how to get around in costa ricahow to get around in costa rica

Planning to travel here? Copyright 2023 Apa Digital AG, all rights reserved. Transportation. If you choose to thumb it, keep in mind that if a bus doesnt go to your destination, there probably arent too many cars going there, either. The San Jos train system is one of the citys best-kept secrets, and few tourists ever think to ride it. The best way to get around Costa Rica is by car, as you can easily reach the best places and hidden gems. If youre planning on going to Montezuma or Santa Teresa from San Jose or Puntarenas, the ferry is a fun option. A network of air-conditioned shuttle buses connects most of Costa Ricas main tourist destinations. Most car-rental companies are located in San Jos and at or around the international airports near Alajuela and Liberia, though you can also rent cars in various towns around the country. Simply stated, having a car is the best way to explore Costa Rica. We suggest renting a car if you want the flexibility of really exploring the country in depth. From LA, the best deals are generally with Avianca (again via San Salvador); flights start at around US$600. - SAVE 10% PLUS OTHER PERKS , guide to picking Liberia or San Jose airport, taking the bus from San Jose to the Panama border. Whats even better is that you get amazing views from the plane! If that's not possible, try to pull over into a well-lit public spot. CAR RENTAL DEAL! Legal taxis are red with a yellow triangle on the drivers and passengers side door. Most Popular Fertility Traditions and Rituals, Coldplay and the environmental effects of their tour that kicked off last year in Costa Rica, Los Sueos Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort Los Sueos Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort. site may be reprodiced without our written permission. We partnered with Adobe Rent a Car, a Costa Rican car rental company to give our readers a discount and extra freebies. I will note that Uber is very popular in San Jose, but less abundant in areas on the coast, even in booming Liberia. Cars? We recommend taking the bus if you are going to only one destination and dont plan on doing much traveling within that location. Street parking can be a head-scratcher, especially in neighborhoods like Barrio Escalante, where certain spaces are best reserved with an app. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. On the bright side, Ticos dont usually drive very fast. We have had bus rides be brutally hot, but we have also taken bus rides in which the AC was cranked to the max. The reality is somewhat different. . Although the speed limit is usually 50 mph, Costa Rica holds the world's highest auto fatality rate (18 deaths per 100,000 kms., as opposed to 2.7 deaths in the U.S.) Driving outside of San Jose is not nearly as stressful, but one must beware of potholes and sharp curves, especially in mountainous regions. What would take you 4-5 hours driving will take 30 minutes flying! If youre going to major touristic destinations in Costa Rica like La Fortuna, Tamarindo, Puerto Viejo, San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Puerto Jimenez, Samara, Tambor, Santa Teresa, Montezuma, Jaco, and Monteverde, you can get there via car, bus and shuttle. For more details, check out our tips for renting a car in Costa Rica post and our tips for driving in Costa Rica post. Most taxistas are honest, but when you enter the car, make sure that the mara (meter) is visible and working. If you find yourself with a flat tire, try to ride it to a safe place. Also, if you are traveling with a large group you can rent a private shuttle just for your group. Leave when you want, go where you want. The San Jose airport has a few large souvenir shops, bars, cafes, a few smaller specialty shops, and a small duty-free shop. It's a decent way to see Costa Rica if you don't have a lot of time. Given the rudimentary state of some of the roads and the aggressive driving of some of the people on them, it is worth paying extra for full insurance. The best way to get around Costa Rica is by bus, which is reliable, navigable, inexpensive and frequently runs through San Jos, Costa Rica's capital. Both companies have online booking systems (see websites, below). You will also get other perks such as: Free delivery of your car within 12 miles of any of their offices. your heart beat faster? Some legal facts that a driver and car renter should be aware of, are: driving age is eighteen and over but if youre a foreigner, you must be 21 years old and always carry a passport; a