Material på webbplatsen, inklusive foton, bilder, dokument och text får inte kopieras, reproduceras, publiceras, skapa härledda verk, laddas ner, postas, spridas eller överföras på något sätt utom för ditt eget personliga, icke-kommersiella bruk. All annan användning kräver vårt skriftliga tillstånd. Om man inte följer villkoren avstängs man från medlemskap och erlagd medlemsavgift återbetalas ej. Brott mot upphovsrätten kan dessutom ge böter eller fängelse.
The material on this site, including photos, pictures, documents and text may not be copied, reproduced, published, included in other work, downloaded, posted, distributed or transmitted in any way except for your personal, non-commercial use. Any other use requires our written permission. Your membership will be cancelled if you do not follow these rules and paid membership fees are not refundable. Copyright infringement can furthermore also result in a fine or imprisonment.
Costa Rica Information and Travel Plan
Google map, hostel details, activities, nightlife and cost calculation
As a member you will have, in addition to the information in this document, also a Google map with marked locations of hostels, airports, bus/train/metro stations, nightlife areas, night clubs, salsa clubs, sightseeing locations and other locations of interest.
You will furthermore have important accommodation details such as price and contact information beside other information about activities and nightlife.
You will also have a detailed cost estimation.
Internet resources and guidebooks
http://www.adlibris.com/se/product.aspx?isbn=1741794749
http://wikitravel.org/en/Costa_Rica
http://wikitravel.org/en/Cahuita
http://wikitravel.org/en/Puerto_Viejo_de_Talamanca
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Jos%C3%A9,_Costa_Rica
http://wikitravel.org/en/Tortuguero
http://wikitravel.org/en/Osa_Peninsula
http://wikitravel.org/en/Corcovado_National_Park
http://tortuguerovillage.com/english/english.htm
http://www.tortugueroinfo.com/
Language
Money
Costa Rican Colon (CRC), see http://www.travelhelp.se/swedish/currency.asp.
Visa
Don't forget to pay the ????? which is needed even if you just transit at an airport in USA!
Climate & When To Go
San Jose
Limon
Puntarenas ( Pacific Coast )
Flights, airports & airport transfers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Santamar%C3%ADa_International_Airport
is located in Alajuela Province, about 20 km from downtown San José, Costa Rica.
Accommodation
Visit Costa Rica, http://www.visitcostarica.com/, has a list of hotels if you use menu "PLANNING YOUR VISIT => Hotels in Costa Rica". It is difficult to search for hotels and you don't have any reviews. Use other booking sites to find a suitable hotel and then you can use the Visit Costa Rica's list to get the contact information to the hotel.
Getting around
By bus
It is easy to travel by bus in Costa Rica. Bus schedules are available on Internet, the question is only if they are up to date.
Some companies follow here which have converted the printed schedule into a searchable database. We think that it is better to use the original, printed schedule.
http://www.anywherecostarica.com/transportation/bus-schedules-public
http://thebusschedule.com/cr/index.php
Some companies seems to have converted the printed schedule into a web page.
http://www.liberiacostaricainfo.com/BusScheduleCostaRica.html
Here is hopefully the original information from a booklet distributed freely by the ITC ( Costa Rican Institute of Tourism ). You can download it from greenstone but it is probably better to do it from the official tourist site, www.visitcostarica.com. Use the following menu.
ABOUT COSTA RICA => General Information => Bus Itinerary
You can right-click on the menu and select "Save target as" if you want to save the PDF-document on your computer.
http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/paginas/LEYES/pdf/ItinerarioBuses_es.pdf
( http://www.greenstone.co.cr/espanol/documentos/Itinerario-buses-Costa-Rica.pdf )
Another website with some information is http://www.costaricabybus.com/.
Terminal Tracopa ( Terminal de Buses de Paso Canoas ) close to 'Estacion del Pacifico'.
The Coca Cola Bus Terminal is located at Calle 16 and Avenidas 1 through 3 in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The Coca Cola Bus Terminal is the main bus terminal in San Jose, Costa Rica, and the major hub of the entire Costa Rica bus system. It stands on the spot of Costa Rica’s first Coca Cola bottling plant – hence the name.
