www.CostaRicaTicas.com

You can save 30% or more on your taxi transfer from the airport by simply walking out to the street on the opposite side of the parking garage as you come out of the terminal. It is all of about 20 yards to walk.

There are always local (red) taxis out there. Just make sure you make them use the meter (maria por favor). The airport taxis are a rip off. As I recall the fare is about $10 into town.

UPDATE: NOTE TO ALL THOSE POSTED BELOW:

All right everyone now lets just settle down a little.

We use Interbus too. They are great. In fact we have a business relationship with them. While I highly recommend them, it should also be noted that they will frequently make 2,3 or 4 stops before they drop you off at your hotel. Sometimes for late arrivals, a more direct transfer is worth a couple extra dollars

To take it another step further, for those that are all about saving a $, there are reliable, clean public busses that run out of the front too, they run every 10 minutes and they only cost 50 cents. (I say that to make a point, it is not a recommendation).

Circumstances vary from time to time and it is good to have options. This thread WAS NOT intended to be an ad for Interbus (Which has been covered elsewhere). This thread was intended to offer ANOTHER alternative to the official taxis that operate within the airport terminal

Pirate Taxis are EASY to avoid. Only use the red taxi with the yellow tri-angle, make sure they turn on their meter. It is also incorrect that the police chase the red taxis off the street. TO THE CONTRARY, the airport serves as a transportation hub for Costa Ricans and I have never NOT seen legitimate taxis parked out there.

As far as police hassleing legitimate taxis that drop off guests off at hotels that is just not correct. Police will hassle a pirate taxi (for good reason), but this is just not the case with properly marked taxis.

I've done the same - $12 +/- but interbus is cheaper and I not had any problems with them.

for the $2-$3 difference, i will prepay the contract fare at the airport, ride in a nice new orange taxi, and avoid any miscommunications or "pirata" taxis who lurk outside the system and have been known to rob gringos or set them up to be robbed. Safety is worth a couple bucks to some of us. Plus I save walking 50 yards to save a buck. I'd rather expend that energy chasing chicas... and not the rest of my trip replacing credit cards and cash.

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All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...

I'm going to try INTERBUS next trip. For $6, it seems like a good alternative to the orange airport cabs that are now $18......or more if they've increased even higher recently???

Zebra

I would agree with Tman. Before my first trip I was reading up and got the impression that, from the airport, the orange cabs were the way to go (safety and security). Took an orange cab and had no problems. I would try Interbus like Zebra's gonna but when traveling with a wingman the savings is not worth the time (I have read that it can be 15-20 minutes of waiting, although I can't vouch for the validity of that statemment, time I would rather spend in a bar or in the company of a chica). If I was headed to CR for a week it would not be such an issue, but with around 36 hours to spare (an eternity by QBF's schedule) I want to enjoy my time in the gulch.

The official airport orange cabs are now $18 for one or a cab full to the center of town.
The local police will hassel the red taxis if they see them dropping off a tourist passenger with luggage at a hotel, so the red taxis will want to drop you off a half block from your hotel.

Avoid the red taxis to avoid a hassel or being set up.

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

Here's what I do when travelling to/from CR:

Alone:
From airport: Interbus $6 ($8 after tipping 2 guys)
To airport: red taxi $12 negotiated fare

With 1 or more persons:
From airport: orange taxi $18-19 (split x ways)
To airport: red taxi $12 (split x ways)

Interbus is a great option from the airport when travelling alone, but like somebody else said, it doesn't make too much sense when travelling with a buddy or two.

NOTE: When booking Interbus for a ride to the airport, be aware that their policy is to pick you up at least 4 hours before your departure time. If your flight is at 2pm, they will pick you up at 10am (or a few minutes before). That's way too early. They are just looking out for themselves in case they have to pick up other pasengers and there's traffic. But 4 hours is way too early, I take a regular taxi about 2 hours before my departure, but I always check-in online, so if you don't maybe leave 30 minutes earlier. Negotiate a $12-13 fare and you're good. No tip is expected in taxi.

I use Interbus...less than half the price of red taxis and 1/3 the price of the orange airport taxis. I had no problems adjusting pick-up/drop-off times with Andrea at customer service. For me, it's a no-brainer...Interbus. Of course, YMMV

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

All right everyone now lets just settle down a little.

We use Interbus too. They are great. In fact we have a business relationship with them.

Circumstances vary from time to time and it is good to have options. This thread WAS NOT intended to be an ad for Interbus (Which has been covered elsewhere). This thread was intended to offer ANOTHER alternative to the official taxis that operate within the airport terminal

Pirate Taxis are EASY to avoid. Only use the red taxi with the yellow tri-angle, so this argument is a red herring. It is also incorrect that the police chase the red taxis off the street. TO THE CONTRARY, the airport serves as a transportation hub for Costa Ricans and I have never NOT seen legitimate taxis parked out there.

I certainly did not intend to agrue with or dispute anyone. I understand the desire for taking a legitmate red triangle taxi to save some money or the interbus.

I was just relating my actual experience in a red taxi being let off in the garage of the Balmoral hotel when going to the Presidente Hotel.

One thing I think we can agree on. A taxi ride to the center of San Jose from the airport is an experience.

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

Its all good brother. I know that odd things happen here from time to time. It sounds like you were in a pirate taxi. Look for the yellow triangle to avoid this.

Using the Red Taxis is NOT for everyone. But it is good to know about and in my opinion LESS hassle than using the official airport taxis. With the official taxis, you have to go to that window, wait in line, it is stupid.

KC- I was not trying to cause trouble I was just relaying what I had read in June. As my wingman knows Spanish reasonably well (and we are taking the same flights) I think we may try the red taxis on Saturday.

Brother, I did not mean to be combative in tone. The bottom line is that there are 2 good alternative to the Official "Gouge the Gringo" taxis that run in the terminal. It is good for the brotherhood to know the pros and cons of both. I think Orange has it about right, traveling alone, use Interbus. 2 or more, it is quicker to use the red taxi and you might save a dollar or two.

There are exceptions to everything in this county. There are very few hard and fast rules for anything. Many times things don't make any sense. I can't answer for happened to you in June. All I can tell you is to be careful not to read too much into those isolated odd ball things that seem to happen here on a daily basis.

If you flight is delayed, you will lose the money you spent on Interbus. It happened to me and with all these flight delays in the summer I think it was inevitable.

For newby CR gringo travelers...I stand by my statement on red taxis. MOST of them wont speak a lick of English...very likely will not know where the Sportsmens Lodge or other offbeat hotels are...and I'm sorry...they have been known often to be myteriously robbed while gringos are present, especially when they have ALL their luggage and belongings with them.

If you REALLY want to save money, just take a regular local bus that stops in front of the airport...about $1.50 gets you downtown. Maybe the price has gone up a little since I lived there...

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All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...