Arenal Blog

How To Get From La Fortuna to Jaco Beach

Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel from La Fortuna to Jaco Beach annually. If you’re planning on going this route, and you’re not sure whether you should rent a car and drive, take a flight, take a shuttle, hire a private car service, or use the public transportation system, this article is for you.

I’ve helped hundreds of tourists find the best option from La Fortuna to Jaco. And in this article, I will discuss the four main ways to get from La Fortuna to Jaco, from public buses to private car services.

Top 4 Best Ways How To Get From La Fortuna to Jaco

1. Public Transportation
2. Group Shuttles
3. Private Car Service
4. Driving (Car Rental)

Let’s dive right in:

There are four ways to get from La Fortuna to Jaco. You can use public transportation, go on a group shuttle, hire a private transportation service, or drive a rental car. Generally, the first two options are more affordable, and the latter is more convenient.

Public transportation is the cheapest option from La Fortuna to Jaco Beach. However, hiring a private car service or a private shuttle is the fastest and easiest option. And going on a group or shared shuttle generally gives you the best balance of time and cost. 

Keep scrolling to find out how each option ranks against each other based on its pros and cons so that you can make the best of your trip from La Fortuna to Jaco. 

Let’s explore each option’s pros and cons to help determine the best way for you to get from La Fortuna to Jaco, starting by comparing prices.

Top 4 Cheapest Ways to Get From La Fortuna to Jaco

Notes:

• The above rates do not include the 13% IVA tax.
• These prices assume there is a minimum of two travelers.
• Renting a car consists of the base rate, insurance, and fuel.
• Prices can fluctuate throughout the year based on market conditions and demand.

Note: The above prices are estimations to give you an idea.

Keep reading more detailed information on each service and how they work.

Bus From La Fortuna To Jaco

The cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to Jaco is to use the public transportation system. However, the trip is not straightforward because no direct bus connects these destinations. You must take three buses to get from La Fortuna to Jaco. And the whole trip will take about eight hours. 

Let’s look at the step-by-step process for getting from La Fortuna to Jaco by bus. Along with the instructions, I will share the links to Google Maps landmarks, which will be essential to make this trip. 

1. First, depending on where you’re staying in La Fortuna, you must walk or take a taxi to the La Fortuna Bus Terminal. Some lodges are within walking distance of the terminal. For example, Selina La Fortuna (a great place to stay, by the way) is only a 3-minute short walk from the bus terminal. However, there are other lodging options further away, and you may need to take a taxi, which should cost between $3 and $20 to get there. And if that’s your case, I recommend you take your taxi between 8 am and 8:30 am to make it on time. 

2. Next, once you arrive at La Fortuna Bus Terminal, you must take the 9 am bus from La Fortuna to San Ramon, which takes about two hours to reach San Ramon. This bus will cost about $4.25, and you will arrive at the San Ramon Terminal at around 11 am.

3. Once you arrive at the San Ramon Terminal, you must take the 11:35 am bus from San Ramon to Puntarenas, which takes an hour and a half to reach Puntarenas. This bus will cost about $2, and you will arrive at the Puntarenas Terminal at around 1 pm. 

4. Finally, when you arrive at the Puntarenas Terminal, you must walk around the block for about 5 minutes to reach the TQP Terminal. And you also need to wait 3.5 hours before you take the 3:30 pm bus from Puntarenas to Quepos, which stops in Jaco along the way. This bus will cost about $5, passing by Jaco between 3:30 pm and 4 pm.

Note: As you get on the Puntarenas – Quepos bus, it’s essential to tell the driver that you’re getting off in Jaco. Even though the drivers will likely not speak English, you can say “Jaco por favor,” and they will understand that you’re heading in that direction. If you don’t tell them, and no one else is going to Jaco, then there is a risk that they will not make the stop, or they will make it, and you will not know when they do. Thus, you might miss it. However, if you do tell them, they will typically shout out “Jaco” once they arrive at the Jaco stop. Additionally, you will not want to fall asleep on this bus. Doing so may result in you missing the Jaco stop.

Recommendation: Since you will need to kill about 2 hours in Puntarenas before you take the Puntarenas – Quepos bus, I recommend you visit the Paseo de Los Turistas, a lovely spot nearby the bus terminal featuring calming views of the ocean. El Paseo de Los Turistas is a pedestrian plaza with many artisan shops and small local food stands. You can find cheap souvenirs and local ocean meals such as fresh Ceviche. You can also find sweet desserts such as the famous “Churchill,” delicious water-based ice cream with kola syrup, shaved ice, powdered milk, and condensed milk.

Churchill at Puntarenas Costa Rica

There you have it. That’s how you get from La Fortuna to Jaco by bus. Even though the trip is relatively inexpensive ($20 – $35 total), the journey is long, taking up about eight hours.

Besides, switching buses four times can be tiring. And none of the above three buses has air conditioning, making the trip hot and uncomfortable. Additionally, you can’t purchase the tickets ahead of time and may not get a seat, so you would need to travel standing on some of the routes.

