How to get to Costa Rica?

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There are many easy ways to get to and around Costa Rica. Citizens from Canada and United States need valid passports and they could stay for up to 90 days. Adults and children need separate individual passports.

Europeans require valid passports and only western Europeans need visas. Irish, Australians and New Zealanders have an initial permit to remain up to 30 days in the country.

In Central America, only Nicaraguans require a visa to enter Costa Rica, due to the high immigration of Nicaraguans.
You can get to Costa Rica by air, land and sea.

AIR

More than one million people visited Costa Rica last year. Prices vary depending on the season. Tickets from United States or from Canada usually go around $400-800. From Europe are between $800-1000. Prices may fall during low season.

There are two international airports:
1- Juan Santamaria International Airport, in Alajuela.
2- Daniel Oduber International Airport, in Guanacaste.

Airlines from all around the world arrive to these airports.

Local airlines have their own airport, Tobias Bolaños Airport in Rhomoser on the west side of the capital city.
There are four local airlines providing services throughout the country:

1- SANSA.
2- Nature Air.
3- Paradise Air.
4- Aero Bell.

The Exit Taxes are $26 per person. It is highly recommended to get to the airport at least 2 ½ hours before your flight’s departure time. Baggage weight is limited to 70 lbs (32 kg) per bag.

LAND

Roads in Costa Rica are in poor conditions, however, the natural attractions and amazing landscapes throughout the country, is worth the ‘rough’ ride.

When you get to Costa Rica you will be able to remain in the country with your car for up to 3 months. If you’d like to stay in Costa Rica after 90 days, you may renew your visa and pay steep import duties.

RENTING A CAR

Renting can be expensive, depending on the season. Prices go around $45 per day and $300 a week for a simple car. If you want a 4WD, prices go up to $60 per day and $350- 800 per week.

Some of the options for renting a car in Costa Rica are:
1- Hola Rent a Car
2- Economy Rent a Car
3-Dollar Rent a Car

4WD cars are strongly recommended. If you don’t want to rent a car, you can get around by bus. The cheapest buses are the public ones, and can take you anywhere in the country, although private buses can do it for you in a more comfortable and faster way.

Taxis can also be found everywhere. Sometimes it’s better to get a cab rather than walking around, especially during the night. It’s important to make sure that they turn on the meter (known as “La Maria”), which will guarantee you the right fare.

It is important to know that illegal taxis are cheaper because they don’t use the meter. These cabs are normal cars; they don’t have a specific color as the regular red taxis do.

Sea

Costa Rica is the perfect vacation destination. There are 4 ports in Costa Rica, one in the Caribbean side in Limon, in Puntarenas and in Caldera. More than 85.000 people visited these ports in the past few years.

Ports

All ports open from 8 am to 4 pm.
1- North Pacific port: It is in Playas del Coco. The usual waiting time is an hour.
2- Central Pacific: It is in the Hotel Los Sueños, in Puntarenas. These boats go to Caldera.
3-South Pacific: Is in Golfito. Immigration port, people must go through customs
4- Caribbean Coast: It is in Puerto Limon, there are no formal yacht facilities but people go through customs.

There are 3 commercial ports:
1- Pacific Coast
2- Golfito- southern Pacific Coast
3- Moin- north of Limon.

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