Directions in Costa Rica

Getting Around Costa Rica With Ease

Costa Rica is a very advanced country in sustainability, a very peaceful country, and very green in terms of eco-tourism. However, it is VERY much behind in regards to roads and directions if you are visiting Costa Rica from a country that uses well planned out streets that make sense and house numbers that are labeled. Getting directions in Costa Rica is one of the very few headaches for visitors who are used to having clear-cut and simple instructions for arriving to a destination.  Here we will explain a few of these minor deficiencies and the ways in which you may make the best of them when getting around Costa Rica.  Pura vida, baby!

When asking for directions in Costa Rica, a common response would be, ¨150 metros despues de la cancha de futbol¨, losely translated that would be “a block and a half past the soccer field”.  Ticos consider that every block is 100 meters, so 150 meters means 1 1/2 blocks.  This is in part due to the fact that most, not all, but most roads in Costa Rica outside of central San Jose do not have street signs.  You will also notice that many buildings do not have numbers, which is why landmarks are often used as a reference.

The city of San Jose is the one place in Costa Rica that is very well planned out and can be easily read and understood if using a map.  Streets are labeled on the main thoroughfares every few blocks or so, not so much as you navigate some of the side streets.  This is great when you are walking, but when you are driving, every other block is a one-way street that may or may not be labeled as such and can cause a bit of frustration.

In regards to navigating longer distances, there are signs on the newly re-furbished main highways connecting the most visited destinations in Costa Rica, but do not pay mind to the kilometer markers as some old ones still remain.  Highway signs may say you are 30 km from your destination, then 75 km on the next.  Do not panic, they have just streamlined the highways and not updated the signage.

For these reasons, renting a car in Costa Rica as a means of transportation can be quite an adventure.  However this is a great option for those who would like to drive to destinations in Costa Rica off the beaten path.  To avoid vague verbal directions, we do recommend you throw a GPS system into your rental budget, as this make traveling much easier.   Most GPS systems in Costa Rica are also programmed to let you know when you are approaching important landmarks and what you will encounter….kind of like a personal guide, just not as fun.  The cost averages $10 per day which is worth it in our book if renting a car.   However, if you are brave or you just prefer a paper visual, the rental car services always provide you with a map.

Another very common and a somewhat easier method of transportation in Costa Rica is the immense network of ground shuttles from every major tour destination.  They are operated by private companies, not public transportation, and provide daily departures directly from most hotels at set times either once or twice a day.  For example, there is a shuttle leaving San Jose to Arenal at 7 am each day. Every morning, they gather guests from multiple hotels where they are staying, then take a group of 8 to 10 people maximum per van to their next vacation destination.  They even stop for a bathroom break at a really cool souvenir shop along the way.   Getting around Costa Rica using these services are much faster than buses, very safe, and provide a very good and affordable services to everyone.  Shared shuttle transportation in Costa Rica is definitely cheaper than a private transfer or taxi and much more efficient than travel by public bus.

When it comes to maneuvering around the city, we do recommend taxis as opposed to the public bus.  The bus terminal locations are often over-crowded and not the safest place for those with large backpacks or unwanted attention-calling suitcases.  The taxis in Costa Rica are generally cheap and all taxis should have a meter.  When in the capital city of San Jose, the fare starts around 640 colones (500 colones per USD) and it is generally 640 colones per kilometer.  If you do not have cash on you, look for the taxis with a blue sign on top that say “credomatico”.  These guys accept credit cards if you’re in a bind and don’t have “efectivo” in your pockets.

All in all, the most culturally-fun way to get where you are going is of course just ASKING for directions in Costa Rica.  The Ticos are characterized as very kind people who willingly go out of their way to give directions and to explain the best way to get there, you just need to have a little patience and a positive attitude!  One pet peeve that many tourists express is that even if a Tico is unsure of where a place is, they will still try to give you directions somewhere just to be helpful!!  For that reason, we recommend asking various people along the way. You can also start by learning a few key words and phrases for asking for directions in Costa Rica in Spanish:

Enjoy practicing your Spanish and conversing with the locals, as there is no better way to truly get to know a country. Practically speaking, writing the address of the place where you are going before you leave and looking for it in Google Maps is also a great help.  Remember, not all those who wander are lost…and if you are just grab a beer and enjoy the sites!  Pura Vida!

One final note, for those travelers looking for a more active way to navigate from city to city, we highly recommend choosing an activity between towns to break up the long drive.  Check out these Smart Connection tours to learn more!  More and more tour operators in Costa Rica are starting to implement these services since they are by far the best deals around.