2024 Travel Guide from San Jose to La Fortuna

Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel annually from San Jose to La Fortuna. You might be planning on going this route, but you’re probably not sure whether or not you should rent a car, hire a private transportation service, or use the Costa Rican public transportation system to make it, right?

Don’t worry. I got you. Many people have asked me this question, and I’ve helped them find the best and most appropriate ways to get from San Jose to La Fortuna. People have different backgrounds and needs. Thus, what may work for some might not work for others.

Therefore, this article will discuss the main ways to get from San Jose to La Fortuna in 2023 and 2024, from using public buses to hiring a private transportation service. Let’s dive in and find out which option is best for you.

Disclaimer: Keeping our commitment to a seamless reading experience, this educational page remains free from outside advertisements. To support this initiative and sustain the quality content you enjoy, I’ve included links for booking your transportation from San Jose to La Fortuna through my Tour & Transportation company, MonteTours Costa Rica. We’ve proudly assisted thousands of travelers like you. Choosing our transportation services, whether for a spot in a group shuttle or a private ride, means you’ll receive top-tier service while directly supporting the creation of helpful travel guides like the one below. If you plan to book transportation after reading this post, I would be grateful if you considered using our links below. Your support is invaluable to us.

The Best Ways To Get From San Jose to La Fortuna in 2023 and 2024

1. Public Bus
2. Group Shuttle
3. Private Car Service
4. Driving (Car Rental)

Let’s dive right in:

There are four ways to get from San Jose to La Fortuna, Costa Rica. You can take the public bus, go on a group shuttle, hire a private transportation service, rent a car, and drive. Generally, the first two options are more affordable, but the latter is more convenient.

Riding the public bus is the cheapest way to get from San Jose to La Fortuna, while driving is usually the fastest way to travel there.

On the other hand, getting a private transportation service is the easiest option, while going on a group shuttle gives you the best balance between cost-effectiveness and time efficiency. 

Keep scrolling to find out how each option ranks against each other based on its pros and cons, and learn a few tips and recommendations to help you make the best out of your trip from San Jose to La Fortuna. 

1. Riding the Public Bus: The Cheapest Way to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna

The cheapest way from San Jose to La Fortuna is to use the public bus service for 2,600 colones (approximately $5) per person. The bus departs from San Jose downtown daily at 8:40 AM and arrives at La Fortuna between noon and 1 PM.

Compared to all the other ways to get from San Jose to La Fortuna, riding the bus is the cheapest way, as shown in the table below. 

Most Affordable Ways to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna 2024

Notes:

• The above rates do not include the 13% IVA tax.
• These prices assume there is a minimum of two travelers.
• Renting a car includes the base rate, insurance, and fuel.
• Prices can fluctuate throughout the year based on market conditions and demand.

Public Bus Schedule from San Jose to La Fortuna

The following chart shows the current schedule for the bus from San Jose to La Fortuna. The following programs may change throughout the year, and we do our best to keep this table updated. If you notice an error, please contact us and let us know so we can correct it.

Cons of Riding the Public Bus from San Jose to La Fortuna

Even though riding the bus from San Jose to La Fortuna is very inexpensive, there are a few significant disadvantages of using this means of transportation to get to La Fortuna: 

• a) You can’t purchase tickets online
• b) The ride can be a bit uncomfortable 
• c) The trip can be a bit too long 

Let’s explore each one of these disadvantages in detail.

a) You Can’t Purchase the Bus Tickets to La Fortuna Online

The first disadvantage of riding the bus from San Jose to La Fortuna is that you can’t purchase the tickets online. You have to buy them at the terminal. And they sell the tickets on a “first come, first served” basis.

The main problem with this is that they have limited ticket sales, so you have to get to the terminal as early as possible to secure your spot. The other problem is that regular users, locals who ride the bus periodically, know they must get early, so almost everyone arrives early to get their tickets. 

The bus from San Jose to La Fortuna can hold up to 70 people, out of which only 50 passengers can go seated, while the other 20 passengers will need to travel standing. The bus doesn’t always get full. Almost everyone will get a seat on an average bus ride, but a few users won’t.

