Book private transfers and chauffeur service in San José, Costa Rica, with convenient pickup from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), hotels and private addresses across the metropolitan area. Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) also serves regional and general aviation within San José. Pre-booked airport transfers provide comfortable door-to-door travel to the city and surrounding Central Valley destinations with professional English-speaking drivers.
WelcomeTaxi also arranges point-to-point journeys, hourly chauffeur service and long-distance transfers from San José to La Fortuna, Jacó, Manuel Antonio and other destinations across Costa Rica. Whether you are travelling for business, sightseeing or an onward regional journey, your vehicle and pickup can be arranged in advance.
How It Works
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Choose the route and a vehicle |
| Select service type you need, choose the route (or hourly hire duration), indicate number of passengers and luggage, as well as other necessary details if needed. See the price for different vehicle classes, choose one suitable for you and press Next. |
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Choose the payment method |
| Complete the booking form, choose the payment method, press Make Booking button, make online prepayment (if needed) and get email confirmation. When a driver will be assigned to your job, his phone number will be emailed to you. |
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The driver meets you with a name tag |
| Your driver will meet you on-site with a name tag at the right time. He will walk you to the car and safely drive you to your destination. At the end of your ride, if needed, you will pay in cash or by card-to-card transfer to your driver. |
Our Benefits
English-speaking drivers
Always available — friendly, professional, and communicative.
Fixed prices — no surprises
Know your fare in advance, with no hidden fees.
Meet & greet included
Your driver will wait at arrivals with a name tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book a ride?
We recommend booking your transfer or hourly hire service at least 72 hours in advance. If you don’t have that much time, you can request an urgent transfer — we’ll let you know as soon as possible whether we can confirm it.
What pick-up time should I specify for the transfer?
If your transfer starts from an airport or railway station, please specify your flight or train arrival time as the start of your transfer. This helps the driver organize the meeting more accurately.
If your transfer starts from a hotel to an airport, please indicate the time you wish to be picked up at reception. You’ll need to calculate it yourself, allowing extra time for check-in. We recommend adding about 3 hours before your flight’s departure. For example, if your flight leaves at 14:00 and the trip takes 1 hour, your pick-up time should be 10:00.
How do I know if my order has been accepted?
After submitting your booking, you’ll receive an email with all trip details and your order status as “Waiting”. Once we receive and confirm your payment, the status will change to “Accepted”, and you’ll receive another email confirmation.
If you don’t receive the confirmation email, please contact our support team at office@welcome.taxi.
How do I change my booking?
To make changes to your booking, please contact our support team at office@welcome.taxi.
Important note: Requests for changes made less than 72 hours before your trip may be declined.
How can I cancel my booking?
You can cancel your booking in two ways:
- Via the booking page on our website — use the cancellation number provided in your booking voucher, at least 72 hours before the trip.
- By contacting our support team if it’s less than 72 hours before your ride.
Important note: In case of urgent cancellation, we may not be able to refund your deposit. The free cancellation period is stated in your confirmation email.
What should I do if my flight is delayed?
If your flight is delayed by less than 30 minutes, the driver will adjust their arrival time automatically.
If the delay is longer, please inform the driver directly (their phone number is in your confirmation voucher) or contact WelcomeTaxi Customer Support at office@welcome.taxi. Please include your order number and the new arrival time.
Important note: The driver may charge an additional fee for extended waiting time.
How will I find my driver?
For airport transfers, if you’ve added the meet-and-greet option to your order, the driver will meet you in the arrivals area — right after passport control and baggage claim. You’ll see a name sign with your first and last names (or custom text, if specified in your booking).
Important note: We strongly recommend adding the meet-and-greet option to your airport transfer booking.
For hotel pickups, the driver will wait for you in the hotel lobby. Detailed meeting instructions and your driver’s contact number are provided in your booking confirmation voucher.
How can I be sure that my driver will pick me up?
WelcomeTaxi guarantees that your driver will do their best to meet you on time.
