San José Airport (SJO) to Samara
221 km (138 miles)
San José Airport (SJO)
Costa Rica's main international airport and gateway to the Central Valley.
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Samara
A relaxed beach town with a calm, swimmable bay — great for families and first-time surfers.
See this destinationTransportation Options
Rental Car
From San José Airport (SJO), take Caldera Highway (Route 27) for 69 km, Pan-American Highway (Route 1) for 49 km, then Tempisque Bridge (Route 18) for the final 49 km into Samara.
Highways used
- Rt 27 Caldera Highway 69 km · 1 hour 12 min
- Rt 1 Pan-American Highway 49 km · 1 hour 6 min
- Rt 18 Tempisque Bridge 49 km · 47 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
Daily shuttle services available. Popular beach destination from SJO airport.
Note: Shuttles come in shared and private flavors with different costs and trade-offs. Read more on taking a shuttle in Costa Rica.
Book a Shuttle
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.
Book a Flight