As I wrote in my article “How to Get From San Jose to Monteverde,” I know what it’s like to travel standing for 5+ hours on a bus, which is not cool. It’s not dramatic, but it is pretty uncomfortable. 

The bus from San Jose to La Fortuna leaves the terminal at 8:40 AM, so I recommend getting to the station at around 8 AM to secure your spot. Here is a Google Map of the station’s address. You can share it with a taxi driver to help them understand where you are going:

b) The Bus from San Jose to La Fortuna Can Be Uncomfortable

Another disadvantage of using the public bus from San Jose to La Fortuna is the discomfort you can experience during the trip. Aside from the possibility of traveling standing for the entire time, as discussed in the previous section, there can also be babies crying, people talking loudly at 7 AM, and even young kids throwing up on the bus, making for a pretty lousy experience. 

Another factor that tends to put people off is that the bus from San Jose to La Fortuna does not have air conditioning. Not having air conditioning in a 4-hour bus ride can be problematic, especially considering the bus goes through some hot and humid places, such as La Tigra de San Carlos.

I remember when I lived in San Jose and had to travel to Heredia every day on public buses without air conditioning. In a country where you can expect rain at any given moment, especially during the rainy season from May through November, traveling by bus without A/C can result in one of two problems. Either people open the windows because it’s hot, and then some rain will come through the window and hit the face of those sitting in the back seat. Or, people keep the windows closed, and it gets super humid and hot inside the bus.

I have lived those experiences many times, and neither situation was fun. That’s why I recommend you avoid traveling by bus from San Jose to La Fortuna if you can afford any other transportation methods mentioned in this article. 

c) The Bus from San Jose to La Fortuna Takes a Long Time

The last disadvantage of using the public bus from San Jose to La Fortuna is that the trip can get long.

The public bus from San Jose to La Fortuna takes between 4 and 6 hours from the bus terminal in San Jose to the last stop in La Fortuna, depending on the traffic conditions. These average travel times include all the stops the bus needs to do to pick up travelers at various locations throughout the route.

The morning bus leaves San Jose at 8:40 AM and arrives at La Fortuna around 1 PM. 

Bus From San Jose to La Fortuna – Quick Summary

• The bus is $5 per person.
• The bus leaves San Jose at 8:40 AM.
• The bus tickets sell on a “first come, first served” basis.
• You can call the office to find out if they have seats available: +506-2460-5064
• You can’t purchase bus tickets online. You have to buy them in person.
• You must purchase tickets at the bus terminal: Terminal 7-10.
• Map to get to the terminal from where the bus leaves San Jose: 

2. Driving a Rental Car: The Fastest Way to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna

Compared to all the other ways to get from San Jose to La Fortuna, driving is the fastest way, as shown in the below comparison table. 

Fastest Ways to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna 2024

*Going on a Private Ride can be faster if you’re not used to driving in Costa Rica.

What’s the Drive Time from San Jose to La Fortuna?

The drive time from San Jose to La Fortuna takes between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the traffic conditions in San Jose. The traffic from San Jose to La Fortuna is usually better in the mid-mornings, except on Saturdays when many locals travel to La Fortuna to spend the day at the hot springs.

How is the Drive from San Jose to La Fortuna?

Cons of Driving from San Jose to La Fortuna

Even though driving is the fastest way to get from San Jose to La Fortuna, it also comes with a couple of caveats you should consider before you decide to rent a car for this trip: 

• a) Driving might not be as fast as you’d think
• b) Driving at night can be hazardous 

Let’s explore these two in more detail;

a) Driving Might Not Be the Fastest Way of Getting to La Fortuna

Driving is not always the fastest way of getting to La Fortuna. As mentioned above, it takes between 2 and 3 hours to drive from San Jose to La Fortuna. However, these averages are more realistic and applicable to those used to driving in Costa Rica. They do not necessarily apply to foreigners. 

