What is the best way to travel from San José to Alajuela?
Looking for a trip? Compare all the available Carpool and Buses for the journey to Alajuela from San José. Check between different modes of transportation, look for the cheapest tickets, fastest rides and most popular stations, and see all 5 available companies to find your perfect trip!
What is the cheapest way to reach Alajuela from San José?
You can get to Alajuela with just $45 by taking a Carpool from Ridecr, but you can find many more cheap offers: we have selected the best ones for next few days here for you.
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Ridecr2h 45m07:30 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport10:15 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 7:30:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/5/2025 10:15:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $45 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
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Ridecr2h 45m01:30 PMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport4:15 PMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 1:30:00 PM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/5/2025 4:15:00 PM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $45 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m012:00 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport2:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 12:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/5/2025 2:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m011:00 PMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport1:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 11:00:00 PM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/6/2025 1:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Suntrails0h 30m012:00 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport12:30 AMAlajuelaCity0Premium EconomyA Car from Suntrails goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 12:00:00 AM to City, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/5/2025 12:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $341 per person are available. Travel duration is 0h 30m
Cheapest Carpool Friday
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Ridecr0h 30m05:00 AMSan JoséTerminal de Buses Turrialba5:30 AMAlajuelaCity0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Terminal de Buses Turrialba, San José (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 5:00:00 AM to City, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 5:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $45 per person are available. Travel duration is 0h 30m
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Ridecr0h 30m011:00 AMSan JoséTerminal de Buses Turrialba11:30 AMAlajuelaCity0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Terminal de Buses Turrialba, San José (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 11:00:00 AM to City, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 11:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $45 per person are available. Travel duration is 0h 30m
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Coach Costa Rica3h 0m05:00 AMSan JoséTerminal de Buses Turrialba8:00 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Coach Costa Rica goes from Terminal de Buses Turrialba, San José (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 5:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 8:00:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $198 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 0m
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Coach Costa Rica3h 0m011:00 AMSan JoséTerminal de Buses Turrialba2:00 PMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Coach Costa Rica goes from Terminal de Buses Turrialba, San José (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 11:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 2:00:00 PM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $198 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 0m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m012:00 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport2:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 12:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 2:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
Cheapest Carpool Sunday
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Ridecr2h 45m07:30 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport10:15 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 7:30:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/8/2025 10:15:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $50 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
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Ridecr2h 45m01:30 PMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport4:15 PMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 1:30:00 PM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/8/2025 4:15:00 PM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $50 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m012:00 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport2:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 12:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/8/2025 2:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m011:00 PMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport1:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 11:00:00 PM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/9/2025 1:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m05:30 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport8:00 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 5:30:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/8/2025 8:00:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $219 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
Cheapest Carpool Monday
What are the fastest trips from San José to Alajuela?
You can get to Alajuela from San José in just 0h 30m with a Carpool from Suntrails. This is not the only option, and you can click on any of the offers below to compare it with the other modes of transportations.
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Suntrails0h 30m012:00 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport12:30 AMAlajuelaCity0Premium EconomyA Car from Suntrails goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 12:00:00 AM to City, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/5/2025 12:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $341 per person are available. Travel duration is 0h 30m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m012:00 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport2:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 12:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/5/2025 2:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m011:00 PMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport1:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 11:00:00 PM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/6/2025 1:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Ridecr2h 45m07:30 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport10:15 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 7:30:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/5/2025 10:15:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $45 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
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Ridecr2h 45m01:30 PMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport4:15 PMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/5/2025 1:30:00 PM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/5/2025 4:15:00 PM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $45 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
Fastest Carpool Friday
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Ridecr0h 30m05:00 AMSan JoséTerminal de Buses Turrialba5:30 AMAlajuelaCity0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Terminal de Buses Turrialba, San José (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 5:00:00 AM to City, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 5:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $45 per person are available. Travel duration is 0h 30m
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Ridecr0h 30m011:00 AMSan JoséTerminal de Buses Turrialba11:30 AMAlajuelaCity0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Terminal de Buses Turrialba, San José (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 11:00:00 AM to City, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 11:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $45 per person are available. Travel duration is 0h 30m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m012:00 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport2:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 12:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 2:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Coach Costa Rica3h 0m05:00 AMSan JoséTerminal de Buses Turrialba8:00 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Coach Costa Rica goes from Terminal de Buses Turrialba, San José (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 5:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 8:00:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $198 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 0m
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Coach Costa Rica3h 0m011:00 AMSan JoséTerminal de Buses Turrialba2:00 PMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Coach Costa Rica goes from Terminal de Buses Turrialba, San José (Costa Rica) at 12/7/2025 11:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/7/2025 2:00:00 PM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $198 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 0m
Fastest Carpool Sunday
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Volcano Travel2h 30m012:00 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport2:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 12:00:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/8/2025 2:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m011:00 PMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport1:30 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 11:00:00 PM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/9/2025 1:30:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $206 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Volcano Travel2h 30m05:30 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport8:00 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Volcano Travel goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 5:30:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/8/2025 8:00:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $219 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 30m
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Ridecr2h 45m07:30 AMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport10:15 AMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 7:30:00 AM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/8/2025 10:15:00 AM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $50 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
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Ridecr2h 45m01:30 PMJuan Santamaría - San José AirportJuan Santamaría - San José Airport4:15 PMAlajuelaArenal Volcano0Premium EconomyA Car from Ridecr goes from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, Juan Santamaría - San José Airport (Costa Rica) at 12/8/2025 1:30:00 PM to Arenal Volcano, Alajuela (Costa Rica) arriving at 12/8/2025 4:15:00 PM. 50 Premium Economy ticket for $50 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
Fastest Carpool Monday
Here you will find all operators and timetables for a
Bus from San José to Alajuela
What are the most popular stations in San José and Alajuela?
