Travel to Montezuma Costa Rica can be complicated for those who have never been here. Part of what makes Montezuma such a special place is that it is not simple to get to. There are a few options for transportation so I’d like to highlight some of the positives and negatives of each method.
The fastest and easiest way to get here is by flight on Sansa Airlines or Nature Air. The flight goes from San Jose to Tambor and takes about 25 minutes. From Tambor it’s a 30 minute taxi ride to Montezuma. The pros of flying are that it’s fast, easy and you get some incredible views of the country side and coast from above. The cons are that the tickets are a bit more expensive than other modes of transportation and if you have any aversion to small planes or heights, this may not be the best option.
The second way to arrive to Montezuma is by private transfer or shared shuttle. From San Jose a driver will pick you up at the airport, drive you to the ferry in Paquera, put you and your things on the ferry and then have another driver pick you up on the other side of the ferry to drive you to Montezuma. This can be a great way to see a lot of the small towns and countryside of Costa Rica. The ferry ride is also a beautiful trip across the Gulf of Nicoya. The only downside to this method is that it takes about 5 hours. However, if you’re lucky you can catch a spectacular sunset on the ferry.
The other option is a shared shuttle and taxi boat. From San Jose, you will ride in a shared shuttle to Jaco and then take a high speed 1 hour taxi boat ride from Jaco to Montezuma. This is a very fun option for those who like to be on the water. It takes slightly less time than taking the ferry, about 3.5-4 hours. For those who like to be on the water, this is a great option!If you are an independent traveler. The best option for you, might be a rental car. This gives you the freedom to explore on your own time and schedule. If you are only traveling to Montezuma, however, you won’t really need a car once you get here and it will end up sitting in a parking lot for the most part.
The least expensive way to get to Montezuma is to take the direct bus. This is by far the most cost effective option and you will still get the opportunity to see a great deal of the Costa Rica country and ride the ferry. The downside to taking the bus is that it leaves at certain times throughout the day and therefore you could end up waiting for a bus. The trip also takes about 6 hours, so it is a good chunk of the day spent traveling. You can check on bus times here on our website.
