What is the fastest way to get from Tamarindo to San Jose?
The fastest way to travel to San Jose is with a private car or a flight. The travel time for either is around 4 hours and 20 minutes. During the rainy season, follow storm updates and check for flight delays often if you are flying.
Is there a bus from Tamarindo to San José?
Yes, the TIG (Transporte Inteligente Guanacaste) bus company has two departures a day from Tamarindo. You can leave at 5:30 AM or 3:00 PM and tickets can only be bought up to ten days in advance. The trip takes around seven hours.
How many days should I be in San Jose?
One day is usually enough for most visitors to see San Jose’s main attractions. Although it is the largest city, most of Costa Rica’s allure is the rich wildlife and beautiful scenery found on the coast and in the national parks.
How is the drive from Tamarindo to San José?
You’ll travel on paved roads with modern signage, however, the Costa Rican driving style can be a challenge for foreign drivers. The smaller state highways and the Interamericana Highway connect the country, but driving at night is not recommended, as long sections of the road are not lit.
Can I drink the tap water in San Jose?
Yes! Costa Rica has clean, safe drinking water in most areas, especially the larger cities and the resorts. If you travel to rural areas, however, drink bottled water if you are unsure of the source or have been advised by locals to do so.
What is the easiest way to get from Tamarindo to San Jose?
The easiest way to travel from Tamarindo to San Jose is to hire private transportation. Driving such a long distance in a foreign country can be dangerous and stressful, but a local private driver can take you door-to-door with ease.
As your last few days on the beach wind down, it’s time to plan your transfer from Tamarindo to San Jose! This drive across 160 miles (260 km) of Costa Rica’s lush countryside is your chance to experience the lesser-known areas that aren’t part of the coast or the capital.
Daytrip’s easy trip-planning tools allow you to add sightseeing stops you’d otherwise miss on a bus or flight. Dive into the fascinating and critical world of animal conservation at the Macaw Sanctuary Natuwa. This charity rehabilitates and houses animals that have fallen victim to exotic pet trafficking and habitat loss. Come see monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, and of course, macaws, during your sanctuary-led tour of their facilities.
When you approach San Jose, the peaceful rainforests give way to a bustling capital of 2 million people- just in time for dinner! Your driver will take you right to your hotel and you can begin your hunt for the best gallo pinto after a long day.
About San Jose
San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica, a small Central American country nestled between Nicaragua and Panama. Of Costa Rica’s 5 million citizens, almost 2 million live in or around San Jose. Costa Rica has two coasts in the east and west, but San Jose is located in the center of the country. This makes it a convenient middle ground for transfers from coastal cities like Tamarindo to San Jose for flights home. For visitors to Costa Rica, San Jose is usually the first and last stop of their vacations, as it has two of the country’s international airports.
San Jose’s Origins
San Jose was initially a trading post for exporting tobacco during the Spanish colonization of Latin America in the 1730s. As the trade of agricultural goods became more lucrative, coffee was added to the country’s exports and San Jose became the capital of the colony. It is named in honor of Joseph of Nazareth, as Costa Rica is a very Catholic country.
On September 15, 1821, Costa Rica (and other Latin American countries) gained independence from Spain, but quickly became part of the Mexican Empire. This empire lasted 2 years before Costa Rica, along with El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala formed the Federal Republic of Central America. Costa Rica withdrew from the republic in 1838 and became an independent republic.
### San Jose Today
Visitors to San Jose, and Costa Rica as a whole, have little to fear regarding violent crime. Costa Rica is consistently ranked highly for its political stability, high levels of education, low levels of crime, diplomatic neutrality, and environmental conservation efforts.
San Jose has a compact, walkable downtown and is organized on a grid pattern. It is easily navigable even for newcomers and offers many ways to learn more about Costa Rican culture and history. ¡Vamanos!
From Tamarindo to San Jose: travel tips
Packing for your next big adventure will be a breeze with these clever tips. If you’re scheduling your Tamarindo to San Jose transfer to catch a flight, don’t let an honest mistake get you in trouble!
Leave nature behind
The lush rainforests and wide biodiversity are the pride and joy of Costa Ricans. The country takes its environmental laws seriously and it is illegal to leave on flights with the following items:
Natural materials like sand, sticks, stones, and volcanic rock
Animal parts such as seashells, feathers, bones, and coral
When we take these items far from their homes, we disrupt the ecosystem and impact its beauty for the next hikers and beachgoers. It may also bring pests or diseases to your home country!
At airport security, your bag may be thoroughly searched and these items confiscated. Don’t risk missing your flight! Instead, support a local business by getting local products like coffee beans and hand-made souvenirs.
### Stay in San Jose for one day before your flight
The trip from Tamarindo to San Jose is approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes of driving when there is little traffic and no accidents or road work. Coupling this drive with an international flight will result in a very long and stressful travel day! When planning your trip to San Jose, schedule your ride one day before your flight and stay the night in a hotel near the airport.
### Keep your phone battery charged
Our phones are crucial, especially when traveling! Pack a charging cable and car charger for the drive, and have a fully-charged battery pack for your flight out of the San Jose Airport.
