Costa Rica Transportation: 15 Ways To Get Around Costa Rica

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Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

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How to travel around Costa Rica

Two of the best things about Costa Rica are its diminutive size and its plethora of attractions, which you’ll find in every corner of the country. Fortunately, this means that no matter where you go in Costa Rica, great experiences are never far away.

To capitalize on its assets, Costa Rica doesn’t just permit cross-region travel, it encourages visitors to hit the road and experience as much as they can, including the country’s unique destinations, varied ecosystems, wild adventures, and diverse cultures. To facilitate this, Costa Rica provides quite a few ways of traveling within the country, and each varies from the next in terms of passenger capacity, scheduled stops, routes covered, luggage options, the transferring of children and pets, price, and scheduling. Be sure to read our guide below to find the Costa Rica transportation options that best suit your budget, preferences, and needs.

Costa Rica transportation option #1: Shared shuttle services

Pros	Cons
Shared shuttle services… • Are cost-effective • Are somewhat eco-friendly because they’re a form of shared transportation • Connect Costa Rica’s most popular routes • Are available daily • Don’t require physical effort	Shared shuttle services… • Are shared with other travelers • Have predetermined and nonnegotiable schedules • Don’t permit impromptu stops • Don’t travel to all Costa Rica destinations

Shared shuttle services are one of the most common modes of Costa Rica transportation. They provide transportation in air-conditioned tourist vans that typically seat 8-12 passengers, although larger vehicles that fit up to 30 passengers are sometimes used for popular routes during busy times of the year. As their name suggests, shared shuttles provide a service that you share with other travelers. This means that the ride is not private to your particular travel group.

Here are some other helpful things to know about shared shuttle services in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops: Most shared shuttle services provide direct transfers, which means they don’t make impromptu stops along any route. Most shared shuttle services provide a scheduled bathrooms stop, however.
• Routes: Shared shuttle services connect Costa Rica’s most popular destinations. The following list is non-exhaustive, but it provides an idea of the destinations where shared shuttle services travel:
  • Costa Rica’s two international airports, the SJO Airport near San Jose and the LIR Airport near Liberia.
  • Popular inland destinations, such as La Fortuna / Arenal, Monteverde / Santa Elena, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, and Rincon de la Vieja.
  • Popular coastal destinations, including Papagayo, Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Brasilito, Playa Flamingo, Tamarindo, Samara, Tambor, Montezuma, Santa Teresa, Puntarenas, Jaco, Quepos / Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Uvita, Sierpe, Cahuita, and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
• Luggage options: On shared shuttle services, carry-on luggage is typically kept with you at your seat. Checked luggage is stored at the back of the vehicle or secured above the vehicle. According to the policies of the shared shuttle service provider you use, there may be a limit to the amount of luggage that you can travel with. Large items, such as surfboards, may not be accepted or may require payment of an additional fee.
• Children and pets: Reduced rates for children are usually offered. Children up to the age of 12 travel with a car seat. If you do not intend to bring a car seat to Costa Rica, one (typically free of charge) can be requested through the shared shuttle service provider. Pets (with the exception of guide dogs) are not permitted in shared shuttle service vehicles.
• Price: Shared shuttle services are reasonably priced. Exact prices vary by route but generally fall in the range of $40-60 USD per adult. (Shared shuttle services to far-flung destinations can run closer to $90 USD per adult). The price of a shared shuttle service is for a one-way transfer.
• Scheduling: Shared shuttle services have predetermined, nonnegotiable departure times. Depending on the popularity of the service route, one or two departure times may be offered per day (typically one in the morning and sometimes another in the afternoon).

Planning on using shared shuttle services throughout your trip? Don’t miss our free discount code that can help you save 20% off shared shuttle services provided by Interbus:

Click here to access our free Costa Rica discount codes

Costa Rica transportation option #2: Private transfer services

Pros	Cons
Private transfer services… • Can connect any two destinations in Costa Rica that can be reached by van • Are private to your travel group • Provide flexible and negotiable schedules • Permit impromptu stops • Don’t require physical effort	Private transfer services… • Are not cost-effective, unless you’re part of a travel group and split the cost of the service with your group members • Are not eco-friendly

Private transfer services are a popular method of Costa Rica transportation used by travel groups, normally groups consisting of four or more people. They offer transportation in air-conditioned tourist vans that typically seats 8-12 passengers, although larger vehicles that fit up to 30 passengers are sometimes used for larger travel groups. As their name suggests, private transfer services provide a service that is private to your travel group. (In other words, the service is not shared with other travelers, such as strangers.)

