Domestic Flights & Shuttle Buses
Domestic Flights with Sansa
Sansa (flysansa.com) is Costa Rica's only domestic airline and flies small propeller planes (12–20 seats) to the main destinations. The flights are short (20–50 min.), offer spectacular views, and save long drives on sometimes poor roads.
| Route | Flight Time | Price (one-way) |
|---|---|---|
| San José → La Fortuna (Arenal) | 30 min. | 80–130 USD |
| San José → Tambor (Nicoya) | 30 min. | 80–120 USD |
| San José → Drake Bay (Osa) | 45 min. | 100–150 USD |
| San José → Tortuguero | 30 min. | 80–120 USD |
| San José → Puerto Jiménez | 50 min. | 100–140 USD |
Shuttle Buses — The Comfortable Option
Private shuttle buses (Interbus, Ride CR, Caribe Shuttle) connect all tourist spots with air-conditioned minibuses and hotel-to-hotel service. More expensive than public buses, but extremely convenient. Booking online or through the accommodation.
| Route | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| San José → La Fortuna | 3.5h | 35–55 USD |
| San José → Monteverde | 4h | 35–55 USD |
| La Fortuna → Monteverde | 3.5h (Jeep-Boat-Jeep) | 25–35 USD |
| San José → Manuel Antonio | 3.5h | 45–60 USD |
| San José → Puerto Viejo | 5h | 45–55 USD |
Public Buses
Costa Rica has an amazingly good public bus network. The buses are cheap (San José → La Fortuna: about 3,000 CRC / 5 USD), but slow, often full, and stop everywhere. A real option for backpackers, not so much for those short on time.
Achtung
The famous "Jeep-Boat-Jeep" connection La Fortuna → Monteverde over Lake Arenal is not a classic shuttle, but an adventure: Jeep to the lake, boat across the lake, Jeep on a gravel road to Monteverde. Spectacular, but not for sensitive stomachs.