| Whether you are traveling for adventure, for | | | | and he/she will be happy to tell you. Buses will |
| business, or just for relaxation, you need to know | | | | take you just about anywhere in the country, and |
| how to get to where you want to be. It may be | | | | it is a very inexpensive way to get around. I will |
| as simple as getting to and from your hotel, or as | | | | make the section on buses short, sweet and |
| complicated as seeing the whole country in a | | | | simple. When you get to a bus stop, read the |
| short period of time. Regardless of your situation, | | | | large sign: it will tell you the cost of the bus ride. |
| you need to get somewhere and you need to | | | | You will not be issued a ticket, as they do not do |
| get there safely. The most popular means of | | | | transfers here. You may need to take two or |
| transportation in Costa Rica are public | | | | three buses to get to your destination, and the |
| transportation, taxis, and rental car, although you | | | | bus driver will tell you which buses to take. |
| may take a small plane to get from one side of | | | | RENTING A VEHICLE: |
| the country to the other. | | | | Across from the airport you'll see a small complex |
| Renting a vehicle is definitely recommended for | | | | with a Fiesta Casino on one side and a hotel |
| getting around Costa Rica. | | | | across from it. If you go straight between them |
| A 4×4 is preferable, especially if you are the | | | | you will find a strip mall of car rental places on |
| adventure-type and plan on going on jungle hikes | | | | your left hand side. David and I prefer Solid Car |
| and travelling to less touristy areas. If you fly into | | | | Rental, we have used them on a few different |
| San José and you plan on hitting the beach, you | | | | occasions and we have always been given great |
| are approximately 3-4 hours away from the | | | | service for a good price, and they will not try to |
| closest beach (however there is a new highway | | | | scam you at all. One problem we want to help |
| being built to Puntareanas, which when finish | | | | you avoid is getting overcharged or scammed on |
| should shed 2-3 hours of your travel time). You | | | | your car rental. Believe it or not it happens often. |
| can take public transit which is much cheaper, | | | | BEWARE OF HIDDEN CHARGES! |
| approximately 2500 colones or $5 US to go from | | | | Do not sign any blank contracts or contracts with |
| downtown San José to the west coast. | | | | missing dates, prices or other blank information. |
| Although this is a very inexpensive choice, it may | | | | Read and re-read your rental contract. It should |
| be confusing and dangerous especially if you | | | | be in English, and if they try to add bogus charges |
| travel alone. | | | | into the contract then do not sign it and go to |
| PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: | | | | another company. There is no such thing as a |
| Costa Rica's bus system provides the most | | | | "heat/AC" charge or "maintenance" charge, these |
| popular method of travel among locals, and is | | | | are bogus. There is usually one flat rate of $x |
| certainly the least expensive. Almost every region | | | | day or week, and some rental companies may |
| of Costa Rica is accessible by bus, making it very | | | | give you a deal if you rent for even longer. In |
| easy to get around. | | | | addition, you cannot use your credit card as |
| Although buses are the least expensive method | | | | insurance, you must purchase insurance (this is |
| of transportation, they are certainly not the | | | | mandatory not a scam) and most companies |
| safest. Many bus stops, especially in less traveled | | | | require a credit card with $950 available on it as a |
| areas, do not have stops or signs, and there is no | | | | deposit. This money will not be taken off your |
| way of identifying that it is in fact, a bus stop. In | | | | card; they will simply put a hold on it until your car |
| this case you have to rely on the locals to tell you | | | | has returned. Make sure a representative comes |
| where it is, and asking locals for directions at night | | | | out to the car with you and makes note of all the |
| can be unsafe, especially for tourist. | | | | scratches, dings, dents or marks on the car |
| Buses are far from comfortable in Costa Rica; | | | | before you sign anything. You are allowed to point |
| cramped seats, pushy people, pot-hole littered | | | | out flaws as well and they MUST make note of it. |
| highways and gravel or dirt roads make for an | | | | Also, check the car when you get back, and have |
| unpleasant ride, not to mention the smell in most | | | | the company go over all the bumps and |
| buses. In addition, buses can be on-time, but | | | | scratches again and sign the noted paper to make |
| generally run on "Tico time," meaning they arrive | | | | sure they are not going to charge you for any |
| late or whenever they feel like it. | | | | false damages. Most companies are glad to do |
| Buses in Costa Rica are relatively cheap, however | | | | this, and if they are not then move along to a |
| not all bus stops are marked. If there is a corner | | | | different company who is. |
| store nearby, as the clerk where the bus stop is | | | | |