Here are some other helpful things to know about private transfer services in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops: Private transfer services provide direct services. However, you’re welcome to request stops along a route. Note that some private transfer service providers limit the amount of complimentary stop time per route to one hour and charge a fee for additional stop time. Stop time can be used for impromptu bathroom breaks, restaurant visits, to take photos, etc.
• Routes: Private transfer services travel to almost every Costa Rica destination that’s reachable by van. This is one of their best selling points; not only do they travel to popular destinations, but also they provide a way of reaching destinations that aren’t serviced by shared shuttle services. (See the “shared shuttle services” section above for a non-exhaustive list of places where shared shuttle services travel. If your chosen destinations don’t appear on that list, you can still get to them by using a private transfer service.)
• Luggage options: Since private transfer services provide the luxury of having a van all to yourself, you can place your luggage wherever you want. Store it at the back of the vehicle or secure it above the vehicle if you wish, or keep it with you at your seat. According to the policies of the private transfer service provider you use, there may be a limit to the amount of luggage you can bring on board. Traveling with large items, such as surfboards, doesn’t normally require payment of an additional fee.
• Children and pets: Children up to the age of 12 travel with a car seat. If you do not intend to bring a car seat to Costa Rica, one (typically free of charge) can be requested through the private transfer service provider. Pets (with the exception of guide dogs) are generally not permitted in private transfer service vehicles.
• Price: Private transfer services are priced per group, not per person. Exact prices vary by route but generally fall in the range of $100-400 USD. The cost of the service is shared among van occupants, so depending on the number of people in your travel group, private transfer services may or may not be the most cost-effective Costa Rica transportation option. Unless you’ve arranged otherwise through the private transfer service provider, the price of a private transfer service is for a one-way transfer.
• Scheduling: Private transfer services do not have predetermined departure times. Departure times are negotiable; you’re free to select your own. Note that some private transfer service providers can offer service at any time of day whereas others limit possible departure times to their operating hours, such as between the hours of 6:00am and 7:00pm, for example. If you need to arrange Costa Rica transportation according to a set or irregular schedule, private transfer services offer the most flexibility.

Costa Rica transportation option #3: Car rentals

Pros	Cons
Rental cars… • Can be cost-effective, if you visit many destinations • Can connect any two destinations in Costa Rica that can be reached by car • Are private to your travel group • Provide flexible and negotiable schedules • Permit impromptu stops	Rental cars… • Require drivers to feel comfortable driving in a foreign country • May not be cost-effective if you only visit one or two destinations in Costa Rica • May not be cost-effective if you stay in Costa Rica for longer than a week or two

Rental cars provide freedom, flexibility, and an opportunity to discover parts of Costa Rica that aren’t typically seen on routes serviced by shared shuttle services and private transfer services, among other modes of transportation. If you feel comfortable driving abroad, you’re familiar with Costa Rica’s roads and driving laws, you have access to a GPS or map system for navigational support, and you have a bold sense of adventure, driving yourself in a rental car is a fantastic way to get from point A to point B and beyond.

You can rent a small, midsize, or intermediate-size 4×4 SUV, or a van, truck, or non-4×4 sedan, in Costa Rica. Both manual transmission and automatic transmission vehicles are available.

Here are some other helpful things to know about rental cars in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops and routes: No other form of Costa Rica transportation provides the same level of freedom as a rental car. With one, you can make stops along driving routes wherever and whenever you wish, and you can travel to every destination that’s reachable by car, provided you aren’t put off by navigating Costa Rica’s sometimes arduous back roads. If you’d prefer to stick to well-maintained roads, it’s possible to travel across Costa Rica, from the northwest corner at Nicaragua to the southeast corner at Panama, as well as from the Caribbean Sea on the north side of the country to the Pacific Ocean on the south side of the country, on fast-paced, paved highways. No uncomfortable back road travel required.
• Luggage options: The size of vehicle you rent and the number of people in your travel group will determine where luggage will be stored. If there’s room in the vehicle, luggage can be stored in the back seat. If not, it will need to go in the trunk or a rooftop carrier, otherwise known as a canasta.
• Children and pets: Children up to the age of 12 travel with a car seat. If you do not intend to bring a car seat to Costa Rica, one can be rented through the car rental agency. Pets (with the exception of guide dogs) are usually not permitted in rental cars.
• Price: Car rentals are priced per day or per week, depending on the duration of the rental period. Rates are usually calculated on a 24-hour basis, with the clock starting from the moment you pick up the car. Some car rental agencies provide a grace period (typically one hour) within which you’re permitted to return the car after the scheduled return time without being charged for an additional rental day. Exact prices vary according to several factors, including the vehicle’s size, model, and transmission type, your chosen pick-up and return locations and times, the amount of insurance you wish to purchase, and your interest in optional add-ons. The cost of the service is shared among car occupants, so depending on the number of people in your travel group, renting a car may or may not be the most cost-effective Costa Rica transportation option.
• Scheduling: Having a rental car is ideal if you want to explore Costa Rica at your own pace and according to your own schedule. Within the regular operating hours of your preferred car rental agency, you can choose your desired car pick-up and return times, as well as the total number of days you’d like to have the vehicle. Other decisions you can make for yourself include the time of day you’d like to hit the road, the roads you’d like to travel, and the pace at which you travel.

