Driving distances in Costa Rica

arenal-volcano

[View of Arenal Lake & Volcano]

Wondering to spend some Costa Rica vacations but not knowing how to travel inside the country? Here in the country it is possible to travel easily from one place to another. Costa Rica offers one-of-a-kind experience to all those who venture to drive in this wondrous haven.

So whether it’s full relaxation or high adventure that you seek for your vacation, this small but beautiful country provides boundless excitement and ultimate pleasure for an unforgettable Costa Rica vacation. Driving by your own in the country can be both challenging and fun and, additionally, it allows you to discover the country in so many exciting ways.

The traveling time that takes you to travel in the country, really depends on the road conditions, traffic and the also, the weather. It is preferable to travel during the dry season, as unpaved roads –mainly in rural places like beaches or mountains- tend to get washed away during the rainy season.

Costa Rica has a good public transportation system, as well as a private tourism buses and for those who want to explore the country on their own – car rentals are also available and we can help you booking yours-. Still those who prefer to travel in luxury and avoid any hassle can take direct flights from the various airports and airstrips around the country; and that way experience a luxury and more relaxed vacation.

Normally, the distances between places are relatively close but nowadays you have to take into consideration that the traffic in Costa Rica is dense and at certain hours it is preferable to plan your route –if you are driving- to get in time to your destiny.

Whether you travel by a plane, car or by bus, the table given below provides you with the approximate time table it takes to travel from one city to another one in Costa Rica.

From the main cities of the country, the best places to visit, all-inlcusive resorts, to the Costa Rica beaches, we hope this chart containing the main tourist attractions, distances in miles/kilometers and time you will need to get there will be useful to you.

** The distances below and the traveling times were calculated approximately.

From: San José Downtown

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Alajuela, Alajuela9 miles / 15 km30 min36 min
Cahuita, Limón252 miles / 403 km4 hr 30 min4 hr 30 min
Cañas, Guanacaste118 miles / 189 km3 hr3 hr
Cartago, Cartago12 miles / 20 km36 min42 min
Golfito, South Puntarenas193 miles / 309 km9 hr9 hr1 hr Taxi: 6 min
Heredia, Heredia9 miles / 15 km24 min30 min
Jacó Beach, Puntarenas73 miles / 117 km1 hr1 hr 30 min
La Fortuna, Alajuela94 miles / 150 km3 hr 30 min3 hr 30 min30 min Taxi: 6 min
Liberia, Guanacaste136 miles / 217 km2 hr 30 min3 hr48 min Taxi: 6 min
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas120 miles / 192 km2 hr 6 min2 hr 30 min30 min Taxi: 12 min
Monteverde, Puntarenas105 miles / 168 km3 hr 12 min3 hr 30 min
Papagayo Gulf, Guanacaste158 miles / 252 km5 hr5 hr48 min Taxi: 1 hr
Poás Volcano, Alajuela32 miles / 51 km1 hr 18 min1 hr 30 min
Puerto Limón, Limón88 miles / 141 km3 hr 30 min3 hr 30 min
Puerto Viejo, Limón256 miles / 410 km4 hr 30 min4 hr 30 min
Puntarenas, Puntarenas72 miles / 115 km1 hr 30 min1 hr 48 min
Quepos, Puntarenas116 miles / 185 km2 hr 12 min2 hr 30 min30 min
Santa Elena, Puntarenas103 miles / 165 km3 hr 12 min3 hr 30 min
Santa Rosa, Guanacaste168 miles / 269 km4 hr 30 min4 hr 30 min48 min Taxi: 30 min
Tamarindo, Guanacaste171 miles / 274 km4 hr 30 min5 hr48 min
Tambor, Puntarenas103 miles / 165 km3 hr3 hr24 min
Tilarán, Guanacaste119 miles / 190 km3 hr 30 min4 hr
Turrialba, Cartago44 miles / 70 km2 hr2 hr

From: La Fortuna of San Carlos, Alajuela

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Jacó, Puntarenas109 miles / 175 km2 hr 18 min2 hr 30 min
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas153 miles / 245 km3 hr3 hr 30 min
Monteverde, Puntarenas101 miles / 162 km3 hr3 hr 30 min
Puntarenas, Puntarenas71 miles / 113 km2 hr 30 min3 hr
San José Downtown94 miles / 150 km3 hr 30 min3 hr 30 min30 min Taxi: 6 min
Tamarindo, Guanacaste138 miles / 220 km3 hr3 hr 30 min