tourists drivers license is valid only for three months after arrival, after which he/she has to apply for a Costa Rican license. Most passengers are well-behaved on the bus as well. Costa Rica Transportation - How to Get Around You will need a valid licence or endorsement in order to rent a bike. There are also busses from all Caribbean coast towns to the border. They have given us a $10 taxi discount to pass on to you. Costa Rica's diverse ecosystem beholds a whole host of natural treasures. San Jose is also the capital city of Costa Rica and the metropolitan center of the country. This will add to your car-rental costs considerably, however, with full insurance starting at around US$30 per day. Keep valuables in the boot or out of sight. If you want to rent a car in Costa Rica, check out our car rental discount. Travelair is more costly, but many claim them to be more reliable when it comes to reservations. On most public busses, seats are on a first come first serve basis. 70 reviews. While many minor roads are indeed badly potholed and unsurfaced, travelling around Costa Rica by car is relatively easy. For the reason of high costs, buses in Costa Rica are an excellent option as well. Shared usually have up to 10-15 passengers depending on the company. We have also considered flying toBocas del Toro, Panama. The tour operator will pick you up in San Jose, La Fortuna or Puerto Viejo and then drop you off after the tour to any of those three locations. Costa Ricas diverse ecosystem beholds a whole host of natural treasures. La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio requires 4 buses, around 9 hours (driving is around 5). San Jose is centrally located and supports the greatest volume of flights (thus flights are typically less expensive and there are more times to choose from). If you are flying into the Liberia airport and need to get to your hotel in this area we suggest reserving your taxi with our favorite registered taxi drivers. Most rental cars run on super, but always ask your rental agent what type of gas your car takes. The capital of Costa Rica started as several different towns, which gradually merged together over a landscape of rolling hills. Note that its best to book several weeks (or months) ahead. Police sometimes turn on their emergency lights for no apparent reason, so if theres a police car behind you with its lights on, that doesnt necessarily mean youre being pulled over. The availability of rental cars is another consideration altogether, as the risk of pushy taxi drivers and fake Uber drivers is eliminated altogether. You will learn all about the costs of rental cars, insurance, type of cars and much more. Although the speed limit is usually 50 mph, Costa Rica holds the worlds highest auto fatality rate (18 deaths per 100,000 kms., as opposed to 2.7 deaths in the U.S.) Driving outside of San Jose is not nearly as stressful, but one must beware of potholes and sharp curves, especially in mountainous regions. Solo travelers: shared shuttles or bus. While the notorious road conditions of Costa Rica can be tiring in a car, they are usually great fun on a dual-sport motorcycle (Enduro motorcycle), with its good suspension. 2 years ago. Diesel is available at almost every gas station as well. Two local airlines areSANSA and Travelair. Despite appearances, San Jos is relatively walkable. Mytanfeet LLC Copyright 2013 - 2023 - Thank you for supporting our Travel Blog! time savings? This is a great way to avoid the long travel days. Seat belts are required for the driver and front-seat passengers. JetBlue and Spirit Airlines run services from Florida, with fares around US$375 for a flight from Orlando but as low as US$200 on one of Spirits early morning departures from Fort Lauderdale. Read more tips for taking taxis in Costa Rica. In highway gridlock, assume that motorcyclists will whiz between the ranks of idling cars. Taxis are readily available in San Jos and most popular destinations. It has some great itinerary ideas that can easily be done all by public bus. However, you will need to pick destinations that have a local airstrip. Backpacking Costa Rica (BUDGET Guide for 2023) - The Broke Backpacker If your hotel doesnt have dedicated parking, these secure lots are the safest place to stow your ride. In other words, you couldtake a private shuttleto your destination if you dont feel comfortable doing the long drive and then rent a car for day trips while there. Youll also find frequent signs listing the number of kilometers to various towns or cities, but turnoffs are not always marked. Getting around