Planning to rent a car in Costa Rica? Don’t miss our related blog posts:

Renting A Car In Costa Rica: Should You Do It?
How Not To Fall For Costa Rica Car Rental Scams
Costa Rica Car Rental Insurance
This Is The Costa Rica Car Rental Agency We Rent Cars Through

Planning on renting a car for your trip? Don’t miss our free discount code that can help you save 25-50% off Costa Rica car rentals:

Click here to access our free Costa Rica discount codes

Costa Rica transportation option #4: Tour transportation services

Pros	Cons
Tour transportation services… • Are cost-effective • Are somewhat eco-friendly because they’re a form of shared transportation • Provide great entertainment value by combining transportation with an adventure or nature tour	Tour transportation services… • Are shared with other travelers • Have predetermined and nonnegotiable schedules • Don’t permit impromptu stops • Don’t travel to all Costa Rica destinations

Tour transportation services (sometimes called city-to-city transportation-inclusive tours, adventure connections, or onward transport) are one of our favorite ways to get around Costa Rica. They’re much like shared shuttle services in that they are provided in an air-conditioned tourist van that is shared with other travelers. Unique to tour transportation, though, is the ability to participate in a guided activity partway through the service route, making tour transportation services a combined tour and transport experience.

Here are some other helpful things to know about tour transportation services in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops: Tour transportation services make at least one scheduled stop per route, to allow passengers to participate in a guided tour, such as a white-water rafting tour. The scheduled stop is the essence of tour transportation; without it, the service would be a shared shuttle service. The scheduled stop, which usually lasts for at least a few hours while a guided activity is experienced, is also a great way to break up long travel days. The following list is non-exhaustive, but it provides an idea of the types of activities that can be experienced in conjunction with tour transportation services: white-water rafting tours, safari float tours, national park tours, canyoning tours, waterfall jumping tours, zip-lining tours, Tortuguero tours, and crocodile tours.
• Routes: Tour transportation services connect a number of Costa Rica’s popular destinations. The following list is non-exhaustive, but it provides an idea of places where you can be picked up and dropped off if you choose to travel using tour transportation:
  • Costa Rica’s international airports, located near San Jose and Liberia.
  • Popular inland destinations, such as La Fortuna / Arenal, Monteverde / Santa Elena, and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui.
  • Popular coastal destinations, including Papagayo, Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Brasilito / Conchal, Playa Flamingo, Tamarindo, Samara, Puntarenas, Jaco, Quepos / Manuel Antonio, Cahuita, and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
• Luggage options: With tour transportation, carry-on luggage is typically kept with you at your seat. Checked luggage is stored at the back of the vehicle or secured above the vehicle. According to the policies of the tour operator providing the tour transportation service, there may be a limit to the amount of luggage that you can travel with. Large items, such as surfboards, may not be accepted or may require payment of an additional fee.
• Children and pets: Some tour operators offer reduced tour rates to children, which translate to lower costs for tour transportation services. Children who are transported in tourism vehicles are not required to use a car seat. Pets, with the exception of guide dogs, are not generally permitted in vehicles used to carry out tour transportation services.
• Price: Tour transportation services are reasonably priced, when you consider that the cost of the transportation service is combined with the cost of the guided activity experienced along the transportation service route. In other words, for the price of the service, you get to experience a guided tour AND travel (one-way) between two destinations. Exact prices vary by tour and route but generally fall in the $50-150 USD per adult.
• Scheduling: Tour transportation services have predetermined, nonnegotiable departure times because they run according to set guided tour schedules. Most often, only one departure time is offered each day, typically in the morning. Tour transportation services are a time-efficient way to travel because they permit traveling between destinations and experiencing activities at the same time. They can also be a cost-efficient way to travel, when the combined price of the transportation service and the guided tour proves to be less expensive than the cost of those items when booked separately.

Did you know you can use day tours to save time and money while traveling around Costa Rica? Learn how by reading our related blog post:

Costa Rica Tour Transportation: How To Use Tours To Travel Between Destinations

Costa Rica transportation option #5: Small boats and water taxis

Pros	Cons
Small boat and water taxi services… • Are cost-effective • Are somewhat eco-friendly because they’re a form of shared transportation • Provide an opportunity to shorten travel time or avoid ground transportation between destinations • Don’t require physical effort	Small boat and water taxi services… • Are shared with other travelers • Sometimes have predetermined and nonnegotiable schedules • Don’t permit impromptu stops • Only travel to Costa Rica destinations that can be reached by boat

Boat transportation, sometimes called a water taxi service, is a common way of moving between coastal destinations. Boats vary according to their model, structure, size, and passenger capacity. In addition, some boats are slow-moving, have a roof to protect passengers from the elements, and provide leisurely trips across lakes and bays while others are roofless speedboats that zip across gulfs and the open ocean. Most boats seat 8-24 people. Unless you hire a boat charter, boat transportation and water taxi services are shared with other travelers; the rides are not private to your particular travel group.

