How long is the trip from Cóbano airport (ACO) to Santa Teresa?
| Distance | About 8 miles (13 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time | 25 to 30 minutes to Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa; about 30 to 35 minutes to Malpaís and 40 minutes to Playa Hermosa |
| Road surface | Paved through Cóbano. The last few kilometers into town are dirt. |
| Ferry | None |
| Private van | From $65 per vehicle |
| Last checked |
Prices are per vehicle for 1 to 6 travelers, taxes included. Groups of 7 or more ride in a larger vehicle.
The drive, stop by stop
- Cóbano airport (ACO): a small private airport about 1 km from Cóbano town, with car rental, restaurants and tour desks.
- Cóbano: gas, banks and supermarkets. It's the last gas station before the coast.
- Cóbano to the coast: the road west to the Playa Carmen crossroads. The pavement ends a few kilometers before town.
- The Playa Carmen crossroads. At the Playa Carmen crossroads, turn left for Malpaís or right for Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa and Manzanillo.
What to expect on the road
Scheduled flights from San José airport (SJO) land at Cóbano, not Tambor: Sansa and Green Airways both fly there several times a day, in about 30 to 35 minutes and in daylight only. Baggage limits are tight; see getting to Santa Teresa for the rules.
Insider tip: Make Cóbano your first grocery stop. Its supermarkets, Palí and Megasuper among them, are cheaper than the shops at the beach, and it has the nearest gas stations to Santa Teresa.
Other private transfer routes
- San José airport (SJO) to Santa Teresa (from $385)
- San José airport (SJO) to Nosara (from $405)
- San José airport (SJO) to Sámara (from $390)
- 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 Montezuma (from $40)
Compare every way in, including the ferry, flights to Cóbano airport (ACO) and the water taxi, on getting to Santa Teresa, or see all private transfers.
Your driver to Santa Teresa 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 long does it take to get from Cóbano airport (ACO) to Santa Teresa?
25 to 30 minutes to Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa; about 30 to 35 minutes to Malpaís and 40 minutes to Playa Hermosa. About 8 miles (13 km). Paved through Cóbano. The last few kilometers into town are dirt.
How much is a private transfer from Cóbano airport (ACO) to Santa Teresa?
From $65 per vehicle, for 1 to 6 travelers, taxes included. Enter your date and group size in the box at the top of this page to see the price for your trip.
Do flights land at Cóbano or Tambor?
Cóbano. Since late 2023, Sansa and Green Airways fly their scheduled Santa Teresa flights to Cóbano airport (ACO), which is much closer. Tambor's airstrip is now used mainly for charters.
Can we stop on the way?
Yes. Up to an hour of stops is included: groceries in Cóbano or Paquera, cold drinks, photos or lunch. Just tell your driver.
We're traveling with kids. What about car seats?
Costa Rica's law requires a car seat 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. Ask about seats when you book, or bring your own if you'd rather use what your kids know.
Where will the driver meet us?
At arrivals, holding a sign with your name. Your driver is English-speaking, with tourist-transport credentials, and our in-country team is on call 24/7 by phone, text and WhatsApp if anything changes.