Costa Rica is one of the smallest states in Central America. Translated from Spanish, the name of the country means "rich coast", which is quite justified, because here all the best is collected in an amazing way: parks , beaches , historical and cultural monuments, museums, etc. To be able to get acquainted with the most interesting sights of this paradise, you should first familiarize yourself with some peculiarities of movement around the country. The main types of transport in Costa Rica will be discussed in more detail.
Bus service
Undoubtedly, the main type of public transport in Costa Rica is the bus. This is a fairly budgetary option (the fare is about $ 0.5), but not the worst. Almost all buses are new, inside the cabin there is air conditioning.
On this type of transport you can move between large cities ( San Jose , Limon , Puntarenas , Heredia ), and between small towns ( Puerto Viejo de Talamanca , La Fortuna ). Buses in Costa Rica go frequently and regularly, which allows them to reach their destination in a short time.
Taxi and car rental
Of course, the most convenient option for traveling around the country is a rented car. To rent a car, you must be over 21 years old, carry an international driving license and a passport. In addition, the balance on the credit card balance must be at least $ 1000.
As for the cost of this service, it all depends on the class of the car and the season. So, for example, the peak of "tourist activity" in Costa Rica falls on the winter season, when the "New Year and Christmas holidays come" together with the "dry season". On such days, you can rent a car for $ 40-150 per day. At other times of the year, the price will be one and a half to two times less.
Taxis in Costa Rica are very popular with travelers as well as with locals. It's quite easy to find out the car: each car is painted in a bright red color. The cost of this service is small, however, if you are planning to overcome a considerable distance, it is better to agree with the driver in advance on the final amount, otherwise you risk paying twice as much.
Aviation and rail transport
Despite the fact that Costa Rica is considered a fairly small state, one of the most popular modes of transport is considered to be an airplane. This service is especially relevant during the rainy season (the period from May to October), when all roads are blurred and air travel becomes the only possible way of traveling around the country. By the way, there are several international airports and more than 100 domestic airports , and all traffic is carried out by the national airline SANSA.
With trains the situation is much worse: the railway communication is only between some major cities. In the future, the full restoration of this mode of transport is planned, and at the moment only a few destinations are available to tourists: San Jose - Caldera, San Jose - San Pedro and San Jose - Pavas.
To the tourist on a note
Before you go on a trip, read some general rules and laws of Costa Rica :
- On the entire territory of the state, right-hand traffic.
- All pointers are in Spanish, so you should learn some of the thematic words and terms in advance, and also get a Spanish-Russian dictionary just in case.
- Together with car rental, insurance is required. By the way, the cost of gasoline is not included in the rent, but to return the car costs with a full tank.
- For trips outside the city it is better to take an SUV.