Costa Rica
How to get to and from hundreds of the world's airports by car, bus, train and other forms of public transport. Updates and requests for inclusion in these pages are welcomed. Information is from many sources including personal visits and may no longer be accurate.
Legal Disclaimer Last Update 07-Sep-12Airport in Spanish is: Aeropuerto
Liberia Intl (LIR):
Location: 12 km/8 Miles WSW of the city.
Rental Cars: Several companies are at the airport.
Money Services: ATM/Cash machine, Bureau de Change/Currency Exchange and bank in the terminal.
Airport Tax: Departure: US$26 for tourists and US$43 for locals. Must be paid before security. Notes from a Traveller October 2009: The Departure Tax **IF PAID BY CREDIT CARD** is processed as a a Cash Advance incurring immediate interest from the issuing bank! So, they WILL accept credit cards for payment (which is still US$26), however, it would be worth mentioning to your users.
Updated Nov09 D Gradwohl
San José - Alajuela/Juan Santamaría (SJO):
Website: Juan Santamaría Airport
Location: 16 km/10 Miles WNW of San Jose City.
By Taxi: There are 2 kinds of taxis in Costa Rica, orange and red. The orange type are airport taxis and can be hailed at the airport. They have a set price of ~US$15-20 to go to or from the airport. Usually takes ~15-30 mins. The other kind of taxi is red and has a sign on top and uses a meter known locally as a maría. If the taxi does not look like this, it is not legal. Beware! Ask the driver to use the maría before entering the cab. If there is no meter or he says it is broken, be sure to agree on a price before getting on. After 8pm, there is an extra 20% on the fare.
By Bus: All buses running to Alajuela pass the airport, but you must tell the driver before passing or he will not stop there. Long Haul buses coming down the Pan American Highway (from Liberia and Monteverde) will stop at the airport on request. Approximate cost to the city US$1. Buses run every 10 mins 0500-2200.
| Rental Cars: | |
|---|---|
| On-Airport Rental Car Providers: | AVIS (506) 293 22 22, open 0600-2200. An Airport Fee of 12% applies. Dollar (506) 441 0642 open 0600-2200, Budget 441 4444, ALAMO 441 1260, ECONOMY, National 440 0085, Hertz 441 0097 & TOYOTA. |
Airport Tax: Departure: US$26 for tourists and US$43 for locals. Must be paid before security. Notes from a Traveller October 2009: The Departure Tax **IF PAID BY CREDIT CARD** is processed as a a Cash Advance incurring immediate interest from the issuing bank! So, they WILL accept credit cards for payment (which is still US$26), however, it would be worth mentioning to your users.
Airport Website: www.eaai.com.ni.
Airport Tel No: +506 437 2400.
Updated Dec09 ADV
San José - Pavas/Tobias Bolaños (SYQ):
Location: Not far from the US Embassy in Pavas, a suburb of San Jose City, and 5 km/3 Miles W of San Jose City centre. 6 km/4 miles west of San Jose Intl Airport/Alajuela.
Airport Tax: Departure: US$26 for tourists and US$43 for locals. Must be paid before security. Notes from a Traveller October 2009: The Departure Tax **IF PAID BY CREDIT CARD** is processed as a a Cash Advance incurring immediate interest from the issuing bank! So, they WILL accept credit cards for payment (which is still US$26), however, it would be worth mentioning to your users.
Notes: This airport is for most domestic commercial flights and several private intl charter flights. It serves as the main domestic airport for San José and handles only 2 scheduled intl flights to Granada, Nicaragua and Bocas del Toro, Panama. It also serves as a hub for Nature Air, one of the 2 main domestic airlines of Costa Rica.
Updated Nov09 ADV
Tortugero National Park:
Location: 3 km/2 miles from town, in Tortugero National Park on the East Coast.
On Foot: Walk down the beach to pole '1 6/8' and walk down the runway to the platform.
By Boat: Charter boats from town run down the river and dock at the airstrip.
Updated May03 FP
