A car trip from Jaco to San Jose covers a distance of 60 miles (100 km) and takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Leaving Jaco and the Pacific coast behind, you'll travel through the lush jungle until you reach Costa Rica’s bustling capital.
With Daytrip's private car service, you can add excursions to your trip, transforming your travel day into an adventure. Take the Britt Coffee Tour to learn how coffee is made, or stop by the Los Chorros waterfalls to immerse yourself in the Costa Rican jungle. You have complete control of your trip, right up to when your driver delivers you to your destination in San Jose.
About San Jose
San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica. This small, Central American country has about 5 million people, and 2 million of them live in the San Jose metro area. It consistently ranks high on lists of the safest capitals to visit in Latin America.
San Jose first developed as a center for trading tobacco under Spanish colonization. As international trade developed, it eventually became the country’s capital and a center for coffee production as well. Its central location makes it a good jumping-off point for day trips around the country and for getting to the beach towns from its international airport.
From Jaco to San Jose: travel tips
The trip from Jaco to San Jose is pretty easy, but there are two important travel tips to ensure you have the best time possible in Costa Rica.
### Stop for sightseeing
Costa Rica is filled with natural beauty and friendly people. Experience as much of the country as possible by adding sightseeing stops to your trip. You don't want to get back home and regret not doing more!
### Leave the shells and sand on the beach
Everyone wants a souvenir from their time in Costa Rica, but it is illegal to take sand and seashells home with you. They will most likely be confiscated at the airport, so avoid the trouble (and possibly miss your flight!) by leaving all wildlife where you found it.
Removing sand and shells disrupts the environment that makes Costa Rica such a unique place to visit, so remember the golden rule of interacting with nature: take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. If you want souvenirs, buy some handmade wooden items or a bag of coffee beans to support the local economy.
How to get from Jaco to San Jose
Daytrip offers two private transportation options from Jaco to San Jose: private cars and shared shuttles. Both options can accommodate children’s seats, mobility aids, and extra luggage. They are operated by an English-speaking driver with air-conditioned, insured vehicles.
### Shuttle buses from Jaco to San Jose
Daytrip shared shuttle buses run from Jaco to San Jose in the winter, from December until the end of April. Shuttles depart downtown Jaco in the morning and afternoon and can drop you off in downtown San Jose or the San Jose Airport. Daytrip shuttles offer superior service to the regular bus. You can look forward to help with your luggage and the ability to chat with your friendly English-speaking driver. Prices start at $20 per person, making this a great balance of cost and convenience.
### Private car services from Jaco to San Jose
Daytrip's private car service is the most convenient, comfortable, and flexible way to get from Jaco to San Jose. You can set your own departure time, and since it's a door-to-door ride, choose an exact drop-off location, be it at your accommodation in San Jose or the airport terminal. The car trip is only about 1.5 hours, making this the fastest way to travel.
The other major perk is the ability to stop for sightseeing, so you can experience as much of Costa Rica as possible. If you never took a coffee farm tour, or need to see some more waterfalls before you go, Daytrip's got you covered.
### Buses from Jaco to San Jose
The public bus is usually the most affordable way to get from Jaco to San Jose. Tickets cost between 8 and 20 USD depending on the season and if you book in advance. Make sure to take the direct bus, which will get you to San Jose in about 2 hours. Tickets should be bought ahead of time to avoid having to wait at the bus station for the next bus with empty seats.
Things to do when you get to San Jose
As the capital and largest city in Costa Rica, you'll find no shortage of things to do when you get to San Jose. After your drive from Jaco to San Jose, stop by these key spots:
### Head underground at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
Costa Rica (or “the rich coast”) got its name from the initial impressions of Europeans when they first arrived and saw the indigenous people wearing lots of gold. They were certainly right, the Costa Rican earth has plenty of gold and locals have been crafting jewelry and statues for at least 1,500 years. Beneath the National Bank, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum exhibits Pre-Columbian art made from gold and the indigenous perspective on history.
