Getting around Costa Rica is an adventure in itself. The country's mountainous terrain, tropical coastlines, and scattered rural communities have shaped a transport system that blends affordable public buses, commuter trains, coastal ferries, domestic flights, and a deeply ingrained car culture. For expats settling here long-term, understanding how each mode of transport works and when to use which makes daily life considerably easier. This article covers everything from city buses and commuter rail in the Greater Metropolitan Area to tuk-tuks on the Nicoya Peninsula and small aircraft hopping between remote airstrips.
Costa Rica'stransport infrastructure reflects its geography more than almost anything else. Paved highways connect the main cities of the Central Valley efficiently, but the further you travel toward the coast or into the mountains, the more the landscape dictates your options. Roads narrow, surfaces deteriorate, rivers cross your path, and a journey that looks short on a map can take several hours in practice.
Costa Rica'spublic transport system is almost entirely bus-based, with dozens of private operators running regional and urban routes under government concessions. The Public Services Regulatory Authority, known locally as ARESEP, sets and periodically adjusts all fares based on fuel costs and operational metrics, which keeps prices consistently low across the country.
The network is extensive and, for the price, impressive in its reach. Almost no community of any size is entirely without a bus connection to a larger town. That said, the system has real limitations for daily commuters. Long travel times caused by frequent stops and traffic congestion in urban areas are common complaints, and the absence of a unified ticketing platform or integrated transfer system between different operators adds friction to multi-leg journeys. Accessibility on older vehicles remains a challenge, though the progressive rollout of electric buses and the expansion of the SINPE-TP electronic payment system are gradually modernising the experience for regular users.
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Looking further ahead, the Costa Rican government has unveiled a fully funded USD 800 million electric train project called TIBI, a modern double-track tram-train system designed to serve the GAM. If the project proceeds on schedule, it would significantly improve urban connectivity and carry passengers at projected fares of around USD 2.30 for longer routes, without requiring ongoing state subsidies. For now, however, the existing commuter rail is a practical choice for regular city-to-city commuters in the Central Valley.
Ferries in Costa Rica
Ferry travel in Costa Rica is genuinely essential for expats and anyone living on or frequently visiting the Nicoya Peninsula. The overland route around the Gulf of Nicoya to reach towns like Santa Teresa, Montezuma, and Nosara is significantly longer than crossing directly by water, making the ferry crossing a practical time-saver rather than a scenic novelty.
Two primary operators depart from the port city of Puntarenas. Naviera Tambor runs to Paquera, serving the southern Nicoya Peninsula, while Coonatramar runs to Playa Naranjo. On the Puntarenas to Paquera route, adult foot passengers pay CRC 810 (approximately USD 1.50), a motorcycle costs CRC 3,400 (approximately USD 6.70), and a standard light vehicle costs CRC 11,400 (approximately USD 22.50), according to Naviera Tambor's published fares. Ferries run several times daily, though schedules shift seasonally.
One practical point that catches many first-time users off guard: vehicle spaces sell out quickly during high season and public holidays. Booking your car's spot online in advance through Naviera Tambor's website or the QuickpayCR platform is strongly recommended. Foot passengers have considerably more flexibility, but vehicle travellers who arrive without a reservation can face waits of several hours at the terminal.
Tickets and passes in Costa Rica
Costa Rica does not currently offer a unified travel card or monthly transit pass that covers multiple operators or modes of transport. Fares are paid per journey, and the approach to payment varies depending on the service you are using.
On buses, exact cash in colones has traditionally been required, and many rural routes still operate this way. However, the SINPE-TP electronic payment system is now available across a growing share of the national network, with contactless card payments accepted on a significant number of routes. Carrying small change in colones remains wise for older vehicles and rural services where card readers have not yet been installed.
On the INCOFER commuter train, tickets are bought at station ticket windows or from onboard attendants. Ferry tickets are purchased at the terminal or through online booking portals, with vehicle reservations best handled digitally in advance as described above.
