Driving from Guatemala City to San José
San José lies 873 km (542 mi) south-east of Guatemala City, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 13 h 18 min without stops, over roughly 1,065 km (661 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Guatemala City | San José | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Guatemala | Costa Rica |
| Population | 994,938 | 335,007 |
| Elevation | 1,508 m (4,948 ft) | 1,133 m (3,717 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-6 (America/Guatemala) | UTC-6 (America/Costa_Rica) |
What changes when you arrive in San José
Crossing from Guatemala into Costa Rica: money changes from the Quetzal to the Colon (CRC); the dialling code becomes +506; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Where to book car hire from Guatemala City to San José
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in San José
Live rooms and prices for San José are in the search below.
Book a hotel in San José
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is San José from Guatemala City?
873 km (542 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Guatemala City; by road roughly 1,065 km (661 mi).
How long does it take to get from Guatemala City to San José by car?
About 13 h 18 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Guatemala City and San José?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
What currency do I need in San José?
The Colon (CRC).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.