Here are some other helpful things to know about small boat services and water taxi services in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops: Most boat and water taxi services provide direct transfers, which means they don’t make stops along the way.
• Routes: Boat transportation services connect a few coastal destinations in Costa Rica. The following list is non-exhaustive, but it provides an idea of the coastal destinations where boat transportation services travel:
  • The van-boat-van service, also known as the jeep-boat-jeep service or the taxi-boat-taxi service, is a combined ground-and-boat transportation service that connects La Fortuna and Monteverde, which sit on opposite sides of Lake Arenal. You can learn more about the van-boat-van service by reading our related blog post: Best Ways To Travel From La Fortuna To Monteverde (Or Vice Versa).
  • Boat services connect northern Pacific coast destinations, including Papagayo, Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Tamarindo, and Playa Grande
  • Boat services connect Nicoya Peninsula destinations, including Montezuma, Santa Teresa, and Malpais
  • Boat services connect central Pacific coast destinations, including Herradura and Jaco
  • Boat services connect Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce destinations, including Sierpe, Drake Bay, Puerto Jimenez, Golfito, and Zancudo.
  • Boat services connect Caribbean coast destinations, including Tortuguero, Limon, and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
• Luggage options: Most boats have enclosed compartments (usually at the front of the boat) where luggage is stored during travel. Luggage policies vary across boat transfer service providers, but you’re typically allowed to bring one suitcase/large backpack and one small bag on board. For routes that cross lakes, bays, gulfs, and/or oceans, a good rule to follow is to keep the suitcase or large backpack weighing less than 50lbs. For routes that cross canals (travel to and from Tortuguero, for example), it’s best to keep your luggage weighing less than 25lbs. Excess baggage isn’t always permitted on boat transportation services, but when it is, baggage fees (budget $10-15 USD per piece) may apply. Have the boat transportation service provider confirm whether large items, such as surfboards and bikes, can be transported, and if so, at what cost.
• Children and pets: Reduced rates for children are usually offered. With prior approval, some boat transportation service providers may allow pets to be transported if they’re stored in a crate or carrier.
• Price: Boat transportation services are reasonably priced. Exact prices vary by route but generally fall in the range of $25-55 USD per adult. The price of boat transportation is for a one-way transfer.
• Scheduling: Boat transportation services have predetermined, nonnegotiable departure times. Depending on the popularity of the service route, one or more departure times may be offered per day.

Costa Rica transportation option #6: Ferries

Pros	Cons
Ferry services… • Are cost-effective • Are somewhat eco-friendly because they’re a form of shared transportation • Provide an opportunity to shorten travel time or avoid ground transportation between destinations • Permit rental cars to come aboard • Don’t require physical effort	Ferry services… • Are shared with other travelers • Have predetermined and nonnegotiable schedules • Don’t permit impromptu stops • Only travel to a handful of Costa Rica destinations

Costa Rica doesn’t operate a ton of ferry services, but the few that are offered (by Coonatramar and Naviera Tambor) serve a helpful purpose: they provide a way of crossing the wide Nicoya Gulf, helping to ease travel to destinations on the Nicoya Peninsula from destinations in most other parts of Costa Rica, except for the northern Pacific region (i.e., Guanacaste). The ferries depart from the city of Puntarenas (in the central Pacific region) and travel to the local, non-touristy communities of Paquera and Playa Naranjo on the Nicoya Peninsula. (From Paquera and Playa Naranjo, ground transportation is required to reach popular destinations on the Nicoya Peninsula, including Montezuma, Santa Teresa, and Malpais.) Ferries vary in structure, size, and passenger capacity, but they’re large enough to carry many travelers and vehicles (rental cars are permitted), and they’re always shared with other travelers.

Here are some other helpful things to know about ferry services in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops: Ferries provide direct transfers. They don’t make stops along the way.
• Routes: As explained above, ferries can be used to travel between the city of Puntarenas and the community of Paquera or the city of Puntarenas and the community of Playa Naranjo.
• Luggage options: Ferries don’t enforce strict luggage policies. As a passenger, you’re welcome to bring all of your luggage on the ferry, regardless of the quantity or weight, and at no extra cost. The ferries don’t provide public storage, however, so whatever you choose to bring aboard you’ll need to keep at/beside your seat. Ferry seating is not assigned, and you’re welcome to roam about the ferry during the service, with your luggage in tow, to take in views of the Nicoya Gulf. If you drive a rental car onto the ferry, you can keep your luggage stored in your vehicle, just be sure to lock the car.
• Children and pets: Reduced ferry ticket rates for children are offered. Pets are usually accepted for transport if they’re stored in a crate or carrier.
• Price: Ferry tickets are inexpensive. Exact prices vary by route but generally range $1-2 USD per adult. (Budget an extra $20-30 USD if you plan to drive a car onto the ferry). The price of a ferry ticket buys a one-way transfer.
• Scheduling: Ferries have predetermined, nonnegotiable departure times. They run several times a day, every day.

