 5 hr 18 min | – |
| Jacó, Puntarenas | 152 miles / 243 km | 2 hr 42 min | 3 hr | – |
| La Fortuna, Alajuela | 134 miles / 214 km | 4 hr 30 min | 4 hr | – |
| Liberia, Guanacaste | 47 miles / 75 km | 1 hr | 1 hr 30 min | – |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 196 miles / 314 km | 3 hr | 3 hr 30 min | 1 hr 12 min Taxi: 6 min |
| Monteverde, Puntarenas | 112 miles / 180 km | 3 hr 30 min | 4 hr | – |
| Nicoya, Guanacaste | 45 miles / 72 km | 1 hr | 1 hr 30 min Boat: 1 hr | – |
| Playas del Coco, Guanacaste | 38 miles / 61 km | 1 hr | 1 hr 18 min | – |
| Puntarenas, Puntarenas | 119 miles / 190 km | 2 hr 48 min | 3 hr | – |
| Samara, Guanacaste | 68 miles / 109 km | 2 hr | 2 hr 30 min | – |
| San José Downtown | 171 miles / 274 km | 4 hr 30 min | 5 hr | 48 min Taxi: 6 min |
As you can see, the Costa Rica driving times range between an average of an hour and a half and 5 or 6 hours, always taking into consideration the condition of the roads and the climate conditions, as specified above. It is possible to find some variations according to the day of the week you are traveling. On weekends it is possible to find more traffic, as well as the payment days which are usually between the 13th and 15th of each month and the last three days of it.
Taking a plane is a great option to have more time for your holidays and less driving time. But you have to take into consideration that the flights are usually more expensive and the fact that not all the destinies have airstrips or the possibilities to be accessed by plane.
Have you ever drove in Costa Rica? Which was your experience? Please feel free to share with us your comments. Surely they will be helpful to other adventurous visitors.
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