Sidebar #17 - Transporte Tico

When I left the States, I left my car behind as well. Peace Corps Volunteers in Costa Rica aren't typically allowed to drive, (unless they are on Annual Leave and get permission) which can make getting around a ton difficult in a country that is so motor-heavy. Most of us get around the country by bus. Buses are ubiquitous across Costa Rica and are by far the cheapest way to travel. However, the bus system can be a little tricky to navigate on occasion. There isn't one nationalized bus operator; rather, there are dozens of small companies that have monopolies on certain routes. Furthermore, in many cases, these operators don't have websites, and the bus stops and routes aren't particularly clear, which can make it difficult to figure out how to buy tickets and where to go. Word of mouth, picking the brain of trusted Ticos, is the most foolproof way to figure out when and where to catch the bus. Several volunteers also rely on the app "Moovit" which works better in Costa Rica than Google Maps. 

Outside of buses, there are a few other ways to get around Costa Rica too. Motorcycles or "motos" are arguably the most popular form of transportation in Costa Rica. However, one of the long-standing rules of Peace Corps is that volunteers are prohibited from riding motorcycles, so that's not a mode of transportation I've personally experienced. Taxis are also fairly common here. I have the advantage of having access to Uber due to my location near San Jose; however, in smaller communities, you'd take regular rojo taxis, or unofficial pirata taxis. Traffic, or presa, is quite bad in the San Jose metro area, and unfortunately there is no subway or metro system yet, although there are commuter trains to other regional cities like Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago. Finally, Costa Rica has two major international airports, one in Alajuela near San Jose, and another in Liberia in the province of Guanacaste. San Jose is certainly the larger and more centrally located airport, but Liberia is probably a better option for visitors strictly visiting the beach. If traveling around Costa Rica, renting a car is by far the most efficient to see a lot of the country in a short amount of time.



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