How to get from Manuel Antonio and Quepos to Santa Teresa in 2026: the shuttle plus Herradura taxi boat at about $90 to $95, the Puntarenas ferry route, private transfers from $450, driving, times, luggage and which to choose.
From Manuel Antonio to Santa Teresa you have two real routes: a morning shuttle that connects to the taxi boat across the Gulf of Nicoya, about $90 to $95 per person and roughly 5 hours, or a van or car via the Puntarenas to Paquera ferry, which costs from $450 per vehicle privately and takes 5 to 7 hours. There is no direct road and no scheduled public bus, so the trip is always a connection.
The short version
Take the shuttle plus taxi boat if you leave early, have normal luggage and a flexible head. It is the cheapest way that takes less than a full day, and you are in Santa Teresa by early afternoon. Take the ferry route by private van if you have a surfboard over a few feet, kids, a lot of bags, or a sea day that looks wrong. The ferry never cancels for swell, but it adds a long day of road at both ends.
This is the least served of the routes into Santa Teresa, so prices are not standard. I found booking pages for three or four operators and no single published rate card, which is why you see ranges below. For the other end of the boat, read Jaco to Santa Teresa, and for the road transfer from the landing beach read Montezuma to Santa Teresa.
Route 1: Shuttle plus taxi boat
Manuel Antonio has no boat of its own to the peninsula. The trip begins with a van from your hotel to Playa Herradura, near Jaco, where the taxi boat leaves. The boat crosses the Gulf of Nicoya in about an hour and lands at Montezuma or at the Mal Pais side, and a second shuttle takes you to Santa Teresa. Costa Rica Shuttle's booking pages describe the sequence and quote about 2.5 to 3 hours for the water-and-road part once you are at Herradura.
What the listings show in 2026:
- Shared shuttle plus boat, door to door: from $95, with a 7:50am pickup and arrival around 1pm, on one operator's page.
- Shared microbus plus boat: $90 per adult plus tax and $68 per child aged 4 to 10, with a 7:30am pickup and about 4 hours on average.
- Boat only to Playa Carmen: from $155, about 5 hours. To Playa Hermosa: from $175, about 6 hours. These include the land legs at both ends.
- Tropical Tours boat Montezuma to Manuel Antonio: $80 for the boat, per tropicaltourshuttles.com, before the road leg from Santa Teresa to Montezuma.
- Interbus: about $150 to $155 for the combined boat route, per the figures in best shuttle companies in Santa Teresa.
Two different operators list similar trips at $90 and $155, probably because they bundle different things, so ask what the price covers before you compare: does it include pickup from your hotel in Manuel Antonio, the boat, and drop-off at your door in Santa Teresa? Read the description rather than the headline number.
Going the other way, Santa Teresa to Manuel Antonio taxi boat listings run from $150 with a 7:00am departure arriving at 12:30pm, and from $180 for a 7:45am departure. That tells you the boat is a morning product. If you miss the pickup, there is no afternoon boat to fall back on.
Zuma Tours, Montezuma Tours and Tropical Tours Shuttles all sell parts of this chain from the Santa Teresa side. A Jaco to Santa Teresa taxi boat from Tropical Tours is $66, per its boat page, so if you arrange your own pickup from Manuel Antonio to Jaco, you can book the second half separately. Book 48 hours ahead at least, more in December through April.
Who it suits: couples and solo travellers with a rucksack or one suitcase each, anyone who wants to be on the beach by lunchtime.
Caveats: the boat can be cancelled when the sea is big. Space is limited, so pack lightly, and expect to get your feet wet at the landing beach. Luggage limits on the boat from Montezuma are 20 kg per person, with surfboards $10 extra, per montezumabeach.com. That is not much for a long-stay traveller.
Route 2: Private transfer through the ferry
A private van skips the boat and goes by road to Puntarenas, across the gulf on the Paquera ferry, and down the peninsula. Costa Rica Shuttle's private listing from Manuel Antonio to Santa Teresa starts at $450 and takes 5 to 6 hours with road conditions and the ferry timetable. The company's cheaper listings show the pieces: $230 for Manuel Antonio to the Puntarenas ferry for up to six people, about 3 hours, and $250 for the ferry dock to Santa Teresa, also about 3 hours.
