There are 5 ways to get from South America to Costa Rica by car, plane, taxi, bus, or shuttle
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Drive to Tarija, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
best- Drive from South America to Tarija (TJA)car
- Fly from Tarija (TJA) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane TJA - SJO
23h 45m$289–1,050Drive to Viru Viru International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport
cheapest- Drive from South America to Viru Viru International Airport (VVI)car
- Fly from Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane VVI - SJO
22h 37m$269–879Drive to Viru Viru International Airport, fly to Limón International Airport
- Drive from South America to Viru Viru International Airport (VVI)car
- Fly from Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) to Limón International Airport (LIO)plane VVI - LIO
26h 11m$291–994Drive to Viru Viru International Airport, fly to Quepos La Managua Airport, taxi
- Drive from South America to Viru Viru International Airport (VVI)car
- Fly from Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) to Quepos La Managua Airport (XQP)plane VVI - XQP
- Take the taxi from Quepos-Airport-XQP to San Isidrotaxi
25h 1m$409–1,099Drive to Viru Viru International Airport, fly to David, bus, shuttle
- Drive from South America to Viru Viru International Airport (VVI)car
- Fly from Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) to David (DAV)plane VVI - DAV
- Take the bus from David to Fronterabus
- Take a shuttle bus from Paso Canoas to San José
29h 17m$1,149–2,121
Tarija (TJA) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from South America to Costa Rica is to drive and fly which costs $260 - $900 and takes 22h 37m.
The fastest way to get from South America to Costa Rica is to drive and fly which takes 22h 37m and costs $260 - $900.
The distance between South America and Costa Rica is 4639 km.
It takes approximately 23h 45m to get from South America to Costa Rica, including transfers.
Costa Rica is 3h behind South America. It is currently 02:46 in South America and 23:46 in Costa Rica.
There are 750+ hotels available in Costa Rica.
What companies run services between South America and Costa Rica?
There is no direct connection from South America to Costa Rica. However, you can drive to Tarija (TJA) airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), walk to El Cacique, then take the line 200 bus to 100 m sur De La Agonía. Alternatively, you can drive to Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), walk to El Cacique, then take the line 200 bus to 100 m sur De La Agonía.
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from Tarija to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Viru Viru International Airport, Panama City
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 50m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Panama City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–750
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to David via Panama City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Limón International Airport via Bogota, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $380–1,400
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Limón International Airport via Panama City, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Bogota, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–1,300
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Limón International Airport via Bogota, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $380–1,400
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Limón International Airport via Panama City, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Bogota, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–1,300
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Tarija to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Viru Viru International Airport, Bogota
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 30m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $430–1,500
Flights from Tarija to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Cochabamba, La Paz, Bogota
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $430–1,500
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Bogota
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $360–1,300
- Website
- latam.com
Flights from Tarija to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Viru Viru International Airport, Lima
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 35m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $370–1,200
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Lima
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 30m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $300–950
- Website
- costaricagreenair.com
Flights from Viru Viru International Airport to Quepos La Managua Airport via Panama City, Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Bus from David to Frontera
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $12–13
- Schedules at
- Transporte Panamá Chiriqui Frontera
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- info@ridecr.com
- Website
- RIDE CR
Shuttle from Paso Canoas to San José
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $775
- Website
- RIDE CR
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