Uber officially made its way to Costa Rica in 2015 and has made getting around Costa Rica much easier. Though technically not 100% legal, Uber has now become one of the normal transportation options for both locals and tourists.
Uber in Costa Rica is exactly the same as other countries but there are a few things to know. In this post, you will read our tips for taking Uber in Costa Rica.
In this guide, you’ll find out everything you need to know about using Uber in Costa Rica. (Lyft does not exist in Costa Rica).
Uber Costa Rica Information
Despite a rocky start in Costa Rica with protests from taxi drivers, Uber in Costa Rica is up and running and has expanded to several other place besides San Jose.
You can still take taxis in Costa Rica but for us, Uber is quick, cheaper and more comfortable. Taxi drivers in Costa Rica have an unfortunate bad reputation for overcharging and being pushy, especially to tourists.
In San Jose
Uber readily exists in the San Jose metropolitan area covering San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago. There are also some Ubers in Jaco, Quepos, Liberia (city, not airport), Tamarindo, La Fortuna, Grecia and Manuel Antonio.
The number of Uber drivers in different places in Costa Rica has increased greatly. We see more Uber drivers in Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio, Quepos, La Fortuna and Playas del Coco. However, we don’t recommend to count on them as your ONLY method to get around Costa Rica as not all destinations have Ubers and if they do have Ubers, it may take a long time to get a ride due to limited availability (or they may not have any early mornings/late nights).
Cost of Uber in Costa Rica
How much does Uber cost in Costa Rica? You can estimate a fare from San Jose to another destination on the Uber website if you’re curious as to how much your ride will cost. This is a very handy tool. You can also use it to get an idea of how much a taxi or shuttle would cost (add a little bit more as Ubers tend to be cheaper).
You Can Use Uber at San Jose International Airport
Airport taxis are known to be expensive so to have Uber as an alternative option is awesome. You can call an Uber to drop you off and pick you up at San Jose International Airport. Here is what you need to know about using Uber at San Jose Airport.
Liberia International Airport (Guanacaste Airport)
We do not recommend to use Uber at the Liberia International Airport (Guanacaste Airport) airport code LIR. This is because the police are very diligently watching for Ubers and they will pull over drivers, give them a ticket and remove their license plates.
You should book a private shuttle or take one of the official airport taxis.
Pick up at San Airport
When you have arrived at San Jose Airport, finished immigration and customs and exited the airport, open the app. You do need Internet to use the app in the moment, there is free Wi-Fi in the departures area of San Jose Airport. You can also purchase a Costa Rican SIM card at baggage claim at San Jose Airport and have data on your phone with the card.
Put your pick up location at San Jose Airport at the arrivals. In the Uber app, you have the option to call your driver so I would let them know you are at the arrivals area. San Jose Airport doesn’t have a designated ride share area unfortunately. This is because Uber drivers and taxi drivers are at odds and Uber is still technically not “legal” in Costa Rica.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid any crossing of paths as much as possible. So the moment you walk outside the airport and leave customs, you will see a huge crowd of people waiting, most of them taxi drivers. Ignore them!
Likewise, if anyone asks you if you need a ride, do not say you’re going to call an Uber. Just say that you already have a ride.
The Uber app will tell you to go to the bus stop at the west end on the main road outside the airport, so head right when you exit the airport and walk down that way. (Sometimes this meeting point changes so check the app as it will tell you where to go. Usually the meeting point is the bus stop). When you get in your Uber, your driver will most likely ask you to sit up front to make it less obvious that they are an Uber.
You can also use it at the Pavas International Airport and the San Jose Domestic Terminal. I used it when I landed at the San Jose Domestic Terminal and from my hotel Adventure Inn to the terminal. Very easy and they pick you up and drop you off right in front of the terminal. In the app, look for San Jose Domestic Terminal or Domestic Terminal San Jose. Get 10% off using the promo code “mytanfeet” on their booking page!
Departures
The Uber driver can drop you off directly at departures.
Requirements to Use Uber
A registered account, a payment method and Internet on your phone to use Uber. Uber does allow you to schedule rides up to 30 days in advance in the app. We have never used this tool so I can’t say how reliable it is but you can see if it works.
If you don’t already have an Uber account and you plan to use it in Costa Rica, I would create your account when you are at home so you have everything ready when you arrive.
Select a Nearby Landmark for Your Destination
Since addresses don’t exactly exist in Costa Rica, but you can enter the name of your hotel or place you are going as your destination. For houses, Airbnbs or vacation rentals, it is best to use a landmark or business. When we stayed at our Airbnb in San Jose, we set it to the Universal store across the street. Our Airbnb didn’t have a name or was on the map so it was easier to find the closest business.
Pretty much everyone uses Waze in Costa Rica so once you get in the car, you can tell the driver the closest landmark to your destination and have them drop you off where you need to go.
Useful Spanish Phrases
It will be extremely helpful to know some Spanish phrases. A lot of city Costa Ricans know a degree of English but not all. Here are some useful phrases and words:
Voy a X: I’m going to X (hotel, restaurant, etc.).
Donde esta?: Where are you?
Aqui esta bien: Here is fine.
Gracias: Thank you.
Mi hotel es cerca de X: My hotel is close to X.
There are Uber Drivers in the Wee Hours of the Morning
We’ve needed to call Uber for early morning flights and had no problem getting one at 4 AM in San Jose. So don’t worry too much if it’s late in the night or super early in the morning, we’ve never had a problem calling an Uber at 11 PM or 4 AM.
Surge Pricing During Rush Hour
Surge pricing is annoying and unfortunately it is also in Costa Rica. San Jose, notorious for horrible traffic, impatient drivers and long ignored pot holes, is a mess during rush hour and surge pricing may be necessary to get a ride.