Costa Rica transportation option #7: Domestic flights and charter flights

Pros	Cons
Domestic flights and charter flights… • Provide an opportunity to shorten travel time or avoid ground transportation between destinations • Are private to your travel group (charter flights) • Provide flexible and negotiable schedules (charter flights) • Don’t require physical effort	Domestic flights and charter flights… • Are not cost-effective • Are not eco-friendly • Are shared with other travelers (domestic flights) • Have predetermined and nonnegotiable schedules (domestic flights) • Don’t permit impromptu stops • Don’t travel to all Costa Rica destinations

The leading domestic flight provider, Sansa, connects several popular Costa Rican destinations by flight. Flights are commonly provided using Cessna Grand Caravan planes, which typically seat 8-14 people. Domestic flight services are similar to shared shuttle services in that they’re shared with other travelers, sometimes strangers.

Several more individuals and private businesses provide charter flights that can travel to any destination in Costa Rica that has an airstrip. A wide variety of planes that seat as few as three people and as many as 18 people, including De Havilland Twin Otter planes, Britten Norman Islander planes, King Air planes, Piper Seneca/Aztec planes, and Cessna Caravan/Cardinal planes, are used for charter flights. Charter flight services are similar to private transfer services in that they’re private to your travel group and are not shared with other travelers, such as strangers.

Here are some other helpful things to know about domestic flights in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops: Sansa provides some direct flights but most of their domestic flights have a stopover at the SJO Airport (domestic flight terminal). Charter flights are usually direct flights, unless the route covered is a long one and a stopover in San Jose is needed to refuel.
• Routes (domestic flights): Sansa‘s domestic flights connect several popular Costa Rica destinations and a handful of less popular locales. (Sansa also operates flights to Bocas del Toro in Panama and Managua in Nicaragua, to and from Costa Rica.) The following list is non-exhaustive, but it provides an idea of the destinations where domestic flights travel:
  • Costa Rica’s two international airports, the SJO Airport near San Jose and the LIR Airport near Liberia.
  • La Fortuna / Arenal, a popular inland destination
  • Popular coastal destinations, including Tamarindo, Nosara, Quepos, Bahia Drake, and Puerto Jimenez
  • Less popular coastal destinations, including Tambor, Palmar Sur, Golfito, and Limon, which are typically used as jumping off places for travel to nearby popular destinations
• Routes (charter flights): Charter flights travel to almost every Costa Rica destination that’s reachable by plane, including destinations that only have an airstrip, not an airport. (Costa Rica has nearly 100 private airstrips.)
• Luggage options (domestic flights): Sansa typically allows passengers to fly with one piece of complimentary checked luggage, one piece of carry-on luggage, and one personal item, such as a purse, book, binoculars, camera, or laptop. (Excess baggage fees apply.) Luggage policies and fees are determined by ticket types and can be affected by the use of a discount/promotional code, so have Sansa confirm what policies and fees will apply to your flight according to your reservation. A good rule to follow is to keep your complimentary piece of checked luggage weighing less than 30lbs and smaller than 45 inches (combined height, weight, and length), and your carry-on luggage weighing less than 10lbs and smaller than 20 inches (combined height, weight, and length). Large items, including fishing poles, golf clubs, scuba diving equipment, surfboards, and bikes, are usually accepted on domestic flights (availability permitting), but they typically require preapproval and payment of a fee.
• Luggage options (charter flights): Luggage policies and fees vary significantly across charter flight providers. Have the charter flight provider confirm their luggage policies and fees when you inquire about reserving a flight.
• Children and pets: Sansa allows young children, typically under the age of two, to fly for free on domestic flights when they sit on their parent’s lap. Reduced rates for older children are usually offered. Sansa accepts pets on domestic flights. Guide dogs fly free, so long as they weigh less than 40lbs. Other pets can travel for a free; they must also weigh less than 40lbs, travel in a carrier, and have a vaccination record showing good health. Several charter flight providers are also pet-friendly and welcome you to bring your fur babies aboard. Have the charter flight provider confirm their pet policies and any fees when you inquire about reserving a flight.
• Price: Airfare for domestic flights and charter flights varies according to several factors, such as the route traveled, the date of travel, and the ticket type. Domestic flights are priced per person, per one-way service, unless you reserve a round-trip flight. They’re usually two-to-three times the cost of a shared shuttle service for the same route. Charter flights are priced per group, per one-way service, unless you arrange a round-trip service. They’re more experience than the cost of a private transfer service for the same route. Although this isn’t always the case for large groups, domestic flights and charter flights are typically two of the least cost-effective Costa Rica transportation options. Regardless of whether you take a domestic or charter flight, depending on the airport you fly into and/or out of, you may need to pay an additional fee or departure tax to access private land.
• Scheduling: Both domestic flights and charter flights are modes of transportation that can significantly reduce travel time between destinations, especially destinations that sit on opposite sides or ends of the country. (Keep in mind that if your flight requires a stopover in San Jose or elsewhere, that can add additional time to the duration of the transportation service.) Domestic flights have predetermined, nonnegotiable departure times. (The travel season and the popularity of the service route determine how many flight departures are offered each day.) Charter flights do not normally have set departure times, so you’re welcome to arrange your own with the charter flight provider.

