Headline background Image

Search Flights from San Jose to Ko Samui

Popular Airport

Ko Samui Airport

Popular Airlines

Approximate Flight Duration

22 hour 10 min

Approximate Travel Distance

17816 Km

Cheapest San Jose to Ko Samui Flight Tickets

American Airlines
13 Feb, Thu
01:13 PM
San Jose - Ko Samui
3 stop
6h 27m
SJO-USM
63.604 TL
American Airlines
Find cheap flights

Transportation to Airport from San Jose City Center

Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport

Juan Santamaria International Airport is located 11 miles of San Jose, which is the capital and one of the most developed cities of Costa Rica. The transportation alternatives that you can use to get to the airport from the city center are bus, taxi, car rental and shuttles of the tour operators. Taxis are among the best options that you can prefer since they offer transportation service without any destination or time limitation. Passengers who want to travel for more affordable fares can benefit from the buses that carry passengers to Juan Santamaria International Airport from morning hours to evening hours. You can also benefit from the car rental alternative for travelling from the city center to the airport. You can also use the car you have rented for travelling in and around the city. It is possible to find many car rental offices in the center and at the airport. However, if you need to travel during the crowded seasons, you can make a reservation before your travel by getting in contact with one of the car rental companies in order not to have trouble in finding a car.

Bus

The buses operating between San Jose city center and Juan Santamaria International Airport are the most economical vehicles you can use for your transportation to the airport. The buses depart near the Nuestra Señora de La Merced Catholic Church in the center. Buses start operating at early hours and after midnight you cannot be able to find a bus. For this reason, if you need to travel to the airport from the city center at a late hour, you can prefer getting on a taxi or renting a car in advance. If the place you are staying in is close to the bus stop in the city center and you need to travel in the daytime, you can choose the bus option which is nearly as fast as taxis and have a chance to travel for a much more affordable cost. You can buy your bus ticket when you come to the stop and continue your travel directly to the airport. If you need to get to the airport from one of the beaches located in the regions like Puntarenas and Guanacaste, you can get on one of the buses carrying passengers on these routes. Traveling to the airport from San Jose city center lasts about 35-40 minutes. The travel from the other points near the center varies between 20-40 minutes depending on their proximity to the airport.

Taxi

Taxis, which you can easily find at many points of San Jose city center, are among the fastest alternatives that you can benefit from when travelling to the airport. The distance between the city center and airport is about 11 miles and at the end of this distance the taxi fares don’t increase much. If your hotel is located in the center, you can ask your hotel to call a taxi for you or you can get on one of the passing taxis. One of the biggest advantages of taxis is that you have a chance to find a taxi anywhere and anytime you want without any limitation. If you need to travel to Juan Santamaria Airport from a location that is far from the center and airport, you can still use the taxi option but you should keep in mind that the fare you will pay will be higher depending on the distance. In this case, you can evaluate other transportation alternatives such as the shuttles of tour operators or you can bargain with the driver on the fare before getting on the taxi and travel to the airport comfortably without paying too much.

Car Rental

In the center, many international car rental companies such as Alamo, Hertz, Budget and Enterprise or alternative companies such as Solid, Apex, Nu and Payless offer car rental service for the passengers who want to travel to the airport in a comfortable way. After renting your car in the city center, you can reach the airport terminal in about 20-30 minutes by following the airport direction signs. You can deliver your car at the airport by preferring a car rental company which has also an office at the airport. In addition, you can get in contact with one of the companies in advance and learn whether you can deliver the car at the airport or not. If you want to rent a car in the city, you will need certain documents such as a driver’s license valid in the country and passport. While renting a car, you should bring these documents with you. After renting your car, you can take a city map with you in order to find your way more easily.

Tour Operator Shuttle

In the city, the companies such as Interbus and Gray Line Airport Express offer a different transportation alternative for the transportation to the airport from the city center. Travelling with the shuttles of tour operators is ideal and affordable for crowded groups and those travelling for business purpose. The fares of these shuttles can vary depending on the distance and the number of passengers. If you want to take advantage of these shuttles, you should get in contact with one of the companies in advance and make a reservation. As you can use these shuttles for travelling to the airport from the city center, you can also use them for travelling to different regions of Costa Rica or other countries.

