Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from San José Airport (SJO) to Jacó
Your driver is waiting at San José Airport (SJO) with your name on a sign, and takes you directly to your hotel or villa in Jacó. Price per vehicle, final, with taxes and tolls included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from SJO Airport to Jacó
Shared shuttles leave when they fill up and stop at several hotels. Ours is a private vehicle: you choose the pickup, the driver is at arrivals tracking your flight and the drive to Jacó goes door to door, at the pace of your group.
There are no extras to discover later: the per-vehicle fare already includes taxes, tolls, fuel, insurance, water, WiFi and child seats. Pick Standard for a direct trip, or upgrade to VIP (+$80) to stop along the way.
We confirm the pickup details with you when you book. With approximately 1 h 45 min of driving ahead, plan on arriving at the hotel in the afternoon or early evening if you land around midday.
Your destination
Arriving in Jacó
Jacó is one of the two biggest tourist towns on the Central Pacific and the closest lively beach to San José. Its long grey-sand beach, around 4 km from end to end, has consistent waves and surf schools, and the main street behind it is packed with restaurants, bars, surf shops and tour offices.
Hotels range from the large Croc's Resort & Casino to small surf lodges and the many condominium towers along the beach. It is a good base for surfing lessons, canopy tours, sportfishing from nearby Herradura and day trips to Manuel Antonio or the Carara National Park.
The last part follows Route 34 past the turn-offs for Herradura and into Jacó, where the driver leaves the highway for the town streets and goes to your hotel or condo entrance.
In Jacó
What to do in Jacó
Surf lessons
Jacó's beach breaks are good for learning; surf schools rent boards along the beach road.
Canopy and waterfall tours
Zip lines and waterfall hikes in the hills behind town.
Day trips
Manuel Antonio, Carara and the Tárcoles River are within easy reach for a day.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Driving time
- approx. 1 h 45 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 27 toll motorway west, then the Costanera Sur (Route 34)
- Last stretch
- Route 34 to the Jacó entrances, then the town streets
- Pickup point
- Just outside the terminal exit, with a name sign
Near Orotina the route joins the Costanera Sur, Route 34, which follows the Pacific shore south past the Tárcoles River, Jacó, Parrita and Quepos. From here the driving is easy: a wide paved highway with the sea on your right.
Along the way
What you'll see between SJO Airport and Jacó
What passes the window on the way from the airport to Jacó:
From valley to coast
In about an hour the scenery goes from the airport suburbs to hills, then to mango trees and the heat of the Pacific.
The Carara forest
Protected forest beside the highway near Tárcoles, known for its scarlet macaws; you may see them cross the road at dawn and dusk.
The Jacó beach
A long sweep of grey sand with surfers in the water at almost any hour.
Carara National Park
The forest reserve beside Route 34 near Tárcoles, one of the best places on the Pacific to spot scarlet macaws.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) you add one to two hours of sightseeing stops with a bilingual driver who doubles as your guide. On this route you can ask for:
Tárcoles River bridge
A stop at the bridge on Route 34 to see the American crocodiles resting on the sandbanks below.
Carara National Park
With extra time, a short walk on one of the trails of Carara, beside Route 34, known for scarlet macaws (entrance fee paid on site).
Before you travel
Road conditions on the way to Jacó
The Costanera Sur (Route 34) is a good, wide road, though weekend and holiday traffic towards the beaches can be heavy. In the rainy season, roughly May to November, afternoon storms are common on the Pacific side, so a morning pickup is often easier.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Landing in the afternoon? The sun sets around 5:30 p.m. all year, so a late landing means part of the drive is in the dark. It is safe and we know the road; just tell us the flight number.
- Booked a surf lesson for the next morning? Arriving in the afternoon gives you time to check the waves at sunset.
- Jacó is hot and humid all year; keep shorts and sandals in the hand luggage.
- If you get carsick, take the front seat or the first row and look ahead on the curves.
Fares
Prices for this route
One closed price for the whole vehicle, not per person. Prices in US dollars with taxes included; you pay online when you book and nothing to the driver.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Large bags | Standard | VIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hyundai Staria1–5 passengers |
1–5 | 5 | $175 | $255 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $230 | $310 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $315 | $395 |
Extra hour of stops: $35 per hour, up to 4 hours. Photos show each model; you get the vehicle type you choose.
Google reviews
What travellers say
Short excerpts from real Google reviews of Tropical Experts Costa Rica.
“Muy agradable el servicio, nos encantó.”
Read all our reviews on Google and TripAdvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: SJO Airport → Jacó
How long is the drive from San José Airport (SJO) to Jacó?
Approximately 1 h 45 min of driving according to our fare table. Stops, rain and traffic come on top of that; with VIP, add the one to two hours of sightseeing stops.
How much is a private shuttle from San José Airport (SJO) to Jacó?
$175 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $230 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $315 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Can we see the scarlet macaws or the crocodiles on the way?
Yes. The Tárcoles River bridge and Carara National Park are both beside Route 34, a few minutes before Jacó. With VIP you have time for both; park entrance is paid on site.
Do you take surfboards?
Yes. Tell us how many boards and their length when you book, and we send a vehicle with room for them and your luggage.
Can we stop in Jacó town before the hotel?
Yes. Ask the driver for a quick stop for groceries or cash on the main street.
What happens if our flight is delayed or lands at night?
Nothing extra to pay. We track the flight number you give us and adjust the pickup, and we run transfers 24/7. If the airline cancels the flight, we move your transfer to the new date at no charge.
Are WiFi and child seats included?
Yes. WiFi, bottled water, child seats, tolls, taxes and insurance are all in the fare. Tell us the ages and weights of the children when you book and the right seat will be installed before we pick you up.
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to in Jacó
These are some of the hotels in Jacó that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Croc's Resort & Casino
- Hotel Club del Mar
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Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book SJO Airport → Jacó?
Pick your date, vehicle and service in the calculator, pay online and get your voucher by email — or message us and we'll book it with you.