Like everything else, the world of transportation changes fairly quickly.  Please check with us about current tips about travel from your place to and around Costa Rica.

One large suggestion - Don't automatically think you should rent a vehicle.  North Americans tend to just assume that they should have a vehicle parked outside where they are sleeping.  Here, having a vehicle for your entire stay (or at all) may be just a waste of money - and of time and enjoyment!

Go by local air or hire a Tourismo (12 seater mini-van) for trips of a few hours.  Local taxis are cheap and convenient.

For example: 

- rent a car to go to Tambor from San Jose - full (no deductible) insurance (absolutely necessary!), gas, ferry - say maybe $130??  One tourist has the pleasure of intensely watching the unfamiliar road winding by!

- Pinky (César's nickname!!) will take you in his Tourismo to our place from San Jose for maybe $50 or $60 more than you would pay to drive yourself and all the passengers get to see the countryside. 

By the way: Pinky is great: He speaks decent English. Based out of Alajuela - where the San Jose International airport is.  Will take you on tours all over Costa Rica at reasonable prices.  For example, he charges $100/day (2012) which includes fuel and driver if you hire him for 3 or more consecutive days.  You pay his meals and lodging.  In return aside from getting you there, he looks for the best value in lodgings for you and knows the restaurants with the best food and the cheapest prices. Tico (ie. Costa Rican) food? Italian? North American? No prob - if he doesn't know it, it doesn't exist.  Often when we travel with him, we find that food and lodging costs for us are about 15 to 30% less than we would be likely to find, covering much of the expense for his expenses.

If you are renting our place, we'll be pleased to assist in tour reservations with him (by the way , we DO NOT take a cut!).  If you want him to stay at our property for a couple of days while he is showing you around our area, we do not charge for him using the small house.  You may want to take a look at his website.

Local Taxis:  The red vehicles ("Los Rojos") which look like cabs are, indeed, taxis (except some at the airport, which can be unlicensed folk who have been known to rob people or other make the trip unhappy).  If you are taking a cab from the airport, there is a ticket booth on the way out of the airport.  The Rojos generally, very knowledgeable of their locality and quite reasonably priced. 

Pirate Cabs: Aguy with a car who just makes a living driving those who don't have a car.  About half the cost of the licensed cabs.  DO NOT USE in San Jose - the local traffic cops can get quite nasty about tourists using pirate cabs - you might suddenly end up on the sidewalk!  In the less urban areas, probably the way to go is with your pirate.  Chat with us for contacts.

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