San Jose to Uvita in 5 Ways: Transportation Guide

Are you looking for the best ways to get from San Jose, Costa Rica to Uvita?

San José, the capital city of Costa Rica, is home to the main international airport. Uvita is a charming Pacific coast town known for its beautiful beaches and the famous Whale’s Tail sandbar formation in Marino Ballena National Park.

To get between these two locations there are multiple transportation options including rental cars, private shuttles, public buses, shared shuttles, and domestic flights. Each transportation option comes with certain pros and cons and is best for certain types of travelers.

We live in San Jose and frequently visit Uvita, so this guide is based on our experiences. You’ll find information on the best transportation options based on your needs, what to expect when driving, our recommendations for shuttles, and fun places to stop along the route.

Let’s get started!

San Jose and the International Airport

The Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is the largest in Costa Rica, located near Alajuela, west of San Jose.

After a long flight, consider spending the night near the airport and heading out in the morning.

Traffic around the airport can be heavy, and downtown San Jose is about 20 minutes to an hour away. Instead, we suggest spending your first night in the city of Alajuela.

Hotels near SJO Airport:

• High End Hotel: AC Hotel by Marriott Heredia Belen
• Mid-Range Hotel: Casa Garitas
• Budget-Friendly Hotel: Lajuela B&B

However, if you’re eager to get to the beach, Uvita is about a five-hour drive. We just don’t suggest doing this after dark (the sun sets around 6pm) if it is your first time driving in the country.

Check Out:

• San Jose International Airport Arrivals and Departures Guide
• Costa Rica Entry Guide: Visas, Vaccines etc.
• The Best Hotels Near the San Jose International Airport
• Ground Transportation Options from the Airport

Where is Uvita?

Uvita is a beach town located in the Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, approximately 140 miles south of San Jose.

The drive usually takes around 4 to 5 hours, depending on traffic.

The town is most famous for Marino Ballena National Park, which features beautiful beaches and the unique Whale’s Tail sandbar formation.

We love this area for its raw natural beauty. The beaches back up to lush jungle, which makes for such a beautiful landscape and so many fun nearby activities.

Check Out:

• Complete Guide to Marino Ballena National Park
• Uvita Visitors Guide (hotels, restaurants, things to do, and more!)

Now let’s get to your transportation options….

Option #1: Renting a Car

Having a rental car will give you the most flexibility in your travel plans. You can start your drive whenever you want and stop at all the interesting places along the way.

We suggest renting a car if you are:

• Independent Travelers: If you enjoy exploring at your own pace and want the flexibility to make spontaneous stops along the way.
• Families: Families with children who may need frequent breaks or those traveling with a lot of luggage. Plus, this will be more cost-effective than some other options.
• Adventure Seekers: If you are interested in exploring off-the-beaten-path locations and attractions, a car is great.
• Groups: Groups of friends or family members who can share the cost of the rental, making it more economical.
• Onward Travel: If you plan to visit multiple destinations a car is helpful. For example, if you are going down to Corcovado National Park after your visit in Uvita.

We don’t suggest renting a car if you are:

• Budget Travelers: If you are looking to minimize expenses, car rental might not be for you.
• Short-Term Visitors: If you have a very short duration in Costa Rica, it might make the most sense to take a domestic flight from San Jose to Quepos and then a shuttle or rental car to Uvita.
• Solo Travelers: If you are traveling alone you may find car rental costs to be too much compared to shared transport options.
• Nervous Drivers: If you are not confident in your driving skills, this might not be the best option.
• Staying in a Resort: Often you won’t need a car if you are staying in a resort with all amenities included.

Recommendations on Best Car Rental Agencies

We always suggest renting your car with Adobe Rent-a-Car. They are our favorite local rental company in the country.

Because we like them so much, we asked if they would be willing to partner with us.

We now have an excellent 10% exclusive discount to pass on to you, plus a bunch of other great perks.

Once outside, you will be confronted with a lot of people asking if you need a taxi or holding signs for various shuttle and tour companies. If you have rented your car with Adobe, look for someone holding an Adobe sign.

This employee will then take you on the comfortable Adobe shuttle to their office located across the street from the airport. The airport is not that big, so most rental companies are not located directly on-site.

At the Adobe office, you will get the keys to your vehicle and be on your way!

Pro Tip: If you opt to spend the night near the Juan Santamaría International Airport, you can always have Adobe deliver your car to you in the morning. They are happy to deliver your rental car to your hotel for free within 12 miles of their office.