Costa Rica transportation option #8: Taxis

Pros	Cons
Taxi services… • Are available daily • Can connect any two destinations in Costa Rica that can be reached by car • Are private to your travel group • Provide flexible and negotiable schedules • Permit impromptu stops • Don’t require physical effort	Taxi services… • Are not eco-friendly • Are not cost-effective, unless you use them to travel short distances, such as the distance between your hotel and a nearby beach or restaurant

Costa Rica’s official taxi services are performed in red vehicles. The only exception to this rule is Costa Rica’s official SJO Airport taxi services, which are performed in orange vehicles. Red taxis operate in towns and cities around the country, with the exception of car-free communities, like Tortuguero. Unofficial taxi services (called piratas) are unlicensed, lone drivers who provide informal, unregulated rides. Many piratas own red-colored vehicles, so it’s easy to mistake them for official red taxis. To ensure you climb into an official red taxi, look for the yellow triangle and code (printed in black) on the vehicle’s red door, as shown in the photos above. (Official SJO Airport taxis have a white triangle and code on the vehicle’s orange door.)

Most official red taxis are sedans that can accommodate four passengers. If you’re traveling with a group of more than four people, you’ll need to either hire two taxi drivers to accommodate your group or specifically request a taxi that’s an SUV or van. Accessible taxis are available upon request.

Here are some other helpful things to know about taxi services in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops: Taxi services are typically direct transfers, but they can make stops if and when necessary.
• Routes: Taxis can travel to almost every destination in Costa Rica that’s reachable by vehicle. However, taxis are rarely used for country-country travel (i.e., as a way to travel between towns and cities). They’re more commonly used to move within towns and cities or to travel to sights and attractions on the outskirts of towns and cities.
• Luggage options: Luggage can be stored inside the taxi beside your seat or in the vehicle’s trunk. Large items, such as surfboards and bikes, can be difficult to transport by the average taxi, unless you specifically request a large taxi vehicle, such as an SUV or van.
• Children and pets: Children up to the age of 12 travel with a car seat. If you intend to use taxi services in Costa Rica, consider bringing a car seat from home. (Most taxi drivers don’t provide one.) Depending on the driver, pets may or may not be permitted in taxis.
• Price: Taxi services are priced per kilometer. Exact prices range $1.75-2.00 per kilometer for official red taxis. (Official SJO Airport taxis are slightly more expensive than official red taxis.) Make sure the driver turns on the maria (meter) when you enter the taxi. You’ll pay more if you need a driver to wait for you while you make a stop, and you may also pay more if you use a taxi service after 10:00pm.
• Scheduling: Taxi services run throughout the day, every day. Most hotels, tour operators, tour guides, and/or restaurants can call you a taxi free-of-charge. If you speak Spanish, you can call the local taxi dispatch office to arrange your own pick-up. To grab a taxi in any Costa Rican town, hail one on the street or ask a local where you can find the parada de taxis (taxi stop). Taxi stops usually line parks or churches.

Costa Rica transportation option #9: Public bus

Pros	Cons
Public bus services… • Are cost-effective • Are somewhat eco-friendly because they’re a form of shared transportation • Are available daily • Don’t require physical effort	Public bus services… • Often provide the slowest means of traveling between destinations • Require vigilance, especially if you have luggage in tow • Are shared with other travelers • Have predetermined and nonnegotiable schedules • Don’t permit impromptu stops • Don’t travel to all Costa Rica destinations

You may be surprised to learn that Costa Rica’s public transit system is well-established and operates fairly smoothly. Costa Ricans rely heavily on the system to get around, as do a small percentage of international visitors who are in the country with an extremely tight budget. Despite popular belief, Costa Rica’s public buses aren’t “chicken buses”; they’re large vehicles that resemble coach buses. Rarely are they air-conditioned, though, and they aren’t the most comfortable way to travel within Costa Rica.

Here are some other helpful things to know about public bus services in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops: Costa Rica’s public transit system provides two types of bus services, directo (direct) servies and colectivo (collective) services. Directo services provide direct (or near direct) service between two destinations, meaning the driver won’t stop along the way, or if they do, stops will be infrequent and quick. Colectivo services make several stops along a route. They’re the slowest, and typically the cheapest, form of public transportation.
• Routes: Public buses can travel to almost every Costa Rica destination that’s reachable by vehicle, including small, rural communities that aren’t regularly visited by other types of Costa Rica transportation.
• Luggage options: If you have a lot of luggage, traveling by public bus can be a pain. Some buses have enclosed compartments under the bus where suitcases and large backpacks can be stored, but if you don’t want your belongings to get stolen, you’ll need to score a window seat on the side of the bus where the compartment’s door is located and keep your eyes on the compartment every time the bus stops. If you travel light, you can carry your luggage inside the bus with you, but because seats usually sell out, you’ll likely won’t be able to keep your luggage with you beside your seat, so you’ll need to place it in an overhead rack and keep an eye on it there. Medium-size backpacks and small suitcases can be stowed by your feet, provided you don’t mind sitting uncomfortably.
• Children and pets: Reduced bus ticket rates for children are offered. Pets are usually accepted for transport if they’re stored in a crate or carrier.
• Pricing: Public buses are the cheapest mode of transportation in Costa Rica. Exact prices vary by route and whether the bus provides a directo or a colectivo service, but generally, they range $1-10 USD per adult. The price of a bus ticket buys a one-way transfer.
• Scheduling: Public buses have predetermined, nonnegotiable departure times. They run several times a day, every day.

