Written by David Garcia, Maria Gaulto, Alejandro Vargas
03/08/2025
Ali Alcántara, Pexels
Uvita, Dominical, and Ojochal are located on Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast, a region known as the Costa Ballena. Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José is the nearest major international airport. Quepos La Managua Airport (XQP) and Palmar Sur Airport (PMZ) are closer domestic airports.
From San José (SJO Airport/Downtown):
Public Bus:: Tracopa offers direct buses from San José's Tracopa Bus Terminal to Uvita and Dominical. The journey to Uvita costs approximately $10-$28 and takes about 4.5 to 6 hours. Buses to Dominical take around 3 hours 50 minutes to 6 hours and cost $9-$26. For Ojochal, public buses from the Tracopa Bus Terminal in San Jose take about 6-7 hours. Tickets are typically purchased at the station in local currency (colones).
Shared Shuttle:: Shared shuttles offer a comfortable and affordable way to travel from San José, including the airport, to Uvita, Dominical, and Ojochal. Prices from SJO Airport to Uvita can be around $65-$88, with travel times ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 hours. Shuttles from SJO to Dominical cost about $52-$88 and take 2-5 hours. A shared shuttle from SJO to Ojochal is around $75.
Private Shuttle:: Private shuttles provide a direct, more flexible, and comfortable option. A one-way private shuttle from San José to Uvita can cost around $200-$311 and takes 1.5 to 5 hours. From SJO to Ojochal, private transfers typically cost $240-$290 and take 4.5-5 hours. From SJO to Dominical, private shuttles can range from $35-$310 and take about 1.5-3 hours.
Rental Car:: Renting a car at SJO Airport allows for independent travel. The drive to Uvita takes approximately 3-4 hours, and to Dominical, it takes about 3 hours 14 minutes. Daily rental costs in Uvita can start from $28-$72, with SUVs averaging around $42-$85. Roads leading to Ojochal can be narrow and winding.
Domestic Flight:: From San José (SJO), you can take a domestic flight to Quepos La Managua Airport (XQP), which is the closest airport to Uvita. Flights to Quepos take about 25-30 minutes. From Quepos, you can take a taxi or bus to Uvita. For Ojochal, the nearest domestic airport is Palmar Sur Airport (PMZ), a 30-minute drive away, with flights from San José taking about 45 minutes.
Local Bus:: Buses frequently operate between Uvita and Dominical, taking about 20-41 minutes and costing $4-$11. Buses also run between Dominical and San Isidro, taking about 22 minutes and costing $2-$4.
Taxi:: Taxis are readily available within Uvita, with drivers typically charging a standard fare of around $20 for a one-way trip within the area. Taxis are also an option from domestic airports like Quepos to Uvita, or Palmar Sur to Ojochal.
Car Rental:: Daily car rental in Uvita ranges from $28-$72. It is possible to rent SUVs.
Shared Shuttle:: Shuttles connect Uvita, Dominical, and Ojochal with other popular destinations like Manuel Antonio.
Check out our other pages on Uvita / Dominical / Ojochal
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