Transportation

By plane, trane or automobile, Costa Rica transportation can be a little sticky at times. Small planes, crowded buses or rocky roads will probably mean a bit of a bumpy ride no matter your destination or means of transportation. As long as you prepare yourself, it really isn't THAT bad. Worse case scenario: you go home telling a crazy story about the minibus-sized pothole that swallowed up your rental car.

Arriving By Plane Costa Rica has two international airports: The Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, which serves as a quick jump off to the beaches of Guanacaste & The Juan Santamaría International Airport just west of Costa Rica's capital city, San Jose.

Daily arrivals are continually on the increase, while the country struggles to renovate and enlarge the airports to meet the demand. Airlines serve San Jose from all over the world, while direct flights going to Liberia currently depart from LAX, Atlanta, Miami, Houston and JFK. Both airports are slightly overcrowded. The San Jose airport is quite modern with international fast food chains and gift stores with a great variety of over-priced Costa Rican souvenirs. The Liberia airport consists of three large rooms dedicated to arrivals and luggage, check-in, and those waiting for departure.

Domestic Travel By Plane The two major domestic airlines are Nature Air (www.natureair.com) and Sansa (www.flysansa.com). Several companies provide private charter services as well. Almost all areas of Costa Rica have some sort of airport or landing strip, aka "Aerodromo". Some of the more remote regions have a simple gravel runway with covered benches to wait at. The Puerto Jimenez aerodromo is optimistically located next to a graveyard. Most domestic flights are on tiny 19-passenger twin-turboprop aircraft and the ride can be a bit bumpy, but safe. Prices range from about $42 to $150 for domestic travel

Rental Car As Costa Rica is constantly growing in popularity among tourists, the rental car prices seem to be growing right along with that statistic. You can find an economic car such as a Toyota Yaris for about $40 or more per day with taxes, while a small SUV might run around $75 or more with taxes. The police are cracking down on a scheme where thieves slit rental car tires so they can later rob the renters when they stop with a "flat" tire. You should be careful to never keep valuables in a rental car when you aren't their as well, as popping a lock is no challenge for the average Costa Rican 'delinquent'.

Public Bus The Public Bus system in Costa Rica is quite expansive and reliable. There is no one company managing the entire system, but rather hundreds of small companies that cover their own specific routes. An updated bus schedule can be found in any guide book, although it is recommended that you check a bus stop in advance to verify the time if you are making your plans around a trip. In San Jose, most bus stops can be found around the Coca Cola Bus Terminal, which is also a hang out for pickpockets, and not a recommended destination after dark. Ticabus (www.ticabus.com) and TransNica (www.transnica.com) are two major bus companies making international trips throughout Central America for fees starting at $25 dollars.

Taxi/ Private Shuttle Taxis can be hired to take you wherever you want to go in Costa Rica, at a much higher fee than other forms of public transportation. A trip from the Liberia Airport would cost around $55, while Liberia to Playa del Coco goes for about $30. San Jose to Jaco can be caught at a steal for about $45.

Interbus (www.interbusonline.com) is a private shuttle service that has about two trips per day to varying destinations throughout Costa Rica. An example fare would be a trip from San Jose to Quepos for $35 a person, with fees for extra luggage. These must be reserved in advance, and are a great alternative to taking the stuffy public buses.