How to Get From La Fortuna to San Jose

The bus is the most affordable option for travelling from La Fortuna to San Jose, with prices starting from 4,320 CRC ($9.50).

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.

Departure and arrival stations

The bus departs from La Fortuna Bus Terminal and arrives at Terminal Atlantico Norte in San Jose city centre.

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 4,410 CRC ($9.70) and travel time is 4-6h.

The advantage of taking an indirect bus is that buses depart frequently throughout the day, so you can be more flexible with your schedule.

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 20,000 CRC ($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.

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 70,000 CRC ($155) for a 6-seater minivan from La Fortuna to San Jose. Divide the cost and that’s about 12,000 CRC ($26) 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.

Why rent a car from La Fortuna to San Jose

When you’re travelling in a group, having your own car in La Fortuna can come in handy. The town’s highlights are far apart and you’ll need a car (or a motorbike) to travel between Arenal Volcano, Chato Volcano, Fortuna Waterfalls, El Salto, and the town’s other attractions.

Once you’re done exploring La Fortuna, you can bring the same car to drive to San Jose.

Where to rent a car in La Fortuna

We don’t recommend renting a car in La Fortuna if you’re not going back here. Rental prices are significantly more expensive if you’re dropping off the car in another town, with rates starting from around 55,000 CRC ($120) on the first day.

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 18,000 CRC ($40) 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.

Driving directions from La Fortuna to San Jose

There are two routes you can take when driving from La Fortuna to San Jose: via San Ramon and via Ciudad Quesada. San Ramon is the most direct, and usually the route that will be recommended to you when you use Waze or Google Maps.

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 3.5 hours 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.