San Jose to Tamarindo 27th of Apr

Hi there,

I arrive into San Jose from Ireland on the 27th of Apr at 15:30. Is it too late to get to Tamarindo that same day? I’d prefer not to have to spend any time in San Jose. Has anyone here done this same trip, if you have what shuttle service did you use. I’ll be travelling solo also.

Thanks in advance.

No, you will need to stay overnight, I suggest staying near the airport, which is in Alajuela, 30 minutes from downtown San Jose. Its a 6 hour drive to Tamarindo, and it gets dark at 530-6PM, its best not to travel at night in CR log distances, maybe just down the road to dinner....by the time you clear Immigration and Customs, it will be at least hour later...

There buses going there from downtown San Jose, you may be able to catch them in Alajuela near La Radial or the bridge, check with your lodging or the websites of lodging in Tamarindo for public transport. You can take the red bus in front of airport, or at La Radial, to downtown to Coca Cola terminal, then taxi to the Terminal for Liberia/Tamarindo.

There are also shuttles that can pick you up from airport area hotels, I would wait until you land and check in a room, them have them call the shuttle service, Interbus and Grayline are most popular, but there are multiple shuttle options, about $55.

Or you can fly on Sansa or Nature Air. You can also rent a car oneway, figure $65-$85 for a oneway sedan with insurance. Most people break up the trip with a stop at Arenal/La Fortuna a night or two, then head around the lake to Tileran, a gorgeous & easy but slow go, then to Canas, Liberia and Tamarindo, about 4 hours from Arenal.

Hi mrmoto, thanks for taking the time for answering all my questions. It looks like I will book a hotel near the airport in Alajuela and then see about a shuttle pickup from that hotel to Tamarindo.

Are you going to Tamarindo to surf? If not, why not hit the caribe beaches, national parks and fun seaside towns? No need to go all the way to Tamarindo. Its best to fly into Liberia (LIR) for surf beach access on the Pacific side.

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