Route Pura Vida

San José Airport (SJO) to Tamarindo

244 km (152 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.

See this destination
Beach scene at Tamarindo, Costa Rica
To

Tamarindo

A lively Pacific beach town with reliable surf, sunset bars, and easy access to quiet coves nearby.

See this destination

Transportation Options

Rental Car

Distance: 244 km (152 mi)
Duration: ~5 hours

From San José Airport (SJO), take Caldera Highway (Route 27) for 69 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 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
  • 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

Duration: ~5.5 hours

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.

🛩️

Flight

Route: SJO → TNO (Tamarindo)
Duration: 50 minutes

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

Search Another Route