Both you and the driver will have each other’s phone or WhatsApp number. Please keep your mobile phone switched on at the time of pickup. If you can’t reach the driver, contact our support team immediately.
I can’t find my driver. What should I do?
If you can’t find your driver, please double-check the name signs again — the driver may have missed you in the crowd.
Try calling or messaging the driver via WhatsApp. If there’s no response within the meeting time, contact our support team.
If necessary, go to the airport’s Information Desk to arrange a local taxi to your destination.
Important note: If the driver fails to meet you, we will refund your payment.
What Our Customers Say
United Kingdom
Highly recommended taxi service
Airport Transfers and Chauffeur Service in San José
San José is the capital of Costa Rica and the country's principal political, business and cultural centre. Located in the Central Valley, the city forms part of a large metropolitan area extending into neighbouring communities such as Escazú, Santa Ana, Heredia and Alajuela. For many international visitors, San José is also the starting point for longer journeys to Costa Rica's beaches, volcanoes, rainforest destinations and national parks.
WelcomeTaxi provides pre-booked private transfers and chauffeur service in San José for individual travellers, families, business visitors and groups. Transportation can be arranged between airports, hotels, private addresses, offices and destinations elsewhere in Costa Rica. Booking in advance is particularly useful when arriving on an international flight, travelling with substantial luggage or continuing directly to another region.
San José Airport Transfers
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the primary airport serving San José. Despite its name and association with the capital, the airport is physically located in Alajuela Province, west of central San José. It is Costa Rica's principal international gateway for travellers visiting the capital and much of the central part of the country.
A private transfer from SJO provides direct transportation to hotels and addresses throughout San José and the wider metropolitan area. Passengers can travel directly to Downtown San José, Escazú, Santa Ana and other destinations without changing between airport buses and local transportation.
Pre-booked airport transfers are particularly convenient for families, groups and passengers carrying several pieces of luggage. Cars, vans and larger vehicles can be arranged according to passenger numbers and baggage requirements.
Getting from Juan Santamaría Airport to San José
Juan Santamaría International Airport is located roughly 20 miles from downtown San José according to Costa Rica's official tourism information. Road journey times vary considerably depending on traffic, particularly during busy periods in the Central Valley.
Public buses and taxis provide transportation between the airport and the metropolitan area. A private airport transfer offers a door-to-door alternative, taking passengers from the terminal directly to the exact hotel, residence or business address.
This can be especially useful after a long international flight or when the final destination is outside central San José. Travellers departing from SJO should allow a sufficient margin for road traffic rather than planning around the shortest possible driving time.
Tobías Bolaños Airport Transfers
Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) is located in Pavas within San José and serves general aviation, private flights and regional air services. It plays a different role from Juan Santamaría International Airport but can be relevant for travellers using smaller aircraft or domestic and regional aviation.
Private transfers can connect Tobías Bolaños Airport directly with hotels, offices and private addresses throughout the capital. Travellers should provide the correct airport code when arranging pickup, as SJO and SYQ are separate airports in different parts of the metropolitan region.
Getting Around San José
San José and the surrounding metropolitan area are served by an extensive network of buses and taxis. Intercity bus services also connect the capital with destinations across Costa Rica, although individual operators use different terminals rather than one single central bus station.
Private transportation becomes more useful when travelling with luggage, attending several appointments or moving between locations spread across the wider metropolitan area. A pre-booked vehicle can also simplify journeys between hotels, offices, restaurants and transport terminals without arranging a separate taxi for every stage.
Traffic is an important consideration in San José, particularly on routes connecting the capital with Alajuela, Heredia, Escazú and other surrounding areas.
Chauffeur Service in San José
Hourly chauffeur service is suitable for travellers who need a vehicle for several journeys during the same period. The driver and vehicle can remain available according to the booked schedule for meetings, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing and other appointments.
Business visitors can use chauffeur service for transportation between the airport, hotels, offices and meeting locations throughout the metropolitan area. Leisure travellers may also prefer a private vehicle when combining several attractions or neighbourhoods during the same day.
