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Volcan Arenal, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

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Travel to Costa Rica

Flying to Costa Rica

Flights to Costa Rica are roughly the same prices throughout the year, with costs rising noticeably only for major holidays. The national airline is Grupo Taca (TA) (www.taca.com), a consortium of five national Central American airlines. Lots of major international airlines fly to Costa Rica, such as American Airlines, Delta, Thomas Cook and Continental. Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is closest to San Jose,

Flight times:

From New York to San José is 7 hours. From London to Liberia is 11 hours 30 minutes; to San José it is anywhere between 13 and 17 hours (with a change).

Air passes:

Costa Rican domestic airline Nature Air (www.natureair.com/nature-air-pass.aspx) offers air passes for either a fortnight or a month, allowing unlimited flights in that time for a set price. It’s a good opportunity, given that many roads in Costa Rica are rough or mountainous. If you’re travelling further afield in Latin America it’s also a good idea to have a look at the All America Airpass (www.allairpass.com) to see if any of the airlines and flight paths work for you.

Departure tax:

US$26, payable if staying more than 24 hours.

Driving to Costa Rica

Coming into and leaving Costa Rica is by way of the same road – the Pan-American Highway. Getting in and out is all very accessible, but have your passport and entry card handy because stop-and-checks are frequent. For getting in, out and around the country, the Tica Bus (www.ticabus.com) has routes running from Mexico down to Panama, and Transnica (506 2223 4242; http://transnica.com) services Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The international buses can get chilly, so bring a jumper.

Getting to Costa Rica by boat

Puntarenas, the main port in the Costa Rican Pacific coast, is a major port for cruise-liners and is situated about 70 miles from San José. There are hourly public buses to San José from Puntarenas’ main bus station. When crossing the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera to explore the southern regions, be aware that although the final ferry leaves quite late, the roads on the other side are bumpy and take a while – you may well end up arriving at your destination in the middle of the night, so allow plenty of time.

Cruise ships:

Costa Rica is a major tourist destination with the wealthy American set, and as such is a favourite for cruises. The proximity of the Panama Canal affects this, too, and plenty of cruise ships are heading to or from here. The larger ships will dock at Porto Caldera or Puntarenas, giving you a day or so to explore. Some cruises – usually the shorter routes – stop at National Parks en route or the sort of remote beaches that you just wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise, which can be a wonderful way to see the country. Puerto Limón receives cruise ships on the Caribbean side.

Ferry operators:

Royal Caribbean cruise through Costa Rica (0844 493 4005; www.royalcaribbean.co.uk), as do Princess Cruises (0845 3555 800; www.princess.com). However, there are plenty of Costa Rican ferry companies for smaller and more local trips that can be found at any tour operating company in any city or town you travel to.

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