in San Jos, Costa Rica - Lonely Planet Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Here's how to get around the Dutch capital. Most people have a memorable, and uneventful, time travelling around Costa Rica by car, but it will help if you consider the following: Taxis regularly do long- as well as short-distance trips, and are decent value if youre travelling in a group. Evenings can be particularly foreboding in San Jos, and its wise to walk in pairs or groups as you explore the robust local nightlife. Bus transportation around San Jos is cheapthe fare is usually somewhere around C200 to C500although the Alajuela/San Jos buses that run in from the airport cost C540. If you choose this option, it's best to avoid using Google Maps and opt for the Waze app instead. A much better solution is to take a biking tour in Arenal. We once took the Tamarindo San Jose bus via Liberia non-direct and it took us 8 hours without traffic! Sansa ( 877/767-2672 in the U.S. and Canada, or 2290-4100 in Costa Rica) operates from a private terminal at San Jos's Juan Santamara International Airport. The city is usually measured between the neighborhoods of La Sabana and San Pedro, and you could casually stroll these 8km in less than two hours. If you plan on traveling anywhere else (lets just sayLa Fortuna) you would then have to take the bus all the way back to San Jose and then up to La Fortuna because there isnt a bus between La Fortuna and Jaco. Driving is the best way to get around Costa Rica to explore the country. If youre travelling in a large group, air-charter taxis can prove a reasonably cheap way to get to the countrys more remote areas. The go-to cab service in San Jos is the taxi rojo (red taxi), and sure enough, each car is painted fire-engine red. 25 Best Things to do in Smara, Costa Rica Air Canada has a few direct flights between San Jos and Canada, with fares from Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal starting at around Can$650. Costa Rica Transportation: 12 Ways To Get Around Costa Rica There are no direct flights from Australia, New Zealand or South Africa to Costa Rica the quickest and easiest option is to fly via the US or Canada. Getting around Costa Rica by bus is by far the cheapest option the most expensive journey in the country (from San Jos to Paso Canoas on the Panamanian border) costs just US$14. Check the prices before renting, because some companies dont actually accept credit cards that dont have raised numbers which can be slid with an old-fashioned carbon copy machine. Simply stated, having a car is the best way to explore Costa Rica. There are a variety of options for moving between destinations in Costa Rica - domestic flights, rental cars, shuttles, private vans, ferries, public bus, and even horseback. Backpacking Costa Rica is a rite of passage for any backpacker keen on exploring South or Central America. In other words, flying will save you a full day of travel. Impossible to say for the whole country. This is by far the most economical way to get around Costa Rica. They can get pretty crowded sometimes, and people have to ride standing up and holding on to a rail, but this doesnt matter for short rides. If they tell you its broken, just get out. This is a great place to fly into if you want a short drive to the beautiful Guanacaste beaches and arent as focused on seeing the Caribbean Coast or Southern Pacific. Although you still cant simply enter a street address, most commercial GPS maps of Costa Rica feature hundreds of prominent points of interest (POI), and you should be able to plug in a POI close to your destination. Want to do this 1 day tour and book the interconnection? There are no cars on Tortuguero so you will have to park your car on the mainland and take a fun and fast speedboat ride out toTortuguero. The back end of the Osa "boot" dissolves into a network of channels and waterways that weave around the Humedal Nacional Trraba-Sierpe, the country's largest mangrove swamp. The ferry takes cars so you can drive from the airport, take the ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya and then drive to your final destination. Getting Around Costa Rica The best way to get around Costa Rica is by bus, which is reliable, navigable, inexpensive and frequently runs through San Jos , Costa Rica's capital. American Airlines fares to San Jos via LA are usually slightly higher. Using Tour Shuttles. Try Costa Rica Motorcycle Tours for rental (from US$150/day) and tours on new BMWs (6501200cc), or Wild Rider Motorcycles for motorcycle rental (from US$70/day for three days) and