In San José, you will usually depart from TransNica Bus Stop, Cementero General or Terminal del EUPSA, while in Alajuela you will be arriving at La Paz Waterfall, Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel or Las Cañas, Belén Bus Stop, but there are many more stops to explore in both locations.
How do I decide? Some tips and tricks from our experience
Are you having trouble deciding on how to get to Alajuela from San José? With 5 connections between 5 Carpool and Bus operators, it can be difficult to find the one ride that will make you happy. But we have some tips that can help you make the best informed decision. First of all, the best trip is always the one that meets all your needs, so make a list of all the things that you want from this journey and look for something that will satisfy all of them. Here we will go through some of the factors mostly commonly taken into consideration.
Look for the lowest price
Ticket price is usually the main concern: even if you can afford to pay more, why do it if there are cheaper options? Saving on the trip means that you can spend more on the vacation itself! Between San José and Alajuela, you can pay as low as $45 with a Carpool from Ridecr.Travel duration
Time is also an important factor. An earlier departure may allow you to see a beautiful sunset or relax before an important event. And remember, time is money, so paying more for a shorter trip may be well worth it. For longer distances, flights are without doubt the best options, but be mindful of airport times and possible delays: a high-speed train may end up cheaper and faster! Here the quicker option is definitely the Carpool from Suntrails: you will get to Alajuela in just 0h 30m.Comfort makes all the difference
You should always take into account what your personal travelling preferences are. Is one hand luggage enough, or are you trasporting more? Would you like to have a snack during the journey? Can you relax in a busy compartment, or do you need space for yourself? Even among the same mode of transportation, different companies will offer you varying levels of comfort and amenities. The main operators connecting San José and Alajuela are Ridecr, Volcano Travel and Coach Costa Rica, but be sure to check what they have to offer!Save money with deals, and always compare
One last tip? Even if you live in San José and Alajuela is your only destination, it may be wise to check the offers from and to nearby cities or, if you are flyng, nearby airports. Check the trips from Colima or to Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, and look at flights from Juan Santamaría - San José Airport, and landing at Juan Santamaría - San José Airport. Comparing different routes may allow you to find deals or promotions you were not aware of. Consider also signing up to CheckMyBus to see even more exclusive promotions!Which companies offer a trip from San José to Alajuela?
The most popular companies between San José and Alajuela, are Ridecr, Volcano Travel and Coach Costa Rica. Be sure to check their seat class offers and the amenities that they provide.
All you need to know when you travel from San José to Alajuela
Check all information on comfort and services on all modes of transports from San José to Alajuela. See which seat classes are available, and what amenities are other advantages offered by the operators on your journey.
FAQs about the trip from San José to Alajuela
How can I reach Alajuela from San José?
Every day, there are on average 5 connections between Carpool and Bus, with which you can get to Alajuela from San José.
How far is Alajuela from San José?
The distance between San José and Alajuela is 10.4 miles.
What is the most ecofriendly mode of transport between San José and Alajuela?
Trains and buses are by far the greenest options, with trains surpassing buses on longer routes. Planes will always be the worst polluters, especially in shorter flights, were the emissions from the takeoff and landing are less offset by the distance.
On this particular route, a bus will emit, per person, a total of 0 kgs of CO2, a train 1 kgs, a car 3 kgs, and a flight 4 kgs.
What is the cheapest mode of transport from San José to Alajuela?
You can get to Alajuela with just $45 by taking a Carpool from Ridecr.
What is the fastest way to get from San José to Alajuela?
While a plane is travelling fastest boarding and transfer to airport consumes a lot of time. Usually, high speed trains are better than flights if pure train travel time is below 4 hours. For this particular route, you can get to Alajuela in just 0h 30m with a Carpool from Suntrails.
More routes to San José and to Alajuela
Looking for more options? Here you can see the most popular routes to San José and to Alajuela. Simply click on a connection, and you’ll find all the details about the route!

