Basically, this is why we recommend having your own car. Public transportation infrastructure can be resumed as quite painful. San José is the transportation hub of the country, but there’s no central bus terminal.

Offices lay around the city, and while they are cheap, the service is not first-rate. They are reliable, though, and the longest national route costs less than US$20. The further you are from San José, the fewer transportation you find.

There are two types of buses: colectivo, and directo. Colectivos are cheaper but make stops along the way, while the directos don’t. Trips usually have rest stops if there are more than for 4 hours because buses don’t have toilets.

Taxis in San José have marías, also known as meters, and it is illegal for the drivers not to use them.

Yet, outside the capital, most taxis don’t have meters and you will have to engage in bargaining.

Be ready to fend off the “gringo prices”.