Transportation in Costa Rica
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Transportation Services
Costa Rica is a modern country with all the usual transportation options. However, its mountainous terrain makes traveling slow, and highways have not been built to all the remote and beautiful regions. Transfers between transportation modes are often desirable or even necessary, and these must be carefully planned to get the most out of your Costa Rica vacation trip. Your options include: Independent and small group travel. The advantages of independence are real. Many people would prefer to travel alone or in a small group. For this reason we offer a variety of Guide and transportation services that still allow you to design an independent Costa Rica trip itinerary but eliminate the risks associated with renting a car. Depending on what areas you intend to visit, we may combine these various services. For example, we may use a Driver-Guide for the Arenal/Monteverde portion of your trip, and then use a local guide for a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park with transportation connections furnished by one of the systems of semi-private transfers. We understand how these options fit together. Self-Drive (auto rental). If you choose self-drive, we can help you plan an itinerary that will maximize your vacation time, and minimize your driving time. However, even though many Costa Rica tourists rent a car for the flexibility of movement, there are some drawbacks to self-drive that you need to know about. - Some areas are inaccessible: Certain wonderful areas like Tortuguero, Corcovado and the Golfo Dulce are not accessible by car. You must fly in and then take local transportation.
- Distances can be deceiving: Distances that look short on a map might take a long time to cover on the actual roads. For example, you can fly from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez in only 50 minutes, but it would take over 8 hours to drive!
- Driving conditions can be difficult: Many tourists also do not realize the difficulties involved in renting a car. Some roads are in rough condition, and may not be passable in bad weather. Even in good weather, roads away from main highways are often unimproved.
- Driving habits are different in Costa Rica: Drivers unfamiliar with the rules of the road may run into trouble.
- Estimated times are sometimes optimistic: Estimated driving times are sometimes posted based on ideal conditions. Often the time required is much longer.
Private Transfer with an English Speaking Driver. This is our most accommodating form of transportation. You and your companion(s) are driven by one of our bilingual drivers from the mountains, rainforests, beaches, or wherever. This option offers all the flexibility that a private transfer offers. If you wish to stop at a fresh fruit stand, take a stretch or stop for a cool drink en route, it's your choice. Semi-Private Transfer with an English Speaking Driver
This transfer is essentially the same as a private transfer. However, you may be sharing the vehicle with others. On long journeys the driver usually makes one or more stops en route to accommodate his guests. Click here to meet some of our English speaking drivers Shuttle Van Transfers. In the last few years shuttle van transfers have become more popular. These are more economical alternatives to the private or semi-private services. Here guests may travel with others on shuttle vans that may go directly to a destination, or are transferred to another vehicle that completes the journey. Additional stops are minimal as the drivers are on a schedule. The drivers usually have a limited knowledge of English. Local Flights. Many remote destinations in Costa Rica may require long drives from the nation's capital or other areas. Many visitors prefer to reduce a five to eight hour drive (often partially on rough roads) to a one-hour flight. We can book local flights for you through the national Sansa or private Nature Air airlines, or arrange private charter flights. Flight times from the capital to popular destinations such as Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio National Park, Tiskita Jungle Lodge, Corcovado, Guanacaste and Tortuguero National Park are only from about 25 to 70 minutes.
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