How to Get to Santa Teresa From San José (I Did the $25 Bus Route)
Here’s the thing nobody tells you about how to get to Santa Teresa: it’s not exactly on the way to anywhere. It sits at the bottom tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, across the Gulf of Nicoya from the mainland. So getting there almost always means some road, plus either a ferry or a tiny plane.
I’ve done the cheapest version of this trip, with a surfboard, in the heat, with a bus driver I had a little argument with (more on that later, haha).
So this guide is part “here are all your options” and part “here’s exactly what my day looked like.” If you’re still deciding whether to go at all, start with my full surfing in Santa Teresa guide. Then come back here and let’s get you there.
TL;DR: How to Get to Santa Teresa at a Glance
No time to read the whole thing? Here’s my cheat sheet. I did the bus and ferry with my board for about $25. Here’s how it compares with the other options.
| Way to go | Time & cost | Best for | Watch out for | Book it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public bus + ferry (my pick) | ~7 hrs from Jacó, longer from San José · ~$12, or ~$22 with a board | Budget travellers with patience (hi, that’s me) | 4 connections, board fees on every bus, no AC on the last one | No booking needed, just bring cash in colones |
| Shuttle (shared or private) | ~5–7 hrs door to door · $$ | Easy door-to-door trips, ferry included | Only leaves at set times | Book a private transfer from SJO |
| Rental car + ferry | ~5–7 hrs including the ferry · $$ + ₡11,400 + VAT for the car on the ferry | Groups, and exploring beyond town | Bumpy dirt roads, and driving after dark | Compare rental cars |
| Domestic flight | 30 min flight + 15–20 min ride · from ~$131 one way | Short trips, and boards up to 7 ft | Only the Premium fare ($171) takes a board, max 7 ft | Fly Green Airways to Cobano, then book your airport transfer |
Heads up: some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep Chaseawave afloat. 🤙
How to Get to Santa Teresa: Choose the Route That Fits Your Trip
Quick reality check before we get into it:
- Flying is the fastest. You’re in Santa Teresa in a few hours, but you pay for it and your board might not fit.
- The bus and ferry is the cheapest. But it takes most of a day and you have to stay on top of your connections.
- Car and shuttle sit in the middle. More comfy than the bus, less pricey than flying.
What should decide it for you? When you land at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), how much stuff you’re carrying (boards!), your budget, and how chill you are about making connections.
The Main Ferry Route Via Puntarenas and Paquera
Almost every overland option follows the same line: San José to Puntarenas, the ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya to Paquera, then the road through Cobano down to Santa Teresa.
The ferry is the bit you plan everything else around. The crossing itself only takes about an hour. Check the current ferry schedule and grab your ferry ticket before you commit to a departure time. The ferry schedule can sometimes shift, and if you miss one, you’re often waiting around three hours for the next. Later in the day, that can mean arriving in the dark (not fun).
Here’s the current ferry schedule. Ferries leave both Puntarenas and Paquera at 4:00 am, 6:30 am, 9:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. An adult ticket is ₡810, and a regular car is ₡11,400 + VAT.
⚠️ Double-check before you go: these screenshots come from the official Naviera Tambor schedule and prices page. They were valid from April 20, 2026 until further notice. Times and prices change, especially around holidays, so check the site again a few days before your trip.
Compare Your Transport Options
There’s no single “best” way. Here’s the honest rundown.
Take a Domestic Flight to Cobano or Tambor
A domestic flight is the easiest, fastest way in. Green Airways flies direct from San José Airport (SJO) to Cobano Airport (ACO) in about 30 minutes. Cobano is the closest airport to Santa Teresa, only about 15 to 20 minutes away by road. Coming from the north? Sansa also flies from Liberia (LIR) to Cobano in about 30 minutes (one flight a day, starting November 16, 2026).
I helped a friend book her flights to and from Santa Teresa with Green Airways, and she had zero issues. The flights were on time, the ride was smooth, and her luggage showed up right there with her. (Not an affiliate link, by the way. It just works.)
Prices start at around $131 one way. What changes between fares is how much stuff you can bring:
| Fare | Price (one way) | Bags | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | $131 | Hand bag up to 15 lb (6.8 kg) | No changes, no refunds |
| Flex | $146 | Checked bag up to 30 lb (13.6 kg) + hand bag up to 10 lb | Free changes up to 48 hrs before |
| Standard | $156 | Checked bag up to 40 lb (18.1 kg) + hand bag up to 10 lb | Free changes up to 24 hrs before |
| Premium | $171 | Checked bag up to 50 lb (22.7 kg) + hand bag up to 10 lb | 1 surfboard included (max 7 ft, 20 lb). Refundable up to 21 days before |
Surfers, this is the important bit: Premium is the only fare that includes a surfboard, and it has to be 7 ft or shorter (max 20 lb). If you’re bringing a longboard or anything over 7 ft, take a shuttle or the ferry instead. Also, only Premium is refundable (up to 21 days before), so lock in your dates first.
