San Jose

Private car transfer
from Jaco to San Jose

Door-to-door
in 1 h 40 min
From ...
per seat
Comfortable
car
One way
Cancel for free 24 hours before departure
Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2024
Excellent
trustpilot-stars

Trip Information

Pick-up

Your driver will meet you at your address in Jaco.

  • Door-to-door service
  • Help with your luggage

Trip

You’ll travel in comfort for 1 h 40 min.

  • Optional sight-seeing
  • Clean, comfortable car
  • Professional driver
  • Bottled water
  • Child seats
  • Prepared for handicapped
  • Smoke-free
  • Pet friendly

Drop-off

Your driver will drop you off at your address in San Jose.

  • Door-to-door service
  • Help with your luggage
In total
  • 98 km
  • 1 h 40 min

Overview: car trip from Jaco to San Jose

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.

Questions & Answers about Traveling from Jaco to San Jose

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.

Visit these sights on the way

Mirador de Jaco

Mirador de Jaco

An unmissable sign with unmissable views. Colors of the Coast 

Crocodile Bridge

Crocodile Bridge

Dozens of crocs congregate on sunny river banks right below one of Costa Rica’s main highways. The Croc Stop 

Else Kientzler Garden

Else Kientzler Garden

This lush botanical garden is home to tropical plants from around the world. Transnational Tropical Treats 

Los Chorros Waterfalls

Los Chorros Waterfalls

Feel the rush of these two powerful cascades roaring in the lush jungle. The Jets 

Museo Historico Cultural Juan Santamaria

Museo Historico Cultural Juan Santamaria

Costa Rica’s history, and especially the life of its national hero, is detailed in this fascinating free museum. A Hero’s History 

Britt Coffee Tour

Britt Coffee Tour

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 

Why people love Daytrip

Tripadvisor logo
4,800+ reviews
  • 2,354 travelers took this route with us
Dec 4, 2024

Excellent service for transfers in Thailand

I was unsure about this company but a few good reviews on Trip Advisor made me take the chance. I am so happy that we did. We needed a ride from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Our driver Saksun was an excellent driver - it's not a long distance to drive (by Texas standards!) but the road is challenging and there are a lot of places where improvements to the road are being made. It took around 3 hours with a stop at a place with very clean bathrooms, very interesting hot springs and a place to get a snack and cold drinks. Saksun had a vehicle that was fantastic for this type of drive - a very comfortable ride indeed and was obviously well maintained and very clean. I highly recommend this company. I used to post on trip advisor as "lakekariba" but got out of the habit of doing so. This company was so easy to use and the result was so enjoyable that I felt that the company Daytrip and the driver Saksun had earned our trust and a glowing review. Gillian and Ted Pearsall Austin, Texas

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler lakekariba
Review author image

lakekariba

Dec 4, 2024
Dec 3, 2024

Excellent option to get to Vienna to Budapest!

We used Daytrip to travel between Budapest and Vienna with a 2 hour stop for lunch in Bratislava. Our driver Zsombor arrived on time at our hotel in Budapest and was very friendly and informative throughout our trip. His vehicle was roomy and clean and he was kind enough to provide us with some bottled water for the trip. Our quick visit stop in Bratislava was very nice as well. He gave us plenty of time to explore the city and have lunch before meeting him again when it was time to head for Vienna. Daytrip provided us with a happy and trouble free transfer between Budapest and Vienna. Many thanks to your team and especially to your driver Zsombor!

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler pgh1125
Review author image

pgh1125

Dec 3, 2024
Nov 9, 2024

Great communication with an actual person! They will take you ANYWHERE, No pre-set routes to choose from!

Last minute plan change and Daytrip was our last resort so I chatted with them and had an immediate response from a real person, best situation ever. Never used Daytrip before but the reviews were incredible so we took the chance and booked a driver at like 11-12pm and by 7am the next morning when we woke, they found us a driver and the driver had already texed us making contact! Very impressed and will definitely use them again. We went from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Tivat, Montenegro.

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler James B
Review author image

James B

Nov 9, 2024
Nov 1, 2024

Perfect Transport

Andreas did a great job picking us up from Pireaus Cruise Port and taking us to our rental in Spata. The three of us had been on a long cruise and had 9 pieces of luggage. He arrived in an appropriate vehicle and loaded and unloaded all of it. We are very happy with out decision to book with Daytrip.

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler LuckyTraveler01
Review author image

LuckyTraveler01

Nov 1, 2024

Vehicle options for this trip

Most popular

sedan

Sedan

Comparable to aVolkswagen Passat
Passengers and luggage
  • 1-3
  • 3x
  • 3x
  • Clean
  • Comfortable
  • Air conditioned
  • Handicapped accessible
  • Child seats
  • Pet friendly
  • Smoke-free
From ... per seatSelect

Best reviews

suv

SUV

Comparable to aToyota RAV 4
Passengers and luggage
  • 1-2
  • 2x
  • 2x
  • All standard sedan features
  • Upgrade to larger vehicle
  • Chauffeur-style service
  • Extra amenities
From ... per seatSelect

More options

mpv

Compact MPV

Comparable to aVolkswagen Touran
Passengers and luggage
  • 4
  • 4x
  • 4x
From ... per seatSelect
van

Van

Comparable to aMercedes Vito
Passengers and luggage
  • 5-7
  • 7x
  • 7x
From ... per seatSelect

The Daytrip driver advantage

Daytrip driver
  • Local knowledge about the route from Jaco to San Jose
    Including available sights:
  • English speaking*

    All Daytrip drivers speak English* as well as their native language (and sometimes additional languages too!). They'll be happy to discuss local history and culture with you, as well as answer any questions you may have. And because they speak the language, they're able to provide you with a unique opportunity to connect with local culture. *Drivers for Lite service aren't required to speak English but must meet all other standards.

  • Safety first!

    We screen all our drivers for criminal and traffic records, and personally interview each one. We also inspect their cars for safety, comfort, and reliability. All cars must be less than ten years old, in excellent operating condition, and insured as required by local law. And because our drivers are locals, they're familiar with the rules and customs of the road.

World-class customer support

  • Available 24/7
  • Close relationship with drivers
  • Experts on the route from Jaco to San Jose

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Cancellations: 100% refund up to 24 hours before the trip!
  • Changes: Free up to 24 hours before the trip!

Good to know

Children

If you’re traveling with children, make sure to let us know in the booking so we can get the appropriate child seats ready!

Pets

Pets are allowed (and loved)! We just need to know beforehand. You can tell us about them in the next phase of the booking.

Tips

Gratuity isn’t included or required, but if you really enjoyed your trip, you can show your driver your appreciation with an optional tip (10% is sufficient).

Luggage

  • Big luggage
  • 29x21x11 inches
  • 74x53x28 cm
  • Small luggage
  • 22x14x9 inches
  • 56x36x23 cm

Each passenger is allowed to have one checked bag and one carry on. If you’re traveling with more bags or oversized luggage, you can adjust this while booking.

Payment methods

Pay by credit card online, or in cash directly to your driver!

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions, here are the answers.

Daytrip is the most convenient way to experience 13,800+ cities around the world.

Every traveler deserves real insight into the cultures of the countries they’re visiting. And every amazing place on Earth deserves to be visited and appreciated. We believe unique local knowledge and real human connection are irreplaceable when it comes to truly comprehending another culture.

We have been featured in

usa-travel logo
forbes logo
huffpost logo
monocle logo
wanderlust logo
aileen logo
World dotted map
Drive with Daytrip
I am a travel agent