Traveling by car can be an exciting and rewarding experience, offering the freedom to explore at your own pace. Costa Rica is an ideal country to drive around by yourself. The main roads are in good condition and will get you to most tourist areas without issues. However, planning ahead and being prepared is important because driving in Costa Rica can be challenging at times, with secondary gravel roads, windy mountain roads, and unpredictable weather conditions. 

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Public Transport

The primary public transportation in Costa Rica is by bus or taxi. Traveling by bus is an affordable way to explore the country; however, the connections between touristic destinations are not always direct. Official taxis are red with a yellow triangle on the door. The yellow triangle contains the license number and the region the taxi is allowed to do business in. Red taxis usually have a meter running. Avoid using so-called pirate taxis, as they are unlicensed and therefore not allowed to operate as taxis. Official orange taxis run the airports. Uber, although prohibited in Costa Rica, is available mainly in the urban areas. 

In addition to public transport, there are also options for tourist transport. These shuttle services are often operated with smaller vans between tourist destinations and often need to be booked in advance. This option is, of course, more expensive than public transport, but you will travel more comfortably, and you will often reach your destination faster. The most expensive form of public transport is domestic flights. A convenient way to travel between different parts of the country, especially if you don't want to deal with the challenges of driving. 

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