Small planes are also more likely to get delayed by weather, especially in rainy season. Once you land, book your airport transfer or ask your hotel about a pickup.
Drive a Rental Car and Take the Ferry
If you like freedom, grab a rental car (the big names like Europcar are at the airport, plus plenty of local companies). Take Route 27 out of San José to Puntarenas, drive onto the Paquera ferry, then follow the road through Cobano to Santa Teresa.
A few tips from someone who’s seen those roads:
- Get a higher car. You don’t need a 4×4 for every trip, but there are bumpy dirt roads around Santa Teresa, and in rainy season a bit of extra clearance makes life way easier, especially if you’re staying somewhere remote.
- Book your car spot on the ferry in busy periods like Christmas, Easter and weekends. A regular car is ₡11,400 + VAT, plus ₡810 for each passenger.
- Gas up before leaving the city and download offline maps. Signal gets patchy.
- Avoid driving at night. No street lights, potholes, dogs, people walking on the road. Just don’t.
Book a Shared or Private Shuttle
Shuttles are the low-stress middle ground. A shared shuttle picks you up at your hotel or the airport and drops you at your place in Santa Teresa, with the ferry usually included. Interbus Shuttles and Tropical Tours Shuttles are two of the well-known ones, and you can compare times and prices on Bookaway. Or book a private transfer straight from the airport to your door here.
🚐 Want the easy way?
Private transfer: San José Airport → Santa Teresa. Picked up at SJO, dropped at your door. No buses, no ferry tickets to sort out, and no arguing with drivers about board fees (been there, haha). Split it with your crew and it’s way more reasonable than it sounds.
A private shuttle (or private minibus transportation if you’re a bigger crew) costs more, but it starts making sense for groups, families or anyone hauling a pile of surfboards. Split it four ways and it’s often not that far off the shared price.
Before booking, ask:
- Where exactly is the pickup?
- Is the ferry ticket included?
- What’s the luggage and surfboard policy?
- Do they drop you at your door or in the middle of town?
- What happens if you cancel or your flight is late?
Use Public Buses and the Ferry (What I Did)
This is the budget route: bus, bus and ferry, and then… yep, more buses. The order goes San José (or Jacó) to Puntarenas, ferry to Paquera, a public bus to Cobano, then the bus from Cobano to Santa Teresa (or a taxi).
It’s cheap. Like, really cheap. But it takes most of the day and only works if your connections line up. Bring colones in cash, ask every driver to confirm where they’re going, and leave yourself buffer time.
I started from Jacó, so here’s exactly how my day went. If you’re coming from San José, it’s the same story, you just catch a bus to Puntarenas from the city instead and pick things up at the ferry.
My Day: Jacó to Santa Teresa by Public Bus
9:00 am, Jacó bus station. The bus to Puntarenas was ₡1,560 per ticket, plus ₡2,000 for my surfboard. Don’t ask me to make sense of those prices. It is what it is.
11:00 am, Puntarenas. The bus takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. For some reason it doesn’t stop next to the ferry, so you’ve got two choices: walk about 25 minutes to the ferry gate, or grab a taxi for ₡3,000 that takes 5 minutes. There were three of us, so it was ₡1,000 each. Totally worth it. Even solo, you’ll usually find other travellers heading to the ferry to split with.
12:00 pm, ferry to Paquera. The crossing takes about an hour, and the ticket was just ₡810, and no extra charge for boards (finally!). Honestly, the ferry was surprisingly pleasant. There’s AC and a little shop selling everything from burritos to coffee to ice cream. Kick back, you’ve earned it.
Paquera. When you get off, taxi drivers will be waiting for you right away. They’ll take you straight to Santa Teresa for about $80. I didn’t shop around, so you might get it cheaper if you ask a few drivers and bargain a bit. Just agree on the price before you get in. I learned that one the hard way when I got scammed in Bocas del Toro.
We walked to the bus station instead, about 200 meters from the ferry gate, and caught the bus to Cobano. That’s ₡1,550 for the ride and, yep, another ₡2,000 for the board. I’ll be honest, this is where I got annoyed and argued with the driver about it. But you either pay or you don’t get on the bus. So I sucked it up and let it go. Lesson learned: just have the cash ready and save your energy for the waves.
Around 2:30 pm, Cobano. The ride takes 45 minutes to an hour. To find the Cobano to Santa Teresa bus, walk from the bus station to the main street and turn left. After about 50 meters you’ll see a home appliance shop, and that’s where you wait. You’ll spot a crowd of people waiting too. Always ask the driver if he’s going to Santa Teresa before you hop on.
2:45 pm, the last leg. We took the 2:45 pm bus from Cobano to Santa Teresa. It was ₡1,000 for me and the driver asked for ₡1,000 for the board. Heads up: this is a very basic local bus. There’s no space underneath for boards, so you carry everything on with you. This is where a decent surfboard travel bag really earns its keep. And no AC. Embrace the sweat.