Picking Up Your Rental Car from Downtown San Jose

If you are staying in downtown San Jose, Adobe has an office in this area where you can pick up your rental car. Just make sure you select “downtown San Jose” as your pick-up location when you make your car rental reservation.

Alternatively, Adobe will deliver your rental car to you for free within 12 miles of any of their offices throughout the country.

🚗 Reserve Your Rental Car with 10% Discount 🚘

Note: Driving in downtown San Jose is pure madness, so we suggest picking up your car and heading straight out of the city.

Which Car to Rent

If you are just going between San Jose and Uvita, you can rent any car. The highway is paved and mostly flat.

However, if you plan to explore once you are in Uvita, it is helpful to have an SUV.

A lot of places such as waterfalls and hiking areas are located in the hills above the town. Most of these places have unpaved roads or roads that are steep and not well-maintained.

You typically do not need a 4×4 in this area, but an SUV with decent clearance will provide a more comfortable ride and better handling on rough roads.

Travel Tip: Before booking your car it is a good idea to ask at your hotel in Uvita if you will need a 4×4 to get to the hotel. Some places are located on steep side roads.

The Driving Route

The driving route from San Jose to Uvita is pretty straightforward, but let me give you some detailed information to make it as clear as possible.

When you look at the driving route on Google Maps or Waze (Waze is great for directions in Costa Rica).

From the San Jose Airport, you will:

• Start by heading west on Route 1 (the big highway directly outside of the airport) for about 6 miles. From the Adobe Car Rental office, you will already be on the correct side of the road. Just turn right out of the parking lot and you will be on your way!
• Exit at the roundabout. There are signs for Route 27. You will continue on this road for about 3 miles.
• Exit onto Route 27. Stay on Route 27 for approximately 23 miles until you see the exit for Route 34 towards Jaco. Note: Route 27 is a toll road.
• Stay on Route 34 until you reach Uvita. This is approximately 70 miles.

The total travel time should be about 4 to 5 hours. However, traffic here is completely unpredictable. We have experienced this route taking as little as 3.5 hours and as long as 7 hours during peak times.

I put these directions into Google Maps for you if you need them.

Things to Know When Driving in Costa Rica

Here are some things you should know before getting on the road in Costa Rica.

Tolls

Route 27 is a toll highway. There are about 3 toll stops along the way. The toll booths accept US dollars or Costa Rican colones. Recently, they have also started accepting payments with credit cards. Yay!

It is good to still have some cash, just in case, but you should now be fine with credit card.

If you want to pay with cash and only have US dollars, I suggest paying at the first toll with a $10 bill. They will give you change in colones. The change will be enough to pay the rest of the tolls along the route in colones.

Merging

One of the scariest parts about driving on Route 27 is the merging of lanes. Most of the highway is one lane in either direction.

However, there are certain parts of the highway that turn into multiple lanes. This is great for passing slower cars and trucks.

The downside is, that the signs for remerging are often very last minute.

We have seen many tourists almost get in bad accidents because they don’t realize until the last minute that their lane is suddenly going to end.

So, keep an eye out for signs and try to follow what the drivers in front of you are doing.

Traffic

This is one of the most widely driven routes in the country, so the traffic can get very bad depending on the time of the day and time of year.

For example, during rush hour, the area around San Jose is very congested.

On weekends, Uvita is a popular beach destination for people living in San Jose, so this route gets busy.

To combat that, we suggest driving in the middle of the day on a weekday if possible. Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings will be notoriously bad traffic times from San Jose to Uvita.

Additionally, Sunday afternoons are the worst time to head from Uvita back towards San Jose.

If it seems like you might be in for some bad traffic, check out both Waze and Google Maps. Waze is especially good at predicting traffic and giving alternative routes when necessary.

If you get really stuck in the thick of it, get ready for an interesting cultural experience. Locals will walk along the highway selling snacks to cars that are sitting in traffic. If you want a snack, we suggest buying some green mangos with salt from a passing seller. It sounds weird, but it’s delicious!

GPS

We suggest using Google Maps or Waze for all driving directions in Costa Rica. We usually prefer Waze because it is the most widely used in the country. People are very good about marking obstructions in the road, police checkpoints, etc.

You should have no problem holding a 3G or above connection during the entire drive. However, we suggest downloading the map of Costa Rica on Google Maps before driving, just in case. This will be helpful if you do lose cell phone service for whatever reason.

Need info on staying connected while in Costa Rica? Find out our SIM card suggestions here.