tours, using Honda and 250650cc Suzuki bikes. Also, keep in mind that four-wheel-drive vehicles are particularly useful in the rainy season (May to mid-Nov) and for navigating the bumpy, poorly paved roads year-round. You can download a timetable from the ICT website or check here. A Complete Guide to Arenal and La Fortuna in Costa Rica Interbus (4100-0888) has a similar route map and connections. JetBlue also flies from New York to Liberia (5hr 15min), from around US$380, while Avianca offers good-value fares from New York to San Jos (via San Salvador; around US$450). Come here to explore off the beaten path and to see Corcovado, a tropical wet forest and one of the most important endangered wildlife sanctuaries in the world. If no number is listed, ask at your hotel, or, if you're out and about, at the nearest restaurant or shop. Some drivers here are reckless and rude, especially in a major city. It is the best for giving up-to-date traffic info. A Solo Traveler's Guide to Costa Rica - Culture Trip Re: Costa Rica getting around. The Complete Guide to Flights and Airports in Costa Rica How to Get Around Costa Rica: Best Transportation for Travelers No parts of this Luckily, getting around Costa Rica is relatively quick and easy, whether by car, bus or plane. On some busses, you will get an assigned seat number, but from our experience, weve only had that whentaking the bus from San Jose to the Panama border. Its for this reason, and cost reasons, that I prefer Uber. From there, you can take a cheap Uber to your actual destinations and the total cost will be much lower than if you rented a car. If youre looking for a helicopter ride, you might want to call Helicopteros de Costa Rica. These other boats do not take cars, only foot passengers. For more information, see Lonely Planets Accessible Travel Resources page. Before driving off with a rental car, be sure that you carefully inspect the . Costa Rica Transportation 101: Getting to & Around Guanacaste Two companies run regular, fixed-schedule departures in passenger vans and small buses to most of the major tourist destinations in the country. Private shuttles are more expensive but this is the best option for groups and families who dont want to drive. The capital of Costa Rica can be confusing and difficult to navigate, but it's always an adventure Salvador-Aznar / Getty Images, How to get around in San Jos, Costa Rica. Rates run between $8 and $15 per day. Panama border: If you will be traveling to the Panama border on the Caribbean coast from San Jose the best way to do it is by taking the MEPE bus from San Jose to the border town of Sixaola. Meet Elsewhere, Lonely Planet's new travel-planning service. -It is always possible to combine multiple transportation methods. The ban affects cars with licenses ending in the digits 1 or 2 on Monday; 3 or 4 on Tuesday; 5 or 6 on Wednesday; 7 or 8 on Thursday; and 9 or 0 on Friday. How To Get Around Costa Rica: Cars, Flights, Boat & More From San Jose, there are direct routes to nearly every main tourist destination and big town. For example, intercity prices can range from 200-400 colones (less than $1 USD). How to Get Around Costa Rica: Driving, the Most Flexible Way Driving is the best way to get around Costa Rica to explore the country. High season (December through April) is more expensive than low season (May through November). Or if youre in Puerto Viejo and are going to La Fortuna next, you can do this rafting trip for your interconnection. Youll rarely have to pay more than 650 colones (about US$1) to get anywhere in the city and its environs, and the vast majority of urban Ticos commute by mass transit, so youre in good company. Travelers have been flocking to this magical country for decades in search of Pura Vida (Pure Life). It may be small but Iceland can be mightily difficult to get around. NatureAir and Alfa Romeo Air both run charters, on five- to 18-seater planes; Alfa Romeos flight from San Jos to Tortuguero, for example, costs US$550. You can also find our Costa Rica transportation discounts too. Its best to book tickets for popular routes in advance, though you may be lucky enough to get on without a reservation. Return trips to San Jos are daily from these destinations and a variety of interconnecting routes. Driving In Costa Rica: 10 Important Tips (Plus Mistakes To Avoid) -We have heard of people getting things stolen on the bus. For bigger groups, the cost actually turns out around the same when you split it per person. It gives you the flexibility and freedom that you cant get with any other method of transportation.