Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

International flights arrive at Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría, 17km (10.5mi) northwest of San José in the town of Alajuela. In recent years, Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia has started receiving international flights from the US. It's expected that many international airlines will start to offer flights in/out of this airport, including some flights direct from Europe (eliminating the lay-over in Miami or Dallas). This airport is convenient for travelers visiting the Península de Nicoya.

Costa Rica is well connected by air to other Central and Latin American countries, as well as the US.

Costa Rica shares land borders with Nicaragua and Panama. Many travelers, particularly shoestringers, enter the country by bus. An extensive bus system links the Central American capitals and it's vastly cheaper than flying.

Getting around

There are two domestic airlines: Sansa (tel: 221 9414; www.flysansa.com) and NatureAir (tel: 220 3054; www.natureair.com). Schedules change constantly and delays are frequent because of inclement weather. Costa Rica has small planes and big storms; you don't want to be in them at the same time.

Public transport is well-developed in Costa Rica, although transport to towns other than San José is limited. Local buses are the best (albeit rather slow) way of getting around. They will take you just about everywhere, and they're frequent and cheap. San José is the transport center for the country, but there is no central bus terminal.

An alternative to the standard intercity bus is the tourist-van shuttle service.

Taxis are considered a viable form of public transport for long journeys, and can be hired by the day, half-day or hour. Cars and motorcycles can also be rented in San José.

Visa information

Visa requirements for Costa Rica change rapidly so check with your consulate before leaving. Currently, citizens of the US, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, South Africa, South Korea, Uruguay, the UK, France and most other western European countries do not need a visa for a 90-day stay. Citizens of India, Singapore, Russia and most of Eastern Europe and Latin America can stay 30 days without a visa. All nationalities are required to have an airline ticket to exit Costa Rica or proof of financial resources. If you do need a visa, it will cost around 20.00 from a Costa Rican consulate.