Costa Rica

How to Get To Jaco

Destinations - Cities and Towns

Air: Jaco is a two-hour drive from San Jose and does not have a regional airport. The closest airport serviced by local carriers (Nature Air and Sansa) is located in Quepos & Manuel Antonio. Bus: Public buses depart daily for Jaco from the Coca-Cola station in San Jose. The cost is $3 each way, and the trip takes three hours. Buses depart at 5, 7:30, 11 a.m., and 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. From Jaco, buses depart for San Jose at 5, 7, 9, 11 a.m., and 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Note that bus schedules may change periodically. Call for the latest schedule: 643-3135 Alternatively, travelers can take a private shuttle van, such as Interbus or Fantasy Grayline, from most Costa Rican cities for roughly $30 one-way. Car: Depending on traffic and road conditions, travel time between San Jose and Jaco is roughly two hours. The paved roads are well-maintained and pass through scenic towns. From San Jose: Take Hwy 1 (the Autopista) from San Jose following signs to the airport. Pass the airport on your left and continue straight ahead following the signs to San Ramon for ten to fifteen minutes. From the Airport:  Exit the airport.  Once you leave the airport road, go to the first rotunda, also the first traffic light, and go all the way around so that you make a giant U-turn and begin following the signs to San Ramon. Traffic merges from all sides at the rotunda, so be very careful here. Then: Once on Route 1, follow signs to San Ramon, and continue straight for ten to fifteen minutes.  After the second time the two lanes of traffic merge into one lane, get in the right lane and take the very next exit for Jaco. There is a sign here for Punta Leona, Quepos and for Atenas (14km). Turn left at the stop sign, crossing back over Route 1. Reset your trip odometer here to follow our detailed directions. The road is relatively good, but very curvy and steep along some of the mountain passes.  About 10 minutes from the Autopista exit is the Fiesta del Maiz, which serves tasty Costa Rican typical food using corn and corn flours. The road gets curvy shortly after this and descends to a valley bridge that crosses the Rio Grande (one of the oldest bridges in Costa Rica). Next up is Atenas – a small town with a gas station, grocery stores and other amenities. In San Mateo, there is a well-marked left turn where you will follow signs for Punta Leona. Continue straight through the next town of Orotina. (This is a good place to stop for fruits and snacks. There are several markets on the left near the railroad tracks and a gas station with clean restrooms). Take a right at the next exit on Route 27.  The sign reads Jaco, Quepos, Caldera. Exit right again to Route 34, following signs to Jaco. This exit has a rotunda at the base; continue to bear right, following signs for a rainforest aerial tram. Next, you will cross over the Tarcoles River Bridge at km #54—Crocodiles! (Park either before or after the bridge and walk onto the bridge to get a great view of many enormous crocs.)  Carara National Park is 10 minutes farther up the road. Continue south along Route 34, or the Costanera Highway and turn right following signs to Jaco beach; there are three main entrances with signs. Take any of the entrances which will lead you to Jaco's main street. Back to Top