From: Liberia, Guanacaste

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Alajuela, Alajuela 125 miles / 200 km3 hr 12 min3 hr 42 min1 hr 12 minTaxi: 6 min
Dominical, Puntarenas193 miles / 309 km6 hr7 hr
Golfito, Puntarenas288 miles / 461 km9 hr10 hr2 hr 12 min Taxi: 6 min
Heredia, Heredia128 miles / 205 km2 hr 30 min3 hr
Jacó, Puntarenas121 miles / 193 km3 hr 30 min3 hr
La Fortuna, Alajuela91 miles / 145 km3 hr3 hr 30 min
Liberia International Airport3 miles / 5 km6 min6 min
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas164 miles / 263 km4 hr 12 min5 hr
Monteverde, Puntarenas88 miles / 140 km3 hr 30 min4 hr
Nicoya, Guanacaste52 miles / 83 km1 hr 12 min1 hr 42 min
Peñas Blancas, Guanacaste48 miles / 77 km2 hr 12 min2 hr 30 min
Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste53 miles / 85 km54 min1 hr 12 min
Playa Panamá, Guanacaste28 miles / 45 km48 min1 hr
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste38 miles / 60 km42 min1 hr
Puntarenas, Puntarenas82 miles / 132 km1 hr 42 min2 hr
San Gerardo de Dota, SJO189 miles / 302 km6 hr 12 min7 hr
San José Downtown136 miles / 217 km3 hr 30 min4 hr1 hr 12 min Taxi: 6 min
Santa Cruz, Guanacaste35 miles / 56 km42 min1 hr
Tamarindo, Guanacaste43 miles / 69 km1 hr1 hr 30 min

From: Monteverde, Puntarenas

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Escazú, San José79 miles / 127 km2 hr 24 min3 hr
Jacó, Puntarenas94 miles / 150 km2 hr2 hr 30 min
La Fortuna, Alajuela101 miles / 162 km3 hr3 hr 30 min
Liberia, Guanacaste88 miles / 140 km3 hr 30 min4 hr
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas141 miles / 225 km3 hr 30 min4 hr
Puntarenas, Puntarenas50 miles / 80 km2 hr 30 min2 hr 30 min
San José Downtown105 miles / 168 km3 hr3 hr 30 min
Juan Santamaria Airport88 miles / 140 km2 hr 36 min3 hr 18 min
Tamarindo, Guanacaste109 miles / 175 km3hr3 hr 30 min

From: Puntarenas

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Jacó, Puntarenas47 miles / 75 km1 hr 12 min1 hr 30 min
Liberia, Guanacaste82 miles / 132 km1 hr 42 min2 hr
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas96 miles / 154 km1 hr 30 min2 hr
Quepos, Puntarenas88 miles / 140 km2 hr2 hr 30 min
San José Downtown69 miles / 110 km1 hr 30 min2 hr
San Ramón, Alajuela33 miles / 53 km1 hr 6 min1 hr 30 min

From: Quepos, Puntarenas

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Damas Island, Puntarenas8 miles / 12 km12 min18 min
Dominical, Puntarenas28 miles / 45 km36 min54 min
Esterillos Este, Puntarenas24 miles / 39 km36 min48 min
Golfito, Puntarenas122 miles / 195 km4 hr4 hr 30 min
Jacó, Puntarenas39 miles / 63 km1 hr1 hr 6 min
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas9 miles / 14 km12 min18 min
Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas37 miles / 59 km57 min1 hr 3 min
Playa Herradura, Puntarenas44 miles / 70 km1 hr 9 min1 hr 18 min
Playa Uvita, Puntarenas39 miles / 62 km1 hr1 hr 30 min
Juan Santamaria Airport119 miles / 190 km2 hr 48 min3 hr 12 min30 min

From: Samara, Guanacaste

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Alajuela, Alajuela139 miles / 222 km3 hr 54 min4 hr 42 min
Cartago, Cartago164 miles / 262 km5 hr 30 min6 hr
Heredia, Heredia146 miles / 234 km4 hr 12 min4 hr 42 min
La Fortuna, Alajuela166 miles / 265 km5 hr 12 min6 hr
Liberia, Guanacaste75 miles / 120 km2 hr2 hr 30 min
Monteverde, Guanacaste95 miles / 152 km4 hr4 hr 12 min
Nicoya, Guanacaste23 miles / 37 km30 min42 min
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste70 miles / 112 km2hr2 hr 30 min
Puntarenas, Puntarenas97 miles / 155 km2 hr 30 min3 hr
San José Downtown149 miles / 239 km4 hr 12 min5 hr
Tamarindo, Guanacaste68 miles / 109 km2 hr2 hr 30 min
Tambor, Puntarenas56 miles / 90 km2 hr2 hr 30 min

