There are 5 ways to get from San José to Playa Panamá by busferry, car, bus, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus and ferry
best- Take the busferry from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Paquerabusferry San Jose
5h 41m$18–22Drive 247.5 km
- Drive from San José to Playa Panamácar 247.5 km
4h 15m$34–48Bus, fly
- Take the bus from Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14 to 50 m este Del Aeropuertobus
- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Cobano (ACO)plane SJO - ACO
3h 47m$232–277Drive via Atenas 209 km
- Drive from Atenas to Playa Panamácar 209 km
4h 37m$31–48Bus, drive
- Take the bus from Empresarios Unidos to Puntarenasbus San José / ...
- Drive from Puntarenas to Playa Panamácar
5h 37m$30–42
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Cobano (ACO) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San José to Playa Panamá is to bus and ferry which costs $18 - $23 and takes 5h 41m.
The fastest way to get from San José to Playa Panamá is to bus and fly which takes 3h 47m and costs $230 - $280.
No, there is no direct bus from San José to Playa Panamá. However, there are services departing from Terminal Atlántico Norte and arriving at Río Grande via El Relleno. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 41m.
The distance between San José and Playa Panamá is 131 km. The road distance is 247.5 km.
The best way to get from San José to Playa Panamá without a car is to bus and ferry which takes 5h 41m and costs $18 - $23.
It takes approximately 5h 41m to get from San José to Playa Panamá, including transfers.
San José to Playa Panamá bus services, operated by Transportes Cóbano, depart from Terminal Atlántico Norte station.
San José to Playa Panamá bus services, operated by Transportes Cóbano, arrive at Paquera station.
Yes, the driving distance between San José to Playa Panamá is 248 km. It takes approximately 4h 15m to drive from San José to Playa Panamá.
There are 135+ hotels available in Playa Panamá.
What companies run services between San José, Costa Rica and Playa Panamá, Costa Rica?
Transportes Cóbano operates a vehicle from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Paquera once daily. Tickets cost $16–21 and the journey takes 4h 20m.
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Cobano
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–350
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Cobano
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–350
- Website
- costaricagreenair.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Cobano
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–290
- Phone
- +506 7005 9114
- usuariotranscobano@gmail.com
- Website
- Transportes Cóbano
Busferry from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Paquera
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–21
- Website
- Transportes Cóbano
- Phone
- +506 2442 6900
- contraloriadeservicios@grupotuasa.com
- Website
- grupotuasa.com
Bus from Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14 to 50 m este Del Aeropuerto
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Schedules at
- grupotuasa.com
Bus from Empresarios Unidos to Puntarenas
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $8
- Schedules at
- Empresarios Unidos de Puntarenas
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