Travel Time in Costa Rica

Driving to Guanacaste National Park
Driving to Guanacaste National Park

With the verdant rainforest forming a rich backdrop to miles of gorgeous coastline, Costa Rica offers one-of-a-kind experience to all those who venture to this wondrous haven.

So whether it’s high adventure that you seek or deep relaxation, the beautiful country provides boundless excitement and ultimate pleasure for a Costa Rica vacation of a lifetime.

While travelling in Costa Rica can be both challenging and fun, it allows you at the same time to discover the country in so many exciting ways.

How much time it really takes you to travel in the country, really depends on the road conditions, traffic and the weather.

Travelling in the dry season is preferable as unpaved roads tend to get washed away during the rainy season.

Costa Rica has an excellent 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.

Still those who prefer to travel in luxury and avoid any hassle can take direct flights from the various airports and experience a luxury vacation.

Whether you travel by a plane, car or take a bus, the table given below provides you with the approximate time table it takes to travel from one city to another city in Costa Rica.

Click on the city name to see the Time / Distance Chart for that city.

Choose a City for Travel Time
Find out the Distance and Travel Time between Costa Rica’s Cities
Time Distance Chart
Distance between cities (miles/km) and Travel Time (bus, car, plane)

From: Carara National Park
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Jacó, North Puntarenas
12 miles / 20 km
 
18 min
24 min

From: Damas Island
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Jacó, North Puntarenas
32 miles / 51 km
 
45 min
1 hr

From: Dominical
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Cartago, Cartago
87 miles / 139 km
 
3 hr
4 hr
Golfito, South Puntarenas
95 miles / 152 km
 
3 hr 30 min
4 hr
Manuel Antonio, North Puntarenas
62 miles / 100 km
 
1 hr 30 min
2 hr
Puerto Jiménez, South Puntarenas
109 miles / 175 km
 
3 hr 42 min
4 hr 18 min
Quepos, North Puntarenas
28 miles / 45 km
 
42 min
1 hr
18 miles / 28 km
 
1 hr 30 min
2 hr
101 miles / 162 km
 
4 hr
5 hr

From: Esterillos Este
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Jacó, North Puntarenas
15 miles / 24 km
 
24 min
36 min
Quepos, North Puntarenas
24 miles / 39 km
 
36 min
45 min

From: Golfito
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Buenos Aires, South Puntarenas
91 miles / 146 km
 
3 hr
3 hr 30 min
Matapalo, South Puntarenas
94 miles / 150 km
 
30 min
Ferry: 1 hr
Pavones, South Puntarenas
62 miles / 100 km
 
1 hr 48 min
2 hr 30 min
Playa Zancudo, South Puntarenas
47 miles / 75 km
 
1 hr

Ferry: 1 hr 30 min
Puerto Jiménez, South Puntarenas
79 miles / 127 km
 

Ferry: 1 hr
193 miles / 309 km
 
6 hr
7 hr

From: Jacó
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Carara National Park, North Puntarenas
12 miles / 20 km
 
18 min
24 min
Damas Island, North Puntarenas
32 miles / 51 km
 
54 min
1 hr 6 min
Dominical, South Puntarenas
66 miles / 105 km
 
1 hr 30 min
2 hr
Manuel Antonio, North Puntarenas
47 miles / 75 km
 
1 hr 12 min
1 hr 24 min
Monteverde, North Puntarenas
97 miles / 155 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 36 min
Playa Herradura, North Puntarenas
4 miles / 7 km
 
12 min
12 min
Puerto Caldera, North Puntarenas
31 miles / 50 km
 
57 min
1 hr 12 min
Puntarenas, North Puntarenas
47 miles / 75 km
 
1 hr 12 min
1 hr 30 min
Quepos, North Puntarenas
44 miles / 70 km
 
1 hr
1 hr 12 min
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, North Puntarenas
106 miles / 169 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min
Ferry: 1 hr 12 min

From: La Fortuna de San Carlos
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Jacó, North Puntarenas
109 miles / 175 km
 
2 hr 18 min
2 hr 30 min
Manuel Antonio, North Puntarenas
153 miles / 245 km
 
3 hr
3 hr 30 min
Monteverde, North Puntarenas
101 miles / 162 km
 
3 hr
3 hr 30 min
Puntarenas, North Puntarenas
71 miles / 113 km
 
2 hr 30 min
3 hr
94 miles / 150 km
30 min 
Taxi: 6 min
3 hr 30 min
3 hr 30 min
Tamarindo, Guanacaste
138 miles / 220 km
 
3 hr
3 hr 30 min

From: Liberia
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Alajuela, Alajuela
125 miles / 200 km
1 hr 12 min 
Taxi: 6 min
3 hr 12 min
3 hr 42 min
Dominical, South Puntarenas
193 miles / 309 km
 
6 hr
7 hr
Golfito, South Puntarenas
288 miles / 461 km
2 hr 12 min 
Taxi: 6 min
9 hr
10 hr
Guanacaste Airport, Guanacaste
3 miles / 5 km
 
