| Tips for getting around Costa Rica posted by real travelers and Costa Rica locals. Map |
 | Costa Rica Transportation | Tips 1 - 10 of 236 |  |
 Our 4WD rental car on the
beach by frank_delargy
I rented from Avis and from the HQ a few miles from the airport, not the airport. This avoided the hefty airport charge.
I was very happy with the rental company, except for the compulsory insurance that you need to pay.. At least I think you need to pay it.. Often, in Costa Rica, you don't have the energy to argue.. Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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 Waiting by kyoub
It takes longer to get most anywhere than it should because the roads are full of potholes.
Some places don't really have road signs either. we usually just guess. we have asked directions but it usually hasn't helped much. Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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 Orlando with a wonderful CR
smile by Suzie3Leave a Comment Theme: OtherWebsite: Orlandovargas2000@yahoo.com
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Getting around is very easy now. The public buses go everywhere and are very inexpensive. Getting out of San Jose can be a bit tricky as there are several different bus stations.
There are 2 private bus companies that have shuttles to the major tourist areas (Fantasy Bus, Interbus) as well as a small shuttle company.... (monteverdeinfo.com). Prices on these shuttles start at $25 pp.
There are more and more private guide/driver services and every tour company will have a list of drivers available to them. Prices for private van transport start at about $100. If you want flexibility to stop when you want plus having a built in tour guide this is a good way to go. Costaricatransfers.com is one private transfer company. Monteverdeinfo.com has an inexpensive shuttle and does private transfers. There are tons of private drivers. We use one frequently. Orlandovargas2000@yahoo.com
There are two private small airlines that make getting around quite quick if not a little nerve racking. Sansa and Nature Air both have flights to many of the tourist areas.
Last but not least there is always the car rental. If you can avoid it, try to rent a car away from the airport. This would save you a hefty additional airport tax to the car rental. For those of you who arrive later in the day and will be spending a night in the San Jose/airport area just arrange for a car to be delivered to your hotel the next day. If they won't deliver the car you can have them pick you up and deliver you to the rental company. Car rental companies that have had good reviews are Adobe, Dollar, Poas. Most of the major car rental companies operate down there. The roads can be rough and signs non existent but this is always a good option for the adventurous.
A fun option for travel between Arenal and Monteverde would be by horseback or jeep. If you have a car, they can drive your car up while you are going through the cloud forest. Monteverdeinfo.com. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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 Jeep - Boat - Jeep ride by BEETLE_VERTE
If you're like us, you've planned to go see the Arenal volcano in Fortuna AND the Monteverde could forest and you're travelling by bus. If you don't already know, let me inform you that this bus ride will take 8 hours. From experience, a 4 hours bus ride is enough to put you out for the rest of the day... you'll be looking for peace and quiet and a jaccuzi. So we were dreading the 8 hours (one bus will take you half way and then, in the middle of nowhere, you'll transfer to another)!
But there's hope! They've put up a Jeep-Boat-Jeep service that will cut 5 hours off the trip! It's about 20$ (we paid 19$ in Fortuna but saw it advertise at 25$ in Santa Elena... for the same service!). It's offered about everywhere (hotel and tour operator).
And you'll get a wonderful view of this part of the country: the volcano, the Arenal lake, the Monteverde green mountains...
Absolutely worth it! Leave a Comment Theme: Ship/Boat
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I decided to visit the Arenal volcano area and Tabacon Hot Springs area from the San Jose area.
THE TRAVEL SLUT TIP: Rather than booking transportation North to these areas, for the same price you can book a one-day bus tour to these resort areas and then make arrangements (at no additional costs) to have the bus leave you at the last stop and then pick you up a couple days later for your return to San Jose. I did this and I not only saved some money, but I received a commentary on Costa Rica history & culture, visited a farmer's market, gift store and had a nice lunch in addition to spending an afternoon at the hot springs.
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Unfortunately, the train system was knocked out by an earthquake and they wisely decided not to rebuild. Costa Rica does have fairly frequent earthquakes, most you don't even feel but they are there.
