Rewards aplenty await visitors to Costa Rica who venture from their luxury hotels. The country’s narrow and rugged roads wind through an incredible array of spectacular scenery, amazing wildlife, smoking volcanoes, verdant rainforests, gorgeous beaches and tropical picnic hideaways.
Take a tour offered by one of the country’s many travel operators. Hire a car or join the locals and hop aboard a bus. A large number of cruise ships also dock at ports around Costa Rica.
If you are visiting several regions of the country, the most convenient way is to fly into San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport. This is the transportation hub to nearly every point in the country. Due to Costa Rica’s long stretches of unpaved roads marked by potholes, distances that may appear short can extend to long hours of driving. Domestic flights are a recommended option. And because car rental rates can be expensive, flying will be cheaper than driving. Domestic flights from San Jose are available to a number of tourist destinations. There are two domestic airlines, Sansa and NatureAir. Demands for seats are high so it is best to book in advance.
Charter flights within Costa Rica are also a practical option if you are traveling with a group of four to eight people. Contrary to what you may think, it is not expensive. Price per person may be slightly higher than taking a regular domestic flight but you can set your own departure time. What is more, Costa Rica has dozens of airstrips that are accessible only by charter planes. They are generally booked through tour operators, travel agents and as part of resort or hotel services.
Bus services as a whole are quite well-developed. They are reliable and inexpensive. Most Costa Ricans do not own cars thus buses run to most parts of the country using San Jose as take-off point. Remote towns may only have a single bus trip a day so it is wise to know the time of arrival and departure. Buses on the major routes are modern and comfortable but some of them are not air-conditioned. However rest assured that there are no animals, luggage or people on the bus roof. On longer routes, buses stop at restaurants.
The main inconvenience of buses is that passengers have to return to San Jose and catch another bus outward from there. There is also no main bus terminal. Buses have to leave from various departure locations. Several hotels and tour operators offer the use of minibuses that not only shorten traveling time but also pass through several tourist attractions. They are convenient as they provide door to door services to major hotels and are all air-conditioned. Two private bus companies, Gray Line Tours Fantasy Bus and Interbus travel to most of the popular destinations. Hotel to hotel service is offered as long as your hotel/resort is on the route, if not you will be dropped off at the nearest hotel in the area.
If you are not pressed for time, renting a car is a good alternative especially if you are staying at a hotel or resort that is far away from the town or if you are going off the beaten path.
Orange in color, licensed taxis are plentiful in San Jose. Taxis are metered but it is advisable to negotiate on a price with the driver beforehand especially if you are traveling outside San Jose on long trips or making several stops. Unlicensed taxis are common but they do not have meters and charge exorbitant prices.
However, most travelers avoid renting cars given the poor road conditions in Costa Rica. In San Jose, traffic is bad and car theft is widespread. Whether you are in San Jose or in the countryside, roads are often unpaved and full of potholes. Roads are also not properly lighted and many do not have painted center lines or shoulder lines. There are also unmarked speed bumps. Mountain roads can also be hazardous at night. During rainy season, roads are in much worse conditions. To add to all these hindrances, Costa Ricans are known to be reckless drivers. Costa Rica ranks second in vehicular accidents worldwide.
When traveling to some tourist hotspots, there are also other limitations to consider. Tortuguero National Park is accessible only by air or boat. Roads leading to Corcovado National Park are usually impassable during rainy season. It is illegal to cross the borders to Panama or Nicaragua on a rented car.
Regardless of which means of transportation you choose, you must always bring your passport, visa, driver’s license and other forms of identifications.