6 min
6 min
Heredia, Heredia
128 miles / 205 km
 
2 hr 30 min
3 hr
Jacó, North Puntarenas
121 miles / 193 km
 
3 hr
3 hr 30 min
91 miles / 145 km
 
3 hr
3 hr 30 min
Manuel Antonio, North Puntarenas
164 miles / 263 km
1 hr 30 min 
Taxi: 12 min
4 hr 12 min
5 hr
Monteverde, North 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, North Puntarenas
82 miles / 132 km
 
1 hr 42 min
2 hr
189 miles / 302 km
 
6 hr 12 min
7 hr
136 miles / 217 km
1 hr 12 min 
Taxi: 6 min
3 hr 30 min
4 hr
Santa Cruz, Guanacaste
35 miles / 56 km
 
42 min
1 hr
Tamarindo, Guanacaste
43 miles / 69 km
 
1 hr
1 hr 30 min

From: Manuel Antonio
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
100 miles / 160 km
25 hr  
Taxi: 8 hr
160 hr
190 hr

From: Monteverde
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Escazú, San José
79 miles / 127 km
 
2 hr 24 min
3 hr
Jacó, North Puntarenas
94 miles / 150 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min
101 miles / 162 km
 
3 hr
3 hr 30 min
Liberia, Guanacaste
88 miles / 140 km
 
3 hr 30 min
4 hr
Manuel Antonio, North Puntarenas
141 miles / 225 km
 
3 hr 30 min
4 hr
Puntarenas, North Puntarenas
50 miles / 80 km
 
2 hr 30 min
2 hr 30 min
105 miles / 168 km
 
3 hr
3 hr 30 min
88 miles / 140 km
 
2 hr 36 min
3 hr 18 min
Tamarindo, Guanacaste
109 miles / 175 km
 
3 hr
3 hr 30 min

From: Peñas Blancas
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Alajuela, Alajuela
173 miles / 277 km
 
4 hr
4 hr 30 min
155 miles / 248 km
 
4 hr 30 min
5 hr
Liberia, Guanacaste
48 miles / 77 km
 
2 hr 12 min
2 hr 30 min
134 miles / 215 km
 
4 hr
Puntarenas, North Puntarenas
131 miles / 210 km
 
2 hr 42 min
3 hr
190 miles / 304 km
 
4 hr 30 min
5 hr

From: Playa Hermosa
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Jacó, North Puntarenas
2 miles / 4 km
 
6 min
6 min
Quepos, North Puntarenas
37 miles / 59 km
 
1 hr
1 hr 6 min

From: Playa Manzanillo
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Malpaís, North Puntarenas
6 miles / 10 km
 
15 hr
20 hr
Santa Teresa, North Puntarenas
4 miles / 7 km
 
10 hr
15 hr

From: Puerto Caldera
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Jacó, North Puntarenas
31 miles / 50 km
 
1 hr
1 hr 12 min
Puntarenas, North Puntarenas
9 miles / 15 km
 
18 min
24 min

From: Puntarenas
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Jacó, North 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, North Puntarenas
96 miles / 154 km
 
1 hr 30 min
2 hr
Quepos, North Puntarenas
88 miles / 140 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min
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

From: Quepos
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Damas Island, North Puntarenas
8 miles / 12 km
 
12 min
18 min
Dominical, South Puntarenas
28 miles / 45 km
 
36 min
54 min
Esterillos Este, North Puntarenas
24 miles / 39 km
 
36 min
48 min
Golfito, South Puntarenas
122 miles / 195 km
 
4 hr
4 hr 30 min
Jacó, North Puntarenas
39 miles / 63 km
 
1 hr
1 hr 6 min
Manuel Antonio, North Puntarenas
9 miles / 14 km
 
12 min
18 min
Playa Hermosa, North Puntarenas
37 miles / 59 km
 
57 min
1 hr 3 min
Playa Herradura, North Puntarenas
44 miles / 70 km
 
1 hr 9 min
1 hr 18 min
Playa Uvita, South Puntarenas
39 miles / 62 km
 
1 hr
1 hr 30 min
119 miles / 190 km
30 min 
2 hr 48 min
3 hr 12 min

From: Samara
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
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
166 miles / 265 km
 
5 hr 12 min
6 hr
Liberia, Guanacaste
75 miles / 120 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min
Monteverde, North Puntarenas
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
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min
Puntarenas, North Puntarenas
97 miles / 155 km
 
2 hr 30 min
3 hr
149 miles / 239 km
 
4 hr 12 min
5 hr
Tamarindo, Guanacaste
68 miles / 109 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min
Tambor, North Puntarenas
56 miles / 90 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min

From: San Gerardo de Dota
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Alajuela, Alajuela
64 miles / 102 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min
Cahuita, Limón
161 miles / 258 km
 
5 hr 12 min
6 hr
Cartago, Cartago
39 miles / 62 km
 
1 hr 12 min
1 hr 30 min
99 miles / 158 km
 
3 hr 6 min
3 hr 36 min
Dominical, South Puntarenas
48 miles / 77 km
 
1 hr 12 min
1 hr 36 min
128 miles / 204 km
 
4 hr 6 min
4 hr 48 min
135 miles / 216 km
 
4 hr
4 hr 48 min
Puntarenas, North Puntarenas
81 miles / 130 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min
41 miles / 65 km
 