For drivers using the major highway network, electronic tolls on routes such as Route 27 are managed through a system called Quickpass, which uses an RFID transponder linked to a local bank account. Rental cars rarely come equipped with a Quickpass device, meaning drivers will need to pay tolls in cash using small colones or small USD bills. Planning ahead by keeping small-denomination cash on hand avoids unnecessary delays at toll booths.
Taxis in Costa Rica
Official registered taxis in Costa Rica are easy to identify: they are uniformly red, known locally as Taxis Rojos, and display a yellow triangle emblem on the front doors showing their licence number. At major international airports, you will find a separate fleet of bright orange airport taxis, which operate exclusively from the terminal and follow a fixed-zone pricing structure.
Fares for red taxis are government-regulated by ARESEP, which adjusts the base rate (called the "banderazo") and the per-kilometre rate periodically in line with fuel prices. All licensed drivers are legally required to use a taximeter, known locally as "la marĂa." Expats are strongly advised to insist on the meter being used at the start of every ride. If a driver claims the meter is broken and tries to negotiate a flat cash fare, the standard recommendation is to get out and find another taxi. Tipping is not customary in Costa Rica, though rounding up the fare slightly is a common and perfectly acceptable practice.
From a legal standpoint, ride-hailing services in Costa Rica operate in a grey area. Formal regulatory legislation has faced prolonged delays in the National Assembly, meaning the platforms are neither fully licensed nor prohibited. In practice, the government has accepted their presence and taxes rides at a 13% Value Added Tax (VAT) rate, which appears on app receipts. Occasional crackdowns by the PolicĂa de Tránsito (traffic police), particularly at airport pickup zones, do occur. To avoid drawing attention during enforcement periods, many passengers sit in the front passenger seat rather than the back, making the arrangement appear more like a carpool. This informal workaround is widely known among expats and regular users.
For navigation, whether you are in a ride-hail vehicle or driving yourself, Waze is the app of choice in Costa Rica. Its crowdsourced, real-time alerts for potholes, road closures, and police checkpoints make it significantly more useful than Google Maps on local roads. Most drivers, locals, and expats alike, rely on it as a matter of habit.
Driving in Costa Rica
Driving in Costa Rica gives expats a level of freedom that public transport cannot match, particularly for reaching remote beaches, national parks, and mountain communities. Tourists and expats can legally drive using a valid home country licence for up to 90 days; after that, obtaining a local Costa Rican licence is necessary.
Drivers should also stay alert for hazards that are specific to Costa Rica: wildlife crossing the road (sloths and monkeys are not uncommon), narrow one-lane bridges marked with "Ceda" (yield) signs requiring drivers to wait for oncoming traffic, and sudden dense fog at higher elevations. For a full overview of licences, road rules, and vehicle ownership, refer to Expat.com's dedicated driving in Costa Rica article.
Cycling in Costa Rica
Cycling in Costa Rica occupies two very different realities, depending on where you live. In coastal expat communities like Santa Teresa, Puerto Viejo, and Nosara, bicycles and electric bikes (e-bikes) are legitimate daily transport, used by residents to navigate compact beach town layouts, avoid traffic, and move easily along dirt roads without the noise or emissions of an ATV. In these areas, cycling is practical, common, and socially normal.
In urban areas and on major highways, the picture is more complicated. Road shoulders are often narrow, traffic moves fast, and driver awareness of cyclists is inconsistent. Cycling on highways outside of towns requires significant caution and is not recommended for everyday commuting.
The legal framework is improving. Under Costa Rica's Cycling Safety and Mobility Law, municipalities are working to expand bike lane infrastructure, with progress tracked through the Active Mobility Index (IMA), which grades cycling and walking conditions across the country. In beach towns, app-based bike-sharing is growing, with companies like Bimba offering shared e-bikes via QR code unlocking on the Nicoya Peninsula, making short-distance travel accessible even for expats who do not own a bike.
Walkability in Costa Rica depends heavily on where you are. Natural environments, trails, and beachfront paths are generally excellent. Urban pedestrian infrastructure has historically been patchy, with missing or uneven footpaths, inadequate lighting, and limited accessibility for people with mobility needs in many neighbourhoods.
