How to Get From Montezuma to Jaco
Ferry · Minivan
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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 142 kilometre (88 miles) distance from Montezuma to Jaco. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Jaco as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.
What are the 2 ways to travel from Montezuma to Jaco?
There are two ways to travel the 142 km distance from Montezuma to Jaco. You can choose between the ferry and minivan.
The journey takes between 1h 30m–6h and the quickest way is by ferry (1h 30m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by ferry with tickets starting at 25,000 CRC ($55).
1h 30m
25,000 CRC ($55)
6h
27,000 CRC ($60)
Montezuma to Jaco by Taxi Boat + Shuttle
The best way to travel the 50 km distance from Montezuma to Jaco is via a combined taxi boat and shuttle. This takes 1h 30m and rates start from 25,000 CRC ($55).
Years ago, the only way to travel the winding road up north to Paquera was to board a slow car ferry, and then travel by land again to Jaco. This would have taken 3 to 4 hours! The opening of this more direct route made it easier and faster for tourists to travel between these two popular destinations.
There are two companies offering combined taxi boat and shuttle rides to Jaco from Montezuma. These are Zuma Tours and Tropical Tours Shuttle. Both are trusted operators so you can choose which suits you best.
What to expect in the taxi boat + shuttle journey
A shuttle van will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the main beach in Montezuma. From here, you will take a 1-hour taxi boat to Playa Herradura.
Back on land, you will then transfer to another shuttle van that will take you to the town of Jaco in around 30 minutes. You will be dropped off at your hotel.
Taxi Boat + Shuttle Schedule
Ready to book your ferry?
From 25,000 CRC ($55) · 1h 30m
Direct operator sites
Book your tickets in advance
Due to the limited number of trips, we highly recommend booking your ticket days ahead. You can do that directly via the minivan company's website. Zuma Tours is usually cheaper through BookAway, where it’s easy to find availability for travel on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. If you're travelling on other days, we recommend visiting the official Zuma Tours website instead. Are you going back to Montezuma after visiting Jaco? If yes, then you might want to book a round-trip ticket to save a bit. BookAway offers a 20% discount for roundtrip tickets.Montezuma to Jaco by Minivan
If you're not keen on travelling by sea to get from Montezuma to Jaco, you can also travel this route completely overland by minivan.
However, instead of completing the journey in just 1.5 hours, the minivan trip will take at least 6h.
If you don't mind sitting in a minivan that long, Santa Teresa Adventure offers minivan trips from Montezuma to Jaco. A seat costs 27,000 CRC ($60).
Minivan schedule from Montezuma to Jaco
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Montezuma to Jaco. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Montezuma to Jaco is 142 km.
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About the Authors
Senior Travel Writer
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Founder & Trip Planning Expert
Based in Bali, Maarten's passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you'll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
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Ferry Schedule Notice
Ferry schedules can change due to weather, sea conditions, or seasonal adjustments. We recommend confirming departure times directly with the operator, especially during monsoon season.
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