3:45 pm, Santa Teresa. Made it. Salty, sticky and stoked.
What the Bus Route Actually Costs
| Leg | Ticket | Surfboard |
|---|---|---|
| Jacó → Puntarenas bus | ₡1,560 | ₡2,000 |
| Taxi to ferry (split 3 ways) | ₡1,000 | — |
| Puntarenas → Paquera ferry | ₡810 | free |
| Paquera → Cobano bus | ₡1,550 | ₡2,000 |
| Cobano → Santa Teresa bus | ₡1,000 | ₡1,000 |
| Total | ₡5,920 (about $12) | ₡5,000 (about $10) |
So all in, it was around ₡11,000, call it $25 once you add a ferry burrito and some water. That’s crazy cheap next to a shuttle, a private taxi or a speed boat. Without a board you’re paying roughly half. Paying an extra $10 to have my own board with me? Worth it every time. But to each their own. If saving money on the road is your thing too, my budget surf trip guide has the rest of my tricks.
Just know it’s the cheapest route for a reason. It’s long, it’s hot and it takes patience. Most of my buses were on time, though, so it’s very doable.
Plan the Journey Step by Step
Whichever way you go, check live schedules a few days before you leave. Old blog timetables (yes, even mine) go out of date fast.
Before You Leave San José
- Pick your transport and book anything time-sensitive (flight, shuttle, car spot on the ferry).
- Save your confirmations, your accommodation’s address and offline maps on your phone.
- Grab an Airalo Costa Rica eSIM before you land, so you’ve got maps and WhatsApp for the whole trip.
- Don’t try to squeeze everything into your arrival day. Customs, lost bags and San José traffic can easily make you miss a same-day ferry or flight. A night near the airport is often the smarter move.
- Pack water, snacks, a rain jacket, a power bank, colones in cash and a dry bag for your phone and laptop.
At Puntarenas, Paquera and Cobano
- Puntarenas: get to the ferry early so you can find the terminal, buy your ticket and board without rushing.
- Paquera: ask if your bus or transfer goes straight to Santa Teresa or if you need to change in Cobano.
- Cobano: confirm the last bus to Santa Teresa with the driver. If it’s already gone, compare a taxi from Cobano to Santa Teresa with sharing a ride with other travellers.
Mistakes to Avoid on the Way to Santa Teresa
- Trusting old info. Ferry times, prices and board fees change. Check with each company directly.
- Underestimating the last stretch. The road after the ferry feels long, especially in the rain, in the dark or after a long flight.
- Vague directions to your stay. Ask your hotel for the exact neighborhood, what the road is like and how late check-in works. “Santa Teresa” covers a lot of dirt road.
- Forgetting that cheap can get expensive. The bus route is a bargain, until a missed connection means a surprise night in Puntarenas. Leave yourself buffer time.
A Simple Decision Guide
- Short on time, light bags? Take a domestic flight.
- Want flexibility, travelling with friends, keen to explore? Get a rental car.
- Want easy without driving? Book a shared or private shuttle.
- Patient and on a budget? Public bus and ferry, baby.
Conclusion & Key Takeaway
The best way to get from San José to Santa Teresa comes down to your time, your budget, your boards and how much you enjoy juggling connections.
The golden rule: lock in your ferry or flight time first, then build the rest of your day around it. Try to arrive before dark, and give yourself extra breathing room in rainy season.
Still need somewhere to sleep? Check out the best places to stay in Santa Teresa. Then read my Santa Teresa surf guide to see which beach to paddle out at first.
Once you’re there, the hard part’s over. Never surfed before? Here’s every surf school in Santa Teresa compared, so you can pick one before you land. Then go find your wave. 🤙
FAQs: How to Get to Santa Teresa
Is There a Shuttle Bus From San José to Santa Teresa?
Yes. Shared and private shuttles run between San José (or SJO airport) and Santa Teresa, usually via the Puntarenas–Paquera ferry. Before booking, check the pickup spot, luggage rules, whether the ferry is included and where exactly they drop you off.
What Is the Easiest Way to Travel to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica?
A domestic flight to Cobano or Tambor plus a short ride is the fastest and simplest. If you’d rather stay on the ground, a private shuttle is the easiest overland option. No rental car, ferry ticket or bus connections to manage.
How Far Is Santa Teresa From San José?
Roughly 160 to 190 kilometers, depending on your route and where you’re staying. By car and ferry it’s usually around five to seven hours. By public transport it can take most of a day.
Is Santa Teresa, Costa Rica Worth It?
For surfers, beach lovers and remote workers who don’t mind the journey, 100% yes. It’s a laid-back surf town with consistent waves, and easily one of the best surf spots in Costa Rica. The trip is part of the adventure. Just give yourself enough time to get there. My honest guide to surfing Santa Teresa shows you what you’re in for.
