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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 130 kilometre distance from La Fortuna to San Jose. Whether you prefer the scenic overnight train, a convenient bus+ferry combo, or the fastest flight option — we've got all the details you need.
There are 6 ways to get from La Fortuna to San Jose. You can choose between the bus, indirect bus, minivan, private transport, car rental, flight. The most affordable option is by bus, starting from $4. The fastest route is by minivan (2h 15m).
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2h 15m
$43
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2h 20m
$132
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2h 30m
$154
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3h 30m
$40
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4h
$4
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6h
$4
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The bus is the most affordable option for travelling from La Fortuna to San Jose, with prices starting from $4.
Buses are not as reliable as minivans, though, with pickpockets known to be lurking around unknowing travellers. If you become a victim, you might end up spending more than a minivan ticket.
There's only one direct bus operating from La Fortuna to San Jose. And it often fills up fast. We recommend booking your tickets in advance online via mibus.cr. There's an additional booking fee that costs about a dollar, but well worth the convenience. Alternatively, you can buy your tickets at the bus station.
Note that travel time is highly dependent on traffic and the number of stops to pick up and drop off passengers, so it really can take between 4 to 6 hours.
Attention: Terminal 7-10 closed in April 2025. Buses operating to San Jose from La Fortuna used to arrive at San José’s Terminal 7-10. This was the main hub for buses from Cóbano, Monteverde, San Carlos, Jacó, and even international routes from Nicaragua and El Salvador.
If the direct bus doesn’t fit your schedule, you can take an indirect bus from La Fortuna to San Jose via Ciudad Quesada, a town 50 km southeast of the famous Arenal Volcano. Combined rates cost around and travel time is .
The advantage of taking an indirect bus is that buses depart frequently throughout the day, so you can be more flexible with your schedule.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
San Jose is a bustling urban landscape in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Being the capital city, it may not be as pretty as the beach and jungle destinations that the country is known for. But if you are stopping by anyway, might as well explore for a few hours or a day before moving on to your next stop.
You will find plenty of things to do in San Jose. Within the city, you can check out the colonial buildings turned museums at Barrio Amon, try out the famed restaurants at Barrio Escalante, or party the night away in El Pueblo. If you want to venture outside the city limits, the Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens are highly recommended!
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Most tourists prefer to take a minivan from La Fortuna to San Jose for comfort and convenience. Although shared, most minivans for this route will take you door-to-door from your hotel in La Fortuna to your hotel in San Jose, or the airport if that’s where you’re headed.
Fares start from $43. Travel time is 2h 15m - 4h 30m depending on where you're going in San Jose. When you book your tickets, make sure to pick the correct arrival point to avoid any hassle on the day of your trip.
You can choose from seven minivan operators: Volcano Travel, RideCR, Interbus, Tropical Tours Shuttle, Expedition CR, Costa 24/7 and Amazing Go Costa Rica.
From ~$43 · 2h 15m - 4h 30m
Direct operator sites
For groups, a private transfer can be cheaper than a shared minivan ride when you split the cost. You can choose from various types of vehicles — from regular cars to more luxurious ones.
Rates start from $154 for a -seater minivan from La Fortuna to San Jose. Divide the cost and that’s about per person.
Private minivans operating to San Jose from La Fortuna can accommodate groups of up to 18 persons.
Do you plan on going on a road trip around Costa Rica? It’s an easy enough drive from La Fortuna to San Jose. The roads are paved and easy to manoeuvre, even for tourists.
We don’t recommend driving this route at night, though. It gets dark pretty early in this region. And there are a lot of twists and turns in some areas, which might not be safe if you’re not familiar with the roads. Also, there are plenty of trucks taking these roads at night.
Once you’re done exploring La Fortuna, you can bring the same car to drive to San Jose.
If you’re starting your Costa Rican journey in San Jose and ending it there as well, it’s best to rent your car from the capital city. Prices are cheaper when you have the same pickup and drop-off point, starting at per day.
But if you don’t have a car yet when you arrive in La Fortuna, there are a few rental shops here you can choose from. You can ask your hotel for recommendations on where to rent a car, or you can just find one online.
We normally recommend checking Skyscanner for the best car rental prices (and flights), but occasionally you might find even better prices on Kayak. Both are reliable search engines which make it easy to search for the cheapest car deals and apply relevant filters.
From La Fortuna, drive south and follow the winding roads to Route 702. We recommend driving a bit slower for this part if you don’t know the roads well. You’ll pass through the towns of La Tigra, San Lorenzo, and San Ramon.
Turn left once you reach the Pan-American Highway (Carretera Interamericana) going to San Jose. Continue on this road until you reach the capital.
The entire drive from San Jose to La Fortuna takes about unless you decide to make a stop along the way — something you are definitely free to do when renting your own car!
The flight might seem like the fastest way to get from La Fortuna to San Jose. But when you add in the waiting time at the airport and the additional time you spend getting from one transfer to another, you don’t really get to save time compared to taking a door-to-door shared shuttle van or private transfer.
We don’t recommend taking a flight for this route unless your aim is to get a bird’s eye view of the Costa Rican landscapes.
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Carbon Footprint
This 130 km journey produces approximately 12 g CO2 by bus. Taking public transport is one of the lowest-emission ways to travel this route.
Used the Songserm ferry from Koh Samui. Cheaper than Lomprayah but takes a bit longer. Still a perfectly fine crossing. The views approaching Koh Tao are stunning either way.
OOliver S.November 2025Ferry
Train via Surat Thani was our pick. More scenic than Chumphon route and the Lomprayah catamaran from Tapee Pier is very comfortable. Book the special express train for the quickest ride.
The overnight bus with Montanatip was okay but not great. The bus was older and the seats didn't recline much. Ferry portion was fine though. If you're on a tight budget it works.
Took the sleeper train to Chumphon — magical! Woke up to palm trees and transferred to the Lomprayah catamaran. Whole journey felt like an adventure.
Lomprayah bus+ferry combo from Khao San Road was seamless. Departed at 6am, arrived Koh Tao by 3pm. Well organized.
Flew to Koh Samui and took Lomprayah catamaran. More expensive but saved a full day. Worth it if your holiday is short.
Latin America
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Most travelers base themselves near the main beach for easy access to transport, restaurants, and activities.
Treat YourselfBarceló Hotel blows most other city hotels out of the water. It has amenities usually only found in resorts, and for extortionate prices. Here you’ll find an outdoor pool, spa, gym, three squash courts and two tennis courts. Plus they offer a free airport shuttle.
If you don’t fancy venturing out of the hotel to get some food, no worries! There are three restaurants and a bar on site offering a variety of different cuisines. The rooms are spacious and clean, providing comfortable beds for a good night’s sleep.
Treat YourselfIsla Verde Hotel is a real gem within the urban jungle that is San Jose. They have so many extras that you wouldn’t expect for the price – a gym, free shuttle to the airport and a great breakfast every morning.
The hotel is ultra-modern, boasting some beautifully designed rooms and seating areas. All of which are very clean and comfortable. If you don’t feel like venturing too far for food, their onsite restaurant serving Cantonese food is highly reviewed!
Mid-RangeEco Stay Hostel starts to feel like home after a while, as it has a shared living room, communal kitchen, a lovely garden area, and even barbeque facilities. You can even spend your evenings at the hotel having a friendly competition of snooker or darts.
The friendly hosts add to the welcoming atmosphere. Making sure that your room is clean and comfortable, whilst offering their help in any way that they can. The rooms are basic, but nicely decorated and have everything you could need whilst in San Jose.
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