Getting around Costa Rica is a big concern for travelers especially for those who are here for a short period of time and on a budget.
In this article I’m going to outline the different ways and their cost and efficiency to help you figure out how to get around Costa Rica for your vacation.
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How to Get Around Costa Rica: Driving, the Most Flexible Way
Driving is the best way to get around Costa Rica to explore the country. It gives you the flexibility and freedom that you can’t get with any other method of transportation.
Leave when you want, go where you want. Simply stated, having a car is the best way to explore Costa Rica.
There are tradeoffs to driving however.
You have the extra responsibility of driving and car rentals are not very cheap in Costa Rica.
If you want to rent a car in Costa Rica, check out our Costa Rica car rental discount to save money on your car rental and get our extra benefits.
For more details, check out our tips for renting a car in Costa Rica post and our tips for driving in Costa Rica post. Learn about the costs of rental cars, insurance, type of cars and much more.
Three important things if you are renting a car and driving in Costa Rica
First, check your destinations to see if you require a 4wd/high clearance car or if a 2wd car is fine. The price of renting a sedan or 2wd SUV vs a 4×4 can be fairly drastic.
The second is to reserve your car rental well in advance if you are visiting during high season, Christmas, New Years or Easter week. This is due to extremely limited availability and high demand.
Thirdly, research what exactly is included in the rate. Some companies do not include all taxes, fees and insurances until you actually pick up the car.
This is why you will read some online reviews that a company is a “scam.”
The local car rental agency we work with utilizes all-inclusive upfront pricing so you know EXACTLY how much you are paying and what you are paying for. No tricks!
Shared and Private Transportation in Costa Rica: Shuttles
Taking a shuttle is an excellent Costa Rica transportation method for those who don’t want to drive.
It’s faster than taking the bus, they offer door to door hotel service and you don’t have to stress out about driving in a foreign country.
There are two different types of shuttle services in Costa Rica: private and shared.
You can read our detailed Costa Rica shuttles post for more information.
Shared Shuttles
Shared shuttles usually carry up to 10-15 passengers. They have set schedules, usually 1-2 per route. One in the morning, one in the afternoon.
Shared shuttles require a minimum number of passengers, usually 2 people. This is extremely important to check if you are a solo traveler visiting during low season.
Shared shuttles offer door to door hotel service only. No Airbnbs, no airports, vacation rentals or normal houses.
Hotels outside their routes aren’t included, so they’ll drop you off at the nearest destination and then you will need to figure out how to get to your place of accommodation.
Prices range from $59-78 USD per adult depending on the route.
For shared shuttles, get 10% off your Interbus shared shuttle here!
Private Shuttles
Private shuttles can pick you up directly at the airport and they can pick up and drop off at vacation rentals. Only your group will be in the shuttle.
They include one stop along the way for bathroom, supermarket, bank, view points or food. Then if you want to stop somewhere for a longer visit, this is available for an extra fee.
Read our tips for taking shuttles in Costa Rica and contact us for a private shuttle quote.
Tour Interconnections
Want to know how to make a boring transfer more fun? Take a tour and book an interconnection!
Here’s how it works.
You will book a tour like normal. Everything is exactly the same except your pick up and drop off locations.
So you get to skip sitting on a bus or shuttle all day and instead, you get to go on a fun adventure.
For example, the Pacuare River 1 day rafting tour offers an interconnection. The tour operator will pick up and drop off from San Jose, La Fortuna or Puerto Viejo.
So if you aren’t renting a car, this is a great way to get around. If you are landing in San Jose and your next destination is Puerto Viejo, you can do the rafting as a way to get to Puerto Viejo.
Or if you’re in Puerto Viejo and are going to La Fortuna next, you can do this rafting trip for your interconnection. Sooo much better than taking a 6 hour bus ride!
Want to do this 1 day tour and book the interconnection? Get $5 USD off with our Pacuare white water rafting discount.
Related: Read our 13 day Costa Rica itinerary (no car required) that includes the Pacuare white water rafting tour interconnection
Flying around Costa Rica with Local Airlines
Taking a domestic flight is the quickest way to get around Costa Rica. What would take you 4-5 hours driving will take 30 minutes flying!
There are two domestic airlines in Costa Rica: Sansa Air and Green Airways.
Sansa Air has the most flights from San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport to places like La Fortuna, Nosara, Quepos, Tortuguero, Golfito, Cobano, Puerto Jimenez, Drake Bay and Tamarindo.
It is much more expensive to fly around Costa Rica and the high tourism season has more expensive rates.
Flights can range anywhere from $50 USD to $190 USD one way per person.
Furthermore, there are limited schedules. There may only be 1-2 flights for your route, no flights for your routes or just 1 in high season.
Likewise, for many routes, you will have to fly back to San Jose and then catch a second flight to your final destination as San Jose has the most departure flights.
For flying, it really comes down to time vs money. You spend more by flying but you save an incredible amount of time and erase the stresses of driving. What’s even better is that you get amazing views from the plane!
