Please Note: These are all approximate travel times, distances and prices in US dollars and travel directions are from the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Please feel free to contact us for more detailed directions and assistance organizing your transportation to Surf Vista Villas.

How to get here, travel tips and what to bring.

Your options for traveling to Surf Vista Villas from San Jose Airport range from public buses, private taxis, shared mini-buses, to rental cars and even a quick flight.

Whichever you choose, the travel time is all the same – aproximately 2 hours from the airport to Puntarenas, 1 hour on the ferry, and then 1.5 hours from Paquera to Santa Teresa.

Relax, enjoy the journey...you are now on “Tico Time”. So you may as well just sit back and enjoy the ride, Pura Vida!

Option 1 - Rental Car:

Renting a 4×4 is recommended because of the many dirt roads on the Nicoya Peninsula combined with varied wather and road conditions and our location on the hill.

Rental cars can be rented directly at the airport, and for a small fee (usually $20), the car can be dropped in Santa Teresa. Currently, both Budget and Alamo Rental car services have offices in Santa Teresa.

Option 2 - Direct Bus:

There’s also a direct bus twice/day from the San Jose bus terminal to Mal Pais. The cost is $12 and taxis can take people from the airport to the bus station in San Jose. Buses leave at 6am and 2pm but times may change.

If you choose to take the bus there are several places located near the drop off in Santa Teresa/Mal Pais to rent ATV’s and cars. Having a vehicle offers easier access to the wide variety of beaches, restaurants, activities and attractions around the entire peninsula.

Option 3 - Fly into Tambor:

Another option is to take a 30 minute flight from San Jose to Tambor. From Tambor you can have a rental car reserved. Airlines run about $60-$90 USD one way, with a limit on the weight of your luggage (25 lbs/12 kilos) – anything over this you will be charged an extra amount.

Additionally, there are restrictions on bringing surfboards on these smaller planes, so it is good to check before booking your tickets. A Taxi will cost you around $40 USD to get from Tambor to Santa Teresa (approximately 1.5 hour travel time).