Local Transportation

 So you're now in a new country and have no idea where to go or how in the world to get there. Don't worry; Costa Rica has great public transportation and opportunities to use private transportation like taxis or Ubers.


Public Transportation:

The city buses are the most common method of public transportation near San José. For the equivalent of about $3, you can travel from Ciudad Colón to San José, which is about 13 miles! We used the bus on the weekends to visit different places around San José, like barrio Escalante and the local mall, Multiplaza. While we usually stayed on the same one or two bus routes, there are many routes that travel all around Costa Rica, especially to tourist locations. 

Traveler's Tip: Bus stops may not always look like the standard bus stops in the U.S. Keep an eye out for the words "la parada," which means "bus stop" in Spanish.


Private Transportation:

Private transportation is usually easier than the bus routes because it allows you to go exactly to your destination at whatever time you please. The two most common forms of private transportation are Uber and privately-owned taxis. While Uber rides are somewhat frowned upon by the local government, they are quite popular here. The app works exactly the same as in the states, except that the prices are in colónes instead of dollars. While Ubers are great for quiet car rides or a quick drop-off, if you want to meet a local and practice some Spanish, I suggest using a private taxi. Not only will you likely make a new friend, but you can contribute to the local economy, too. Using private taxis is encouraged by the government because it promotes small, local businesses instead of large corporations. Often times you can hail a taxi on the side of the road or ask around for some phone numbers of local taxi drivers. The people here in Costa Rica are usually very friendly and more than happy to help you out. 😀

Traveler's Tip: While Uber is quite popular here, Lyft and other rideshare apps like Via, Curb, and Scoop don't exist here. So if you want to use a rideshare app, be sure to download Uber before traveling!

I do not own the photos pictured here. All photos on this page belong to Beautiful Free Images & Pictures | Unsplash 

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