Santa Teresa sits at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, across the Gulf of Nicoya from the mainland. That gulf is the whole puzzle: you either cross it on the Puntarenas ferry, drive around it over the La Amistad bridge, fly over it to Cóbano, or take the water taxi from Jacó. Here's how they compare.
Which way in is best for you?
| Way in | Time to Santa Teresa | Cost (at last check) | Suits | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San José airport + Puntarenas ferry | 5½–6 h (7 h+ on holiday weekends) | Ferry: ₡810 per adult, about ₡13,700 for a car and driver. Private transfer from $385 per vehicle. | Most travelers landing at SJO by midday | Quickest overland route; a 70-minute sea crossing | Car lines in high season; fixed sailings, none from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. |
| San José airport by road (La Amistad bridge) | 6–6½ h | Fuel and your time. Private transfer from $675 per vehicle. | Late arrivals, holiday weekends | No ferry lines, no timetable | The longest drive; Route 1 detours until the Cambronero closure lifts |
| Flight to Cóbano airport (ACO) | 30–35 min flight + 25–30 min drive | Typical domestic fares about $95–160 per person one way. Transfer from Cóbano from $65 per vehicle. | Couples traveling light, short stays | By far the fastest; no ferry, no long drive | Daylight only; tight baggage limits; weather delays |
| Liberia airport (LIR) by road | 4½–5½ h | Fuel and your time, or a private transfer | Travelers flying into Guanacaste | No ferry; more US and Canadian nonstops into LIR | Long drive; GPS "shortcuts" use rough back roads |
| Water taxi, Jacó to Montezuma | About 1 h on the water, 2½–3 h Jacó to Santa Teresa | From $55 to Montezuma, from $66 with the ride on to Santa Teresa | Coming from Jacó or Manuel Antonio with light bags | Saves hours of driving and the ferry | Morning only; depends on the sea; awkward with big luggage |
| Public bus from San José | About 6 h to Cóbano, plus the local bus | About ₡9,125 per person | Budget travelers with time | Cheap; ferry included | A 6 a.m. start; a change in Cóbano |
Ferry, flight, boat and bus fares are the operators' published or typical fares at last check (September 23, 2026) and change often. Private transfer prices are per vehicle for 1 to 6 travelers, taxes included.
How does the ferry route from San José work?
From San José airport (SJO), drive about 52 miles (84 km) west to the port of Puntarenas, roughly 2 hours. The ferry dock is at the tip of the Puntarenas peninsula, where you'll see the line of cars. Naviera Tambor's boats cross to Paquera in about 70 minutes, eight times a day in each direction: 4:00, 6:30 and 9:00 a.m., noon, 3:00, 6:00, 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.
From Paquera, follow the road through Tambor and Cóbano for about 27 miles (43 km) to the crossroads at Playa Carmen. Turn left for Malpaís, about 2 miles (3 km) away, or right for Santa Teresa. Door to door, plan on 5½ to 6 hours. Arrive at the dock at least 45 minutes early, and 1 to 2 hours early on weekends and from December to April. Fares, booking and the Playa Naranjo ferry are on our Puntarenas ferry page.
Can you skip the ferry and drive around?
Yes. Head northwest on the Inter-American Highway (Route 1), cross the Tempisque River on the La Amistad (Friendship) bridge, then go south on Route 21 through Jicaral to Paquera and on to Cóbano as above. It's about 184 miles (296 km) and 6 to 6½ hours, paved apart from the last stretch. It's the fallback when the ferry is full or you land too late for the last sailing.
What's happening with Route 1 at Cambronero?
Route 1 at Cambronero, between San Ramón and Esparza, has been closed since September 9, 2026, for up to two months, after a truck damaged the temporary bridge. Heavy vehicles detour via Route 27, and cars can also use Route 3. San José to the Puntarenas ferry via Route 27 still works, but the road route around the gulf and the drives from San José to Monteverde and La Fortuna take longer until it reopens. Check Waze before you set off.
