17 things to know before traveling to Panama, How to get around Panama, from boats to buses, 12 top tips for visiting Panama on a budget, The best time to visit San Jos, Costa Rica, The 9 best day trips from San Jos, Costa Rica, The 6 best neighborhoods in San Jos, Costa Rica, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, the driver cannot produce a license or ownership papers/rental agreement. Great informations. I would love to share your post with my dad and relatives so that we can see each and every attraction there. Prices vary depending on where you want to visit and how long you need the car. In some towns there arecolectivos(shared taxis). Very helpful post for me. Thinking of including this beautiful country in my next travel plans. Sign up to receive the latest travel inspiration and a FREE travel bucket list with 140 ideas for your next couple's getaway! Driving to Costa Rica Make sure you verify this with your credit card company ahead of time. Sky Tram- Sky Trek & Sky Walk From Arenal. Wherever you dine, dont forget dessert; grab a locally-made bar of chocolate to go or lap up a plate of tres leches (cake doused in three kinds of milk and considered the national dessert). Luckily the U.S. dollar goes a long way in Costa Rica no matter the season. Many airlines also require travelers to have a round-trip ticket before boarding flights to Costa Rica to ward off fines imposed by Costa Rican immigration. This means you know exactly how much you will be charged when you pick up the car (no surprises!). Wow great list of tips for CR. We had come across manycomplaints about hidden fees while doing our research. 44. Note: many of thesetoursinclude hotel pick-up and drop-off so theres no need to worry about transportation. How to get around Costa Rica - Lonely Planet Went two years ago for a week and came back the next year. The tourist-van shuttle services are a pricier alternative to the standard intercity buses. From Alajuela to Arenal: Hilly at times, but roads are well paved with a few potholes here and there. In rural areas, 4WDs are often used as taxis and are a popular means for surfers (and their boards) to travel from their accommodations to the break. Don't be alarmed by their benevolence and eagerness to please guests. Why not visit during the rainy season (May-November) instead? There was an error submitting your subscription. Showers can occur year-round. Nature Air fly to 14 destinations and Sansa to 13. How to get to Santa Teresa Costa Rica - Enchanting Costa Rica An additional note on driving, bridges in CR require the drivers attention. They fly out to as many as 13 different destinations within the country, and it generally takes 30-45 minutes! and remove all luggage from the trunk overnight. The best times to go are June July, November. We always prefer to drive. Are you saying WAZE works better than Google Maps? Take gas prices, for example. Disclaimer: This post is written in partnership with Adobe Rent A Car. Costa Rica Travel Costs. That is what I usually do. Foreign drivers in Costa Rica are required to have a valid drivers license from their home country. There are two types of bus:directoandcolectivo. From San Jose to Liberia/Guanacaste:The main Route 1 is generally well-paved. Enjoy your stay it is more than worth it to see this country at least once. For tour guides and drivers, plan to dole out about $10 per day. Buckle up for the next installment in our Epic series and the follow-up toEpic Bike Rides of the World. Sugar-white beaches. Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! Our itinerary was arranged in a way that we had to fly into SJO and fly out of LIR. There are speed limits of 100km/h to 120km/h or less on highways; limits will be posted. This free app is similar to Google Maps in searching for the best route. Roads that lead to the rainforest. Costa Rica's official currency is the Costa Rica Coln (CRC). It is not customary to leave a tip. Unearth more Costa Rican adventures with our articles on the best hiking trails and family-friendly resorts in Costa Rica. A few companies organize bike tours around Costa Rica. Be sure to check the box that says Use TrueBlue Points. Recommended option Bus 1h 48m Take the bus from San Jos to Entrada a Jac By Costanera / . Fly through the treetops on a zipline and immerse yourself in the natural environment at a jungle eco-retreat. With more than 16 offices across Costa Rica, they are flexible to have thecar picked up and dropped off at different locations. ATM s are available in most popular tourist towns but are usually limited to a maximum of 200$ per day. Hi Lois, im traveling there next week. The best way to send money to Costa Rica depends on your payment method, how you want your money to be received and how fast you need it to arrive. Those travelers with a big stash of money always make me wonder why the hell they did this! You will see cars, buses, and shuttles carrying surfboards on their roofs - a great indication that the waves have arrived on the coast. Lots of really useful tips here, and I will remember to check out cassava chips and plantains (two favourites of mine). Nature-seekers will roam thick jungleswhile beachgoers will sprawl across the powdery sands. Tortuguero:visit or not in August; best