Google Maps’ average time from San Jose to La Fortuna uses real-time traffic speed to calculate the estimated travel time. However, most tourists drive at a significantly slower pace than locals. You will experience this if you rent a car for your trip to Costa Rica. More likely than not, you will drive more slowly than Costa Ricans, and that’s because you will probably want to enjoy the incredible scenery, while the average local will be rushing to get home from work. 

Therefore, as a general rule, I recommend adding 30 to 60 minutes to the estimated driving time the GPS device/app gives you. 

I want to reiterate that the road gets pretty dark after 5 PM, which begs the following question;

b) Is it Safe to Drive from San Jose to La Fortuna at Night? 

Driving from San Jose to La Fortuna at night is generally unsafe, especially if you have never done it before. The road is very dark and difficult to see. The route is full of sharp turns and dangerous curves, which, combined with the road’s darkness, can make driving unsafe for most people. 

There are two main routes to drive from San Jose to La Fortuna, which might be faster or slower depending on your departure location. For example, if you depart from downtown San Jose, your GPS device will probably send you through Route 32 and then Route 4, as shown on this map from Google. On the other hand, if you depart from San Jose’s northwest region, your GPS will send you through Route 1 (General Cañas) and then Route 702 (San Ramon), as displayed on this other map from Google.

Both of these routes have three things in common. First, both of them are very dark at night. Secondly, both of them are highly used by large trucks that transport goods and materials from the country’s capital to La Fortuna. And third, they have tons of sharp turns. These three factors make driving through these roads a real challenge.

I recommend you avoid driving from San Jose to La Fortuna at night. Suppose you arrive in Costa Rica after 5 PM and plan to head to La Fortuna. In that case, I recommend either spending the first night near the airport or hiring a private transportation service that can safely take you from the airport to La Fortuna.

Keep the above in mind when planning your trip to Arenal. And if you decide to rent a car, I recommend using the Rental Car Comparison Tool. You can find the best car rental deals in one place. Choose the city or airport where you plan to pick up a rental car, and the tool will instantly show you the best deals across the major rental car companies in Costa Rica. 

3. Hiring a Private Ride: The Easiest Way to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna

Hiring a Private Transportation Service, or a “Private Shuttle,” as locals call it, is the easiest way to get from San Jose to La Fortuna. With a private shuttle, you can arrange a specific time and place, and a transportation company will pick you up there and take you directly to your lodge in La Fortuna. 

Compared to all the other ways to get from San Jose to La Fortuna, hiring a private transportation service is the easiest way. You don’t need to worry about taking your luggage to a bus terminal in the middle of San Jose, compromising the safety of your belongings. 

You also don’t need to worry about driving in a foreign country with roads that might differ significantly from the streets you’re used to riding back home. Instead, you arrange the time and place, and a local professional driver with a modern vehicle will take you to your destination in La Fortuna. 

The only disadvantage of hiring this type of transportation service is the price. Arranging a private ride from San Jose to La Fortuna is the most expensive way. It’s the most comfortable, convenient, and straightforward option but pricey. 

Depending on the pickup place, getting from San Jose to La Fortuna on a private transfer will cost between $200 and $300 for 1 to 6 passengers. The pickup time can also influence your pricing. For example, if you arrive at the SJO Airport late at night (usually after 5 PM), the prices for this service might get $20+ higher. 

Prices for private transfers are also subject to increase as demand rises, especially during the busiest days, so I recommend booking ahead of time. 

There is one scenario where hiring a private transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna will not be the most expensive option. That’s when your party has four or more passengers. 

Group shuttles (which we will explore in the next section) charge a per-person price, while private transfers charge a per-trip fee. Using a group shuttle will cost between $65 and $80 per person, so the total for four passengers would range between $260 and $360. In contrast, this trip on a private ride with us will cost you between $210 and $230 for up to six passengers. 

So, in the above example, it’s more comfortable and convenient to hire a private ride and cheaper than going in a Group Shuttle. That’s typically the case for parties with four or more members, and that’s what I recommend if this is your case. 

