Transporte en Costa Rica
Hay una gran variedad de opciones para desplazarse entre destinos en Costa Rica - vuelos nacionales, alquiler de vehículos, colectivos, busetas privadas, ferries, bus público e incluso a caballo. El recorrido de su viaje, presupuesto y duración de estancia son factores importantes para determinar la mejor opción de transporte, la guía en la parte de abajo, le puede ayudar con una descripción detallada de cada modo de viaje. Mientras que las opciones pueden variar en flexibilidad y comodidad, cada una de las elecciones es una oportunidad para disfrutar el paisaje impresionante de Costa Rica.
Frequently asked questions
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- What Are the Baggage Restrictions For Shuttles in Costa Rica?
Passengers are allowed to bring a carry-on bag and a big piece of luggage. If you have any additional luggage, there's a fee of $10 USD for each extra item. This needs to be both reported to the shuttle company and paid for in advance.
- Are Pets Allowed In Costa Rica Shuttles?
With the exception of a seeing eye dog, passengers cannot travel with animals in shuttles. If you do have a guide dog and will be using a shuttle service, we need prior notification.
- Can I Take Public Buses Around Costa Rica?
Public buses are the most common means of transportation for Costa Ricans and connect nearly every city, town and village. Public buses are economical, but they are less comfortable, slower, and less secure for your belongings. If you plan on spending a lot of time in Costa Rica or are on a tight budget, it is advisable to utilize the public bus system at least once - this way you can decide whether or not it works for you and your travel plans. Shuttles, private transports, and domestic flights are alternative modes of transportation that are recommended if you have less time in the country or prefer to be secure and comfortable.
- How Do I Find My Shuttle Service At the Airport in Costa Rica?
There are no shuttle services directly from the SJO or LIR airports. For visitors arriving to SJO and wanting to schedule a shuttle, the meeting spot is at the Dennis Restaurant, which is located about 5 minutes away from the airport. You'll need to take a taxi to get there, and it should cost approximately $4 USD. The Liberia airport meeting place is at the Best Western El Sitio, which is located about 15 minutes away from the airport. The cost for a taxi ride there is about $15 USD. Notice this info does not apply when you book private transfers which are certainly able to pick you up right at the SJO or LIR.
- I Arrive in Costa Rica At 2 PM - Can I Still Make The 3 PM Shuttle?
If your international flight arrives at 2 PM we don't recommend reserving the 3 PM shuttle. It usually takes about 45 minutes to pass through customs, although it can take much longer. The shuttle does not leave from the airport and if you miss the shuttle there isn't a refund. If you're arriving from any of the airports, you should arrive at least 2 hours before a scheduled departure time.
- What Are The Baggage Restrictions on Domestic Flights in Costa Rica?
There are two airlines in Costa Rica that offer daily domestic flight service, Sansa and Nature Air, and both have different luggage restrictions.Sansa's policy allows for 1 piece of luggage with a maximum weight of 25 lbs/12 kgs and a maximum size of 45 linear inches/114 centimeters (length + height + width) and 1 carry on with a maximum weight of 10 lbs, each additional pound is charged at a rate of $1 per pound.
Nature Air's policy allows 40 lbs per person for checked-in baggage free of charge.
In addition a small handbag up to 10 lbs can be carried on (please note that these aircraft's don't have overhead baggage compartments).
Total baggage weighing over 50 lbs will be charged an additional fee at a rate of 1-5 pounds $7, 6-15 pounds $20, 16-30 pounds $40, 31-60 pounds $60.
For more information about luggage restrictions for both Sansa & Nature Air follow the links below:
- What Destinations Offer Domestic Flights in Costa Rica?
Domestic flights are available to and from the following destinations: downtown San José, Alajuela-SJO, Arenal, Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, Liberia, Sámara, Tortuguero, Drake Bay, Puerto Jiménez, Golfito, Palmar Norte, Barra del Colorado, Tambor, and Bocas del Toro in Panamá. For more information about schedules, prices and booking, please vist our domestic flight page.