way to get there? Costa Rica Caribbean Side: Best Places To Visit + Where to Stay [2023] Then, you're at the right place. In North America, we rely heavily on Google Maps for navigation. All of the major international car-rental agencies have outlets in Costa Rica, though you can sometimes get better deals from local companies. With an increasingly large network of paved secondary roads and heightened awareness of cyclists, Costa Rica is emerging as one of Central Americas most exciting cycle-touring destinations. First Timer's Guide to Costa Rica: Best Places to Go, Play and Stay Most insurance policies do not cover damage caused by flooding or driving through a river, so be aware of the extent of your policy. Watch out for motorbikes. If you through Adobe (our favorite rental car company here) they will charge you $9 a day for a GPS. You can also stay in just 1-2 areas, depending on your travel style. Other parts are 2 lanes. Design by Purr. Sunscreen and a hat - Costa Rica is in the tropics, after all. With breathtaking landscapes and a myriad of creatures from toucans to monkeys to jaguars it's easy to see why. Most peoplechoose to travel to Costa Rica during the dry season(December-April) so that they can enjoy the nice sunny weather. These are some great tips and are sure to stand us in good stead when we get there. eh?Inc. Panama has plenty to offer its visitors but it doesn't all have to come at a premium. Richard Cummins / Alamy Stock Photo" data-embed-button="images" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"","image_link":""}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="2242d140-53f2-4056-9f94-aa8e17b0849f" data-langcode="en" title="Bus Station, Puntarenas City, Costa Rica, Central America">. Some agencies offer discounts for extended rentals. Also, I didnt realise that it was going to be expensive. Michael Dwyer / Alamy Stock Photo" data-embed-button="images" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"","image_link":""}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="975f7649-935c-45ff-82c4-359549912860" data-langcode="en" title="City bus, San Jose, Costa Rica">. Wow, so many great tips and very useful for my trip planning to this amazing central American countries thanks a lot for covering aspects, like: transportation, food, and pre-paid sim card. I had never been to Costa Rica and would love to visit it in 2018. I travelled a lot and have seen so many places but this will be my first time in Costa Rica. Recommended option Fly Houston to San Jose Fly from Houston (IAH) to San Jose (SJO) 6h 42m $121 - $271 7 alternative options The Costa Rica Caribbean Side: What to Do and Where to Stay ", Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, D.C. Best way to vacation? - Costa Rica Forum - Tripadvisor Great pictures and tips. Police have no right to ask for money, and they shouldnt confiscate a car unless: If you're driving and see oncoming cars with headlights flashing, it often means that there is a road problem or a radar speed trap ahead. Its also common to tip $1: per bag to the airport driver and bellhop, per drink to the bartender, to the doorman for hailing a cab, to the concierge, if they help with a difficult request or make an exceptional recommendation. La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the most beautiful and photographable destinations in Costa Rica's Central Valley, so we also highly recommend bringing your camera with you, which will allow you to photograph the huge waterfall and stunning pools at its base. In 10-14 days, you might be able to visit 3-4 areas. It is cheap and easy! How reliable/safe is SANSA (is this the . Leave when you want, go where you want. You cant enjoy a place in FF mode. Best ways to send money to Costa Rica in 2023 | Finder US We asked two expert writers to make the case for each of these dreamy Central American countries. 1,121. You can find a variety of them on the shelves, sold under the brands PRO and Soldanza. However, it typically costs more as there is only one private charter service that makes this trip. We may look into Adobe Rent a Car next time. Taxis are considered a form of public transportation in remote areas. On the opposite side of the country, the Pacific coast is the perfect place to soak up some sun and do some deep divingboth into the ocean and internally, as this Blue Zone is known for its colorful marine life as well as its wellness retreats. Explore more articles on the best restaurants in Monteverde, the best restaurants in San Jos, must-eat foods in Costa Rica, and a guide to tropical fruits in Costa Rica. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Tortuguero National Park is the largest nesting site in the Western Hemisphere for endangered green sea turtles, Tipping is not mandatory but youll see that restaurants include a 10 percent service charge and leaving some extra cash for the server is always appreciated. Thank you for sharing this information. Buy gifts such as coffee, Lizano sauce, and chorreador in a grocery store where prices are generally lower than the tourist shops. But yes, its definitely not cheap, and the mass tourism from the US will keep it that way. Popular destinations include Quepos/Manuel Antonio, Monteverde/Santa Elena, Jac, Dominical, Uvita, Puerto Jimnez, Arenal, Montezuma and Mal Pas. SIGN UP to get 100+ bucket list ideas for your next couple's getaway: For Two, Please is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Lunch is often arroz con pollo (a bowl of seasoned rice and chicken) or a casado of rice, picadillo (a cooked vegetable hash) or salad, and a protein such as beans, grilled chicken, or fish. However, high-end coffee beans are hard to come bysince they are commonly exported rather than sold locally. Fantastic post and very useful tips. U.S. citizens traveling to Costa Rica will need a passport that is valid for the length of their stay in Costa Rica. If you're planning to exploreGuanacasteand theNicoya Peninsulain the northwest region of Costa Rica, you can easily hail a taxi from the Daniel Oduber Quirs International Airport (LIR). I am sure that these are gonna help out soo nicely. They can be hired by the hour, half-day or full day, or you can arrange a flat fee for a trip. Patrons are largely local, so prices tend to be more reasonable than you might find in other areas frequented by visitors. We're almost done. Costa Rican insurance is mandatory, even if you have insurance at home. 1. There are two small aircraft companies in Costa Rica that offer daily flights all around the country: Nature Air and Sansa. Belize vs Costa Rica: which Central American gem is right for you? The second-busiest airport is theAeropuerto Internacional Daniel Oduber Quirsin Liberia, which also receives international flights from the USA, the Americas and Canada. Economy cars are much cheaper upwards of US$150 a week (prices are not including mandatory local insurance). Expect to pay about US$10 to US$40 per day. And whether you're willing to brave the country's many water crossings in a rented 4x4, are looking forward to snapping photos out the bus window, or plan on chartering a private flight from point A to point B, there are almost equally many ways to get there. In the Central Valley and Highlands, there's a burgeoning road biking scene and visitors are likely to see Lycra-clad cyclists climbing and zooming down the attractive winding roads, taking in the epic scenery. Signing up for one of the best tours in Costa Rica is another great way to sightsee without having to navigate the country on your own. Great tips for travel in Costa Rica! If you are issued with a ticket, you have to pay the fine at a bank; instructions are given on the ticket. Jan Csernoch / Alamy Stock Photo" data-embed-button="images" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"","image_link":""}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="abb61c46-63ef-4a71-94a1-7efe1d0960da" data-langcode="en" title="Tourists observing White-nosed Coatis from bus, Costa Rica, Central America">. Costa Rica Caribbean Side: Best Places To Visit. Top Resorts in Costa Rica Best Honeymoon Resorts Complete Guide to San Jose Costa Rica's Islands Day Trips From San Jose 48 Hours in San Jose Top Things to Do in Costa Rica Adventurous Things to Do Top Hikes Best Diving Sites Best Beaches Top Things to Do in San Jose Food to Try in Costa Rica Best Restaurants in San Jose Nightlife in San Jose Excellent in every way. But that comes with a price its busy and expensive! Youwill run into rain showers, but in return, youll be rewarded withthinnercrowds, greener landscapes, cooler temperatures andcheaperrates! Its the perfect place to get your blood pumping with an active adventure and then slow down and immerse yourself in natureat an eco-retreat, on the beach, in the jungle, under a waterfall, or with a soak in some thermal hot springs. Fabulous tips we LOVE Costa Rica! There is signage in Spanish to let you know which direction has right of way. Most local buses pick up passengers on the street and on main roads. If you are catching a bus that picks you up somewhere along a road, get to the roadside early. How to Get to Pavones Costa Rica Easiest Routes Ever! Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Choose between the adventure gateways 11. I had no idea about the tipping and tap water! You can addextra days if you want to cover more ground. Its possible to rent with a debit card, but only if you agree to pay full insurance and leave a deposit for traffic violations (check with your agency ahead of time). The last 1/3 of the drive turns into pothole-ridden dirt and gravelroads. All Rights Reserved. To truly immerse yourself in the good life, kick back and admire the awe-inspiring scenery. Note:the weather really depends on what part of Costa Rica you are visiting. Interesting place. Explore 7 days / from 1900 USD Tropical Costa Rica Visit volcanoes, take a dip in a hot springs, drift lazily along the country's waterways and seek out wildlife in tropical lowland forest. Costa Rica has a variety of transportation options, from buses and shuttles to rental cars and even private flights. It is legal to drive with this insurance only, but it can be difficult to negotiate with a rental agency to allow you to drive away with just this minimum standard. The ferryNaviera Tambortravels between Puntarenas and Paquera frequently each day, for a bus connection to Montezuma. Since the CRC to U.S. dollar exchange rate fluctuates, be sure to checkwhat the exchange rateis before you go.