Planning tip: A lot of people will fly to their destinations and then rent a car for the days they are there. However, you will need to pick destinations that have a local airstrip.
Costa Rica Public Transportation
Taking the public bus is the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica.
Costa Rica public transportation is actually very good if you’re going to popular tourist destinations and major areas. It’s a great way to save money on your trip to Costa Rica!
From San Jose, there are direct routes to nearly every main tourist destination and main local town.
You can read our article on taking the bus in Costa Rica for more information.
The downside is that the bus takes much longer, especially if you don’t take the “direct” route. We once took the Tamarindo – San Jose bus via Liberia non-direct and it took us 8 hours without traffic since it made a million stops.
Another downside is you cannot stop when you need to as they have limited bathroom breaks.
Additionally, it can be difficult to get around for many routes.
An example is Tamarindo to La Fortuna. This route requires 3 buses and takes around 7 hours (driving is around 4). La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio requires 4 buses, around 9 hours (driving is around 5).
With limited schedules, you can’t miss your bus. If you miss your cross country bus, there is a huge likelihood that the next one is not until the next day.
When You Shouldn’t Take the Public Bus
We don’t recommend taking the bus if you’re with a large family of young kids/babies/seniors with mobility issues, going to more remote/rural destinations or here for a short trip.
But if you have the time, are keen on a bit of adventure or are on a budget, the public bus is an excellent option for major destinations.
Always be alert, ask the locals if you’re not sure where to go and always keep your belongings with you at all times.
Taxis
Taxis are good for short trips like from the supermarket to the hotel, especially if it’s raining, it’s late out or you’re carrying a lot of stuff. However, it’s best to book a shuttle for long trips instead of taxis.
Read more tips for taking taxis in Costa Rica.
Uber
Uber works in Costa Rica in almost all the tourist destinations.
You can find Uber in the cities like San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela and Cartago. There are now some in major touristic places such as Jaco, Quepos, La Fortuna, Tamarindo and Liberia.
Uber is generally cheaper than taxis. However, we don’t recommend relying on only Uber to get around.
Even for short rides, it may take awhile to call an Uber or the app may accept rides when there aren’t any Ubers around.
Although there are a lot of Ubers in San Jose and around San Jose International Airport, you can’t really call an Uber from Guanacaste Airport.
The police are always looking for Ubers and will gladly stop and ticket the driver if they think they are an Uber.
Didi, another ride share app is in San Jose. Lyft is not in Costa Rica.
Read our tips to using Uber in Costa Rica.
Ferry or Boat Rides
There are a few ferry routes you can take in Costa Rica.
If you’re planning on going to Montezuma or Santa Teresa from San Jose or Puntarenas, the ferry is a fun option.
The ferry takes cars so you can drive from the airport, take the ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya and then drive to your final destination.
Check out our tips for taking the Puntarenas Paquera ferry.
These boat rides are for foot passengers only: taxi-boat-taxi from Arenal to Monteverde across Lake Arenal, a boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay, Jaco to Montezuma boat, boat from La Pavona and Moin to Tortuguero and Golfito to Puerto Jimenez.
Which Costa Rica Transportation Method is Right For You?
To help answer your question of “How to get around Costa Rica?” you will need to figure out what your priorities are and what you’re willing to spend in terms of both aspects.
Costa Rica transportation methods summary
- Most comfort and flexibility: renting a car.
- On a budget: the bus.
- In between car and bus: shared shuttles.
- For big groups: private shuttles or renting a car.
- With kids: private shuttles or renting a car.
- No tight budget & short trip to main tourist destinations: flying.
- Solo travelers: shared shuttles or bus. Rent a car if not on a budget.
Many people combine transportation methods, you do not have to pick just one. Many people will fly or book a private shuttle to avoid driving the long routes.
Here are some examples.
San Jose – Puerto Viejo
This drive can take around 5-6 hours so instead of driving, people will take a private shuttle or the rafting tour from San Jose to Puerto Viejo.
Then rent a car for their days in Puerto Viejo. Or they fly to Limon Airport and then grab their rental car or book a shuttle to Puerto Viejo or Cahuita.
Drake Bay
A lot of people will rent a car for their whole itinerary but leave Drake Bay as their last destination.
They return the car in Sierpe, take the boat to Drake Bay and then fly to San Jose for their departure flight home.
Check out our Costa Rica 1 month itinerary that includes Drake Bay!
Learn more about driving to Drake Bay and how to get to Drake Bay.
Quepos – San Jose
Many people fly or take a shuttle/bus to Quepos, rent a car while they’re in Quepos/Manuel Antonio and then fly to San Jose for their departure flight out.
Destinations
If you’re going to major touristic destinations in Costa Rica like La Fortuna, Tamarindo, Puerto Viejo, San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Puerto Jimenez, Samara, Tambor, Santa Teresa, Montezuma, Jaco, and Monteverde, you can get there via car, bus and shuttle.