And lastly, there is a chance that you might miss the stop in Jaco, at which point the following bus stops will be in Parrita and then Quepos. Both are too far from Jaco, and going back there would require a $20 – $50 taxi.

If you decide to make this trip by public bus to save money and you end up missing the Jaco stop, the long day effort will be in vain. You will spend more money to get to Jaco than you would have finished using a more comfortable means of transportation, which I will explain in the following sections of this article.

Over the last decade, I have helped hundreds of tourists make this trip, and only a tiny percentage of travelers go from La Fortuna to Jaco using public buses. Most travelers use the following alternatives;

Drive From La Fortuna to Jaco

Now that we know how long it takes to get from La Fortuna to Jaco using public transportation, let’s talk about how to make this trip much faster. 

Driving is the fastest way to get from La Fortuna to Jaco, which will take between 4 and 5 hours. A more precise estimate will depend on the traffic conditions and your experience driving around the country. On average, tourists take 5 hours to go from La Fortuna to Jaco.

Compared to all the other ways to get from La Fortuna to Jaco, driving is one of the fastest ways, as shown in the following comparison table. 

Top 4 Fastest Options to Get from La Fortuna to Jaco

*Going on a Private Transfer will be faster than driving if you’re not used to driving in Costa Rica.

Aspects to Consider When Driving from La Fortuna to Jaco

Let’s discuss a few drawbacks of driving in Costa Rica, which you should consider before renting a car from La Fortuna to Jaco. 

Driving Time Can Be Much Longer Than GPS Apps Estimate From La Fortuna to Jaco

Generally, driving from La Fortuna to Jaco takes 4-5 hours. However, these averages are more realistic and applicable to local Costa Ricans used to driving in our country, and it’s not the case for foreigners. 

If you search on Google Maps for the route from La Fortuna to Jaco, Google estimates the driving time will be around 3.5 hours. However, from my experience working with hundreds of tourists, I rarely see anyone get across that distance in that timeframe. 

The distance between La Fortuna and Jaco is 149 kilometers (93 miles), which may not seem excessive. However, it would be best to consider that the roads in Costa Rica are pretty narrow, and traffic can get out of control at any given moment should an accident block the streets. Consequently, Google estimations can be disproportional, and your driving time can escalate quickly. 

For example, one day, I drove from San Jose to Monteverde the other day, and Google estimated my driving time would be 3 hours and 50 minutes. And then, there was a landslide on Highway 27 (one of the main roads you will need to use when driving from La Fortuna to Jaco), which turned my travel time upside down. What was supposed to be a four-hour drive ended up a ten-hour endeavor, and I got home at 1 am.

Even though this was an extreme case, this type of thing happens in Costa Rica regularly. Our country’s topography, with huge mountain ranges, volcanoes, and vast nature, makes the roads vulnerable to these events. Therefore, I recommend adding 30 to 90 minutes to the estimated driving time the GPS device/app gives you.

Driving is Not the Easiest Way to Get From La Fortuna to Jaco

Driving from La Fortuna to Jaco seems like a simple thing to do. After all, you might be an avid driver, and a 4-5 hour ride might not be a big deal. However, driving in Costa Rica can be very different from how you’re used to driving at home. 

In Costa Rica, crazy local drivers, unpredictable and harsh weather conditions, and narrow roads make driving here a challenge and an overwhelming task for some. 

For example, on highway 1, one of the main routes from La Fortuna to Jaco, it’s common to see local drivers going full speed, passing multiple vehicles on a relatively narrow road. Witnessing a car pass like that on these roads can make some drivers feel uncomfortable and anxious. 

We, Costa Ricans, have witnessed this scenario many times before, and it still feels a bit uncomfortable for me. Getting past at full speed in such narrow streets means the car passing by comes very close to you, and it’s not cool. And it’s one of the main complaints I’ve heard from foreigners visiting Costa Rica for the first time. 

On the other hand, the weather conditions in Costa Rica are pretty unpredictable. Costa Rica has more than 300 microclimates (a local set of atmospheric conditions that differ from those in the surrounding a. And that means you can experience a handful of different atmospheric conditions over a four-hour drive. 

You might leave La Fortuna with a clear sky when suddenly a cloud forms thirty minutes later, pouring rain all over the place. Driving under changing weather conditions is not a big deal from December through April (Costa Rican summertime) as there are few rain showers, and they’re not too hard.

However, rain is more prominent from May through November (Costa Rican rainy season). During this time of the year, it rains more often and much harder, especially during September and October, when heavy thunderstorms are a daily norm. Generally speaking, driving during those months is significantly challenging, even for locals, especially during the afternoons when the rain is more likely to come. 

And lastly, a final aspect that makes driving in Costa Rica challenging for foreigners is the poor condition of the roads. There are many potholes, so you must be extra careful, and 100% focused when driving in our country. You will want to dodge those bad boys as they can be so sharp that they can flat your vehicle’s tire.