Are you interested in hiring a Private Ride with us? Click here to visit a page to learn more about this service, or use the following “Book Now” button to see real-time availability and book your spots. After you click the button, a widget will show a calendar. Click on the day you’re inquiring about and see our availability. Then, you can enter your information and use your preferred credit card, GooglePay, or ApplePay to make your reservation. You can cancel up to 48 hours before the day of your trip to get a full refund. 

4. Using a Group Shuttle to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna

Getting a group shuttle from San Jose to La Fortuna is an excellent choice for solo travelers and couples. A group shuttle is a daily shared transportation service from San Jose to La Fortuna. A modern Van with A / C will pick you up at your lodge in San Jose and take you to your destination in La Fortuna. 

Generally, taking a group shuttle, or a “shared shuttle,” as the locals call it, is the most recommended door-to-door way to get from San Jose to La Fortuna for most travelers. Group shuttles are convenient and provide the best balance, saving time and money for travelers in most cases.

On a group shuttle, you share the shuttle service with fellow travelers and the cost, which is usually the best option for solo travelers and couples. Using this option to get to La Fortuna will be far more convenient than riding the public bus and significantly less expensive than hiring a private transfer. 

Using a group shuttle is also more manageable and less stressful than renting a car and driving. The price can change depending on the seasonality and demand, but most transportation companies generally charge between $65 and $80 per person for this service. At MonteTours Costa Rica, we have a fixed price yearly at only $69 per person. 

Are you interested in getting a spot in our Group Shuttle? Click here to visit our dedicated page to learn more about this service, or use the “Book Now” button to see real-time availability and book your spots. After you click the button, a widget will show a calendar. Click on the day you’re inquiring about and see our availability. Then, you can enter your information and use your preferred credit card, GooglePay, or ApplePay to make your reservation. You can cancel up to 48 hours before the day of your trip to get a full refund. 

5. Using a Taxi to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna

Another way to travel from San Jose to La Fortuna is by taxi. This option is not very popular, as the media has surfaced several reports of foreigners getting scammed over the last decade. 

Local news has also reported this issue multiple times as taxi drivers have altered their vehicles. They have managed to do this by manipulating their taximeter, which they use to determine how much to charge based on time spent and distance driven. 

According to some reports, customers have been charged up to 2 times what they should have been. Travelers have widely discussed this problem in travel forums, leading taxi drivers to lose credibility, and as a result, tourists have lost faith in this means of transportation. 

However, there are some instances where you can use the taxi service safely. For example, you can get a taxi through a hotel receptionist. According to our sources from Hotel El Bosque Monteverde, having a supervisor check on the receptionist’s recommendations and referrals is usual in the hotel industry in Costa Rica. Supervising the offers receptionists provide hotel guests helps ensure travelers get the best suggestions. 

Using the International Airport taxi services is another safe option to ensure you pay the correct amount for a taxi ride. The airport’s officials have strict protocols to ensure taximeters charge the proper amount to tourists. 

Now that we are talking about airports, this article would not be complete without answering the following related question, which I often get from people traveling to Costa Rica for the first time and trying to decide which airport to use when arriving in the country.

How Much is a Taxi from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna?

As mentioned above, there are some situations where you can safely take a taxi to get from San Jose to La Fortuna.

Generally, a taxi from San Jose airport to La Fortuna is $250 to $350. The price depends on the number of travelers in your party, how heavy the traffic is at a given time, and where you are heading in La Fortuna. 

Here’s the end of this article. Thank you for reading this far, and feel free to share this info with fellow travelers as you deem appropriate. Happy travels and ¡Pura vida, amigos!

Related Articles

• How to Get from San Jose to Monteverde
• How to Get from La Fortuna to Monteverde

About the Author

Daniel Lalinde

I am the founder of MonteTours Costa Rica. I live in Monteverde and love Nature and Mountain Biking. I love spending time outdoors and traveling around Costa Rica.

Along with our team, we have 50 years of combined experience in the travel industry, and there is no major Costa Rican destination we haven’t visited.

We love planning and arranging curated tours and activities for tourists, helping them have a memorable experience in Costa Rica.