How to get around in Costa Rica?

Overland to Costa Rica

Travelling to Costa Rica by bus is fairly easy. Costa Rica’s national bus company, Tica Bus runs daily services between San José and destinations across the Americas. Travel to or from Managua (11hr), Guatemala City (60hr, with overnights in Managua and El Salvador at your own expense) and Panama City (16hr). Be sure to reserve your tickets up to a month in advance in high season (and up to three months in December).

How to get around in Costa Rica?

Buses are the most common way of getting around Costa Rica, and the public bus system is excellent, inexpensive and relatively frequent, even in remote areas. Privately run shuttle buses offer quicker but pricier transfers, while taxis are decent value for groups. Car rental can be quite expensive, and driving can be a hair-raising experience, with precipitous drops in the highlands and potholed roads just about everywhere else.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that the difficult terrain makes driving distances longer than they appear on the map. Domestic flights are one of the quickest ways of travelling around Costa Rica, with the two main domestic airlines offering economical flights.

Getting around in Costa Rica by bus

Getting around Costa Rica by bus is by far the cheapest option – the most expensive journey in the country (from San José to Paso Canoas on the Panamanian border) costs just US$14. San José is the hub for virtually all bus services in the country; indeed, it’s often impossible to travel from one place to another without backtracking to the capital.

It’s best to book tickets for popular routes in advance, though you may be lucky enough to get on without a reservation. Tickets on most mid- to long-distance and popular routes are issued with a date and a seat number; make sure the date is correct, as you cannot normally change your ticket or get a refund. Bus schedules change with impressive frequency, so be sure to check in advance. You can download a timetable from the ICT website or check here.

Shuttle buses

A network of air-conditioned shuttle buses connects most of Costa Rica’s main tourist destinations. While these often cost over five times as much as the public buses, they are significantly faster and more comfortable, and will pick up and drop off at hotels. Try Interbus.

Getting around in Costa Rica by domestic flights

If you’re short on time, the best way to travel Costa Rica is by plane. The two main domestic carriers are: 

• Kayak
• Sansa
• NatureAir

Although, you are better off booking your flight(s) through more trustworthy websites like Kayak. Domestic flights can be particularly handy for accessing the more remote corners of the country – the flight from San José to Puerto Jiménez on the Osa Peninsula, for example, takes just 50 minutes compared to four and a half hours on the bus.

NatureAir, which flies from Tobías Bolaños Airport in Pavas, 7km west of San José, generally has bigger planes and more frequent services. Sansa flies from Juan Santamaría airport, 17km northwest of San José. Rates start around US$60 for the shortest hops on both airlines, and last-minute deals are sometimes available on flights that aren’t fully booked.

Getting around in Costa Rica by rental car

Although there’s little traffic outside San José and the Valle Central, the common perception of driving in Costa Rica is of endless dodging around cows and potholes, while big trucks nudge your rear bumper in an effort to get you to go faster around the next blind bend. The reality is somewhat different. While many minor roads are indeed badly potholed and unsurfaced, travelling around Costa Rica by car is relatively easy. Plus with your own vehicle you can see the country at your own pace without having to adhere to bus or plane schedules.

Expect to pay from about US$40 per day for a regular vehicle, and up to US$80 for an intermediate 4WD (both including full insurance), which might be helpful at Arenal and Monteverde area. It’s well worth hiring a Sat Nav, as road signs in Costa Rica are few and far between.

Most car-rental companies are located in San José and at or around the international airports near Alajuela and Liberia, though the best option is to rent your car online before arrival. 

Local agencies invariably provide a much better deal than the major overseas operators (Vamos and Adobe are particularly recommended), although renting outside San José is usually a bit more expensive. During peak season (December to March), it’s wise to reserve a car before you arrive.

If you’re planning to visit the Nicoya Peninsula, Santa Elena and Monteverde or remote parts of the Zona Sur, it’s definitely worth paying the extra money for a 4WD. Indeed, in some areas of the country during the rainy season (May to November), it’s a necessity for rough roads and river crossings.