San José to Tamarindo
258 km (160 miles)
San José
Costa Rica's capital and cultural hub — markets, museums, and the country's best food scene.
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Tamarindo
A lively Pacific beach town with reliable surf, sunset bars, and easy access to quiet coves nearby.
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Rental Car
From San José, take Caldera Highway (Route 27) for 88 km, Pan-American Highway (Route 1) for 49 km, Tempisque Bridge (Route 18) for 49 km, Nicoya Peninsula Highway (Route 21) for 34 km, then Ruta del Sol (Route 160) for the final 30 km into Tamarindo.
Highways used
- Rt 27 Caldera Highway 88 km · 1 hour 34 min
- Rt 1 Pan-American Highway 49 km · 1 hour 6 min
- Rt 18 Tempisque Bridge 49 km · 47 min
- Rt 21 Nicoya Peninsula Highway 34 km · 39 min
- Rt 160 Ruta del Sol 30 km · 38 min
Note: Costa Rica traffic, weather and road conditions can greatly increase your drive time. It's always best to check with Waze before heading out. Read more on how to drive in Costa Rica.
Shuttle
Shared shuttles depart San José early morning. Private options available for flexible schedules.
Note: Shuttles come in shared and private flavors with different costs and trade-offs. Read more on taking a shuttle in Costa Rica.
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Flight
Note: Domestic flights in Costa Rica are short hops on small turboprops, with strict baggage limits and early check-in. Read more on flying in Costa Rica.
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