Travel & Transportation
There isn’t one easy way to get to Santa Teresa and depends on your preferences. Generally you fly internationally into Liberia (LIR) or San Jose (SJO) airports. From there you have a few options.
Red star is Santa Teresa
My preferences (in order) are the following:
Get a rental car from LIR and drive. This gives me the ability to have a rental car to get around and have the easiest driving route to Santa Teresa.
Fly from SJO to Cobano airport. SJO has a lot more international flight options and this is the fastest way to get to Santa Teresa.
Fly from LIR to Cobano airport. LIR has decent international flight options and only a few flights a day to Cobano, so YMMV.
Getting from SJO (San Jose International) to Santa Teresa
SJO - Option 1
Fly from SJO to Cobano Airport (note - this airport is new, it used to be Tambor, but now Cobano is easier), then take a taxi from there to Santa Teresa. There are usually taxis waiting at the airport, otherwise you can pre book something (google it).
Two airlines provide flights and are generally available every hour:
Total Price
Typically $120~$130 each way
Tax should be around $50 from Cobano to Santa Teresa
Overall time
~60 min
SJO -Option 2
Book a rental car, private car hire or get a taxi at the airport. If you get a rental car, you need to be aware that you’ll take the ferry and this will add some time. People tend to enjoy the ferry as it's pretty scenic, but it often can have issues during high season (delays, super busy, etc). So plan ahead and book your fare before. Some notes:
SJO - Option 3
If you’re really looking to save some money, there is a shuttle bus for like $19. More info here.
Getting from LIR (Liberia International) to Santa Teresa
LIR - Option 1
Fly from LIR to Cobano Airport, then take a taxi from there to Santa Teresa. There are usually taxis waiting at the airport, otherwise you can pre book something (google it).
Only Sansa provides flights from LIR and there are limited options (about three per day):
Total Price
Typically $130~$150 each way
Taxi should be around $50 from Cobano to Santa Teresa
Overall time
~60 min
LIR - Option 2
Book a rental car, private car hire or get a taxi at the airport. This is actually a decent option and something I typically do because I have a direct flight from where I live. The road is completely paved until you get to Santa Teresa.
Pro Tips:
Rental cars are all off-site from the airport which takes time.
Pre-book your car to save money and time ($300)
Last minute taxis can often cost ~$300+
LIR- Option 3
If you’re really looking to save some money, there are shuttle buses. Tropical Tours does one for ~$50 at 09:00am and 3:00pm every day.