Public buses once you get out of the city are very easy and inexpensive. Don't fear.....there is lots of help out there to get you on your way.
Below are a few sites to look at. Safe passage will prepurchase your bus ticket for you and pick you up at the airport or hotel and deliver you to the correct bus station. If you arrive late and need to get to a hotel or even need a hotel let them know and they can get you there.
An inexpensive but great place by the airport if you are arriving late is Vida Tropical . They have free airport pick up 24/7 and can help you get on the road the next day.
These are some very informative links.
Monteverdeinfo.com
http://www.1costaricalink.com/eng/transportation/trans-bus.htm
http://www.costaricabustickets.com/safe_order_form.htm
http://www.costaricabustickets.com/safe_order_form.htm
costaricabybus.com/ Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
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 bus stop on our way to
Jaco by BEETLE_VERTE
But don't go for them just because you don't know the public service!
Okay, we used the private shuttle in our 2005 trip! We used it from Alajuela to Jaco. A bus ride would have been around 3-4$ each, the shuttle was 17$ each but pick us up at our hotel (we saved the taxi fare). The trip was so much more enjoyable than a public tour (the road to Jaco can be difficult!), comfy seats, air conditioned, music, 30 minutes stop for lunch, friendly staff, ...
We also used a private shuttle when our bus was an hour late in Jaco. They pick us up at the bus station, saying they were going empty to Quepos. We paid 10$ each.
I recommend the private shuttle for the long bumpy rides (still use the private bus to catch the color of the country on short easier itineraries).
I'm posting the web site of the company we use, but there must be a lot more available. Leave a Comment
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 Taxi in Costa Rica by BEETLE_VERTE
They are reputate cheap, we found them just a little above cheap. A ride from the Bus stop to our hotel, which must be less than 2km, cost us 2 to 5$. From San Jose to Alejuela (the national airport is in Alajuela), it's 20$. Our 2km ride in the mountain between our hotel in Manuel Antonio and Quepos docks cost around 2 and 4$.
So it's not all that expensive, but not really cheap either. And as you can see, there's room for bargaining!
We were also suprise to find them in top shape and, mostly in the San Jose area, very luxurious. Always use the official red taxi.
We were also proposed day-trip. We had a designated driver all day when visiting the Poas volcano and the area. We estimated that just the trip to and from the volcano would have cost a little more than what he charged us for the entire day. Ask around! Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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 bus ride from Quepos to San
Jose by BEETLE_VERTE
For each trip, we never paid more than 8$ for two peoples. Buses departed on time (give or take 10 minutes), with the exception of one that was 1 hour late. They were usually very nice and comfortable (think of a deluxe coach of the 70's). You carry your hand luggage with you (on some trips, it's better to keep them with you, like San Jose to Fortuna, on other trip, you can use the overhead compartment) and your suitcase goes under the bus (on some trip, they'll give you ticket for it, depending on the risk for the trip I guess).
You can buy your ticket ahead of time, if you'll be boarding at a terminal. They'll give you a receipt with your reserved seat numbers. It's worth it if you plan on using a popular and thus heavily crowded trip. Otherwise, you'll end up in front, aligned with all the others that bought their tickets (they pack the bus row by row). If you think there wont be many peoples on the bus (check the day before), don't buy a ticket and choose your seat (they'll charge you inside). Back rows usually give more space for the legs...
On long trips, the driver might stop at a soda in the middle of the trip. Gives you time to go to the bathroom, freshen up and buy food and drinks. There will also be vendors boarding.
It takes longer than driving on your own (bus is slower and stops everywhere!), although some trips have an express schedule service (they usually depart very early in the morning but wont make any stop... a 4h trip becomes a 3h trip). And it's probably bumpier than a car ride. But you can enjoy the scenery and see the country and it's peoples. You wont have to learn the road, the signs, the itinerary (pretty tricky as some tourists we met there told us). And you'll save money... to put toward good use there! Leave a Comment
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