Costa Rica transportation option #10: Tuk-tuks

Pros	Cons
Tuk-tuk services… • Are available daily • Don’t require physical effort • Are private to your travel group • Provide flexible and negotiable schedules • Permit impromptu stops	Tuk-tuk services… • Are only available at a few Costa Rica destinations • Are only used for local transportation, not to connect destinations

Tuk-tuks, otherwise known as auto-rickshaws, have popped up in some Costa Rican beach towns over the past decade. Consider them a variation of unofficial taxi services albeit performed in small, three-wheeled vehicles as opposed to sedans or SUVs. Most tuk-tuks can accommodate two-to-three passengers, depending on their size. In Costa Rica, you’re most likely to come across tuk-tuks in the beach town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, on the Caribbean coast, and in the beach town of Nosara, on the Pacific coast.

Here are some other helpful things to know about tuk-tuk services in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops: Tuk-tuks are typically direct transfers, but they can make stops if and when necessary.
• Routes: Tuk-tuks tend to stick to short routes, rarely traveling more than a half-hour or so outside of a destination. They’re primarily used to move within beach towns or to travel to sights and attractions just outside of beach towns.
• Luggage options: Tuk-tuks are small and don’t provide much space for storing luggage beyond a small personal item, such as a purse or a few shopping bags. You may be able to get by with carrying a large item, such as surfboard, on your lap.
• Children and pets: Children are welcome to travel in tuk-tuks with an adult. Depending on the driver, pets may or may not be permitted in tuk-tuks.
• Price: Service prices charged by tuk-tuk drivers are negotiable and vary by route.
• Scheduling: Tuk-tuk services run throughout the day, every day, but their availability and schedules are influenced by Costa Rica’s travel seasons. As you’d expect, you’ll find more tuk-tuks during the high season and fewer tuk-tuks during the low season. Most hotels, tour operators, tour guides, and/or restaurants can call you a tuk-tuk free-of-charge. To find a tuk-tuk in a Costa Rican beach town that has them, ask a local where the tuk-tuk drivers tend to congregate.

Costa Rica transportation option #11: Bikes

Pros	Cons
Bike rentals… • Are cost-effective • Are eco-friendly • Are available daily • Provide ultimate freedom	Bike rentals… • Require physical effort • Are only used for local transportation, not to connect destinations

A rented bike provides an easy and inexpensive means of exploring town centers and communities. You’ll find tons of beach-cruiser bikes for rent in popular beach towns, such as Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (on the Caribbean coast) and Tamarindo and Santa Teresa (on the Pacific coast). Inland destinations, including La Fortuna, also have bikes for rent, including higher quality road bikes and mountain bikes.

Here are some other helpful things to know about bike rentals in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops and routes: The best thing about bike transportation is that it’s flexible. A bike can be used to travel just about anywhere, and it supplies renters with the freedom to make scheduled or impromptu stops wherever, whenever needed.
• Luggage options: Unless you opt to wear a backpack while biking, most bikes don’t provide a way to carry luggage.
• Price: The cost of a rental bike varies by destination but averages $10-15 per day for a beach-cruiser bike and closer to $50-75 per day for a higher quality road bike or mountain bike.
• Scheduling: Most bikes are rented by the day or the week.

Costa Rica transportation option #12: Watersport equipment

Pros	Cons
Watersport equipment rentals… • Can be cost-effective • Can be eco-friendly • Are available daily • Invite uninhibited exploration of the water	Watersport equipment rentals… • Are typically cost-effective • Are typically only used for local transportation, although they can be used to connect neighboring destinations • Require physical effort

Rented watersport equipment offers a fun way of exploring Costa Rica’s waters, whether they belong to the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, or one of several gulfs, bays, or rivers. In Costa Rica, watersport equipment that can be used as a mode of transportation includes kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and jetskis. Not surprisingly, watersport equipment is available to rent in beach communities, including many of those that line the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, such as Tortuguero (on the Caribbean coast) and Samara and Drake Bay (on the Pacific coast). Operators in and around the inland destination of La Fortuna rent watersport equipment for use on the nearby lake, Lake Arenal.

Here are some other helpful things to know about watersport equipment rentals in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops and routes: Like bike transportation, rented watersport equipment can be used to connect two or more neighboring destinations by water, as well as intriguing offshore attractions, like islands. It offers renters the freedom to make scheduled or impromptu stops wherever, whenever needed.
• Luggage options: Unless you opt to wear a backpack while using watersport equipment, which may not be possible if you’re wearing a lifejacket, most watersport equipment doesn’t permit carrying luggage.
• Price: The cost of kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and jetskis vary by type but average $25-100 per day.
• Scheduling: Most watersport equipment is rented by the day, if not in two- or four-hour blocks of time.