### Visit the Jade Museum
Costa Rica is so green, it’s even found underground! Jade is a semi-precious green gemstone that is used for jewelry and figurines. At the Jade Museum in San Jose, you can learn about Costa Rica's traditional handicrafts made of jade and see a vast collection of ancient jade artifacts.
### Have a stroll in Parque Nacional
This shady, urban park is a nice respite from the hot and crowded streets of San Jose. You can have lunch, read a book, and let the kids run around to blow off some steam just a short distance from your hotel.
When is the best time to visit San Jose
The best time to visit San Jose is in the dry season from December to April. It is the perfect time to experience San Jose’s tropical climate without worrying about the rain washing away your plans. Expect daytime highs of 85° F (29°C) and balmy evenings in the 60s F (15-19°C). This is also the most popular time to visit, so book your excursions and transportation ahead of time to avoid the disappointment of tickets selling out.
Daytrip은 전 세계 14,800+ 개 도시를 경험할 수 있는 가장 편리한 방법입니다.
모든 여행자는 자신이 방문하는 국가의 문화에 대한 진정한 통찰을 받을 자격이 있습니다. 그리고 지구상의 모든 놀라운 장소는 방문하고 감상할 가치가 있습니다. 우리는 독특한 현지 지식과 진정한 인간적 연결이 다른 문화를 진정으로 이해하는 데 있어 대체할 수 없다고 믿습니다.
Traveling by bus to San Jose can take as little as 1 hour and 50 minutes, or as much as 3 hours. The length of your trip depends on if you choose a direct or regional bus. If you are concerned about catching a flight on time, account for delays and give yourself extra time for traffic.
A taxi to the San Jose Airport will cost $120 to $160 for the 60 mile (100 km) long distance. Taxis in Costa Rica rarely take credit cards, so always have cash on you in small bills to make exact change. They do accept USD though, and will often prefer it to the Costa Rica Colon (CRC).
Many bus companies operate routes from Jaco to San Jose and they range in price and quality. You can find buses for as little as 8 USD, but they take longer (about 3 hours) compared to a direct bus which should take about 1 hour and 50 minutes.
가는 길에 이 명소들을 방문하세요
미라도르 데 하코
An unmissable sign with unmissable views. Colors of the Coast
악어 다리
Dozens of crocs congregate on sunny river banks right below one of Costa Rica’s main highways. The Croc Stop
엘제 킨츨러 가든
This lush botanical garden is home to tropical plants from around the world. Transnational Tropical Treats
후안 산타마리아 역사문화 박물관
Costa Rica’s history, and especially the life of its national hero, is detailed in this fascinating free museum. A Hero’s History
브릿 커피 투어
How is coffee made and why is Costa Rica's so delicious? Find out on a fun and informative tour at this eco-friendly plantation. The Magical Fruit
"Our ride from Jaco to San Jose was wonderful. Oscar was on time, very friendly and a very good drive. I loved his humor."
Diana E.
Canada
2024년 5월 24일
"No complains. Everything worked as we expected. Daniel arrived ahead of time and was a pleasure to be in the car with."
Leo M.
United States
2024년 3월 3일
"Our car arrived on time, it was clean and comfortable. The driver, Daniel, was polite and drove well.
We got to our destination around the due time."
Paul S.
Spain
2023년 12월 22일
"My trip from Jaco To San Jose was great! If there is any way to specifically review my driver, I would love that!
Pablo was the best driver imaginable and made the experience so enjoyable and well worth the money! Even though we were not expecting to be able to stop anywhere on the way to San Jose, Pablo was telling us all these places on the way and offered to stop at Crocodile bridge to take a picture of us, and even took us to a little market to get fresh ceviche when we told him we wanted to try some. Additionally, once we arrived in San Jose Pablo took us on a short tour of Barrio Escalante which was the neighborhood, we were staying in. Throughout the tour he pointed out places to go for meals and places to go for general shopping as well as what areas to avoid. Moreover, he sent several more recommendations through WhatsApp and even offered to be our driver if we needed anything else throughout the rest of our stay. Overall, Pablo is an amazing guy and deserves to be the top driver for DayTrip in Costa Rica!"