Can you fly to Santa Teresa?
Almost. Cóbano airport (ACO) opened in 2023, about 1 km from Cóbano town and 9 miles (14 km) from Santa Teresa. Sansa (up to 6 flights a day, depending on the season) and Green Airways (six to eight a day on its timetable) fly there from San José airport (SJO) in about 30 to 35 minutes. The airport is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. From the airstrip it's 25 to 30 minutes by road to Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa; see the Cóbano airport to Santa Teresa transfer. Don't book "to Tambor": scheduled flights moved to Cóbano, and Tambor's airstrip is now used mainly for charters.
Flights run in daylight only, and afternoon storms in the rainy season can delay them. In August 2026 the government also announced plans to move domestic flights from San José's main airport to Tobías Bolaños airport in Pavas. No date has been set, so check which airport your ticket leaves from.
Sansa and Green Airways bag and surfboard limits
- Sansa carry-on: one personal item up to 10 lb (4.5 kg), 30 × 50 × 20 cm. Checked-bag weight depends on the fare you buy (it's on your ticket), and bags can be up to 76 × 46 × 34 cm.
- Sansa surfboards: from $40 per board, per leg, plus taxes, checked only, up to 6.7 ft (2.04 m), fins off, in a protective case with nothing else inside, up to 8 boards per flight and only if there's space. Longboards over 6'7" can't fly. Details on Sansa's sports equipment page.
- Green Airways: checked allowance from 25 lb (Economy) to 50 lb (Full fare), one carry-on up to 10 lb, and a maximum of 60 lb checked per passenger. See Green Airways' baggage policy; ask about boards when you book.
How do you get there from Liberia airport?
From Liberia airport (LIR), plan on 4½ to 5½ hours, about 125 miles (202 km). Head south on Route 21 through Santa Cruz and Nicoya, then down the Gulf side of the peninsula through Jicaral to Paquera, and west through Cóbano to the coast. Stick to paved Route 21, even if your GPS suggests a shortcut: those routes use rough back roads with river crossings. Private transfers from Liberia are on our sister site: Liberia airport to Santa Teresa.
Is the water taxi from Jacó worth it?
If you're coming from Jacó or Manuel Antonio, yes. The taxi boat crosses the Gulf of Nicoya between Jacó and Montezuma in about an hour, with morning departures in both directions, and about 2½ to 3 hours door to door to Santa Teresa. Pack light: it's a small speedboat with a limit of about one suitcase and one carry-on each, and it only runs when the sea allows.
Is there a bus?
Transportes Cóbano runs a bus from San José every morning at 6:00 a.m. to Cóbano and Montezuma, ferry included, in about 6 hours. In Cóbano, change to the local bus for Santa Teresa. Check the time locally before you travel.
Where can you get gas?
Not in Santa Teresa or Malpaís: there's no gas station. The nearest pumps are in Cóbano (Servicentro Cóbano and Gasolinera Jimal), about 8 miles (13 km) and 25 to 30 minutes from Playa Carmen. Paquera also has a station on the way in. A station has been proposed on Santa Teresa's main road, but as of March 2026 it hadn't been approved.
Insider tip: Fill up in Cóbano on the way in, and again before you leave. Returning a rental car on empty after the long drive to the airport is a headache you don't need.
Is the road to Santa Teresa paved?
Paved to within a few miles of the coast. About 5 km before Malpaís and Santa Teresa the road turns to dirt, with ruts in the rainy season, and paving is under way. In town, the strip from Malpaís through Playa Carmen to Playa Hermosa is still mostly gravel and dirt: very dusty from December to April, muddy and potholed from May to November. You don't need a 4x4 for the drive in, but good clearance helps, and a 4x4 is worth it in the rainy season or if your rental is up a steep hill. Our Santa Teresa driving map shows the roads.
Can you arrive after dark?
