Route Pura Vida

San José Airport (SJO) to Monteverde

130 km (81 miles)

San José Airport (SJO) terminal, Costa Rica
From

San José Airport (SJO)

Costa Rica's main international airport and gateway to the Central Valley.

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Mountain landscape at Monteverde, Costa Rica
To

Monteverde

A misty cloud forest hill town for canopy walks, zip-lines, and exceptional birdwatching.

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Transportation Options

Rental Car

Distance: 130 km (81 mi)
Duration: ~3.5 hours

From San José Airport (SJO), take Caldera Highway (Route 27) for 69 km, then Pan-American Highway (Route 1) for the final 18 km into Monteverde.

Highways used

  • Rt 27 Caldera Highway 69 km · 1 hour 12 min
  • Rt 1 Pan-American Highway 18 km · 27 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.

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Shuttle

Duration: ~4 hours

Daily shuttles available. Some offer the scenic 'Jeep-Boat-Jeep' route via Lake Arenal.

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

Not Available

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