Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
International buses go from San José to Changuinola (Bocas del Toro), David and
Panama City in Panama; Guatemala City in Guatemala; Managua in Nicaragua; San Sal-
vador in El Salvador; and Tegucigalpa in Honduras.
Car & Motorcycle
The cost of insurance, fuel and border permits makes a car journey significantly more ex-
pensive than buying an airline ticket. To enter Costa Rica by car, you'll need the following
items:
valid registration and proof of ownership
valid driver's license or International Driving Permit
valid license plates
recent inspection certificate
passport
multiple photocopies of all these documents in case the originals get lost.
Before departing, check that the following elements are present and in working order:
blinkers and head- and taillights
spare tire
jerry can for extra gas (petrol)
well-stocked toolbox including parts, such as belts, that are harder to find in Central
America
emergency flares and roadside triangles.
Insurance from foreign countries isn't recognized in Costa Rica, so you'll have to buy a
policy locally. At the border it will cost about US$15 a month. In addition, you'll probably
have to pay a US$22 road tax to drive in.
You are not allowed to sell the car in Costa Rica. If you need to leave the country without
the car, it must be left in a customs warehouse in San José.
Sea
Cruise ships stop in Costa Rican ports and enable passengers to make a quick foray into
the country. Typically, ships dock at either the Pacific ports of Caldera, Quepos and
Bahía Drake, or the Caribbean port of Puerto Limón.
It is also possible to arrive in Costa Rica by private yacht.
