San José Juan Santamaría Airport

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What is the distance from San José Juan Santamaría Airport to the centre of San José?

The distance from the airport to the centre of San José (Plaza de la Cultura) is 18 kilometres / 11.2 miles, the journey time is approximately half an hour.

From SJO Airport to San José City centre by Taxi
18 km
25 min
CRC 15000.-
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Public transport

Bus to San José and Alajuela

Although most tourists opt for a taxi, it is possible to travel by public transport from the airport to San José and Alajuela. The bus stops at San José Juan Santamaría Airport can be found along the main road (Public Bus Station Airport) behind the parking garage, go to the left and walk around the garage. Buses depart in both directions (“ambos sentidos”) from the bus stops at the airport. At the front of the bus, you can see in which direction the bus is heading, to be completely sure you can ask the bus driver. There are a couple of bus services running to and from the airport, Grupo TUASA (red white buses) and Station Wagon (yellow orange buses) are the most used.

Tickets
Buses of Grupo TUASA run every 6 to 12 minutes from San José Juan Santamaría Airport to San José and Alajuela, every day of the week between 04:00 hours and 22:00 hours. Travel time to San José Bus Terminal on the north side of Parque de la Merced is 30 to 40 minutes, it takes 20 minutes to get to Terminal TUASA in Alajuela. Tickets are available on board the bus, the price is 675 CRC (1.10 USD) for a single journey. Grupo TUASA does not let you on the bus with any checked size luggage., only hand luggage is allowed. You need Costa Rican colon to pay for your ticket, keep in mind that the bus driver usually does not have much change. You can withdraw cash at the ATMs in the Main Terminal. Please consult website Grupo TUASA for more information.

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Activities

Activity

San José: Tortuga Island Tour with Snorkeling and Lunch

Travel to the beautiful Tortuga Island to spend an incredible day at the beach. Snorkel, get an incredible tan under the sun, and enjoy the warm sea with an incredible turquoise color.
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Activity

San Jose: Central Market Bites and Sights Walking Tour

Explore the beautiful city of San Jose on a guided walking tour through busy streets. See the bustling Central and Borbon markets, and peaceful parks. Learn how to make plantain empanadas with locals.
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Activity

San José: Arenal Volcano, Waterfalls, Coffee and Hot Springs

Explore the Arenal Volcano area on a more scenic route than the traditional highway. Admire views of plantations, waterfalls, jungles, wildlife, and rustic towns, learn about Costa Rican coffee and native culture, and relax in the mineral hot springs.
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