How to get from Tamarindo to San Jose
When planning your Tamarindo to San Jose transfer, remember that the sun sets in Costa Rica around 6:00 PM every day of the year. Costa Rica is only 10° north of the equator and has 12 hours of sunlight consistently throughout the year.
Traveling at night in Costa Rica is not recommended, especially when traveling so far and arriving in a large city that may be new to you. Expect 1 to 2-hour delays when traveling by bus or car during holiday weekends, Easter week, and the Christmas holidays.
Private driver from Tamarindo to San Jose
Hiring a private driver to take you door-to-door is the easiest and safest way to travel around Costa Rica. Daytrip makes it easy to book your transfer weeks ahead of time and visit enriching attractions like the Monkey Park Foundation. How you customize your trip is up to you! Your driver will pick you up from your address in Tamarindo on your schedule and drive you safely to San Jose.
We hand-select our English-speaking local drivers, screen for criminal and traffic records, and have strict vehicle safety and insurance standards. Our vehicles can accommodate children’s car seats, pets, and handicapped accessibility needs. Book your ride today for just $59 per seat.
### Buses from Tamarindo to San Jose
There are no direct routes with public transportation, however you can use the TIG (Transporte Inteligente Guanacaste) bus company. They have departures at 5:30 AM and 3:00 PM. The ride takes approximately 7 hours and the buses are air conditioned. Your larger luggage is stored under the bus and you can only retrieve it if you hold onto the numbered ticket the driver gives you that matches your items.
Tickets can be bought at the ticket office in Tamarindo or online, but you can only purchase them up to 10 days before your trip. Tickets are 6,895 Costa Rican Colónes (₡ or CRC), or about $13, and should be bought in the local currency’s cash if you’re buying them in person.
### Flights from Tamarindo to San Jose
Sansa Airlines has four daily departures from Tamarindo Airport (TNO) to San Jose’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). The Tamarindo Airport is very small and the San Jose Airport now has a separate domestic terminal just for local flights. Planes for this route are also much smaller than you may be used to. Tickets cost $160 or $170 per passenger, depending on the level of flexibility for cancellations you’d like.
The Tamarindo Airport is a 15-minute taxi ride inland from the city center. You may feel like you are going into the middle of nowhere, but that is exactly where this tiny local airport is! The flight is one hour long and due to the small size of the Tamarindo Airport, you can get away with arriving only one hour before your flight for check-in and security.
When you land in San Jose, the drive to the city center varies based on the time of day, traffic accidents, and road work. During rush hour, the drive is approximately one hour. The total time for this trip is three to four hours.
If you are traveling during the rainy season, flights may be delayed or canceled due to storms. Check flight updates frequently and keep your travel dates flexible.
Things to do when you get to San Jose
The downtown of San Jose is easily walkable, with many restaurants, museums, and parks close to your hotel. After your drive from Tamarindo to San Jose, unpack your bags, grab dinner, and map out tomorrow’s activities.
Central Avenue is the main thoroughfare for visitors. Here you will find a convenient grid system similar to New York City, with numbered avenues in one direction and numbered streets running perpendicular. It will be hard to get lost in this district!
Given the country’s heavy emphasis on eco-tourism in the forests and on the shores, San Jose is more administrative, however, you’ll find several museums highlighting the best of Costa Rica.
The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
The main reason for the Spanish colonization of Costa Rica was indeed for its “rich coast,” as its name implies. Gold was plentiful in the soil and used for jewelry and decorations by indigenous people for over 1,500 years. The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum tells the story of goldsmithing techniques and their symbolism alongside artifacts made of gold before the arrival of European forces. This museum is housed in the National Bank.
### The Jade Museum
Costa Rica is incredibly green, all the way down to its gemstones! Jade is plentiful in Costa Rica’s rich soil and is a semi-precious gemstone used in making figurines and jewelry. Visit the Jade Museum in San Jose to see its collection of ancient jade artifacts.
### The National Museum of Costa Rica
Come learn Costa Rica’s story from antiquity, through colonization, and into the modern era as an independent country. The National Museum of Costa Rica is located in the Bellavista Fortress, an impressive castle with a butterfly garden and many rooms dedicated to Costa Rican history. See historical timelines, archeological finds, and indigenous art told from a local perspective.
When is the best time to visit San Jose
As a tropical country, Costa Rica has two seasons: the rainy season from May to November and the dry season from December to April. The best time to visit is during the dry season when there is very little rain and less humidity. You’ll have the perfect weather for strolling around San Jose.
The rainy season can be challenging for travelers, due to tropical storms and the risk of flight delays and cancellations. However, it is cooler than during the dry season and the landscape is fully lush and tropical. You’ll also find cheaper flights and accommodation. If you visit during the rainy season, have a flexible schedule and check the weather reports frequently.
沿途参观这些景点
Monkey Park
This non-profit shares the plight of endangered species with visitors while rehabilitating sick and injured animals. Primates with Purpose
Macaw Sanctuary Natuwa
Colorful parrots and other at-risk animals are provided a safe-haven by this conservation charity. Jungle Gems
Crocodile Bridge
Dozens of crocs congregate on sunny river banks right below one of Costa Rica’s main highways. The Croc Stop
Los Chorros Waterfalls
Feel the rush of these two powerful cascades roaring in the lush jungle. The Jets
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
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