For expats living outside the Central Valley, many of Costa Rica's most popular beach towns offer genuinely walkable downtowns. Places like Puerto Viejo, JacĂł, and Tamarindo are compact enough that daily errands, dining, and accessing local services can all be done on foot without needing a vehicle. In these settings, walking is not just possible but encouraged as the most practical way to get around.
Tuk-tuks and local transport in Costa Rica
In many coastal expat hubs, including Nosara, Santa Teresa, and Tamarindo, three-wheeled auto-rickshaws known locally as tuk-tuks are a familiar and practical form of short-distance transport. They are well-suited to the bumpy, unpaved dirt roads typical of the Nicoya Peninsula and similar coastal communities, offering an open-air ride that handles the terrain better than a standard sedan.
Tuk-tuks operate on a cash-only basis. Short rides typically cost between CRC 3,000 and CRC 6,000 (roughly USD 5.00 to USD 10.00) depending on distance, though fares are generally negotiated directly with the driver. It is always worth confirming the price before you get in. These vehicles are convenient for neighbourhood-level travel but are not suitable for longer inter-town journeys on highways, and they lack standard safety features like seatbelts, so passengers should hold on and keep luggage secure.
Getting to and from the international airports by road is straightforward. Official orange airport taxis operate fixed-zone fares from the terminal and are the most reliable option for arriving passengers. Pre-booked private shuttles are another common choice. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and DiDi can be used for airport pickups and drop-offs, though users should exercise some discretion at the terminal curbside, as enforcement of ride-hailing restrictions at airports has occurred in the past.
Frequently asked questions about getting around Costa Rica
Yes, you can legally drive in Costa Rica using a valid driver's licence from your home country, alongside your passport. This is permitted for stays of up to 90 days. After that period, you will need to apply for a local Costa Rican licence to continue driving legally.
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and DiDi operate in a legal grey area in Costa Rica. They are not formally regulated by transport legislation, but the government taxes rides at a 13% VAT rate, which effectively acknowledges their presence. They are widely used throughout the country. At airport curbsides in particular, occasional enforcement by traffic police means passengers sometimes choose to sit in the front seat to avoid drawing attention.
Locals and expats overwhelmingly rely on Waze rather than Google Maps for driving in Costa Rica. Waze's real-time, crowdsourced alerts flag potholes, sudden road closures caused by landslides, and police checkpoints, all of which are genuinely common on Costa Rican roads. Downloading it before your first drive is a practical first step.
Increasingly, yes. The SINPE-TP electronic payment system now covers a significant share of national bus routes and accepts contactless card payments. That said, many rural and older city routes still require exact cash in colones. Carrying small change remains a sensible habit until card coverage becomes truly universal across the network.
Booking your vehicle spot online in advance is essential, especially during high season and public holidays. Both Naviera Tambor and Coonatramar allow reservations through their official websites, and the QuickpayCR platform also handles bookings. Turning up without a reservation and hoping for a drive-up spot is a risk that frequently results in a wait of several hours at the Puntarenas terminal.
Luggage allowances on domestic flights in Costa Rica are strictly enforced due to the small size of the aircraft used. Standard tickets with carriers like SANSA and Costa Rica Green Airways typically include one checked bag weighing up to 30 lbs (14 kg). If your bag exceeds the limit, it may be held and sent on a later flight, so packing light is genuinely important for domestic travel.
In towns like Nosara and Santa Teresa, a short tuk-tuk ride typically costs between CRC 3,000 and CRC 6,000 (roughly USD 5.00 to USD 10.00). Payment is always in cash, and fares are agreed with the driver directly before the ride. Confirming the price upfront avoids any misunderstanding on arrival.
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
A journalist, holder of the DALF C1 and C2 and a diploma from the University of Mauritius, I have nearly twenty years of writing experience. After six years in the Mauritian press, I joined Expat.com, where I have been working for over a decade, including five years as editorial assistant, and now as editorial manager.