- What Is a Costa Rica Taxi-Boat-Taxi Service?
A taxi-boat-taxi is a transfer service between destinations where travel along both land and water is necessary. Minibuses pick up customers at hotels in the starting destination (i.e. Arenal) and then bring them to a place where they board a boat for the next segment of the transfer (i.e. Lake Arenal). Finally, on the other side of the water, they are met by another minibus that will drop them off at their destination hotel (i.e. in Monteverde). The Monteverde and Arenal taxi-boat-taxi service runs between the destinations two times a day. A taxi-boat-taxi shuttle also operates between Montezuma and Jacó, which is a significant time saver for visiters wishing to avoid the long transit by ground and car ferry which is the traditional way to navigate between those two places.
- What Are the Driving Times Between Destinations in Costa Rica?
The travel time can vary significantly between destinations, but a general rule of thumb is 30 mph (50 km/hour).Thus, if the distance between destinations is 125 miles (200 km), you should plan on it taking about four hours to get from one place to another.
The main roads that connect destinations are two lane highways with no, or very little, room to pass. These are the same routes that transport the freights arriving and departing from the seaports.
These very large and heavy trucks struggle on the hills and can often slow the pace of travel to an excruciatingly slow rate.
The time it takes to get between destinations really depends on the destinations that you are traveling to. The following is a rundown of the amount of time it will generally take to travel between some of the more popular places:
Alajuela-SJO to Manuel Antonio - 3 hrs.
Alajuela-SJO to Arenal - 3 hrs.
Alajuela SJO to Monteverde - 4.5 hrs.
Arenal to Tamarindo - 4 hrs.
Monteverde to Sámara - 3.5 hrs.
Liberia to Tamarindo - 1 hr.
Liberia to Arenal - 3 hrs.
Alajuela-SJO to Puerto Viejo, Limon - 5 hrs.
Alajuela-SJO to Mal País - 5-6 hrs.
- What Are the Roads Like In Costa Rica?
The roads in Costa Rica vary significantly depending on the route that you are traveling. Roads between most destinations are two-lane, paved roads that wind up and around the mountainous terrain throughout the country.If you find yourself driving in the country, it is best to drive defensively and avoid driving at night, since the reflective paint that outlines the roads is faded or non-existent, making the curves extremely dangerous for unfamiliar drivers. Lots of hotels or smaller destinations are without a paved road or entrance, so chances are good that at some point you will find yourself along a dirt road during your trip to Costa Rica. Many bridges narrow to a single lane, so drivers must be ready to yield (ceda) to the direction with the right of way.
For your first visit to Costa Rica we generally recommend taking private transports or shuttles to get a feel for the driving conditions. This way, the next time that you visit you will already understand the driving conditions and can decide whether or not to rent a car.
The roads of Costa Rica are no doubt navigable, but the terrain prohibits a freeway system throughout most of the country, and without street signs it is very easy to get lost. Vehicles equipped with GPS devices have significantly improved visitors' ability to tour the country at their own pace. Should you decide to drive, we strongly suggest equipping the vehicle with a GPS unit.
- What Is the Difference Between Private and Shuttle Transports in Costa Rica?
Private transportation is a door-to-door service that exclusively transports your party only. Departure times are scheduled based upon the time of your choosing and each route allows for one hour of free stoppage time - for meals or breaks - along the way.You can take side trips to national parks and souvenir shops, or even enjoy a tour that is located between your travel destinations (although it needs to be prearranged and may require paying additional fees).
In contrast, shuttles are a shared and scheduled ride that is not always door-to-door. Shuttles will not pick you up at airports, they will not pick you up or drop you off at all a hotel, they can take longer to get travel between destinations, and they do not always arrive exactly at the scheduled time (usually, it's +/- 10-15 minutes of the scheduled time). When using both private transportation and shuttle services, please remember to have both your voucher on hand and your luggage ready.