Costa Rica transportation option #13: ATVs

Pros	Cons
ATV rentals… • Provide lots of freedom, even to explore off-road areas • Don’t require physical effort	ATV rentals… • Aren’t eco-friendly • Aren’t always cost-effective • Are typically only used for local transportation, although they can be used to connect neighboring destinations

ATV transportation, although far from eco-friendly, is a mode of transportation used in a handful of beach towns in Costa Rica, primarily those that fall along the Pacific coast, including Tamarindo and Santa Teresa. ATVs are a lot like mini rental cars: they’re gas-powered vehicles used to quickly and easily move around and between towns and communities. Despite their undeniable carbon footprint, ATV rentals are a popular option for getting to and from accommodations, restaurants, beaches, and other local attractions.

Here are some other helpful things to know about ATV rentals in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops and routes: Like rental cars, ATV rentals allow you travel between places with little physical effort. What’s more, in many cases, ATVs allow for off-road travel, which can reduce travel time and be loads of fun. ATVs welcome scheduled or impromptu stops, wherever and whenever needed.
• Luggage options: Some ATVs provide a compartment where small travel items, such as a backpack, can be stored.
• Price: The cost to rent an ATV varies by destination but averages $50-100 per day.
• Scheduling: Most ATVs are rented by the day, and in some cases, by the week.

Costa Rica transportation option #14: Golf carts

Pros	Cons
Golf cart rentals… • Can be eco-friendly, when they’re electric • Don’t require physical effort • Are available daily	Golf cart rentals… • Are only used for local transportation, not to connect destinations • Aren’t always cost-effective

Golf carts aren’t as popular in Costa Rica as they are at other tropical destinations, especially resort destinations, but you will find them in a few beach towns, including Playas del Coco and Tamarindo (on the Pacific coast). They’re a lot like ATVs in that they provide an easy way to move around towns and communities (albeit at a slower pace than an ATV), but unlike ATVs, golf carts don’t have as heavy a carbon footprint, especially electric golf carts. If the physical effort that walking and biking requires is most off-putting to you, you’ll likely love the ease with which rented golf carts invite you to move between accommodations, restaurants, beaches, and other local attractions.

Here are some other helpful things to know about golf cart rentals in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops and routes: Like rental cars and ATVs, golf cart rentals make it easy to move around towns with little physical effort, and they allow for scheduled or impromptu stops, wherever and whenever needed.
• Luggage options: Most golf carts don’t have a compartment where luggage can be stowed, but many have a spare. So, if you don’t plan on occupying that seat with passengers, it can be used to carry some luggage.
• Price: The cost to rent a golf cart varies by destination but averages $35-65 per day.
• Scheduling: Most golf carts are rented by the day. In some cases, they’re rented by the week.

Costa Rica transportation option #15: Walking

Pros	Cons
Walking… • Is cost-effective • Is eco-friendly • Is an option daily • Provides loads of freedom	Walking… • Requires physical effort • Is only an option for local transportation, not to connect destinations

Many destinations in Costa Rica, from the capital city of San Jose to sprawling beach towns along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, are primarily flat and invite leisurely strolls. If you don’t want to pay for a taxi or rent equipment, such as a bike, to get around, consider moving from point A to point B on foot.

Here are some other helpful things to know about traveling on foot in Costa Rica:

• Scheduled stops and routes: Walking awards you the freedom to wander and stop whenever and wherever you wish.
• Luggage options: Dragging luggage around any town isn’t a pleasant experience. Pack must-have items in a small backpack and leave the rest of your luggage at your hotel when you set out to explore a destination on foot.
• Children and pets: Like adults, children and pets are welcome to walk around towns. Note that sidewalks can be nonexistent, broken, bumpy, and difficult to maneuver with a stroller, so if you intend on walking a lot in Costa Rica and a young child will be joining you on the trip, bring a backpack child carrier to Costa Rica. If you bring a pet to Costa Rica, keep them on a leash whenever you visit town centers. Also, be aware that you’ll encounter a fair number of stray dogs around towns, and know in advance that most restaurants and shops aren’t pet-friendly.
• Price: 100% gratis (free)!
• Scheduling: Walking provides an opportunity to explore destinations at your own pace and according to your own schedule. To stay safe, minimize the amount of time you walk around destinations after dark, especially if you’re a lone traveler. For additional safety tips, don’t miss our related blog post Is Costa Rica Safe? Yes, If You Do This.

Pura vida!

Do you have questions about any of the modes of transportation described above, want to know which transportation service companies we recommend, or need help deciding which types of transportation services to use? No problem! When you’re ready, make an appointment here to communicate with me (Nikki) privately and we can discuss these and other topics to get your questions answered fast and your Costa Rica trip poised for success. Pura vida, amigos! 🙂

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