For families, delegations and groups, vans and larger vehicles can provide coordinated transportation while keeping passengers together throughout the itinerary.
Business Transportation in San José
San José is Costa Rica's main administrative and commercial centre, while many corporate offices, international companies and business hotels are distributed across the wider metropolitan region, including Escazú and Santa Ana.
A pre-booked chauffeur can help coordinate airport pickup, hotel transportation and several business appointments within the same schedule. Instead of arranging individual rides throughout the day, the vehicle can remain available for the booked period.
Group transportation can also be arranged for conferences, corporate events and visiting delegations.
Private Transfers from San José to La Fortuna
La Fortuna and the Arenal region are among Costa Rica's most popular inland tourism destinations. Travellers often continue there directly from San José or Juan Santamaría International Airport.
A private transfer provides door-to-door transportation from a hotel, private address or airport to accommodation in La Fortuna. This can be especially convenient for families and groups who prefer not to coordinate several public transport services with luggage.
For travellers following a wider Costa Rica itinerary, onward transfers can also be arranged from La Fortuna to other destinations according to operational availability.
Transfers from San José to the Pacific Coast
San José is a common starting point for road journeys towards Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Destinations such as Jacó and the Central Pacific region can be reached directly by private transfer from the capital or SJO Airport.
Longer journeys can continue towards Quepos and Manuel Antonio, where hotels and holiday accommodation are spread across the coastal area. Door-to-door transportation can be particularly useful when the final property is away from an intercity bus terminal.
For groups and travellers with substantial luggage, a private vehicle also allows everyone to continue in the same vehicle from the metropolitan area to the coast.
Regional and Long-Distance Transfers from San José
San José's central location makes it an important starting point for road journeys throughout Costa Rica. WelcomeTaxi can arrange long-distance transfers to regional destinations according to route and operational availability.
Passengers can be collected from Juan Santamaría Airport, Tobías Bolaños Airport, a hotel or private address and taken directly to their final destination. This can be especially convenient when public transport requires several connections or when travellers want greater flexibility over departure time.
For itineraries involving several stops, hourly or multi-stop chauffeur service may provide greater flexibility than a standard one-way transfer.
Why Pre-Book Instead of Taking a Regular Taxi?
Taxis are widely available in San José and are practical for many short urban journeys. A pre-booked private transfer is more suitable when transportation needs to be confirmed before arrival, when a particular vehicle size is required or when the journey extends outside the metropolitan area.
Airport passengers can arrange their pickup and destination before travelling, while groups can reserve sufficient passenger and luggage capacity. For regional journeys, the complete route can be organised in advance rather than arranged after entering a local taxi.
International visitors may also prefer transportation with an English-speaking driver, particularly for airport arrivals and longer journeys across Costa Rica.
Useful Travel Information for San José
Travellers should remember that Juan Santamaría International Airport uses the IATA code SJO even though the airport itself is located in Alajuela rather than San José city. It is nevertheless the primary international airport serving the capital. Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) is located within San José and mainly serves regional, private and general aviation.
Costa Rica has an extensive intercity bus network, but services are operated by different companies and San José does not have one universal bus terminal for every route. Travellers using scheduled buses should therefore confirm the correct operator and departure terminal.
Traffic in the Central Valley can affect airport and regional transfer times. When booking transportation, provide accurate flight information, passenger numbers, luggage requirements and the complete destination address so that an appropriate vehicle can be arranged.
Book a Private Transfer in San José
WelcomeTaxi offers pre-booked transportation for San José airport arrivals, city transfers, business travel, chauffeur hire and long-distance journeys across Costa Rica. Whether you need a direct transfer from Juan Santamaría International Airport, transportation from Tobías Bolaños Airport, a vehicle for several hours in the capital or a journey to La Fortuna, the Pacific coast or another regional destination, your trip can be arranged in advance with a suitable vehicle and professional driver.