- How Will I Find My Private Transport At the Airport in Costa Rica?
The driver will have your flight arrival time and airline details, so he'll be prepared to meet you even if your flight is delayed. After going through customs and getting your luggage, you'll exit the airport terminal and spot your driver. He'll be wearing an Anywhere Costa Rica t-shirt and holding a sign with your name written on it.
- Can We Plan a Day Trip To Arenal From Monteverde, Costa Rica Or From Arenal, Costa Rica To Monteverde?
You can plan to do a day trip, but you should know a few things first. The daytime in Costa Rica lasts from about 5:45 AM to 5:45 PM year-round. The distance between Arenal and Monteverde takes about 3 - 3 1/2 hours to drive if you go around Lake Arenal, and about 2 1/2 - 3 hours via a boat across Lake Arenal. Thus, a day trip requires between 5-7 hours of transit, which leaves only a few hours to enjoy your time in Arenal or Monteverde before you must return. Try and stay at least one night at a hotel in either Monteverde or Arenal if possible.However, even worse than a day trip from Monteverde to Arenal or vice versa is a day trip from the beaches of Guanacaste to Arenal or Monteverde for the day. From the Guanacaste coastline, it requires 8 hours of driving time to reach these destinations in a single day.
No doubt you can find companies that sell day trips to Arenal or to Monteverde from the coast, but rarely do the visitors realize the logistics involved because "it looks so close on the map." In general, we are able to provide round trip service for people if they insist on a day trip but only as a last resort if it is impossible to re-organize the itinerary to include an overnight stay at a hotel. Logistic trip planning is an important service we provide for our customers who want to see different places around the country. We can recommend the best order of travel to maximize vacation time and minimize travel time.
El servicio de transporte privado ofrece una manera segura, conveniente y flexible de viajar a cualquier parte de Costa Rica.
El transporte privado se puede programar en cualquier momento que desee y desde cualquier aeropuerto, hotel, casa particular, o lugar de preferencia dentro del país. Todos los vehículos utilizados están en buen estado, tienen aire acondicionado y son conducidos por profesionales costarricenses fiables y puntales, quienes estarán dedicados a brindarle el servicio más seguro mientras lo transportan a través del país.
Tenga en mente: fechas cerradas para cualquier tipo de carro van desde diciembre 15 a enero 15.
No se ofrece disponibilidad.
Para los viajeros que prefieren la independencia, flexibilidad o simplemente un mejor acceso a las playas escondidas, alquilar un vehículo puede ser una buena opción, ya sea para todo el viaje o parte de él. En general, los vehículos rentados es sólo una buena opción para los viajeros aventureros, a quienes no les importa enfrentar algunos retos en el camino. Los vehículos de alquiler generalmente no son recomendados para visitantes que visitan Costa Rica por primera vez, porque las señales y las condiciones de las carreteras pueden ser mucho más precarias de lo que usted imagina. Pero siempre con una actitud positiva, resistente, aventurera y con un buen mapa o GPS, la primera vez de los turistas en el país puede ser exitosa.
El servicio colectivo es un transporte compartido en un microbús con aire acondicionado entre destinos populares.
Los colectivos operan diariamente y en algunos casos hay varios horarios de salida durante el día. Sin embargo, los microbuses colectivos no son de ninguna manera buses públicos. Están sujetos a disponibilidad y deben reservarse con antelación.
Costa Rica es aproximadamente del tamaño de Virginia del Oeste, pero el transporte terrestre puede tomar muchas horas debido al mal estado de las carreteras, viento fuerte y caminos montañosos.
Dependiendo de su ruta de viaje, los vuelos nacionales pueden ser la opción más conveniente y sensata. Viajando entre algunos destinos puede tomar hasta 8 horas por tierra, mientras que en un vuelo doméstico se puede reducir a 35 minutos, un ahorro de tiempo importante, especialmente si su estancia en Costa Rica es corta.