Flying to Tambor Costa Rica
When traveling to Blue Surf Adventures there are several travel options you can choose from to make your trip to us in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica enjoyable and stress free!
➤ Travel Option 1: Fly to Blue Surf Adventures
➤ Travel Option 2: Drive to Blue Surf Adventures
➤ Travel Option 3: Take a shared or private shuttle to Blue Surf Adventures
➤ Travel Option 4: Take a bus to Blue Surf Adventures
➤ Travel Option 5: Drive from Liberia to Blue Surf Adventures
➤ Travel Option 6: Drive from Manzanillo to Blue Surf Adventures
Costa Rica Travel Information to Santa Teresa / Mal Pais
Travel Option 1: Fly from the San Jose International Airport (SJO) to Blue Surf Sanctuary
Travel Overview:
Fly to the San Jose International Airport (SJO), then fly to the Tambor Airport (TMU), and lastly take a shuttle to Blue Surf (45 minutes depending on weather).
Travel Details:
Once you arrive at the San Jose International Airport (SJO), locally known as Juan Santamaría International Airport, there are two airlines that fly from San José, the capitol of Costa Rica, to Tambor Airport (TMU) near Santa Teresa & Mal Pais on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica.
➤ Sansa Airlines
Sansa Airlines is the most convenient option if you are connecting directly from the San Jose Airport. If you decide to go this route, fill in the form below and select your departure city as ‘San José’ and your destination city as ‘Tambor.’
➤ Nature Air
Nature Air departs from an airport that is a 20 minute taxi ride away from San Jose airport, where you can easily walk to the terminal. If you decide to go this route, click here and select your departure city as ‘San Jose, Juan Santamaria’ and your destination city as ‘Tambor.’
Travel Option 2: Drive from the San Jose International Airport (SJO) to Blue Surf Sanctuary
Travel Overview:
Fly to the San Jose International Airport (SJO), drive to Puntarenas ( 1 1/2 hours) and take the “Tambor” car ferry to Paquera (1 1/2 hours), then drive or take a taxi/shuttle bus to Blue Surf Sanctuary.
Travel Details:
Once you arrive at the San Jose International Airport (SJO), locally known as Juan Santamaría International Airport, you will drive to Puntarenas ( 1 1/2 hours) and take the “Tambor” car ferry to Paquera. If you have time to kill while you are in Puntarenas feel free to take a walk around and shop in the outdoor market, eat lunch in a nearby restaurant, or stop to grab a refreshing drink. You will be on the ferry for approximately one and a half (1 1/2 hours). You will be able to purchase drinks, food, and snacks during your ride on the ferry.
Driving directions from the ferry:
Once you exit the ferry, drive through Tambor to Cobano. In Cobano drive straight through the town and turn left after 1 kilometer to Mal Pais. After 8 km, a total of approximately an hour from getting off the ferry, you will arrive at a crossroads just before the beach, turn right and the Blue Surf Sanctuary hotel is approx 3 kms on your left.
Four wheel (4×4) drive is not necessary, but it is recommended in the rainy season. Your total journey time from San Jose is 5½ hours, as we recommend that you arrive at Puntarenas at least one hour before the ferry departs.
Travel Option 3: Take a shuttle from San Jose, Costa Rica to Blue Surf Sanctuary
Travel Overview:
Fly to the San Jose International Airport (SJO), then take a shared or private shuttle from anywhere in San Jose (if you plan on staying in San Jose for any extended period of time) directly to Blue Surf Sanctuary in Santa Teresa / Mal Pais .
Travel Details:
Take a shared shuttle or a private shuttle from the San Jose International Airport (SJO), or anywhere in San Jose, Costa Rica, directly to Blue Surf Sanctuary.
➤ Shared Shuttle
Several Shared Shuttles are available at certain times from specified locations. There are a few options to choose from. One option is taking a scheduled public shuttle with Montezuma Expeditions for budget travelers who travel light* (always a good idea!). The price includes taxi to/from airport and one night at hotel near San Jose’s international airport.
Price range: $95.00-$210.00 per person or small group
*Riders must transfer vans at Puntarenas, carrying their own luggage aboard the ferry. Another van will meet you on the other side at Parquera.
Another scheduled shuttle option is taking the Costa Rica Shuttle. They are happy to pick you up at the Airport, certain hotels, or anywhere in San Jose, and will drop you off right at Blue Surf Sanctuary. You can visit their website, call (506/8849-8569), or even Skype them at “traveltocr.”
