Traveling from San Jose to La Fortuna or vice versa, is a popular itinerary for visitors exploring Costa Rica.
We have frequently revisited La Fortuna ourselves, and over the course of several trips, we have experienced the journey using various modes of transport – including cars, public buses, and shuttles.
Given the route’s popularity and the availability of multiple travel options, we have compiled comprehensive information to help you effectively plan your trip.
In this post, you will find detailed guidance on reaching La Fortuna from San Jose by public bus, car, shuttle, and even air, as flights are also an option for this route.
San Jose to La Fortuna: Summary
| Mode of Transport | Approximate Cost | Things to Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🚌 Direct Bus | USD 6 – 7 / person | Direct route with minimal stops. Just one bus per day. |
| 🚌🚌 Indirect Bus via Ciudad Quesada or San Ramon | USD 10 – USD 15 / person | Involves changeovers, longer travel time but more frequent departures. |
| 🚘 Rental Car Check our 10% discount + extras from Adobe Rent A Car | USD 30 – USD 100 / day | Best for flexibility and interesting stops on the way. |
| 🚐 Shuttle Shared or Private | USD 30 – USD 100 / person | More comfortable than buses. For larger groups or families, private shuttle costs lower per person. |
| ✈️ Flight | USD 100 – 200 / person | Fastest method. Check flight schedules and availability in advance. Check the baggage policy as it is limited. |
Read on for details on each mode of transport, including bus schedules, driving routes and potential stopovers.
🌋 Planning your days in La Fortuna?:
Read our La Fortuna Activity Guide and a 3 Day La Fortuna Itinerary.
San Jose to La Fortuna By Bus: Direct or Indirect
This is the most economical way to travel between San Jose and La Fortuna. The options of direct buses are limited. However, there are indirect buses multiple times per day.
Do not expect the buses to have generous legroom or thigh-support, but it just does the work. Having traveled in many countries in Latin America, we find the long distance buses in Costa Rica a bit underwhelming.
🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♀️Best For: Solo or Couple Travelers on a budget
Read the sections below for more details, schedules, terminals, and bus companies.
Direct Bus – San Jose (Terminal 7 – 10) to La Fortuna Terminal
The options of direct buses are limited and runs just once a day between the destinations.
🕰️ Bus Timings:
- San Jose to La Fortuna: 8:40 am
- La Fortuna to San Jose: 2:30 pm
Which Terminal? The bus starts from Terminal 7-10 in downtown San Jose. In case you are arriving at the SJO airport, you need to plan to get to the terminal in the morning. So we recommend staying in San Jose for at least a day, if you want to take the direct bus.
If you just want to crash for the night close to the terminal, check the Hotel Cacts or Stray Cat Hostel.
⏳ Trip Duration: The journey spans approximately 4 to 5 hours.
🚌 Bus Companies: This route is run by Transportes SJ-Venecia from the terminal 7-10. You can keep your larger bags in the luggage holder before boarding the bus.
But keep your valuable belongings always with you!
💲 Cost: You can book one-way bus ride for ~6 USD per person. The amount will vary as per the exchange rates as the fare is in Costa Rican Colones (CRC).
🎟️ How to Book: Book bus tickets online on mibus.cr, or check the availability. Since there is just one bus, plan in advance.
Also, the booking may not provide you a seat number. You will need to reach the terminal early to get the seat number on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Do not forget to purchase travel insurance for your trip. We recommend:
✈️ Heymondo for short trips or long term travel (no deductibles, 24/7 worldwide support for any kind of medical assistance)
💻 SafetyWing for digital nomads (add-on options: adventure sports, electronics theft)
Exclusive for Paradise Catchers Readers: Get 5% off on Heymondo (discount automatically applied, not applicable for US residents)
Indirect Bus – via Ciudad Quesada
Ciudad Quesada is the best option if you have ample time for day’s bus journey. There are more bus options throughout the day. However, it will be a long travel to La Fortuna.
🕰️ Bus Timings: Here you need to break your journey at Ciudad Quesada
- San Jose to Ciudad Quesada:
- Everyday: Every 30-40 minutes from 5 am to 5.30 pm
- Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna:
- Monday to Saturday: Every 30 minutes to 1 hour from 4 am to 7.30 pm
- Sunday: every 45 mins to 1 hour from 5.15 am to 7.30 pm
Note: There is a scheduled bus at 10 pm from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna on all days, but it is better to avoid the last bus, just in case.