Also, make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a backup cell phone power bank if possible. There is nothing worse than having your phone die in a foreign country and having no idea where to go.

Luckily, this likely won’t happen on your route from San Jose to Uvita. The road is well-marked with street signs indicating any turns.

Addresses

I know it sounds crazy, but there are no addresses in Costa Rica.

Instead, you will need to put in the name of the place you are intending to go to in your GPS. For example, you might enter your hotel name, an Airbnb name, a beach name, etc.

Getting Gasoline

Gas stations in Costa Rica are full-service. This means you will stay in your car and an employee will come fill your gas tank for you.

Also, all gas stations in Costa Rica are government-regulated. In other words, you do not need to drive around looking for the lowest gas prices. The price will be the same no matter where you go.

There are several gas stations along this route, so you should have no problem finding a spot to fill up.

Bathroom Stops

Gas stations are often the best places to stop to use the bathroom. If the restroom at a gas station is locked, just ask the attendant for a key.

Food Stops

Costa Rica isn’t known for having the best quick food stop options. The country is home to a few fast food places such as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and Subway; but if you want anything a little nicer you will usually have to opt for a sit-down place.

• For snacks, I suggest just stopping at any gas station.
• For a meal, there are several roadside places before you reach Jaco. Otherwise, I suggest going to Esterillos Town Center plaza which is about 40 minutes before Uvita. There are several food options here without having to get off the highway, and you can eat outside and keep an eye on your car. There is also a grocery store here if you need it.

Safety

Be careful about leaving your car unattended. Petty theft can sometimes happen and a car filled with suitcases that is left alone will be a prime target.

If we stop, we like to always make sure that our vehicle is within view.

Other than that, you should feel pretty safe!

Things to See Along the Drive

There are plenty of interesting things to do along your drive, but please use caution. Make sure your car is always being watched by a guard and that your suitcases or belongings are not easy to spot.

Stop at a Fruit Stand

One of our (many) favorite things about Costa Rica is all the delicious fresh tropical produce.

On your drive on Route 27, you will pass by a collection of fruit stands. These stands are on the opposite side of the road, so you will need to turn around in order to reach them.

At these stands, you can buy a variety of fruits that you may have never even seen before.

Having a tropical fruit taste test is always a fun cultural experience!

Check Out the Crocodile Bridge

Rio Tarcoles is a river in Costa Rica that is home to tons of big crocodiles. On your way to Uvita, you will pass over the Rio Tarcoles Bridge.

It is possible to pull your car off before the bridge and walk onto the bridge lookout point to see the crocodiles sunning themselves below.

It’s a great spot for stretching your legs.

Find it on Google Maps here.

Stop at the Jaco Sign

After driving past downtown Jaco, you will come to this viewpoint and Jaco sign. You can easily just pull your car off from the highway here and snap a picture.

Also, look out for macaws. You can often spot them in the trees in this area.

I marked this on Google Maps here.

Visit a Beach

There are several beaches we suggest visiting along the way, including Playa Hermosa and Playa Esterillos.

Playa Hermosa is known for its great surfing conditions, and Playa Esterillos is perfect for a more relaxed beach experience.

Option #2: Private Shuttle to Uvita

A private shuttle is typically an air-conditioned and comfortable van driven by an experienced driver.

This van is designated only for you and your group. So, a private transfer is a great way to sit back and comfortably get to your destination without the stress of driving and without having to deal with any other passengers.

Pros of a Private Shuttle

• Private Transportation: You are alone and don’t need to deal with other passengers.
• Flexible Scheduling: You can plan your shuttle for whenever you arrive. Typically, you will give your shuttle driver your flight information so they can be waiting for you when you exit the airport.
• Custom Stops: Your driver will often be willing to make short stops along the way. For example, when going to Uvita, you can ask to stop at a viewpoint or a local eatery.

Cons of a Private Shuttle

• Cost: It can be expensive to take a private shuttle. Typically, you pay for the shuttle, not per person. So, if you are a group of people, then it is a good option. But, if you are one or two people traveling together, a shared shuttle will likely be more cost-effective.

Book Your Private Shuttle

Adobe Rent-a-Car has recently started a private shuttle company. They are reliable and excellent!

They will be happy to stop along the way if you need to get groceries, want to see some scenic spots, etc.

Also, they can pick you up from anywhere in the country and deliver you straight to your next hotel. Door-to-door service at its finest!

