How to get to Costa Rica?

  GENERAL INFO | HISTORY | GEOGRAPHY | GEOLOGIC | PEOPLE | TOURIST AREAS

Costa Rica has easy ways to reach the country. Citizens from Canada and from United States need valid passports and they could stay for 90 days. Adults and children’s need their individual passport.

Europeans require valid passports and only western Europeans need visas. Irelands, Australians and New Zealand people have an initial permission of 30 days.

In Central American only Nicaraguans must have visas. This is because they arrive our country in a illegal way for working and for living, many Nicaraguans are deported because of this problems.

You also can reach our country by air, land or sea.

AIR

More than one million people arrive to 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. In low season they fall.

There are two international airports.
1- Juan Santamaria International Airport, in Alajuela.
2- Daniel Oduber International Airport, in Guanacaste.
In both airports all the airlines can arrive from any part of the world.

The local airlines also have their own airport, Tobias Bolaños Airport in Rhomoser at the west of the country.
Four local airlines all around the country:

1- SANSA.
2- Nature Air.
3- Paradise Air.
4- Aero Bell.
The Exit Taxes are around $20, for everyone. Arrivals have to be two hours and a half in the airport before living. There are also limits in the baggage no more than 70 lbs -32 kg per person.

LAND

Roads in Costa Rica are in bad conditions but all the landscape that surrounds you eliminate the rough feeling. When you get Costa Rica you will automatically have three months of the visa with the required documentation of the car, if you want more time you renew the visa and pay steep import duties and follow the vehicle nationalization rules.

There are many different options to travel around the country.

RENTING A CAR

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

Three options for renting a car:
1- Hola Rent a Car
2- Economy Rent a Car
3-Dollar Rent a Car

The 4WD are the recommended cars. Following the speed limit ranges is very important because police usually are hidden for watching every thing.

If you don’t want to rent a car you have the choice of traveling in bus. Cheapest buses are the public ones which take you to all parts of the country, although private buses can do it for you.

Taxis are everywhere in all towns. Sometimes is better to get a cab than to walk around. It’s important to make sure that they turn on the meter (known as “la maria”), this will guarantee the correct price.

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 place to include in your tour. Normally cruise ships leave from Miami. In the last years the seaside’s improve and have more facilities for the tourists. In Costa Rica are 4 ports, one in the Caribbean side in Limon, in Puntarenas and in Caldera. More than 85.000 persons visited these ports in the last years.

Ports

All the ports open from 8 am – 4 pm.
1- North Pacific port: It is in Playas del Coco. The usual wait time is for 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. It has customs and works for immigration.
4- Caribbean Coast: It is in Puerto Limon, there are no formal yacht facilities but people go through customs.
5- There are 3 commercial ports: 1- Pacific Coast
2- Golfito- southern Pacific Coast
3- Moin- north of Limon.

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