Getting Here

Although there are two international airports in Costa Rica– San José  (SJO) and Liberia (LIR) – there are more direct transport options from San José (SJO), so that is your best option. Once here, you can board a connecting flight out to the Tambor  terminal (TMU) here on the Nicoya Peninsula. The flight itself is about 30 minutes long. Once you arrive in Tambor, a taxi will cost you around $50 USD to come to Santa Teresa (approx. one hour travel time).

If you decide to land in Liberia International Airport (LIR) there is also an option to take a small plane to Tambor (TMU)  with a slightly more limitied schedule. 

From Juan Santa Maria International Aiport (SJO), the cheapest option is the Direct Bus that leaves from the Terminal 7-10 bus station in San José. The price is approximately $16 USD, but the departure times are limited - currently leaving at 6am and 2pm.  Depending on the arrival time of your flight, if you want to take the bus you may have to spend the night in San José . PLEASE NOTE: the Juan Santa Maria International Airport is actually located in the suburb of Alajuela, not in San José itself. To get to the Terminal 7-10 bus station from the airport it is a 30 minute and $20 taxi ride. Alternately, there are a number of buses that travel between the airport and downtown San José. 

If you arrive at the SJO airport and want to take the bus from there, here are the directions for how to do it. First take into account the arrival of the fligh, make sure your flights coincide with bus schedules. You leave the airport and take a taxi to Puente Villa Bonita which is about 10 minutes from the airport.  You must wait for the bus in the small bus shelter next to the bridge where there will probably be more travelers waiting for the bus. Please contact us for bus schedule.

From Liberia International Airport (LIR) it is a little more complicated to come by public bus - the easiest way being to take a public bus to Liberia Downtown and from there a bus to Puntarenas, then a ferry to Paquera and another bus to Santa Teresa. Our recommended time and cost-effective travel option from Liberia is by semi-private shuttle with a daily schedule, please contact us for more information.

From Juan Santa Maria International Airport (SJO) if you jump into any taxi outside the airport and say “Take me to Casa Zen in Santa Teresa!” they may charge you anywhere between $200 and $250. A taxi only to Puntarenas, where you will need to board the Ferry to Paquera, will be a bit cheaper, but beware that they may try to overcharge. Then on the other side, from Paquera down to Santa Teresa, another taxi will run around $70 USD. Alternately, there is shuttle service availablefor about $55/person, which will bring you directly from the airport to the door of Casa Zen. Shuttle departure times vary depending on the season, there may only be one departure time per day so if your flight arrives too late you may  be looking at a night in Alajuela or San José before arriving out here on the beach the next day. We can help to organize and book shuttle service, please feel free to contact us.

From Liberia International Airport (LIR)  there is also the option to take a private taxi, which will be around $250 USD.  The shuttle service is a great option from Liberia - departure time will vary according to season - you can contact us for reservations.  

This can be a fun and flexible option if it is in your budget. Rental cars can be rented directly at either airport and dropped off  here in Santa Teresa. Currently, both Budget and Alamo Rental car services have offices in Santa Teresa. Prices vary, and you may be able to find discount offers online before arriving.

Unless you are driving a rental car from Liberia, you must cross the Gulf of Nicoya on the Ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera via bus, taxi, shuttle, or rental car. (NOTE: DO NOT take the ferry to Naranjo – this is a different destination, and will prolong your journey by 1-2 hours depending on the condition of the roads.) The ferry costs around $25 for a car to board, and a little less than $2 for passengers. It is  quite a beautiful journey through the gulf, and lasts about one hour. The schedule is subject to change with short notice, so it is always a good idea to double check the times, especially if you are driving a rental car. Arriving 5 minutes late to the ferry could cause you to wait 3 hours for the next one!

If your chosen arrival option is by car from Liberia Airport you do not need take the Ferry, instead take the road to Santa Cruz-Nicoya-Jicaral-Playa Naranjo-Paquera and Santa Teresa, REMEMBER never take the road on the coast in the green season down from Samara - Coyote.