Getting around Costa Rica

Air travel

The fastest way to travel around Costa Rica is with a flight. Travelers can look at flight schedules with NatureAir and Sansa. These are small passenger planes where travelers are allowed no more than 12kg (30 lbs) of weight for baggage.

Schedules change constantly and delays are frequent because of inclement weather. Be patient.

Boat travel

Ferries travel across the Golfo de Nicoya connecting the central Pacific coast with the southern tip of Peninsula de Nicoya.

The Countermark ferry connects Puntarenas with Playa Narajo four times daily. More info on ferry travel in this area.

The Ferry Peninsular links Puntarenas and Vaquero where bus connections onwards are available.

On the Golfo Dulce, a daily passenger ferry links Golfito with Puerto Jimenez on the Peninsula de Osa. Weekday water taxi takes passengers to and from Playa Zancudo.

There are water taxis in Sierpe linking to Bahia Drake in the Peninsula de Osa.

On the Caribbean coast, there is a bus and boat service which runs several times per day and links Cariari and Tortuguero.

A daily water taxi connects Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui with Trinidad on the Rio San Juan. The Rio San Juan is in Nicaragua and visitors will need a passport.

Bus travel

Buses in Costa Rica are frequent and go almost everywhere. They are cheap but slow. San Jose is the transportation center of the country but there is no central terminal. Bus offices are scattered around town. You'll want to get a Lonely Planet Costa Rica travel guide to help you navigate the bus system, offices, etc.

There are two types of buses — directo and colectivo. Directo has fewer stops but bus drivers still pick up people just about anywhere.

Trips that are longer than four hours usually have a rest stop and keep an eye on your baggage to ensure that it is not accidentally given to someone else at intermediate stops.

Shuttle bus

Tourist-van shuttle services provided by Graylings Fantasy Bus and Inter bus both run overland transport from San Jose to the most popular destinations in Costa Rica. Prices start at US$20 and climb higher for longer distances. Graylines' prices are slightly higher than Inter bus.

Car & motorcycle travel

For driving in Costa Rica, a driver's license from home is normally accepted for up to 90 days. Many places also accept an International Driving Permit issued by the automobile association in the traveler's country of origin. After 90 days, visitors will need to get a Costa Rican driver's license.

Gasoline and diesel are widely available in Costa Rica. Fuel will likely cost more in remote areas. Spare parts may be hard to find.

To rent a car, travelers will need a driver's license, major credit card and a passport. The minimum age for car rental is 21. When renting a car, ask for written confirmation. Be sure to carefully inspect for damage and don't fix your car if it breaks down. Call them instead. Car rentals don't reimburse.

Taxis

Meters are not used on long trips, so arrange a fare ahead of time. Fares can fluctuate because of bad road conditions or poor weather.

Hiring a car with a driver can cost the same or less than renting a car for the day.

In cities like San Jose, taxis have meters but many drivers try to get out of using them. Outside of San Jose, most taxis do not have meters. Be sure to agree upon a fare in advance. Some bargaining is acceptable.

In some towns there are collective taxis that several passengers are able to share. Drivers charge passengers a flat fee but pick up other passengers along the way. Taxi drivers are not normally tipped unless they help with your baggage.

Travel to Costa Rica

Travel in Costa Rica is fun and exciting. Learn about what there is to do.