- La Fortuna to Ciudad Quesada:
- Monday to Saturday: Every 30 minutes to 1 hour from 5 am to 7.30 pm
- Sunday: Every 45 mins to 1 hour from 5 am to 6 pm
- Ciudad Quesada to San Jose:
- Everyday: Every 30-40 minutes from 5 am to 6.45 pm
Note: The Ciudad Quesada-La Fortuna has 2 routes. It does not really matter if you are going to La Fortuna, as it is the final destination in either case.
Which Terminal? The bus to Ciudad Quesada starts from the same Terminal 7-10 in downtown San Jose. You need to book your ticket for Ciudad Quesada or San Carlos.
📍Terminal de Buses, Plaza San Carlos, Ciudad Quesada – This is where the bus changes
⏳ Trip Duration: The first leg of the journey to Ciudad Quesada from San Jose may span between 2.5 to 3 hours, and the next part to La Fortuna can take 1 to 2 hours. Also, consider the time you need for changing the buses at Ciudad Quesada.
🚌 Bus Companies: The San Jose – Ciudad Quesada route is also run by Transportes SJ-Venecia from the terminal 7-10. The Ciudad Quesada-La Fortuna route is run by Transpisa.
💲 Cost: The total amount of one-way bus ride considering both legs of the journey can cost you ~10 – 15 USD per person. The amount will vary as the fare is in Costa Rican Colones (CRC).
🎟️ How to Book: Since this has higher frequency of buses, you do not need to book in advance. However, you can check the tickets on mibus.cr, particularly if you traveling during peak seasons.
Indirect Bus – via San Ramon
San Ramon is another indirect option to break your journey between San Jose and La Fortuna.
The frequency of buses is less than that of Ciudad Quesada, but still, it has a decent number of options.
🕰️ Bus Timings: Here you need to break your journey at San Ramon
- San Jose to San Ramon: Every 30 minutes to 1 hour from 6.10 am to 9 pm (All Days)
- San Ramon to La Fortuna: 5.30 am, 9 am, 12.30 pm, 4 pm, 5.30 pm
- La Fortuna to San Ramon: 4.30 am, 5.30 am, 9 am, 1 pm, 4 pm
- San Ramon to San Jose:
- Monday to Saturday: Every 30 minutes to 1 hour from 4.05 am to 7.30 pm
- Sunday: Evert 45 mins to 1 hour from 5.15 am to 7.30 pm
Which Terminal? The bus to San Ramon starts from the Terminal EUPSA in downtown San Jose and stops at the Terminal de Buses, San Ramon.
📍Terminal EUPSA in downtown San Jose
But the San Ramon to La Fortuna buses start from the bus stop in front of the office of Compañía Carbachez, the bus company that operates in this route. The office has a seating area and paid bathroom.
📍Compañía Carbachez Office and Bus Stop for San Ramon to La Fortuna bus.
⏳ Trip Duration: The first leg of the journey to San Ramon from San Jose may span between 1.5 to 2 hours, and the next part to La Fortuna can take 2.5 to 3 hours. Also, consider the time you need for changing the buses at San Ramon.
🚌 Bus Companies: The San Jose – Ciudad Quesada route is also run by the company EUPSA (Empresarios Unidos de Puntarenas S.A.). The San Ramon-La Fortuna route is run by Compañía Carbachez.
💲 Cost: The total amount of one-way bus ride considering both legs of the journey can cost you ~10 USD per person. The amount will vary as the fare is in Costa Rican Colones (CRC).
🎟️ How to Book: San Jose to San Ramon and San Ramon to San Jose have decent number of buses, you do not need to book in advance. However, there are many residents who travel in these buses, so arrive early at the terminals to avoid delays in your travel.
You can check the tickets of San Jose-San Ramon on mibus.cr. But the tickets of San Ramon-La Fortuna are only available at the bus office or terminal. Keep cash in colones to purchase the tickets.
San Jose to La Fortuna By Car: Self-Drive
Taking a rental car and driving, is the most convenient way to reach La Fortuna. If you are up for a drive through some scenic routes, lush green landscapes, this is the best option.
👨👩👧 Best For: Couple or Family
There are few things that we suggest about driving to La Fortuna:
🌚 Avoid driving at night. If your flight is scheduled to reach late at night, stay in San Jose. You can explore the city and do day trips for 1 or 2 days and then start the following morning.
🌞 Start in the morning: If possible, start in the morning and not too late in the afternoon. Costa Rica, with the unpredictable weather, can have afternoon showers. Starting early will also give you the chance to make some interesting stops for views and food. We have suggested some stops for each route in the sections below.
