In this series of posts, we answer common travel questions. Today, we’ll cover different ways you can travel from San Jose or the SJO Airport to Guanacaste. We’ll discuss driving, shuttle options, and small plane flights.
Question
“We fly into San Jose but are staying at the beach in Guanacaste. My concern are the roads from San Jose airport to where we are staying in Guanacaste at Flamingo Beach. We plan on renting a car at the San Jose airport to sightsee along the way. Do you recommend this or just jumping on a commuter flight to Liberia airport or taking a private bus/shuttle? It seems really far! Thank you.”
Answers
Small Planes
Taking a small plane from San Jose to Liberia can save time but you may have a hard time catching one the same day that your international flight arrives. The small plane companies like Sansa don’t operate many flights in the afternoon. Plus, like any flight, you would need to arrive early to check in. There are also luggage weight limits. This wouldn’t be our first choice for getting from SJO to Liberia/Guanacaste.
Driving
The roads from San Jose to Guanacaste are all paved and in good condition (mostly highway) so driving yourself is probably the best option.
Keep in mind, though, that it will be a long drive. From SJO Airport to Playa Flamingo, it is about 4.5 or more likely 5+ hours with some traffic delays and stops for food, restrooms, etc. We don’t recommend driving long distances at night (sunset is around 6:00 p.m.) since road markings aren’t great, the roads can be very dark, and it rains more at night.
If you arrive in Costa Rica in the afternoon, you could get started on the drive and stay somewhere in between. Atenas is close at about 30 minutes west or there are a few options in the small town of San Mateo.
Another option with an afternoon arrival is to just stay overnight near the airport and get started on your drive the next morning. If you need some suggestions, you can read our Best Hotels Near SJO post. We give options for hotels near the airport but in more scenic locations.
For the rental car, we offer a discount with one of the best companies in Costa Rica so be sure to take advantage of that through our Rental Car Discount page. They will deliver the car to airport-area hotels for free.
Driving Directions
The best way to get from SJO Airport to Guanacaste’s beaches (Flamingo, Tamarindo, Conchal, etc.) is to take Highway 1 to Route 27 (connecting to 27 using the Coyol Radial), then Route 23 through Caldera/Puntarenas to Highway 1 again (north). Then take Route 18 west to Route 21 north. In Santa Cruz, you’ll take Route 160 west to Route 909 to Route 155 into the town of Huacas. From here, the road splits to different beach towns (use Waze or GPS).
Note: For those staying in northern Guanacaste (Playa Hermosa, Playa Panama, Playas del Coco, Riu Resort, or the Papagayo Peninsula, it is better to stay on Route 1 north (after Puntarenas) and go west through Liberia using Route 21.
Shuttle Vans
A third option would be to take a shuttle van from San Jose to Guanacaste. Shuttle drivers are very experienced so this is also an option for traveling at night.
We offer shuttles on our site and you can browse the route options on our Shuttle Transfers page. For SJO Airport to Flamingo, you can find it here.
If you wanted to rent a car for local excursions, you could have it delivered to you in Flamingo from the rental car company’s Tamarindo/Flamingo/Potrero office.
Public Bus
While it is possible to travel from San Jose to Guanacaste by public bus, we wouldn’t recommend it for first time travelers. If you do take the bus, be sure to select a directo (direct) bus and not a colectivo (collective). The collective bus will make many more stops and make the journey a lot longer.
Need more help planning your trip to Costa Rica? We’ve been traveling and living in Costa Rica for more than 10 years. Check out these pages for lots more resources!
Driving in Costa Rica: What to Know Before You Go – In this post, we share tips and tricks of the road.
Shuttles in Costa Rica: How They Work & When to Use Them – Learn more about shuttle options in Costa Rica and why you may want to use this type of service.
Transportation Options in Costa Rica: Car, Shuttle, Uber & More – For a broad look at all of Costa Rica’s transportation options, check out this post.