Airport Information

Juan Santamaria Airport which connects San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, with many different parts of the country and world, offers a great and comfortable atmosphere for its guests with shopping, eating and drinking opportunities as well as recreational areas. You can buy souvenirs by visiting Vida Pura located within the airport terminal or spend time by taking a glance at gift alternatives. Colibrí Craft Store, Green Trails, Casa Tica and Morpho Store Britt Shop Costa Rica are other options you can evaluate at the airport. Duty Free shops located in different parts of the airport are waiting for passengers who want to buy perfume, souvenir, alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink or chocolate for budget-friendly prices. If you want to have a snack before leaving the airport, you can visit Q Corner by Quiznos, Teriyaki Experience, Smashburger, Cinnabon or Quiznos to Go. If you have enough time and enjoy eating or drinking in a good place, you can prefer Bar 45° GastroPub, Malinche Restaurant or Café Lavazza. You can benefit from the free internet connection in many parts of the airport while waiting for your flight. If you need to make money transfer or perform any other banking transactions, you can find BAC San Jose, Bancredito, Global Exchange, Scotiabank, Citibank and ATH branches or ATMs at the airport terminal. The recreational areas and passenger lounges are among the areas where you can spend time on comfortable seats while waiting for your flight. If you need to park your car at Juan Santamaria Airport, you can use the parking area of the airport which has a capacity of 400 vehicles. The fees of this parking area which you can benefit from daily, weekly or monthly can vary depending on these periods.

Transportation to Ko Samui City Center from Airport

Ko Samui Airport

Samui International Airport is about 20 kilometers from the city center. As you can easily get to Koh Samui city center by taxi, you can also take the minibuses called "songthaew". If you prefer a more luxurious means of transport, you can use the private vehicles with driver, which is a kind of shuttle service.

Taxi

You can easily find a taxi at the airport at any time. However, even if the taxis have a taximeter, they are not used mostly. For this reason, you should deal about your destination and its cost with the driver before you take a taxi. Generally speaking, tourists can be asked for higher prices. It takes about 40 minutes by taxi from the airport to the city center.

Motorcycle Taxi

If you do not want to lose time in traffic, or if you prefer an unusual means of transportation, you can also opt for motorcycle taxis. Fares are not much different than minibus fares, but you should not forget to bargain.

Minibus

You can reach the city center or the beach you want with semi-open pickup style minibuses called songthaew, which are peculiar to Thailand. You can rent these tools, which are quite affordable, for yourself or your group. To avoid misunderstandings, you should first talk about the fare and inform the driver whether you have rented it privately or not.

Private Shuttle with Driver

The size of these vehicles varies according to the number of passengers and they provide a convenient transportation service. Unlike the taxi, they have certain routes but flexibility is provided. The cost of reaching from the airport to the city center with private shared minivans varies between 130 and 200 baht.

If you do not want to travel with people who you do not know during your journey, you can hire a private vehicle for a fee of 500 and 800 baht.

If you are traveling in a crowded group and the car will not be enough for you, the transportation cost of private minivans from the airport to the city center is between 800 and 1200 baht.

Hotel Shuttle

Koh Samui, a tourism paradise, has numerous hotels and almost all of them offer airport shuttle service to their guests. If you do not want to deal with the traffic and lose time at the airport, you can benefit from this service of your hotel. When you exit the airport arrival terminal you can see that many hotel services and limousines are waiting for guests. If you want a private vehicle, you must remember to book in advance.

Car Rental

During your stay in the island, you can rent a car to have a comfortable transportation and to facilitate both your airport transportation and your trip to the beaches. Prices vary according to the type and size of the vehicle. Motorcycle is the most preferred means of transportation in Koh Samui. Whatever type of vehicle you rent, you should remember that the Koh Samui traffic is intense and drivers are not following the rules frequently.

Weather in Ko Samui

DayMin - Max
TuesdayMin 22ºC - Max 25ºC
WednesdayMin 23ºC - Max 26ºC
ThursdayMin 23ºC - Max 26ºC
FridayMin 23ºC - Max 26ºC
SaturdayMin 23ºC - Max 25ºC

More Information About Ko Samui

Frequently Asked Questions

Wingie App Banner
Get exclusive deals on the Wingie app!
Wingie QR Code