There are 7 ways to get from Des Moines to Costa Rica by plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), car, shuttle, bus (Flixbus), bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane DSM - SJO
7h 57m$249–973Bus via San Salvador
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Kansas City Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Dallas Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Dallas, TX to Hyatt Regency Houstonbus
- Take the bus from Houston to San Salvadorbus
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador to Terminal Tica Bus San Josébus
4d 20h$513–855Drive 4,935.2 km
- Drive from Des Moines to San Josécar 4,935.2 km
2d 14h$662–956Fly to Liberia International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane DSM - LIR
- Take a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas
10h 39m$683–2,202Bus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Kansas Citybus
- Take the bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Dentonbus
- Take the bus from Denton to Downtown Houstonbus
- Take the bus from Houston to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Terminal Managua - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus
5d 14h$458–741Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Bloomington-Normalbus
- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to San Marcos Amtraktrain
- Take the bus from San Marcos to Austin Eastside Bus Plazabus
- Take the bus from Austin Eastside Bus Plaza to Houstonbus
- Take the bus from Houston to San Salvadorbus
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador to Terminal Tica Bus San Josébus
5d 14h$931–1,608Bus #2
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Kansas Citybus
- Take the bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Dallas Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Dallas Bus Station to Houston Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Houston to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Terminal Managua - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus
5d 14h$459–755
Des Moines (DSM) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Costa Rica is to fly which costs $240 - $1,000 and takes 7h 57m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 7h 57m and costs $240 - $1,000.
No, there is no direct bus from Des Moines to Costa Rica. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Terminal Tica Bus San José via Kansas City Bus Station, Dallas, TX, Smith St @ Dallas St, Houston and Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4 days 20h.
The distance between Des Moines and Costa Rica is 3641 km. The road distance is 4935.2 km.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Costa Rica without a car is to bus via San Salvador which takes 4 days 20h and costs $500 - $900.
It takes approximately 7h 57m to get from Des Moines to Costa Rica, including transfers.
Des Moines to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 7h 57m and costs $240 - $1,000. Alternatively, you can bus via San Salvador, which costs $500 - $900 and takes 4 days 20h.
Des Moines to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Kansas City Bus Station.
Costa Rica is 1h behind Des Moines. It is currently 04:43 in Des Moines and 03:43 in Costa Rica.
What companies run services between Des Moines, IA, USA and Costa Rica?
United Airlines, Delta, and two other airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Terminal Tica Bus San José via Kansas City Bus Station, Dallas Bus Station, Dallas, TX, Hyatt Regency Houston, Smith St @ Dallas St, West Bellfort Park & Ride, Houston, San Salvador, and Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador in around 4d 20h.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Des Moines to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 35m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Des Moines to Liberia International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 48m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $410–1,700
Flights from Des Moines to Liberia International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 29m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $390–1,700
Flights from Des Moines to Liberia International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 48m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $410–1,800
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Flights from Des Moines to Liberia International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–1,700
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Flights from Des Moines to Liberia International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $400–1,700
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Des Moines to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 35m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Bloomington-Normal to San Marcos Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 27h 46m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $600–1,000
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–55
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Dallas Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $95–150
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Bloomington-Normal
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Dallas Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $95–150
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Dallas Bus Station to Houston Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 39m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–65
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Dallas Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 5m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $85–130
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Denton
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 20m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $80–130
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Denton to Downtown Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $50–80
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from San Marcos to Austin Eastside Bus Plaza
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $5–8
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Austin Eastside Bus Plaza to Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $23–35
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Dallas Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 5m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $85–130
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- Phone
- +1 844-866-5263
- inquiries@vonlane.com
- Website
- Vonlane
Bus from Dallas, TX to Hyatt Regency Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $137–147
- Website
- Vonlane
- low
- $137
- high
- $147
- Phone
- +1 213 368 1172
- info@boletosdebus.com
- Website
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Houston to San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 3d
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $180–390
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Houston to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 1h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $230–390
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Houston to San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 3d
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $180–390
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Houston to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 1h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $230–390
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
- Phone
- +52 962 625 2435
- info@ticabus.com
- Website
- Tica Bus
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador to Terminal Tica Bus San José
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–85
- Website
- Tica Bus
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus San Salvador to Terminal Tica Bus San José
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–85
- Website
- Tica Bus
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- info@ridecr.com
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $269
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Monteverde to Puntarenas
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $209
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–69
- Website
- Tropical Tours Shuttles
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $50–75
Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $50–75
Bus from Terminal Managua - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 12h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $30–50
Bus from Terminal Managua - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 12h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $30–50
Want to know more about travelling around Costa Rica
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
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Yes, the driving distance between Des Moines to Costa Rica is 4935 km. It takes approximately 2 days 14h to drive from Des Moines to Costa Rica.
There are 756+ hotels available in Costa Rica.