Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from San José Airport (SJO) to Santa Teresa
Land at San José Airport (SJO), meet your driver at arrivals with a sign bearing your name and ride straight to your hotel or villa in Santa Teresa. You pay one flat fare for the vehicle, with tolls and taxes included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from SJO Airport to Santa Teresa
Landing after a long flight is not the moment to piece a trip together. With us the van is reserved for your party only, the driver follows your flight number, helps with the luggage and drives you directly to Santa Teresa. No strangers, no detours to other people's hotels.
One price covers the whole vehicle: fuel, tolls, taxes, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats, with nothing to pay on the day. Standard takes you straight there; VIP, for $80 more per vehicle, adds sightseeing stops and a driver who knows the area and recommends the best places.
We confirm the pickup details with you when you book. With approximately 5 h 30 min of driving ahead, this is a full travel day: an early flight puts you at the hotel in daylight, while a late landing means part of the drive is after dark.
Your destination
Arriving in Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is a long, laid-back surf town on the Pacific coast near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Its beaches have consistent waves for all levels, and the single main road behind them is lined with cafés, yoga studios, surf shops and restaurants, many of them hidden in the jungle.
Places to stay range from surf hostels to boutique hotels such as Florblanca, Nantipa, Hotel Trópico Latino and Latitude 10. The town stretches for several kilometers, so give us the exact name and location of your hotel or rental when you book.
The final part of the trip runs on the roads of the southern peninsula, through the village of Cóbano and down to the coast. The last kilometers into Santa Teresa and along its main road are slower, with dust in the dry season and potholes after rain.
In Santa Teresa
What to do in Santa Teresa
Surf for every level
Several beach breaks along the coast, with schools and board rentals in town.
Yoga and wellness
Studios and retreats along the main road and in the hills.
Sunsets on the rocks
The coast faces west; the rocky points are the classic sunset spots.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Travel time (incl. ferry)
- approx. 5 h 30 min without stops
- Main roads
- Route 27 to Caldera and on to Puntarenas, then the Puntarenas–Paquera car ferry and the road through Tambor and Cóbano
- Last stretch
- The roads of the southern peninsula into Santa Teresa, partly gravel
- Pickup point
- Just outside the terminal exit, with a name sign
From the airport the van takes Route 27, the toll highway to the Pacific, and continues to the ferry terminal in Puntarenas. The car ferry crosses the Gulf of Nicoya to Paquera in a little over an hour, with the islands of the gulf on both sides.
Along the way
What you'll see between SJO Airport and Santa Teresa
Some of what you will pass on this drive:
The Gulf of Nicoya by ferry
The crossing passes small islands and fishing boats, with pelicans and frigatebirds over the water.
Puntarenas
The old port town on a long sandbar, with its seafront promenade by the ferry terminal.
The southern peninsula
Past Paquera the road runs between forest, pastures and glimpses of the gulf on the way to Cóbano.
Cóbano
The small commercial town of the southern peninsula, with banks and supermarkets, on the way to the beaches.
Santa Teresa's main road
A long, narrow road between the jungle and the beach, lined with cafés, surf shops and yoga studios.
Playa Carmen
The main surf beach at the entrance of Santa Teresa and Malpaís.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Tropical Experts VIP costs $80 more per vehicle and includes one to two hours of stops. Along this drive, you can ask for:
The Puntarenas seafront before the ferry
If there is time before the boat, a walk on the Paseo de los Turistas and a churchill, the local shaved-ice dessert.
Before you travel
Road conditions on the way to Santa Teresa
The ferry runs on a fixed schedule, so we plan the pickup around the departure. On holidays and busy weekends the vehicle line can be long, and we leave a margin for it.
Parts of the road network on the southern peninsula are gravel, and Santa Teresa's main road gets very dusty in the dry season and potholed after rain.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Keep water, a snack and a hat in your carry-on: with the ferry, this is a long day.
- Malpaís is right next to Santa Teresa; if your address is there, tell us and we take you to the door.
- Take cash in colones: ATMs in Santa Teresa and Cóbano can run out at busy weekends.
- Book surf lessons for the morning after you arrive, when the wind is usually lighter.
- Traveling with children? Tell us their ages and weights when you book and the right child seat will be installed, free of charge.
Fares
Prices for this route
One flat 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 | $375 | $455 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $420 | $500 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $505 | $585 |
Extra hour of stops: $35 per hour, up to 4 hours. Photos show each model; you get the vehicle type you choose.
Reviews
What travelers say
Short excerpts from real reviews of Tropical Experts Costa Rica on Google and Tripadvisor.
5.0 · 112 Google reviews · 5.0 · 36 Tripadvisor reviews
San Jose transfer
“Our experience today with John from tropical experts was wonderful… he was waiting at the airport for us, having painstakingly given us such clear instructions that we connected instantly and within no time we were whisked away to our destination in sublime comfort enjoying cold drinks and snacks!”
Highly recommend
“On time, clean, friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!”
The Best
“John was the best driver ever! So kind and let us stop for breakfast on our 3 hour trip. Great company and got us there safely.”
Read all our reviews on Google and Tripadvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: SJO Airport → Santa Teresa
How long is the drive from San José Airport (SJO) to Santa Teresa?
Approximately 5 h 30 min of driving. 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 Santa Teresa?
$375 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $420 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $505 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
What do we do during the ferry crossing?
Passengers usually go up to the passenger deck during the crossing, where there are seats and views of the gulf; your luggage stays in the van on the car deck.
What happens if we miss the ferry?
We plan the pickup with a margin so that does not happen. If a flight delay makes us miss it, we take the next ferry; the fare does not change.
Is the ferry included in the fare?
Yes. The fare includes the Puntarenas–Paquera ferry for the vehicle and passengers. We plan the pickup time around the ferry schedule.
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.
Where will the driver meet us at San José Airport (SJO)?
Just outside the terminal exit, holding a sign with your name. The day before, we send you the driver's name, photo and plate, and you can reach us on WhatsApp at any hour.
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to in Santa Teresa
These are some of the hotels in Santa Teresa that our online booking form already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Nantipa — A Tico Beach Experience
- Florblanca Resort
- Hotel Trópico Latino
- Latitude 10 Resort
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