Where will the downtown drop-off be?

Most services target Downtown San José (Parque La Merced area), so drop a pin in your maps app before boarding.

How frequent are departures?

Grupo TUASA airport–San José bus usually runs every 6-12 minutes. If it pauses, follow the overhead signs to the bus bay for the fallback service.

SJOCosta RicaTPL: city-transfer-guide

Juan Santamaria International Airport

San Jose, Costa Rica

Drop-off

Downtown San José (Parque La Merced area)

Pin before customs

Fastest

Grupo TUASA airport–San José bus

bus · 6-12m

Data

Nov 28

Audit

Quick verdict

Fastest into town

Service: Grupo TUASA airport–San José bus
Headway: 6-12
Backup: Station Wagon airport–San José bus · 10-20m

Note

Red-and-white TUASA buses run between Juan Santamaría International Airport and San José, stopping near Parque La Merced in the city center; typical travel time is about 30–40 minutes and services operate roughly 04:00–22:00 with frequent departures. Note that some TUASA routes or times may not enter the airport directly, so check the destination sign and confirm with the driver that the bus serves San José centro from the airport stop.

Arrivals decoded

San Jose: City Transfer Guide

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Budget path

Brief

Cheapest door-to-door option; expect extra stops and tighter luggage space.

Service: Station Wagon airport–San José bus
Mode: bus
Freq: 10-20m
Note: Yellow/orange Station Wagon buses operate regular public services between the airport and central San José, passing along Paseo Colón and finishing close to Parque La Merced, with a journey time of roughly 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. Frequency is generally every few minutes during the day; confirm at the airport stop that the bus is heading to San José centro before boarding.

Priority path

Brief

Fastest connection with wider aisles and better luggage handling.

Service: Grupo TUASA airport–San José bus
Mode: bus
Freq: 6-12m
Note: Red-and-white TUASA buses run between Juan Santamaría International Airport and San José, stopping near Parque La Merced in the city center; typical travel time is about 30–40 minutes and services operate roughly 04:00–22:00 with frequent departures. Note that some TUASA routes or times may not enter the airport directly, so check the destination sign and confirm with the driver that the bus serves San José centro from the airport stop.

Fare math

Brief

Express trains tend to be twice as expensive but half the time. Budget routes take longer yet often have more frequent departures after work.

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FAQs

01Where will the downtown drop-off be?: Most services target Downtown San José (Parque La Merced area), so drop a pin in your maps app before boarding.
02How frequent are departures?: Grupo TUASA airport–San José bus usually runs every 6-12 minutes. If it pauses, follow the overhead signs to the bus bay for the fallback service.