Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [496]
And most importantly – drive defensively As one reader put it, ‘Understand that many drivers are clinically insane.’ Driving in Costa Rica and the rest of Central America is not for the faint of heart – be smart, be safe and arrive alive.
You are not allowed to sell the car in Costa Rica. If you need to leave the country without the car, you must leave it in a customs warehouse in San José.
For tips on driving to Costa Rica from North America, importing your car and selling it afterwards, see the boxed text above.
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SEA
Cruise ships stop in Costa Rican ports and enable passengers to make a quick foray into the country. Typically, ships dock at either the Pacific port of Caldera (near Puntarenas) or the Caribbean port of Puerto Limón (Click here).
It is also possible to arrive in Costa Rica by private yacht.
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GETTING AROUND
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AIR
Scheduled Flights
Costa Rica’s domestic airlines are NatureAir (2220-3054; www.natureair.com) and Sansa (2290-4100; www.flysansa.com); the latter is linked with Grupo TACA.
Both airlines fly small passenger planes, and you’re allocated a baggage allowance of no more than 12kg. Space is limited and demand is high in the dry season, so reserve and pay for tickets in advance.
In Costa Rica schedules change constantly and delays are frequent because of inclement weather. Be patient: Costa Rica has small planes and big storms – you don’t want to be in them at the same time. You should not arrange a domestic flight that makes a tight connection with an international flight back home.
All domestic flights originate and terminate at San José. Destinations reached from San José include Bahía Drake, Barra del Colorado, Golfito, Liberia, Neily, Palmar Sur, Playa Nosara, Playa Sámara/Carrillo, Playa Tamarindo, Puerto Jiménez, Quepos, Tambor and Tortuguero.
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Charters
If you’ve got some serious cash to burn – or you’re traveling as part of a large party – chartering a private plane is by far the quickest way to travel around the country. Destinations include Carrillo, Bahía Drake, Golfito, Jacó, La Fortuna, Liberia, Limon, Nosara, Palmar Sur, Parismina, Pavones, Puerto Jiménez, Punta Islita, Quepos, Sixaola, Tamarindo, Tambor and Tortuguero. It takes on average 45 to 90 minutes to fly to most destinations, though weather conditions can significantly speed up or delay travel time.
While there are a good number of charter companies serving Costa Rica, the most reputable in terms of safety is the domestic carrier, NatureAir (2220-3054; www.natureair.com). Alfa Romeo Aero Taxi (www.alfaromeoair.com) also gets good marks. You can book either directly through the company, through a tour agency or even your accommodations, especially if it’s a high-end property.
For a King Air plane capable of seating one to seven passengers, you can expect to pay anywhere from US$850 to US$2250. For a Twin Otter holding one to 19 passengers, the price range is US$1750 to US$4000.
You should be aware that luggage space is extremely limited, so pack light if you’re planning on chartering private planes.
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BICYCLE
Mountain bikes and beach cruisers can be rented in towns with a significant tourist presence at US$10 to US$15 per day. A few companies organize bike tours around Costa Rica (Click here).
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BOAT
Ferries cross the Golfo de Nicoya connecting the central Pacific coast with the southern tip of Península de Nicoya. The Countermark ferry (2661-1069) links the port of Puntarenas with Playa Naranjo four times daily. The Ferry Peninsular (2641-0118) travels between Puntarenas and Paquera every two hours, for a bus connection to Montezuma (Click here).
On the Golfo Dulce, a daily passenger ferry links Golfito with Puerto Jiménez on