You can, but it's not much fun. The sun sets between about 5:15 and 6:05 p.m. all year, the roads into Santa Teresa are rough and potholed, and the town's streets are poorly lit. Land at SJO at 2 p.m., clear customs, add 5½ to 6 hours, and you're on the dirt stretch around 9 p.m. The last ferry leaves Puntarenas at 10 p.m. and nothing sails again until 4 a.m. For a late landing, a first night near San José or the road route with a driver who knows it is the calmer plan. Flights to Cóbano don't run after dark at all.
Traveling with kids: what about car seats?
Costa Rica's law requires car seats for children 12 and under who are shorter than 145 cm (57 in) or lighter than 36 kg: rear-facing under 1, forward-facing from 1 to 4, a high-back booster from 4 to 6 and a booster from 6 to 12. Licensed tourist vans aren't legally required to supply seats, though rental companies and private shuttles can provide them, so ask when you book, or bring your own. With kids, the long drive is easier split with a lunch stop, and the Santa Teresa with kids guide covers the rest.
Private transfer routes
A private driver takes the ferry lines, the dirt road and the dark off your plate. Every route we run:
- San José airport (SJO) to Santa Teresa (from $385)
- San José airport (SJO) to Nosara (from $405)
- Santa Teresa to Sámara (from $385)
- Santa Teresa to Tamarindo (from $440)
- Santa Teresa to La Fortuna (Arenal) (from $545)
- Santa Teresa to Monteverde (from $465)
- Santa Teresa to Manuel Antonio (from $385)
- Santa Teresa to Nosara (quote on request)
- Santa Teresa to Jacó (quote on request)
- Cóbano airport (ACO) to Santa Teresa (from $65)
Or see them side by side on all private transfers.
Your driver is waiting at arrivals
- Your driver meets you at arrivals, or at your hotel, with a sign bearing your name.
- Safe, friendly, English-speaking drivers with the credentials for tourist transport, arranged by Anywhere Costa Rica (IATA and ASTA accredited).
- Modern, spacious, air-conditioned vans.
- Up to an hour of stops is included: groceries, cold drinks, photos or lunch on the way.
- 24/7 in-country support by phone, text and WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Santa Teresa from San José airport?
About 127 miles (205 km) of road plus the 70-minute ferry, or about 184 miles (296 km) around by road. Plan on 5½ to 6 hours door to door via the ferry, or 6 to 6½ hours by road. The flight to Cóbano airport (ACO) takes about 30 to 35 minutes.
Should we fly into Liberia or San José for Santa Teresa?
Liberia airport (LIR) is closer by road (4½ to 5½ hours, no ferry) and has nonstops from more US and Canadian cities. San José airport (SJO) makes sense if you're starting in Arenal, Monteverde or the Central Valley, or if you want the short flight to Cóbano.
Do flights to Santa Teresa land in Tambor or Cóbano?
Cóbano. Scheduled flights from San José airport (SJO) now land at Cóbano airport (ACO), about 25 to 30 minutes from Santa Teresa. Tambor's airstrip is used mainly for charters.
Can I fly with a surfboard to Cóbano?
On Sansa, boards up to 6.7 ft (2.04 m) fly as checked baggage from $40 per board, per leg, plus taxes, fins off, in a padded case, if there's space (up to 8 boards per flight). Longboards won't fit. Green Airways doesn't publish a board policy, so ask when you book.
Do I need a 4x4 to get to Santa Teresa?
Not for the main road in, which is paved until the last few kilometers. A car with good clearance helps on the dirt stretch and the town road, and a 4x4 is worth it in the rainy season (May to November) or if your rental is up a steep hill.
Is there Uber in Santa Teresa?
Don't count on it. Ride-hailing isn't regulated in Costa Rica yet, and it has mostly worked in the bigger towns, not the southern Nicoya Peninsula. Local taxis, hotel shuttles or a private transfer are the reliable options.
Can I get to Santa Teresa by bus?
Yes. Transportes Cóbano runs a daily bus from San José at 6:00 a.m. to Cóbano and Montezuma, ferry included, in about 6 hours. In Cóbano, change to the local bus for Santa Teresa.