Be aware that the Coca Cola Bus Terminal is located in San Jose’s Coca Cola district– also called the Zona Roja, or the Red Light District of San Jose. Zona Roja is one of San Jose’s most notorious areas for pickpocketing and petty theft. Much of this crime is directed towards tourists and travelers, especially in and around the San Jose bus terminal itself. Keep an eye on your bags and backpacks at all times, and keep your passport and important document in an underclothes money belt. Don’t let anyone else watch or handle your baggage.
By rented car
Use a form to search for cheapest car.
http://sanjoseairportcarrental.net/san_jose_airport_car_rental_brands.html
http://sanjoseairportcarrental.net/
San Jose Airport Rental Brands
The following leading rental car companies have depots available at San Jose Airport for your convenience:
http://www.alamocostarica.com/
http://www.dollarcostarica.com/
http://www.economyrentacar.com/
http://www.natcar.com/main.cfm
http://cr.sixt.com/php/res?language=en
http://www.thrifty.com/Local/Index.aspx?LocationCode=SJO
http://www.usavecostarica.com/
http://costaricarentacar.net/ ( Hertz )
Dangers & Annoyances
Travel route alternatives
We recommend that you rent a car if you want to visit the northwest part of Costa Rica since you cannot travel to the national parks by public bus. It is easiest to rent the car at the airport since it is very difficult to find your way in San Jose. The airport is also located at the Pan American Highway (1) so it is easy to travel to the northwestern part of Costa Rica from the airport. You will probably arrive late in the evening and then it isn’t much traffic. It is therefore a good idea to start your holiday with a visit to northwest Costa Rica.
It rains a lot at the Caribbean coast so visit that part of the country next. You will then finish your holiday at the southwestern part of Costa Rica where you probably have nice weather and have a chance to relax and maybe dry your wet clothes.
The airport is located next to Pan American Highway.
Use the Pan American Highway when you travel northwest.
Travel plan for northwest part of Costa Rica
Alajuela ( 2 nights )
Flight ( Continental Airlines ): Gothenburg 08:55 => San Jose 21:35
On the flight to the stop in USA you had to fill in two papers, one paper for the passport check and another paper for the customs.
At the Newark airport you first had to queue 30 minutes for the passport check at one of the 60 desks. The man who checked me was unfriendly. I had left one field empty in the form since I didn't understand that you had to fill in "transit to Costa Rica" in the field "destination address in USA". The man took all my finger prints and also a photo.
After the passport check I had to wait for my suitcase which I checked-in at Gothenburg. There was a security check or customs check but we could just pass it since we were not entering USA. We could then leave our luggage to a man before a real security check where you even had to take of your shoes. I had luckily taken out my digital camera and all my battery charges and put them beside my handbag and maybe therefore I passed the security check without problem.
The flight to San Jose departed from terminal C. You had to take a quick train to that terminal.
At the gate they called my name when it was time for boarding. I had to go to the boarding desk so they could fill in some information from my passport and give me a new boarding card.
You had to fill in a new tourist visa and a new custom declaration for Costa Rica on the plane to San Jose. Observe that you have to fill in the address where you will spend your first night in Costa Rica.
Activity: Change money
There was a desk where you could change money. Observe that you can buy most things with US dollars which often is prefereable.
Rent a car at the airport.
Car: Airport => Alajuela
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g309224-Activities-Alajuela_Province_of_Alajuela.html
Visit Poas National Park
Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast in Arilapa
Santa Rosa National Park ( 4 nights )
Car: Alajuela => Santa Rosa National Park
Activity: Watch wildlife in the park
Accommodation:
Santa Rosa National Park
Playa del Coco ( 3 nights )
Car: Santa Rosa National Park => Playa del Coco
Activities:
Have some fun and make sightseeing in the neighbourhood.
Accommodation: Hostel or hotel in Playa del Coco
Children's Eternal Rain Forest Preserve & Monteverde Forest Preserve ( 2 nights )
Car: Playa del Coco => ???
Activity: Visit some of the best National Parks. More information will come later.
The following national parks are located along the road west of the Pan American Highway (1).
Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve 3,p88
Often refered to as the "insect park". You have to wade or walk into the reserve depending on the season from one side. It is possible to drive from the other side. You can camp and the park may not be open all days.