Two Weeks in Costa Rica prices the comparable Montezuma to Manuel Antonio van at $431 plus VAT, 5.5 hours including the 70 minute crossing (twoweeksincostarica.com). Treat $430 to $500 as the realistic price for a private van.
The ferry itself is not expensive. A foot passenger pays about $1.50 and a car about $25, and the schedule is in Paquera vs Tambor ferry. Sources disagree on the exact sailing times, so confirm with Naviera Tambor. Your pickup time is set by the ferry, not by you, which usually means leaving Manuel Antonio around 6 or 7am.
Who it suits: families, groups of three or four who can split the van, anyone with boards, anyone who cannot risk a cancelled boat.
Caveat: a private van at $450 is $112 each for four. That compares with $90 to $95 each for the boat shuttle. The saving from the boat is real, but only if you travel light and the sea is calm.
Route 3: Shared shuttle by road
A shared seat through Quepos to Santa Teresa by road does exist, but it is slow. Costa Rica Shuttle lists a Quepos and Manuel Antonio shared shuttle from $130 taking 6 to 7 hours, and a Santa Teresa to Manuel Antonio shared shuttle from $180 at about 5 hours. I would not choose this over the boat unless the sea is rough, since the shared van picks up at several stops and the ferry wait comes out of your day.
Route 4: Drive yourself
You can drive from Manuel Antonio to Puntarenas, take the car ferry (about $25 and 70 to 80 minutes on the water, 1.5 hours with loading), and drive 53 km, about an hour, from Paquera to Santa Teresa. Allow at least 6 hours with ferry waits, and aim to reach the Paquera side by mid-afternoon. The taxi boat carries people and bags only, so a car goes by ferry.
Before you book, check that your rental company allows the ferry and drop-off in a different place. The details are in the renting a car on the Nicoya Peninsula guide. If you do not want to drive the whole way, rent a car once you are in Santa Teresa instead, with the agencies listed in the car rental guide.
Which to pick
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle plus taxi boat | $90 to $95 per person | about 5 hours | Light travellers, a morning start |
| Private van via ferry | from $450 per vehicle | 5 to 6 hours | Families, boards, groups of four |
| Shared shuttle by road | $130 to $180 per person | 5 to 7 hours | Rough seas, nothing else free |
| Own car via ferry | rental plus about $25 | 6 hours or more | People staying long |
My rule is simple. If you are two people or fewer and you can leave at 7:30am, do the boat. If you are three or more, price the private van, because it stops being a luxury. If the sea has been big for two days, skip the boat.
An alternative that costs a night is to stop in Jaco, then take the boat in the morning from there, as covered in Jaco to Santa Teresa. If you land in San Jose instead, compare it all in San Jose to Santa Teresa, and the full picture is in getting to Santa Teresa. Check rainy season in Santa Teresa before booking a boat between September and November.
Look at places to stay at the stay hub, and transport operators in the services directory.
FAQ
How do I get from Manuel Antonio to Santa Teresa?
Take a morning shuttle to Playa Herradura, the taxi boat across the Gulf of Nicoya to Montezuma, and a shuttle to Santa Teresa. It costs about $90 to $95 per person and takes around 5 hours. The alternative is a private van via the Puntarenas ferry from $450 per vehicle.
How long does it take?
The shuttle and boat route arrives around 1pm if you leave at 7:30 or 7:50am, so about 5 hours. The ferry route takes 5 to 6 hours by private van and longer by shared shuttle or your own car, depending on the sailing you catch.
Is there a taxi boat from Manuel Antonio?
Not from Manuel Antonio itself. The boat leaves from Playa Herradura near Jaco, and the shuttle takes you there. Operators sell it as a single ticket with the road legs included.
How much does a private transfer cost?
From $450 per vehicle, with Costa Rica Shuttle, for 5 to 6 hours including the ferry. Comparable routes run $430 to $500 before 13% VAT. It is the better value for three or more people.
Can I take a surfboard?
On the boat, boards cost $10 extra on Zuma Tours and baggage is 20 kg. A private van through the ferry takes boards more easily. Tell the operator the length when you book.
Is the boat reliable?
It runs most mornings and stops when the sea is too big. Operators tell you the day before or that morning. Keep your afternoon free and ask what the fallback is, which is normally the ferry route in a van.