Flat tires do not usually cause many accidents in Costa Rica, but they can still be a hassle. Since most roads are narrow, you will need to find a safe parking stop so you can change the tire. Changing tires is not super fun, and it can be incredibly discouraging if it begins to rain in the middle of the process, as it’s happened to me a few times. 

Costa Rica Rental Car Comparison Tool

After considering the above drawbacks, if you decide that renting a car is still a good option, it may be time to find a reasonable Rental Car. And I recommend using the Costa Rica Rental Car Comparison Tool. You can find the best car rental deals in one place. All you need to do is choose the city or Airport where you plan to pick up a car, and the Costa Rica Rental Car Comparison Tool will instantly display the best deals across the major rental car companies in Costa Rica. Give it a try. 

Recommended Stop From La Fortuna to Jaco

The best stop from La Fortuna to Jaco is the Tarcoles Crocodile River Tour at the Tarcoles river along the road from La Fortuna to Jaco. On this tour, you go on a boat with a tour guide along the Tarcoles river to see the local wildlife up-close in their natural habitat. 

On this tour, you see giant crocodiles, exotic birds, iguanas, lizards, and much more. In addition to the river tour, there are restaurants, a souvenir shop, and a supermarket at this stop. And it’s just about halfway from La Fortuna to Jaco, making it a great place to stretch your legs, use the restrooms, grab something to eat, do something fun along the way, and relax from the long trip.

I recommend stopping here if you drive from La Fortuna to Jaco. You will not regret it, especially if you decide to go on the Crocodile River Tour, for which you need to make reservations ahead of time to secure your spots.

You can book the Tarcoles Crocodile River Tour here.

La Fortuna to Jaco Private Shuttle

We have already explored how complicated it is to get from La Fortuna to Jaco using public transportation. We also covered how driving can be problematic, so what’s the easiest way to make this trip? 

Booking a private car service is arguably the easiest and fastest way to get from La Fortuna to Jaco by land.

Hiring a Private Transportation Service, or a “Private Shuttle,” as locals call it, is the easiest way to get from La Fortuna to Jaco. You can arrange a specific time and place with a private shuttle, and a transportation company will pick you up and take you to your lodge in Jaco. 

Here at Arenal Tours, we offer a private door-to-door service, so you can relax and enjoy the ride while we take care of the heavy lifting and drive for you. 

That way, you don’t need to worry about carrying your personal belongings around using public transportation. Neither will you need to worry about driving in a foreign country with roads that might differ significantly from the streets you’re used to riding back home. 

Instead, you arrange the pickup time and place. Then, one of our local professional drivers will pick you up with a modern vehicle to take you from your departure place in La Fortuna to your destination in Jaco.

The only disadvantage of hiring this type of transportation service is the price. Going on a private transfer is the most comfortable, convenient, and straightforward option but also pricey. 

Depending on the pickup and dropoff places, a private transfer from La Fortuna to Jaco will usually cost $201 for 1 to 6 passengers. And your pickup time can also influence your pricing. For example, if you want to depart La Fortuna before 7 am or after 5 pm, there is a $20 additional fee for this service. Additionally, private transfer prices will increase as demand rises, especially during the busiest days, so I recommend booking ahead of time. 

Book a Private Car Service from La Fortuna to Jaco here. 

La Fortuna to Jaco Shuttle

Getting a group shuttle from La Fortuna to Jaco is an excellent choice for solo travelers and couples. A group shuttle is a daily shared transportation service from La Fortuna to Jaco. A modern Van with air conditioning and WiFi will pick you up at your lodge in La Fortuna and take you to Jaco.

Generally, taking a group shuttle, or a “shared shuttle,” as the locals call it, is the most recommended door-to-door way to get from La Fortuna to Jaco for most travelers. Group shuttles are convenient and provide the best balance, saving time and money for travelers in most cases.

Here at Arenal Tours, we offer group shuttles, where you share the shuttle service with fellow travelers and the cost, making it an excellent option for solo travelers and couples. Using our group shuttle to get to Jaco will be far more convenient than riding the public bus and significantly less expensive than hiring a private transfer. 

Using our group shuttle is also more manageable and less stressful than renting a car and driving. The price can change depending on the seasonality and demand, but it’s usually around $47 per person per way. 

Book a Group Shuttle from La Fortuna to Jaco here. 

Here’s the end of this article. Thank you for reading this far, and feel free to share this info with fellow travelers as you deem appropriate. Happy travels and ¡Pura Vida, amigos!

Related Articles: 

• Going From La Fortuna to Liberia
• Going From La Fortuna to Tamarindo
• Going From La Fortuna to Monteverde
• Going From La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio

About the Author

Daniel Lalinde

I am the founder of Arenal Tours. I lived in Arenal and La Fortuna before I moved to Monteverde, and I often travel to Arenal and La Fortuna to visit my loved ones. I love nature, adventure, and mountain biking. My partner and I love spending time outdoors and dining out. And we have more than 30 years of combined experience traveling around Costa Rica.

We love helping visitors so they can have a memorable experience in our country. If you need help planning your perfect trip to Costa Rica, send us a message, and we will happily assist you!