1 hr 30 min
1 hr 48 min
57 miles / 91 km
 
1 hr 54 min
2 hr 24 min
Turrialba, Cartago
67 miles / 107 km
 
2 hr 6 min
2 hr 36 min

From: San José Downtown
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Alajuela, Alajuela
9 miles / 15 km
 
30 min
36 min
Cahuita, Limón
252 miles / 403 km
 
4 hr 30 min
4 hr 30 min
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
1 hr  
Taxi: 6 min
9 hr
9 hr
Heredia, Heredia
9 miles / 15 km
 
24 min
30 min
Jacó, North Puntarenas
73 miles / 117 km
 
1 hr
1 hr 30 min
94 miles / 150 km
30 min 
Taxi: 6 min
3 hr 30 min
3 hr 30 min
Liberia, Guanacaste
136 miles / 217 km
48 min 
Taxi: 6 min
2 hr 30 min
3 hr
Manuel Antonio, North Puntarenas
120 miles / 192 km
30 min 
Taxi: 12 min
2 hr 6 min
2 hr 30 min
Monteverde, North Puntarenas
105 miles / 168 km
 
3 hr 12 min
3 hr 30 min
Papagayo Gulf, Guanacaste
158 miles / 252 km
48 min 
Taxi: 1 hr
5 hr
5 hr
32 miles / 51 km
 
1 hr 18 min
1 hr 30 min
Puerto Limon, Limón
88 miles / 141 km
 
3 hr 30 min
3 hr 30 min
256 miles / 410 km
 
4 hr 30 min
4 hr 30 min
Puntarenas, North Puntarenas
72 miles / 115 km
 
1 hr 30 min
1 hr 48 min
Quepos, North Puntarenas
116 miles / 185 km
30 min 
2 hr 12 min
2 hr 30 min
Santa Elena, North Puntarenas
103 miles / 165 km
 
3 hr 12 min
3 hr 30 min
168 miles / 269 km
48 min 
Taxi: 30 min
4 hr 30 min
4 hr 30 min
Tamarindo, Guanacaste
171 miles / 274 km
48 min 
4 hr 30 min
5 hr
Tambor, North Puntarenas
103 miles / 165 km
24 min 
3 hr
3 hr
Tilaran, Guanacaste
119 miles / 190 km
 
3 hr 30 min
4 hr
Turrialba, Cartago
44 miles / 70 km
 
2 hr
2 hr

From: San José International Airport (Juan Santamaría)
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Manuel Antonio, North Puntarenas
100 miles / 160 km
25 hr  
Taxi: 8 hr
160 hr
190 hr
Monteverde, North Puntarenas
88 miles / 140 km
 
2 hr 36 min
3 hr 18 min
Santa Elena, North Puntarenas
86 miles / 137 km
 
2 hr 30 min
3 hr 30 min

From: Santa Elena
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
4 miles / 7 km
 
12 min
86 miles / 137 km
 
2 hr 30 min
3 hr 30 min
8 miles / 12 km
 
18 min
24 min

From: Tamarindo
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Alajuela, Alajuela
161 miles / 257 km
48 min 
Taxi: 6 min
4 hr 18 min
4 hr 42 min
Dominical, South Puntarenas
223 miles / 357 km
 
4 hr 48 min
5 hr 18 min
Jacó, North Puntarenas
152 miles / 243 km
 
2 hr 42 min
3 hr
134 miles / 214 km
 
4 hr
4 hr 30 min
Liberia, Guanacaste
47 miles / 75 km
 
1 hr
1 hr 30 min
Manuel Antonio, North Puntarenas
196 miles / 314 km
1 hr 12 min 
Taxi: 6 min
3 hr
3 hr 30 min
Monteverde, North Puntarenas
112 miles / 180 km
 
3 hr 30 min
4 hr
Nicoya, Guanacaste
45 miles / 72 km
 
1 hr 30 min
Boat: 1 hr
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste
38 miles / 61 km
 
1 hr
1 hr 18 min
Puntarenas, North Puntarenas
119 miles / 190 km
 
2 hr 48 min
3 hr
Samara, Guanacaste
68 miles / 109 km
 
2 hr
2 hr 30 min
171 miles / 274 km
48 min 
Taxi: 6 min
4 hr 30 min
5 hr

From: Tibás
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
2 miles / 3 km
 
6 min
12 min

From: Tres Ríos
To
Distance
Plane
Car
Bus
Cartago, Cartago
8 miles / 13 km
 
20 hr
40 hr
26 miles / 41 km
 
60 hr
90 hr
11 miles / 17 km
 
30 hr
60 hr
9 miles / 14 km
 
35 hr
55 hr
36 miles / 57 km
 
100 hr
130 hr

Guanacaste Escape Adventure Tour
7 Days / 6 Nights
Starting at $932 per person
Around Beautiful Costa Rica Tour
10 Days / 9 Nights
Starting at $1,193 per person