By Plane:
There is a small (twin propeller planes) internal airline that connects some of the major tourist locations. It's very expensive and considering the short distances in Costa Rica is not economical for most travellers. Luggage is very limited because of the plane type and you will be weighed before boarding. Paradise Air has flights to a few dozen of domestic destinations, including Barra de Tortuguero, Limón and Liberia.
By Car:
For those brave enough to drive on Costa Rican roads, renting a car will cost somewhere between US$400 and US$700 a week, depending on quality and whether you rent a 4WD or not. This includes a mandatory insurance. If you're planning to visit more remote locations, you should certainly consider a 4WD because of the rough road conditions. At certain times of the year, entire roads are flooded as well, so be sure to gather information before you set off on whether or not your destination will be accessible. You will also have to put down a guarantee deposit of at least US$750 (a credit card print will be enough) to cover tyre and rim damage which is common because of the state of the roads. This is not covered by the regular car insurance.
By Bus:
Bus is probably the easiest way to get around Costa Rica. The bus service is fairly punctual and it's very cheap. You can get anywhere in the country, but you'll usually find yourself travelling back through San José. Don't expect any luxuries and due to the abysmal state of roads outside of San José, bumpy rides are pretty much guaranteed.
Be sure to keep a close eye on your luggage as bus stops are where most backpacks tend to go missing. Rather than putting your backpack directly above your seat, put it above the seat across the aisle, so you can keep an eye on it. Also, put it in top-first, so the bottom (without easy zippers) is facing the aisle.
By Boat:
If you're heading up to Tortuguero, a great way to travel is by small boat up the rivers/canals from Moin, near Puerto Limon. Tortuguero has three main docks:
La Pavona is located about 45 minutes from Guapiles town, on the way to Cariari de Guapiles. From La Pavona to Tortuguero is a 35 minute boat trip.
Caño Blanco, located about 1 hour from Siquirres town. From Caño Blanco to Tortuguero is a 1.5 hour boat trip.
Moin, 3 kilometres before Puerto Limon town. From Moin it's 2.5 hours by boat.
Many of the hotels offer a full package that includes ground transportation from and to San José, boat transfer, lodging and three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). The suggested package is based on three days/ one night, which is enough time to discover this natural destination.
If you rented a car and want to get to Tortuguero you can find secure parking lots at the La Pavona and Caño Blanco docks. It costs $10 a day. Or if you are coming out from Tortuguero and want to keep travelling by your own, you have a couple of choices. Either rent a car right straight at the docks or get a shared van.
Car rentals are very easy to arrange and they can deliver the car to you. Just make sure to inform where exactly you want the car to be delivered.
By Train:
Daily trains are running between several locations in the San José area. These include mainly commuter trains between San José and Heredia during morning and early evening peak hours. Commuter trains also run on the route Pavas - San José - San Pedro Universidad Latina during these hours.
Finally, there is the Tico Train Tour between San José and Caldera (91 kilometres), which is a weekend tourist train. Each trip can have about 350 people.
By Foot:
Walking around cities and towns in Costa Rica is a bit of an adventure. Pedestrians do not get the right of way and cars often will not even stop at a red light for you to cross. The sidewalks can be in poor repair and it is often a big step to the road. There are very few street signs so most navigation is done by landmark, keep this in mind if you decide to try to hire a cab or get directions from a local.
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