Travel privately from Samara to Alajuela with Travesia Costa Rica. Alajuela is the city right next to San Jose's international airport (SJO), a convenient first or last stop. The transfer takes about 4h 30min, door to door, with a professional local driver. One flat price per vehicle - taxes and tolls included, and no per-person fees.
The private transfer from Samara to Alajuela takes about 4h 30min, and your driver takes you straight there — no transfers, and no waiting on other passengers. Prefer to break up the trip? Quick courtesy stops for the restroom, a coffee or a photo are included — just ask your driver, and on the longer routes they can point out a scenic spot to stretch your legs. We track your flight, so a delay is never a problem, and free child seats are ready on request. First time booking a driver in Costa Rica? See exactly how a private shuttle in Costa Rica works — what is included, how the flat price is built, and what happens on the day. Planning the rest of your trip? Browse our Costa Rica travel guides.
Between Samara and Alajuela we cross to the Nicoya Peninsula over the Amistad bridge on the Tempisque river for Nosara and Sámara. For Santa Teresa it can be either the Puntarenas ferry or the road around - whichever works better for your day.
Paved for most of the route, with slower going on the last stretch into some beach towns.
On a ferry day the sailing sets the departure time. Naviera Tambor leaves both Puntarenas and Paquera at 4:00am, 6:30am, 9:00am, 12:00 noon, 3:00pm, 6:00pm, 8:00pm and 10:00pm - the schedule in force since April 2026, which we check again before your travel date. We plan your pickup around the sailing and get to the terminal with time to spare.
Final price per vehicle · taxes & tolls included · not per person. For a group of 4 that works out to about $89 per person.
Reserve online in a minute, or send us a message — we reply fast.
We drop you at the door of any hotel, villa or Airbnb in Alajuela. These are some of the properties we drive to most on this route:
Staying somewhere else? See every hotel we serve — or just send us the name on WhatsApp.