Price range: $55.00-$75.00 per person
➤ Private Shuttle
Private shuttles are more expensive, but more flexible. For example, if your flight arrives later in the day and you do not wish to stay the night in San Jose, a private van can easily accommodate you. Several companies offer private shuttles including Costa Rica Shuttle.
Travel Option 4: Take a bus from San Jose, Costa Rica to Blue Surf Sanctuary
Travel Overview:
Fly to the San Jose International Airport (SJO), take a bus from the San Jose Airport (approx. 7 hours) to Santa Teresa Costa Rica, then take a taxi or walk (10 minutes) if you have light luggage from the bus stop to Blue Surf Sanctuary.
Travel Details:
If you are flying to the San Jose International Airport (SJO), located in Alajuela, you will be able to take a bus directly from the airport. On the bus website there is an option for stopping points the bus makes. If you click on the ‘List of Stopping Points’ you will find the San Jose Airport under ‘Juan Santamaria-International Airport San José’ with an airplane symbol next to the name. Once you click on the airport name it will take you to a screen where you can select your travel details. Your departure will be from ‘Juan Santamaria’ and your arrival will be to ‘Santa Teresa.’ You will have different travel options listed with times.
If you decide to stay the night in San José after your flight arrives you can take a taxi ride from your hotel to downtown San José to catch a bus. Public buses leave daily from the Coca-Cola Terminal at 6am and 2pm, and will stop at the driveway–ask for the Zula Inn. Check here for the bus schedule, or call the bus company to check for updates that many not be shown on their website.
Once you arrive in Santa Teresa the bus will drop you off at a small, local grocery store that is walking distance (if you have small luggage) to Blue Surf. We recommend taking a taxi if you have a normal to heavy luggage load.
Price: $13 bus ride
Travel Option 5: Drive from Liberia
Travel Details:
Regarding the drive from Liberia, the roads are in good condition (compared to other roads in Costa Rica) and the entire drive from the Airport to Blue Surf Sanctuary will take you approximately 4 hours. Take Route 21, which passes right by the airport, south, towards Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Just keep going strait through every town, and the same route 21 will lead you to Carmona.
About 1 1/2 to 2 hours after you start your trip, route 21 turns left at a T intersection before entering into Carmona town. The only thing apart from a few signs to indicate you are going the right way is a small police station. After you go left at the T follow signs to Lepanto, Naranjo, Paquera, or Cobano. (If you keep going strait, you’ll arrive at Carmona town and realize you’ve missed the turn! Again, you only need to follow the road when it turns left and is still route 21.) The road will change from pavement to gravel at Naranjo, with the gravel continuing until Paquera.
There are two intersections on this road, and you should go left at each. Once the pavement starts again, you’ll be in Paquera town. Follow the road until you get to another T intersection. Turn right this time, towards Cobano and Santa Teresa. This is route 160. Follow it, and you’ll cross through Cobano town. Keep going strait through Cobanos crossroad, and the pavement again turns into gravel. About one mile after that you’ll find yourself at another T intersection. Turn Left following the signs towards Santa Teresa and Mal Pais. The bendy road will lead you to Santa Teresa’s crossroad, what we call “down town” there you’ll find the bank, the pharmacy, and the doctor. Turn right at the crossroad, and drive through the town about 2-3 miles. Once past “La Hacienda” supermarket (on your right) keep going 500 mts, and you’ll see our sign on the left hand side of the road. You’ll also see the Billabong signs at our door from the road!
Travel Option 6: Drive from Manzanillo
There are two (2) ways to get to Santa Teresa: from Manzanillo, from the north, or from Cobano, from the west.
Travel Details:
➤ From the North
If you are coming from the north, across the rivers, about 1 km after you drive through playa hermosa, you will pass by Flor Blanca, a big resort, 100mt further, on your right hand ( beach side) you will see our blue sign, turn right to find us!
➤ From the West
If you are coming the other way, through Cobano, you will enter the town at the crossroad of Mal Pais, where the banks the doctor and the pharmacy are, there is one street that connects Santa Teresa with Mal Pais, parallel to the beach and Blue Surf is 4km north from that crossroad, after you drive by “la hacienda” supermarket, about 600 mts, you will see our sign on your left hand (beach side) Turn left to find us!