🚙 Breaking the Journey: It can be interesting to break the journey. Not for the distance, but there are some places which are worth exploring. A few suggestions:
- Poas and La Paz Waterfall area
- Bajos del Toro – The ‘waterfall’ town
- Coffee region and mountain towns like Naranjo or Zarcero
✅ Recommended: Adobe Rent A Car, a 100% Costa Rican company with transparent pricing. Reserve here and get 10% discount and other freebies
🚗 Other options: Compare deals on Rentalcars.com by Booking.com
Read this: Should you rent a car in Costa Rica?
There are broadly 3 routes to La Fortuna:
Route Option 1 / Route Option 2: San Jose – San Ramon – La Fortuna
These 2 routes are the most common route to La Fortuna. They are similar in most parts.
The only difference is that the Route 2 goes through El Tanque, and in the last 50 km or so, the roads are mostly straight and not as winding as the Route 1 that goes via Chachagua.
- Route Option 1: San Jose – San Ramon – La Tigra – Chachagua – La Fortuna (Follow Route 702 throughout after San Ramon)
- Route Option 2: San Jose – San Ramon – El Tanque – La Fortuna (Follow Route 702 but turn right towards Route 141 after Super El Cruce)
Both the routes are scenic and you will get glimpses of the rainforests and rivers as you drive through the winding roads.
Where to stop on this route?
You can stop at Mi Rancho or any of the several Sodas after San Ramon for breakfast or Lunch.
The lookout point across the road from Mi Rancho has beautiful views. See photos below.
Route Option 3: San Jose – La Paz Waterfall – Rio Cuarto – El Tanque – La Fortuna
This is a preferred route if you wish to add a few activities during the journey. If this is your first time in this part of Costa Rica, then this can be an excellent introduction to this tropical country.
If you are planning to take this route, we recommend leaving early from San Jose to accommodate the stops and account for safe driving on the winding roads.
Where to stop on this route?
There are few natural stops that you can take:
🦥 La Paz Waterfall Gardens: This is huge property that has a rescue center and 5 waterfalls, the last one being La Paz Waterfall, which you can also see from the road (check next section). The rescue center is home to several species from Costa Rica like sloths, toucans, reptiles and also, predators like Jaguar and Puma. A self-guided tour of the property can take 2 -3 hours. You can book the tickets to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens beforehand along with a buffet lunch.
Related Reading: Our experience at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens
💦 La Paz Waterfall: This waterfall lies on the road few hundred meters after the entrance of the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. There is no need for ticket as you can see and approach the waterfall just by parking the car on the side of the road. If you do not want to spend time at the Waterfall Gardens, this waterfall can be a quick stop.
🐦 Soda y Mirador Cinchona: You will find the Soda y Mirador Cinchona after a 5 minutes drive from the La Paz Waterfall. It serves Costa Rican food and has an observing deck and bird feeder, perfect for bird watching.
Also, on clear days, you can see the San Fernando waterfall amidst the forests. We had spotted several tanagers, 2 types of toucans, honeycreepers, hummingbirds during our lunch at the Soda. Here is a short video clip of some of the birds we saw.
🏘️ Wish to spend the night around this place? Check out the Peace Lodge, a luxury accommodation featuring several amenities. And Poas Volcano Lodge or Villa Calas are moderately priced options close to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
Detours: Not exactly on the routes, however, there are couple of detours that you can consider:
- 🌋 Poas Volcano: This is an active volcano where you can see volcanic activities, mud, fumes, and crater lake on clear days. You will have to book a slot well in advance from the official SINAC website beforehand.
- 🌳 La Laguna de Hule: This is also a detour to hike to an inactive crater lake. The lake and the surroundings are beautiful. However, the hike may take 3-4 hours. So we do not recommend clubbing this with any other activity.
Check our day trip to Poas Volcano National Park, La Paz Waterfall and La Laguna de Hule on YouTube
Route Option 4: San Jose – Naranjo – Zarcero – Ciudad Quesada – El Tanque – La Fortuna
This route traverses through the beautiful coffee region and small mountainous scenic towns of Costa Rica.
Where to stop on this route?
You can stop for views of the undulating coffee farms and mountains in and around the town – Naranjo, Zarcero or Quesada.
Stop for a meal at one or the ‘mirador’ restaurants on the route to try some Costa Rican food while watching the clouds over the surrounding mountains. The Restaurante El Mirador is one of the preferred stops that we have on this route.
The Zarcero church and its nicely landscaped garden is also a nice stop.
Route Option 5: San Jose – Sarchi – Bajos del Toro – El Tanque – La Fortuna
Take this route only if you are planning to explore couple of waterfalls in the Bajos del Toro, the ‘waterfall town‘ of Costa Rica.