However, if you’re not in a rush, you can wait 10 minutes and see if other drivers are nearby. You can also select the carpool option for a cheaper ride.
Wait Times Aren’t That Accurate
Because of San Jose’s traffic, you should give or take at least 10 minutes. We’ve had to cancel Uber requests a few times even though the driver was just a couple blocks away but they were stuck in traffic. Instead we picked a different driver that was coming from the side of no traffic.
Estimate Your Fare Online
The Uber website has a fare estimate which is helpful to know around how much you’ll pay for both UberX and UberXL. We were surprised at how much cheaper it was. Normally, we pay around $15 USD for a 15 kilometer taxi ride from Heredia to the San Jose airport. With Uber, we paid a little less than $10.
Don’t Need to Tip
When it comes to tipping in Costa Rica, it is not mandatory to tip Uber drivers in Costa Rica but they have the option now. Rather than tipping in the app, you can also give your driver some cash if you want (local Costa Rica currency is best).
MJ says
Hi, thanks for your excellent information! I’ll be arriving SJO at 11:40 on a Thursday and plan to catch the 2:30 directivo bus to Manual Antonio. Understanding that I’ll need to get from SJO to the Tracopa bus station in San Jose, is Uber a good option from the airport? If so, when do I arrange the pickup? Once I arrive at SJO? Thank you in advance for your help!
Sammi says
Uber is a great option, there are airport taxis but they can be more expensive (especially the orange ones) and Uber is a lot more comfortable in my opinion. We usually choose our location for pick up at departures (the photo in the post) and walk down to the end. You can also do the bus stop on the road that runs along the airport, you just need to walk straight down the ramp but departures is a bit easier.
Sammi says
Hi Lauren, I’d actually recommend taking a shuttle instead because majority of the Uber drivers just go around San Jose and anything outside you’ll either have to pay a lot more for or won’t get any offers accepted since it’s outside of San Jose and you don’t want to wait around for someone to come and then not take it. Taking a shuttle would be a lot better than waiting around to see if anyone accepts it.
Lauren Yanthis says
Informative post! I am planning on going to Lands in Love from the San Jose area. I checked the Uber estimates and it gave me a range up to 25,000€ From what you’ve written, it sounds like no one would likely accept this fare. In the US, the driver doesn’t know the destination until they pick you up – is this different in Costa Rica? Will they be able to see the destination and cancel before they arrive? I’d prefer that vs waiting for a driver to come and then being told he won’t accept it. If Uber isn’t a viable option based on my travel distance, any suggestions for other modes of transport form San Jose to Lands in Love? Then from Lands in Love to Arenal?
Thank you!!
Jerry waltermire says
I need ride to Los Suenors Marina in cost Rica! Will uber take me there?
Sammi says
Uber only works in San Jose, you can request a ride but it’s highly unlikely you’ll get any offers since Los Suenos is 1 hour away and it’ll probably end up being the same cost as a shuttle since the Uber driver has to drive back to San Jose.
Mike says
Hi you info incorrectly states that there is no option for tipping. When you set up your account you set the percentage of tip you wish to be applied to each trip.
Sammi says
Hi Mike, thanks for that. I actually meant to say you don’t have to tip since tipping is not part of the culture in Costa Rica but it’s up to the person since it is an option.
shirley carmichael says
I am in San Jose as I write this message. I am writing to say I have not had a good experience with Uber in this city. I have requested rides from Uber and have been rejected, which of course left me in a terrible bind and I had to use the local taxi. My observation is that it is best to find a Tico who will help you with transportation in and around the city. Much more reliable.
Sammi says
Hi Shirley, That’s so unfortunate to hear! We’ve used Uber a ton of times and have always had great experiences with it, but sometimes we do have to request the surge pricing because the traffic is so bad. Perhaps try that next time.
Brenda Bishop says
We will be needing a ride to the Ram Luna Restaurant from the San Jose Airport Holiday Inn Express, it’s not that far but wondering if Uber could then come back and pick up to return to the hotel at 10 pm?
Sammi says
You should be able to, we’ve found Uber even at 1 AM!
Lorena says
Hello,
Does Uber in Costa Rica use the same app as the one here in the USA or is a different app??
Thank you,
Lorena
yeison says
Hello Lorena it’s the same app 🙂
Bita says
Thanks for the article! so I am unclear, if we use uber landing in SJO and are going to Manuel Antonio area, which is outside of san jose and a 2.5 hour drive from what I hear, Uber is or is not an option? I am unclear as to how far they are willing to take you?
Sammi says
You can try to get an Uber to Manuel Antonio (you put the destination in so the drivers will see) but it is a slim chance that you’ll get any drivers because it’s quite of a long drive and they need to drive another 2.5 hours back, so it actually isn’t much cheaper when it comes to the long routes. I just checked the fare estimate on the Uber website and it’s $150 with UberX and $200 for UberXL which you’ll need if you are traveling with more than 2 people or have lots of luggage. A shuttle from SJO to Manuel Antonio starts at $150 for 2 passengers one way.
Lee says
What’s the difference between x and xl?
Sammi says
Size of the car, XL is a big car, X is like a 4 door sedan or compact.
M says
I have signed up using your link!
Speaking of San Jose, I read that it’s under a State of Alert due to the extensive volcanic ashes. I also heard flights are getting cancelled. How’s going for the situation on the ground?
yeison says
We are get used to volcanic activity and the reason why they cancel flights is because the jet’s engines can get damage by the ashes. I just checked and the airport is open again and in the ground everything is normal. This is happening just in the capital are, we live at in the north pacific coast and ashes don’t reach that far, the Liberia airport is operating normally too.