Santa Teresa Beach to San Jose tickets

About the ride from Santa Teresa Beach to San Jose

If you're looking for a change of scenery after your time in Santa Teresa, San Jose couldn't be more divergent. Not only is the capital a main transportation hub and key stop if you're heading to other destinations, but it's also an important cultural hub. It's rich with historic museums, bustling markets, and lively urban energy. 

It also has modern conveniences and diverse dining options, which you might be hankering for after rustic Santa Teresa. 

Getting between these two places is pretty straightforward and only takes about 4-6.5 hours.

You'll need to take a car, a minivan, or a combo ticket of a van plus a ferry to complete the trek. But it sounds more complicated than it is.

Keep reading for all the details. 

Five awesome things to do in San Jose

San Jose is often used as a gateway to Costa Rica's rainforests and beaches, but it has its share of charm and history.

1. Visit the National Theater. It's not just a place for performances. The paintings inside tell fascinating stories of the history and culture of the country. Even if you don't catch a performance, the intricate interiors, elegant chandeliers, and European-style frescoes make it worth a visit.
   
   

2. Take a free (or not free) walking tour. It is one of the best ways to explore any new place. Be sure to walk around Barrio Amón, a historic neighborhood with colonial mansions and art galleries, as well as Barrio Escalante, a foodie hotspot packed with trendy cafés, craft breweries, and gourmet restaurants. A local guide always knows best.
   
   

3. Stroll through the San Jose Central Market (Mercado Central). It's the best place to eat like a local. Try traditional Costa Rican dishes like gallo pinto and casado, or shop for coffee, spices, and souvenirs. The market is a hive of activity for a taste of local life.
   
   

4. Go museum-hopping. Start at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, home to one of Latin America's largest gold artifact collections. Then, head to the National Museum in the Bellavista Fortress to explore history, archaeology, and even a beautiful butterfly garden.
   
   

For a mix of art and culture, visit the Museum of Costa Rican Art, which features stunning works by local artists.

5. Take a craft beer tour. San Jose is frothing with breweries offering light lagers, fruity IPAs and rich stouts. Order a flight of beer and taste them all.

How to get from Santa Teresa Beach to San Jose 

To get between these two destinations, you can take a private car or minivan, a shared minivan, or a van + ferry combo ride. Regardless of which transportation mode you choose, it'll take about 4-6.5 hours. 

Below are the details for each.

Private car or minivan

Duration: Four to six hours

Starting price: $318 for the vehicle

Private cars and minivans are a great option if you are traveling with a small group because the pricing structure is a flat fee. You can split the cost amongst your group, so it's best to fill the vehicle. 

Costa Rica isn't cheap. 

The modern vehicles will pick you up from your hotel in Santa Teresa and take you to your hotel in San Jose. Depending on the operator, they might drive you to the ferry to cross the Gulf of Nicoya and board it with you. Or they might drive the whole way around the Nicoya Peninsula and never board the ferry. Either way, you'll get there in four to sixish hours. 

The price includes door-to-door service and plenty of luggage room — a 44 lbs/20 kg bag and a handbag are allowed per passenger.

It's your ride. Request rest stops if and when you need them. 

Shared minivan

Duration: Four to six hours

Starting price: $57

If you're a solo or couple traveler, then buying a seat or two in a shared minivan is another option. It's a door-to-door service from your hotel in Santa Teresa to your hotel or the airport in San Jose. 

It's a great way to meet other like-minded travelers.

Van + ferry

Duration: Four to six and a half hours

Starting price: $57

This is a three-part combo ticket. First, you'll get picked up at your hotel in Santa Teresa and taken to the Paquera Ferry Terminal. Then, the minivan will board the ferry, and you'll cross the Gulf of Nicoya. Once you're on the other side, near the Punta Arenas ferry terminal, you'll continue your drive to your hotel in San Jose.  

Sometimes, the minivan doesn't board the ferry. In that case, you'll board the ferry on foot, and when you arrive on the other side, you'll hop on a new minivan. All of your things will be transferred to the new vehicle. 

Any time you have door-to-door service, it might take a little longer to complete the journey. If you have to stop at five different hotels before the driver gets to yours, it's going to add some driving time. So keep that in mind. 

If you are traveling in a small group of six to nine passengers, it's worth hiring a private minivan. 

In terms of logistics, a private minivan is the same as a shared one, except you'll only stop at one hotel, making the journey shorter. Prices for a private minivan for six people start around $319. You'll still board the same ferry as you would in a shared minivan. 

If you are leaving the country and need to be dropped off at the San Jose International Airport (SJO), that's also an option. 

When is the best time to visit San Jose?

December to April is the ideal time to visit San Jose. It's during the dry season when abundant sunshine and delightful temperatures are the norm. But be prepared for a surge of tourists.

If a bit of rain is no bother to you, the shoulder months of November and May provide an excellent, albeit slightly damp, option. You'll find lower prices and fewer crowds during this time.

How many days should you spend in San Jose? 

Here is the thing. Many people use San Jose as a portal to other places in the country. Most land and leave as quickly as possible. However, San Jose is the capital, which means there is a lot of history and culture there. That may not be why you came to Costa Rica. But it shouldn't be ignored.

Take a few days. Two days and one night is good if you're short on time. You're probably going 

to fly into the city, so you might as well catch your breath before bouncing off. 

Where should you travel after San Jose?

San Jose is the country's transportation hub, so you can go pretty much anywhere, even internationally. Managua, Nicaragua, is only a 1.5-hour flight away. 

La Fortuna is a fabulous choice if you want hiking, cloud forests, and volcanos. You'll be there in about three hours.