For Tortuguero, it is boat or plane access only. You can fly directly there or take the boat from La Pavona or Moin dock to Tortuguero. You can read about how to get to Tortuguero here.
If you are going to non-touristy places like Atenas, Grecia, San Ramon, Boca Tapada, San Isidro de Perez Zeledon, San Vito, San Gerardo de Dota, Santa Cruz, La Cruz, Nicoya or any remote beach, then a car would be the best way.
You can also get there via bus but then it will very difficult to get around once you are there.
How to Get Around Articles
We wrote articles on how to get to certain destinations which you can read below.
How to get to Playas del Coco/Gulf of Papagayo
How to get to Tamarindo from Liberia Airport
More Costa Rica travel tips below!
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
David Conrad says
We are planning a 2 week trip flying into San Jose airport. We would then like to fly to Drake Bay and hopefully rent a car to drive up the coast & ferry over to Nicoya Penn/Santa Teresa (do we need 4WD?). Where is the best place to drop the car off (would prefer to avoid driving into San Jose) and does this sound like a do-able itinerary? Thanks!
Sammi says
It is highly recommended to get a 4wd for Santa Teresa as roads there are not paved and many hotels and lodgings are up in the mountains. Where you return your car will depend on what agency you rent with because not all car rental agencies have an office in Santa Teresa so they will have to charge an extra hefty fee to collect the car from there. I would see what agencies are available in Santa Teresa.
Dave says
My family and I start our Costa Rica vacation Monday 7/8 and can’t wait. We are renting an SUV, spending 3 nights in La Fortuna, and 3 nights in Quepos. For the long drive from La Fortuna to Quepos, any suggestions on where we should stop for a quick excursion or something we shouldn’t miss out on? Google Maps says it’s about a 5 hour trip. Is that fairly accurate? Your website has been incredibly helpful for us to get a feel for our first trip to Costa Rica!
Sammi says
5 hours is around the drive time (without stops). A popular stop is the Tarcoles crocodile bridge and you can drive through Jaco to check it out or have lunch there since there are some nice restaurants. Have a nice time!
michelle says
Hi there,
We are flying into San Jose and renting a car, driving to La Fortuna then to Tamarindo. What type of insurance is recommended for renting a car? What are some stops we MUST make along the drive? We would love to hike to waterfalls.
Sammi says
Hi, the type of insurance you get varies depending on the company but there is a mandatory insurance in Costa Rica. You can read more about Costa Rica car rental insurance in this post and Costa Rica car rental tips.
You can read about driving San Jose to Arenal and Driving Guanacaste to Arenal here.
Glenda Belnap says
I was so frightened to rent a car after reading all the comments in this blog and others. People described the roads (especially from La Fortuna to Monteverde) as being treacherous, risky, etc. We rented a car and hoped for the best. The roads aren’t paved like you are use to in the USA, but the driving is extremely doable. Follow your GPS. Know your routes before you leave. Drive during the daytime. We didn’t run into anything I would describe as difficult. It was bumpy, rocky and had lots of dust and pot holes. We didn’t feel unsafe. And…the suggested times were longer than we took to get to our locations by about 1 hr on every route. Don’t worry.
Sammi says
Hi Vanessa! Driving in Costa Rica can be stressful but it’s really only in the city. Many tourists in Costa Rica rent a car and drive for their trip and you just need to be a defensive driver, use common sense and use Waze the Gps app!
Vanessa Talley says
We rented a car for our upcoming trip, but someone just told us that driving in Costa Rica is very dangerous and we will likely get lost or coupd end up in a bad area.
Sammi says
Hi Jill, I wrote a post on taking shuttles in Costa Rica.
It will depend on which hotel you’re staying at in Puntarenas but most of them can provide a shuttle for you for an extra charge. For shared shuttles to other destinations, shared shuttle companies should have their schedule on their website.
Jill Smart says
My husband and I will be flying into San Jose Costa Rica and then making our way to our hotel near Punta Arenes. I am very interested in taking a shuttle from the airport to our hotel. I am also very interested in figuring out if we can get a shuttle from our hotel to various popular tourist destinations. I am, however, finding the shuttle websites difficult to understand. It is not clear to me if I can get shuttle service from my hotel or hotel area. How does one determine shuttle schedules? I don’t need to have a private shuttle but wonder if this is my only options. Any pointers are appreciated.
Sammi says
Hi Desaree, private shuttles can pick up and drop off at the airport, shared shuttles can’t pick up at the airport, they normally have to ask passengers to go to another location since they can’t wait at the airport in case of delay or for passengers to get out of immigration/customs since they have other passengers to pick up as well. You can read more tips for taking shuttles here: Costa Rica shuttles
Desaree says
Hi. Do most shuttle services offer pick ups and drop offs to and from the SJO airport? I’m traveling with 3 friends and we need a shuttle service that will get us from the SJO airport to our hotel in arenal and another shuttle from playa flamingo to the SJO airport.