🚌 If you are interested in getting a price quote for a private shuttle, you can do that here 🚐

Option #3: Shared Shuttle to Uvita

Shared shuttles are a cost-effective and comfortable way to travel. They operate from the San Jose airport, nearby hotels, and downtown San Jose.

This option is more affordable than a private shuttle but offers less flexibility in terms of departure times and routes.

We find that the Bookaway website is typically the best for finding shared shuttles within Costa Rica.

🚌 Check Availability of All Shuttles from San Jose to Uvita 🚐

Easy Ride is our favorite shuttle service that you can book on BookAway to Uvita.

They offer shared shuttle services from the San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport to all hotels in Uvita multiple times a day at 4:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 5:30 PM.

You are allowed to bring 2 suitcases plus a handbag per passenger. They ask that you meet their driver at a designated spot at the airport.

They also request that you please arrive at the pickup point at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

🚌 Check Availability and Book Your Shuttle with EasyRide 🚐

Option #4: Public Bus to Uvita

Taking a public bus is the most economical way to get from San Jose to Uvita.

This option is ideal for budget travelers who don’t mind a bit of adventure.

Bus Schedule and Booking

Direct buses to Uvita depart from the Tracopa Bus Terminal in downtown San Jose (I marked it on Google Maps here). The schedule is frequent, with departures at almost every hour throughout the day.

The journey takes around 5 to 6 hours and prices are very reasonable, typically around $12 per person.

The biggest downside is that tickets can not be purchased online. You will need to buy tickets directly at a Tracopa point of sale.

Travel Tip: Keep an eye on your belongings, especially at the bus terminals and during stops. I suggest putting your large luggage under the bus and keeping personal items with you. I have heard of people putting bags above the seat on these buses, falling asleep, and waking up to find all of their stuff stolen. So, keep valuables on you.

The buses are comfortable. They make several stops along the way, including a longer stop for refreshments and restrooms.

In Uvita, the bus stops right in the center of town. You can then walk or take a taxi to your hotel.

Get More Info on the Tracopa Website

Option #5: Domestic Flight to Quepos and Shuttle to Uvita

If you prefer to travel quickly and enjoy aerial views of Costa Rica, a domestic flight is an excellent option.

Next to the San Jose International Airport, there is a domestic terminal. You can fly to Quepos and from there take a taxi or shuttle to Uvita.

Booking a Flight

The main airline that flies between these two destinations is called Sansa.

Prices vary depending on the season and how far in advance you book, typically ranging from $70 to $150 one-way.

Travel Time and Comfort

The flight duration to the Quepos Airport is approximately 30 minutes. So, it is definitely the fastest way to reach Uvita.

The planes are small, typically seating around 12 passengers, and offer stunning views of the coastline and mountains.

However, I don’t recommend this option if small planes scare you.

✈️ Check Available Flights Here 👩‍✈️

Our Opinion on Getting from San Jose to Uvita

Typically, we suggest you opt to rent a car when traveling from San Jose to Uvita. This gives you the most flexibility to explore the beautiful surroundings at your own pace.

However, there are certain times when renting a car might not be ideal. For example, if you’re on a tight budget, if you’re staying at a resort where you won’t need a car, or if you’re nervous about driving in Costa Rica.

For those on a very tight budget, the public bus is the cheapest option. However, if you’re arriving at the San Jose airport, you’ll need to take a taxi downtown to the bus terminal. Considering this cost, it might be more economical to take a shared shuttle that picks you up directly from the airport.

If you’re staying at a resort, a shared or private shuttle is a convenient option.

You can also rent a car for a few days to explore the surrounding areas instead of having one for your entire trip. Adobe Rent-a-Car has an office in downtown Uvita and can deliver your car to your hotel in Uvita.

🚗 Reserve Your Rental Car with 10% Discount 🚘

Alternatively, there are plenty of excursion companies in Uvita offering day trips with transportation included.

This way, you can enjoy activities like guided tours in Marino Ballena National Park or boat trips without needing a rental car.

Uvita itself offers a mix of beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and wildlife spotting, but having the flexibility of a car allows you to explore nearby attractions like the Nauyaca Waterfalls.

Conclusion: Getting to Uvita

In conclusion, there are multiple ways to get to Uvita depending on your particular needs.

Whether you choose the flexibility of a rental car, the comfort of a private shuttle, the affordability of a public bus, or the speed of a domestic flight, each option for getting from San Jose to Uvita has certain pros and cons.

By planning ahead and selecting the transportation method that best fits your needs, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey to this popular beach town.

If you have any questions about planning your trip to Uvita don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you plan!

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