Palo Verde National Park 4,90
Fresh and salt water marshes. During the peak season in January and February the largest cancentration of migrating wading birds in Central America. The biting insects are very bad during the wet season. You can camp and it might also be possible to make arrangements to stay at the OTS Field Station. It is difficult to find your way on the many small roads. You might have to bring your own food.
Barra Honda National Park 5, 95
Created primarily to protect its famous limestone cave system.
Curú Wildlife Refuge 10,102
Excelent birding and wildlife watching and a good network of trails.
Cabo Blanco Biological Reserve 11, 106
The Wildlife Refuge was created by Olaf and Karen Wessberg from Sweden. You have to cross a river with a 4WD car to enter the park. No camping.
Ostional Wildlife Refuge 8, 109
Nesting site for sea turtles.
Diriá National Park 36, 137
May be one of the least visited of all parks.
Las Baulas National Park and Taramindo Wildlife Refuge 31,111
Nesting site for sea turtles.
The following national parks are located along the road east of the Pan American Highway (1).
Guanacaste National Park 30,79
Not far from Santa Rosa National Park. Can be worth a day trip.
Rincón de la Vieja National Park 17,84
Contains an active volcano, mud pots, steam vents, and hot springs and has excelent wildlife viewing and birding opportunities. There are several nice camping areas, some of which are accessible by road, and it is possible to stay in dormitory-style accommodations.
Tenorio National Park 33, 128
Newest national park. Little in the way of developed trails.
Arenal National Park 32, 124
Since 1968, the volcano has been more or less continually active.
Best accessed from town Fortuna on route 142. A bit away from the Pan American Highway.
Few facilities for visitors ten years ago.
Children's Eternal Rain Forest Preserve 35,113
Monteverde Forest Preserve 34, 113
Ranks as one of the best-known protected areas in the tropics. The Children's Eternal Rain Forest Preserve is an example of how important conservation ideas often start small but can have far-reaching effects. It all began when a primary school teacher from Sweden came to do biological research at Monteverde, and became concerned about the destruction of the unprotected forest surrounding the preserve. She brought this concern back to her classroom, and the nine-year olds responded by starting a drive to save and collect enough money to buy fourteen hectars of endangered forest. The idea spread on to other countries and more than 7000 hectars have been placed under protection.
You can reach the park with a two-wheel-drive car if you take it slow. There are numerous hotels in Monteverde and also dormitory style lodges.
La Amistad National Park 38, 199
Not easy to enter the park. Guides are an absolute necessity.
Peñas Blancas Wildlife Refuge 6, 132
Created primarily for watershed protection. Most of the area was disturbed before its protection. Wildlife is not particularly common.
Accommodation: Hotel at Monte Verde
Jaco ( 2 nights )
Car: ??? => Jaco
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g309271-Activities-Jaco_Province_of_Puntarenas.html
Visit Carara Biological Reserve.
The reserve is located 126 km from San Jose, near where the Rio Tárcoles empties into the Pacific Ocean.
Accommodation: Hotel in Jaco
Manzanillo ( See Travel plan for the Caribbean Coast )
Car: Jaco => Airport
Bus: Airport => Terminal del Caribe
There is a bus stop outside the airport for the Alajuela - San José and Alajuela - Heredia route in both directions but it might be better to take a taxi directly to Terminal del Caribe.
P5: Terminal de Tuasa: Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaria, Alajuela, Volcán Poás, Fraijanes.
Taxi: TUASA terminal => Terminal del Caribe
A taxi from the TUASA terminal to Terminal del Caribe probably cost 2-3 colones if the taximeter is used and maybe twice as much if it isn't used.
- or -
Taxi: Airport => Terminal del Caribe
Please take always a taxi from the company Taxis Unidos in
your way from the
International Airport Juan Santamaría to Hotel Aranjuez. You will find the
Taxis Unidos Office around the Immigration’s exit. Those taxis are orange
color.You have to pay around US$20.
For your own safe, please do not take any other taxi or
leave anyone to take your luggage besides the official taxi driver of the
Company Taxis Unidos.
Travel plan for the Caribbean Coast
Manzanillo ( 3 nights )
There are several bus terminals in San José. It is important to know which bus terminal serves your bus route.
The Gran Terminal del Caribe (Caribe Terminal; Calle Central, north of Av 13) serves the Caribbean coast.