From: Jacó, Puntarenas

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Carara, Puntarenas12 miles / 20 km18 min24 min
Damas Island, Puntarenas32 miles / 51 km54 min1 hr 6 min
Dominical, Puntarenas66 miles / 105 km1 hr 30 min2 hr
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas47 miles / 75 km1 hr 12 min1 hr 24 min
Monteverde, Puntarenas97 miles / 155 km2 hr2 hr 36 min
Playa Herradura, Puntarenas4 miles / 7 km12 min12 min
Puerto Caldera, Puntarenas31 miles / 50 km57 min1 hr 12 min
Puntarenas, Puntarenas47 miles / 75 km1 hr 12 min1 hr 30 min
Quepos, Puntarenas44 miles / 70 km1 hr1 hr 12 min
San José Downtown73 miles / 117 km1 hr 36 min2 hr 6 min
Tamarindo, Guanacaste152 miles / 243 km3 hr3 hr 24 min
Tambor, Puntarenas106 miles / 169 km2 hr2 hr 30 min Ferry: 1 hr 12 min

From: Peñas Blancas, Guanacaste

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Alajuela, Alajuela173 miles / 277 km4 hr4 hr 30 min
La Fortuna, Alajuela155 miles / 248 km4 hr 30 min5 hr
Liberia, Guanacaste48 miles / 77 km2 hr 12 min2 hr 30 min
Punta Islita, Guanacaste134 miles / 215 km4 hr
Puntarenas, Puntarenas131 miles / 210 km2 hr 42 min3 hr
San José Downtown190 miles / 304 km4 hr 30 min5 hr

From: Dominical, Puntarenas

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Cartago, Cartago87 miles / 139 km3 hr4 hr
Golfito, Puntarenas95 miles / 152 km3 hr 30 min4 hr
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas62 miles / 100 km1 hr 30 min2 hr
Puerto Jiménez, Puntarenas109 miles / 175 km3 hr 42 min4 hr 18 min
Quepos, Puntarenas28 miles / 45 km42 min1 hr
San Isidro del General, Puntarenas18 miles / 28 km1 hr 30 min2 hr
San José Downtown101 miles / 162 km4 hr5 hr

From: Tamarindo, Guanacaste

ToDistanceCar / Private transferRegular busPlane
Alajuela, Alajuela161 miles / 257 km4 hr 18 min4 hr 42 min48 min Taxi: 6 min
Dominical, Puntarenas223 miles / 357 km4 hr 48 min5 hr 18 min
Jacó, Puntarenas152 miles / 243 km2 hr 42 min3 hr
La Fortuna, Alajuela134 miles / 214 km4 hr 30 min4 hr
Liberia, Guanacaste47 miles / 75 km1 hr1 hr 30 min
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas196 miles / 314 km3 hr3 hr 30 min1 hr 12 min Taxi: 6 min
Monteverde, Puntarenas112 miles / 180 km3 hr 30 min4 hr
Nicoya, Guanacaste45 miles / 72 km1 hr1 hr 30 min Boat: 1 hr
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste38 miles / 61 km1 hr1 hr 18 min
Puntarenas, Puntarenas119 miles / 190 km2 hr 48 min3 hr
Samara, Guanacaste68 miles / 109 km2 hr2 hr 30 min
San José Downtown171 miles / 274 km4 hr 30 min5 hr48 min Taxi: 6 min

As you can see, the Costa Rica driving times range between an average of an hour and a half and 5 or 6 hours, always taking into consideration the condition of the roads and the climate conditions, as specified above. It is possible to find some variations according to the day of the week you are traveling. On weekends it is possible to find more traffic, as well as the payment days which are usually between the 13th and 15th of each month and the last three days of it.

Taking a plane is a great option to have more time for your holidays and less driving time. But you have to take into consideration that the flights are usually more expensive and the fact that not all the destinies have airstrips or the possibilities to be accessed by plane.

Have you ever drove in Costa Rica? Which was your experience? Please feel free to share with us your comments. Surely they will be helpful to other adventurous visitors.

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