San José Transportation Tips by BEETLE_VERTE

Hep! Taxi! By Taxi around San José Review

At one point or the other, you'll end up needing a taxi. Even more so if you're travelling by bus like we were.

They are reputate cheap, we found them just a little above cheap. A ride from the Bus stop to our hotel, which must be less than 2km, cost us 2 to 5$. From San Jose to Alejuela (the national airport is in Alajuela), it's 20$. Our 2km ride in the mountain between our hotel in Manuel Antonio and Quepos docks cost around 2 and 4$.

So it's not all that expensive, but not really cheap either. And as you can see, there's room for bargaining!

We were also suprise to find them in top shape and, mostly in the San Jose area, very luxurious. Always use the official red taxi.

We were also proposed day-trip. We had a designated driver all day when visiting the Poas volcano and the area. We estimated that just the trip to and from the volcano would have cost a little more than what he charged us for the entire day. Ask around!

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Travel by bus! By bus around San José Review

We didn't rent a car as it would have put a huge load on our budget (prefered to invest the money in activities like sportfishing!). Since we learned that the public bus service was pretty efficient and cheap, we went for it. And it was true.

For each trip, we never paid more than 8$ for two peoples. Buses departed on time (give or take 10 minutes), with the exception of one that was 1 hour late. They were usually very nice and comfortable (think of a deluxe coach of the 70's). You carry your hand luggage with you (on some trips, it's better to keep them with you, like San Jose to Fortuna, on other trip, you can use the overhead compartment) and your suitcase goes under the bus (on some trip, they'll give you ticket for it, depending on the risk for the trip I guess).

You can buy your ticket ahead of time, if you'll be boarding at a terminal. They'll give you a receipt with your reserved seat numbers. It's worth it if you plan on using a popular and thus heavily crowded trip. Otherwise, you'll end up in front, aligned with all the others that bought their tickets (they pack the bus row by row). If you think there wont be many peoples on the bus (check the day before), don't buy a ticket and choose your seat (they'll charge you inside). Back rows usually give more space for the legs...

On long trips, the driver might stop at a soda in the middle of the trip. Gives you time to go to the bathroom, freshen up and buy food and drinks. There will also be vendors boarding.

It takes longer than driving on your own (bus is slower and stops everywhere!), although some trips have an express schedule service (they usually depart very early in the morning but wont make any stop... a 4h trip becomes a 3h trip). And it's probably bumpier than a car ride. But you can enjoy the scenery and see the country and it's peoples. You wont have to learn the road, the signs, the itinerary (pretty tricky as some tourists we met there told us). And you'll save money... to put toward good use there!

Mode: AROUND

Type: Bus

Website: http://www.infocostarica.com/general/transport.html