Watch out for pick-pockets and baggage thieves around the bus station.
Tickets are sold just before departure for approximately US$2???
When traveling beyond the metropolitan area of San José, buy your boletos or tiquetes (tickets) in advance. Long distance buses are often full, especially on weekends and holidays. If you arrive at the station just before departure time, you may find yourself riding a pie (standing).
Many towns and beaches in Costa Rica have the same name. Be sure that your destination is correct.
Make sure you take the bus to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (Limon) and not to Puerto Viejo, Saapiqui.
8 persons had to stand all the way to Puerto Viejo so it is a good idea to enter the bus when it arrives to make sure you get a seat. Don't sit at the window if you are long. I am 1.83 cm long and there where not enough place for my legs. The journey was therefore not nice at all. If you get an aisle seat you can put your legs straight out in the middle and also stand up now and then.
The bus stopped one time just before Limon where you could take something to eat and also visit a toilet. I don't think they opened the baggage store so there was no risk that anyone could steal your luggage. The bus didn't stop at Limon, the only stop on the way was at Cahuita and there it was easy to watch your luggage to make sure that nobody took it out.
Bus: Caribbean bus terminal 12:00 => Manzanillo 16:30
( Timetable from Visit Costa Rica 2012-01-21 )
- or -
Bus: Caribbean bus terminal => Puerto Viejo de Talamanca at the Caribbean coast
( Timetable from Visit Costa Rica 2012-01-21 )
Taxi: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca => Hotel in Manzanillo
At Puerto Viejo we found a nice taxi driver who had a taxi bus. He drove us to Manzanillo for 17 USD.
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g1644063-Activities-Manzanillo_Province_of_Limon.html
Accommodation: Hotel in Manzanillo
Cahuita ( 3 nights )
Walk: Hotel in Manzanillo => Bus stop in Manzanillo
Bus: Bus stop in Manzanillo => Lodge in Cahuita
Make sure the bus stops in Cahuita
( Timetable from Visit Costa Rica 2012-01-21 )
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g309262-Activities-Cahuita_Province_of_Limon.html
Accommodation: Lodge in Cahuita
Tortugueru ( 3 nights )
Walk: Lodge in Cahuita => Bus terminal
Bus: Cahuita => Bus stop outside Limon
Inform the driver that you are going to the boat pier at Moin.
( Timetable from
Visit Costa Rica 2012-01-21 )
Taxi: Bus stop outside Limon => Boat pier at Moin
Boat: Boat pier at Moin => Boat pier at Tortuguero
Walk: Boat pier at Tortuguero => Hotel
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g309268-Activities-Tortuguero_Province_of_Limon.html
Accommodation: Hotel in Tortuguero
Sierpe ( see the Travel plan for southwest part of Costa Rica )
Walk: Hotel in Tortuguero => Boat pier at Tortuguero
Boat: Boat pier at Tortuguero 6am => Bus stop / Boat pier at Pavona
Leave at 6am, 11:30am, and 3pm from the main dock in town.
Despite what they may say when you first arrive, it is not nessasary to purchase return tickets in advance. Based on the Tortuguero community charter, they are required to have extra boats on hand in case there is not enough space to transport everybody wanting to travel. However, if you are traveling with a large group, it is HIGHLY recomended that you let them know when you will be traveling to help them make arrangments to accomodate you. Tickets are 1600 colones (about $3 USD).
( 2009 information from http://tortuguerovillage.com/english/english.htm )
Bus: Bus stop / Boat pier at Pavona 7:30am => Cariari around 9am
When the boat arrives at the docking point of Pavona, you will wait for the bus coming from Cariari (it will arrive at around 7:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 4:30pm, usually the bus is already there waiting for you). This bus will take you to Cariari for 1100 colones (about $2 USD).
( 2009 information from http://tortuguerovillage.com/english/english.htm )
Walk: Old bus station in Carari => New bus station in Carari
The last stop of the bus is at the old bus station about 1 1/2 hours after leaving Pavona. To catch buses to San Jose, you will need to walk to the new bus station.