Where to stop on this route?
You can pick a waterfall property to hike and see a waterfall in spectacular rainforest settings. Bajos del Toro is blessed with many waterfalls and it is difficult to pick and choose one. However, here are a few recommendations.
Catarata del Toro and the Blue Falls: The 2 waterfall properties have the same owner and you can visit both on the same day and the tickets can be purchased a combo.
While Catarata del Toro is one of the highest waterfalls in the country, the Blue Falls are exactly what the name says. You cannot swim in Catarata del Toro due to the sheer force of the waterfall, but can take a dip in the Blue Falls.
The Catarata del Toro requires hiking down few hundreds of stairs and climbing back but the views are worth the effort. The Blue Falls do not require a difficult hike but be careful on the slippery rocks near the falls.
Related Reading: Our Catarata del Toro guide to help you plan the hike.
Catarata Rio Agrio, Dinoland and Pozas Celestes: Again, these properties belong to the same owner. The Rio Agrio waterfall needs a hike through the forest and when we first visited, we felt like a Dinosaurs park for the odd vegetation, the river and the tiny river bridges.
They know about this feeling and have put replicas of dinosaurs in the property to add to the environment, now officially called Dino Land.
🏘️ Wish to stay in Bajos del Toro and do the waterfall hike? Check the luxury accommodation of El Silencio Lodge & Spa in the waterfall town.
Our Recommendation: Which Route to Take
💡 Our Recommendation: If it is your first time in Costa Rica, take the Route Option 3. We love it for the easy access to La Paz Waterfall, the scenic route and a lunch stop. If you just want to get started with your La Fortuna trip, without waiting too long on the way, take the Route Option 2.
San Jose to La Fortuna By Shuttle: Shared or Private
Shuttles are the best way to travel in Costa Rica, if you do not wish to drive or use public buses.
You can choose your pickup location as the Juan Santamaria airport (SJO) or a hotel in San Jose.
If you arrive in Costa Rica late in the evening, you can choose to rest for the night at one of the hotels near SJO airport, and book the shuttle for the next day.
👨👩👧👦 Best For: Families, large group of friends and couples who do not wish to drive
Shared Shuttles
The shared shuttles are best suited for solo, couple, or small families. There can be waiting times depending on the pick up and drops of your fellow travelers.
The most common shared shuttles are ‘minivans’ that accommodate 8-10 passengers, and the traveling time will vary accordingly. The shuttles normally give a stop for a quick break, snack or views mid-way.
We have taken shuttle between La Fortuna and San Jose with RideCR and had excellent experience all throughout the trip. The pickup was from our stay and transfer was at the destination hotel.
You can check the shuttles here. Most features AC, decent luggage storage and pick up and drop from hotels (mentioned in their list) or airport.
Book your Shuttle between San Jose and La Fortuna here ->
Private Shuttles
The private shuttles are better for families and large groups. The minivans or vans can accommodate 6 to 18 passengers.
If you are a large family or a group, it is economical to book a private shuttle. The waiting time depends entirely on your group and the luggage space is dedicated. There is a flexibility if you wish to stop on the way for a view or any specific requirement.
You can check the availability of the private shuttles and the features here. They offer free cancellation and pick up from airport and the city.
San Jose to La Fortuna By Air
Sansa airlines fly everyday from San Jose to the La Fortuna airport, the fastest way to get to La Fortuna. There is one 30 minutes direct flight in the morning and couple of indirect flights via Liberia or Tortuguero.
👨👩👧👦 Best For: Anyone who wants to just reach the next destination in short amount of time.
You need to plan in advance, as the flights are not always available. Also, the luggage allowance is limited.
So check the allowance and the cancellation policies before booking the flight. These are the primary conditions for the fare of different categories.
Final Thoughts + Plan Your La Fortuna Trip
No matter how you plan to travel to La Fortuna, this stretch has some beautiful landscapes on the way. The distance is not a long one, but requires a bit of planning, specially if it is your first destination in Costa Rica. And it is for many.
For planning your La Fortuna and Arenal trip, check out our other articles about the attractions in the area.
- 20+ Things to Do in La Fortuna and Arenal
- Free and Budget Things to Do in La Fortuna
- 3 Days in La Fortuna Itinerary
- Arenal Volcano National Park
- Arenal 1968 Trail
- Eco Termales Hot Springs
- Relax Termalitas Hot Springs
- Best Hot Springs in La Fortuna
If you enjoy reading our free travel guides, tips and stories, you can buy us a coffee and help us keep this website ads free. Thanks for supporting Paradise Catchers.
Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or a booking through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