Braden M.
United States
2023년 12월 22일
"We had a very pleasant journey with Harold. He contacted us upon his arrival for pick up. He was neatly dressed, a wonderful new, spotlessly clean van. He was very knowledgeable about the country as we drove to the airport. He asked is we needed to stop along the way. He was caring, attentive and a safe, courteous driver. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND him- a DEFINITE assent to your company. "
Rumell B.
United States
2023년 10월 1일
"Jorge was amazing and gave us so much great information on Jaco and Costa Rica in general. He is great! Very hospitable and kind."
Alexis M.
United States
2023년 5월 26일
"Rolando was a wonderful driver who did a great job navigating and offering helpful tips along the way!"
Charlotte D.
United States
2023년 4월 25일
"My ride was wonderful. Michael was awesome - polite, friendly, willing to do whatever to make me comfortable. I really appreciated getting his details (and photo!) ahead of time, and he also texted me when he was close. Highly recommended!"
Stephanie S.
United States
2023년 3월 20일
"Hi, Was a really great experience and we give it 5++ stars. The driver was wonderful, the ride was smooth and all the communication with your company was really great. Will use your company again, thank you!!"
Heather W.
United States
2023년 3월 16일
"Our trip from Jaco to San Jose with Gustavo was a perfect ride. He was extremely nice, on time (actually early) and there was very little traffic and overall a wonderful experience. "
Jennifer M.
Canada
2023년 2월 18일
"Our return trip from Jaco was great. Michael picked us up right on time and was very accommodating for our return to San Jose. I suffer from motion sickness so he let me sit in the front seat and we stopped a couple of times which also really helped. Michael was friendly and informative about Costa Rica. We would certainly use your service again when in Costa Rica."
Elizabeth J.
Canada
2022년 11월 16일
"The trip with Diego on November 11th was great! The trip back on May 15th with Cesar went great as well! They were both very professional and really nice guys and they were awesome!"
Kara K.
United States
2022년 8월 4일
"We had a very good experience !
He was before time, drove safely towards our destination, showed us interesting things during the ride
We were very happy !!!
Thank you ! "
Naama B.
Israel
2022년 8월 2일
"My trip with Gustavo was outstanding. He arrived early because the area was flooding and he anticipated needing extra time for the trip. He was friendly and knowledgeable. His English was perfect. His vehicle was immaculate. I hope I can request him on future trips.
"
michael p.
United States
2022년 4월 5일
"Used the service twice. Both were a very positive experience. I will use you again when I return in July. "
Sandi W.
United States
2022년 4월 5일
"My experience was great. Christian was on time, the vehicle was clean, and the drive was pleasant. We didn’t run into any issues on the road. I would definitely use DayTrip again in the future.
"
Jan S.
United States
2022년 3월 1일
"What a great job you folks do. I was highly satisfied with your service and will use you for all future travel.
"
David H.
United States
2022년 2월 21일
"Cesar arrived on time, was absolutely amazing as he explained all about the places we drove past, came along down to the waterfall that I had chosen as a side trip, and then helped me get to the right place in San jose.
Since coming home I have told everyone that this was one of the best parts of my vacation. I would absolutely choose your company again for a trip!"
shelley f.
Canada
2022년 1월 11일
"Everything about our trip was wonderful. Our driver was so incredibly kind and lovely. I cannot say enough good things about him!!
"
Sarah F.
United States
2022년 1월 10일
"I was very impressed with the experience. The booking process was simple, the driver was on time (actually ahead of time and patiently waiting), very professional, and bi-lingual. The car was clean and comfortable and the driver was operating the vehicle safely and confidently.
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