( 2009 information from http://tortuguerovillage.com/english/english.htm )
Bus: New bus station in Carari 11:30 => Terminal del Caribe around 14:00
( Timetable from
Visit Costa Rica 2012-01-21 )
Buses leave from Cariari directly to San Jose at: 5:30am, 6:30am, 7:30, 8:30am, 11:30am, 1pm, 3pm, 5:30pm.
The trip from Cariari to San Jose will take about 2 and a half hours, and will cost 1170 colones ($2.20 USD)If you leave Tortuguero at 6am, you will arrive in Cariari at around 9am (you will most likely miss the 8:30am to San Jose), if you leave at 11:30 you will arrive a little before 3pm (usually with enough time to catch 3pm bus to San Jose), and if you left at 3pm you will arrive in Cariari at around 6pm (you will most likely miss the last bus to San Jose from Cariari).Rather than waiting in Cariari for 2 and a half hours (if you left at 6am), or missing the direct buses altogether (if you left at 3pm), we suggest that you take a bus from Cariari to Guapiles. It takes about a half an hour, costs around 300 colones (.60 cents), and leaves Cariari from the old bus station every 20 minutes. Stay on the bus until the last stop which will be the main Guapiles terminal where you can take another bus to San Jose or any other main city on the Caribean side of Costa Rica.
In Guaplies, direct buses leave for San Jose about every half and hour starting at 5:30am until 7pm. It will take about 2 hours and cost around 900 colones ($1.80 USD).
( 2009 information from http://tortuguerovillage.com/english/english.htm )
( Timetable from
Visit Costa Rica 2012-01-21 )
Taxi: Terminal del Caribe => Tracopa bus terminal
Travel plan for southwest part of Costa Rica
Sierpe ( 2 nights )
Bus: Tracopa bus terminal 14:30 => Palma Norte 20:30
( Timetable from Visit Costa Rica 2012-01-21 )
Taxi: Palma Norte bus terminal => Hotel in Sierpe
Activities:
Accommodation: Hotel in Sierpe
Poorman’s Paradise ( 4 nights )
Walk: Hotel in Sierpe => Boat
Boat: Boat => Jetty or beack on peninsula de Osa
Walk: Jetty or beack on peninsula de Osa => Lodge
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g313830-Activities-Drake_Bay_Osa_Province_of_Puntarenas.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g309279-Activities-Osa_Province_of_Puntarenas.html
You can visit Corcovado National Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corcovado_National_Park
http://costa-rica-guide.com/Natural/Corcovado.html
http://wikitravel.org/en/Corcovado_National_Park
Accommodation: Lodge on Osa Peninsula
There are other alternatives at Drake Bay. Poorman’s Paradise will probably be replaced by Cabinas Manolo at Drake Bay or Las Caletas Cabinas on Osa peninsula.
San Jose ( 2 nights )
Walk: Lodge => Poorman’s Paradise beach
Boat: Poorman’s Paradise beach => Sierpe
Taxi: Poorman’s office at Sierpe / Boat pier => Palma Norte bus station
Bus: Palma Norte bus station => Tracopa bus terminal in San Jose
( Timetable from Visit Costa Rica 2012-01-21 )
Taxi: Tracopa bus terminal in San Jose => Hotel in San Jose
Hotel Aranjuez is located in Street 19, between Avenue 12 & 13.
Apartamentos Aranjuez is located between Street 19 and Avenue 13.
Hotel Aranjuez and Apartamentos Aranjuez are located in Barrio Aranjuez, downtown San José.
Nearby you will find the Museum Calderón Guardia (4 blocks ahead), the National Library (7 blocks), Formas y Sonidos Museum, (8 blocks), National Park (7 blocks), Jade Museum (8 blocks), Contemporary Art Museum (8 blocks). Also, you will find an ATM machine 3 blocks away and a Bank 4 blocks away. Many small restaurants (sodas), drugs stores, gas station, bars, internet café, mini market, A..M.-P..M Store (3 blocks) are also nearby.
Please check in the map included in our website www.hotelaranjuez.com the exact location of Hotel Aranjuez and Apartamentos Aranjuez.
Activities:
Accommodation: Hotel in San Jose
Onboard plane ( 1 night )
Taxi: Hotel in San Jose => San Jose airport
Flight ( Continental Airlines ): San Jose 08:00 => Gothenburg 10:15
Accommodation: Onboard plane