www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have always used cabs from airport to SJO. I am looking at the Shuttle Bus for about $12.00.

Has anyone ever used the "Red Coach Bus" -public transportation express to the city. Understand it is about $4.00. Any advise and at what station does it stop.

Thanks

Here is what I did last Wednesday. I walked out in front of the airport to the main road. Walked up to the public bus stop 40 yards kind of dead center with the terminal. 3 buses pulled up I looked inside the door and said San Jose? The first 2 said no but the 3rd one said Si. I paid 450 colones and in short order we pulled into the station. I walked out front got into a waiting cab and said Hotel Morazan. Less than 2 dollars later I got out of the cab . Total cost door to door less tha $ 3.00. OK try and beat that. I do it every time I come to town except when I have oversized luggage or get in at night. Hope this helps . No colones , no problem go upstairs first and pay your exit tax ask for your change in colones. You save yourself some time when you start to go home because your tax is paid. Uncle H.

Once again, info from memebers at CRT is great. This is about the info I received from my friend there. Understand it is a RED one for the express to the bus stop. I come in early on Sunday May 15. Any idea if they operate 6:00 AM Sunday?

I've posted before on how I've perfected using the bus system, so I'll summerize:

Arrive at door with 5 pieces of luggage. Hire portero for 1500 colones to haul all of it to the bus stop. Tuasa bus (red/white) runs to/from Alajuela via aeropuerto until 11:00. Other bus line aka Station Wagon with older buses but great customer service runs all night.

Pay bus driver 1 mil to load and unload my luggage at both ends.

Pay cabbie 1 mil to my apartment downtown.

Total cost: $7.00

Returning:

Cabbie to bus terminal downtown 1.000 c
Bus ride 450 c

Total: $3.00

Interbus online does pick up and drop off @$12.00 each way. Good reviews here that I've seen, do a search. However must book several days online.

And in the rare reports where they don't show, posters said they made it right.

Nice to have options based on your budget, inclination and hardiness.

I use the Tuasa bus regularly to leave Costa rica. Great value for 450 colones. Taxi from Hotels about 1500 colones. I plan to catch one from airport to SJ next trip.

The Alejuela express bus is a better option and takes about half the time of the red bus for the same price. I forget to color but a lighter color. Be sure to ask the driver if the bus is headed to San jose because about every outher one is going to Alejuela. rbc100

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In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

Hello, about this bus stop outside of the airport. Do you cross the road to get to it, or is it on the same side of the street as the airport? Is there a sign that states bus stop? Also which terminal in SJ is the end of the line, Coca Cola?

Hauling 5 suitcases down to the bus?

It is on the same side as the airport, first leave arrival part of the airport....then go across the street to the parking area.....take the elevator up one floor.....go across the street back to the airport departure entrance....go inside.....pay your departure tax.....look to your left......a bank where you can change over some dollars to colonges (sic) at the correct rate.....now go back out...cross the street to the parking area....walk to the left on the sidewalk.....it will take you down to street level....look to your right and there is the bus stop, the bus ends 1 block from ave central right by Mercado Central and about 8 blocks from the del rey.
Enjoy the 24.00 you just saved.

The bus stop is on the same side of the street as the airport. Look for benches and people standing around. The Tuasa bus (red one) goes to a station on Ave. 2 across the street from Park La Merced, one block east of Hospital San Jan de Dios.

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

Hi,

I am dropping by in SJO @ 12:15 am, so after checking everything. I will be out by say 1:00Am. Can I find any buses to SJO from where I can pick a taxi to my hotel or I should only relay on Taxi services.

At that hour, it's time to forget about being cheap and spring for a taxi, or at least Interbus. You don't want to be looking for a taxi in front of the bus station at 1:30 in the morning. Taxi and Interbus will take you directly to the front door of your hotel.

Yo, Amigos:
I have spent a good bit of time in CR. I have a secret weapon. It is called "Costa Rica by Bus." It is a great little book, written by John R. Wood, retired IBM engineer and father of Chris Wood, who lived in Guadelupe and who used to own the Nashville South Bar, on the west side of Parque Morazon, a couple of blocks from the HDR.
There are a large number of bus companies in CR. Most have one or two routes. John has collected all the information on virtually every route: local city routes in San Jose, longer cross-country routes, and international routes for trips to Nicaragua, Panama, etc. On my first trip to CR, in January of 2006, my wingman wanted to hire the airport taxi driver to take us to Jaco a few days later. Dude quoted us $80 or $100. I waited to check out the Tico bus and found a nice bus, with assigned seats and tickets could be purchased ahead of time, for $2.50. When I made the trip to Jaco last year, the price had gone up to $4.00 or so. Since then, I have traveled all over CR by bus, and the most I ever paid for the longest trip (Golfito) was about $6.
There are two Buslines providing transportation between downtown San Jose and the airport, Station Wagon Alajuela (red) and Tuasa (yellow). The buses run about every 10 minutes during the day. I have never tried to find one late at night, but Wood says they run every 30 minutes after 11 p.m. Their stations in San Jose are a block apart, on Avenida Secunda, near the Mercado Central, a block from Avenida Central, and walking distance, if one is traveling light, from the HDR. Each company has two routes, either clock-wise or counter clock-wise. One bus leaves San Jose headed first to downtown Alajuela, then to the airport, then back to downtown San Jose. Another bus leaves about the same time headed first to the airport, then to Alajuela, then back to San Jose. So, it is important to inquire of the driver whether he is headed first to the airport or Alajuela or San Jose vs. Alejuela, depending on which way one is headed. The last time I rode the bus from downtown to the airport, last September, it was about 400-450 colones, less than 1$. Upon arrival in San Jose, taxis are plentiful on Second Avenue. The bus stop in front of the airport is very easy to find. I agree with other posters who recommend that, after clearing customs and baggage claim, one should go upstairs to the departure area and do two things: pay your departure tax and convert some $ at the bank right beside the departure tax desk. Then, just walk out the front of the airport, turn left, and walk down to the street in front of the airport parking lot. The bus stop is easy to find. There are usually some Ticos waiting for a bus, and when real busy the bus company sometimes has a guide to get folks on the right bus.
John Wood's book is published by Bookstand Publishing. There is a website for it, www.costaricabybus.com. I never leave home without it.

Update on the two bus schedules: Tuasa is on 2nd Av across from the Nica park and Hospital and the yellowish Station Wagon buses a block east, same side. Tuasa runs from 4:40 AM - 11:00 PM to the airport while Station Wagon buses run all night. Usually you can tell if the bus is heading to either Alajuela or San Jose by watching which road it takes into the airport. It is comes along the road from the autopista, it's going to Alajuela, if it comes up a road and turns left onto the airport drive it is on its way to San Jose. Drivers are very helpful.

Interbus is a good option, but have everything arranged ahead of time, or negociate a $20 fare with the taxistas waiting near the busstop. Will save a few dollars for a few extra Imperials.

Thanks to the members for all the help on my last trip. I took the bus, had a 50lb bag and one carry-on and had no problem. That day they had a guy helping direct passengers. My comfort zone was better since I had traveled the route many times and recognized the bus stop in SJ. Hopped in a cab the to Eric's penthouse. Very smooth.

Decided to try Interbus to airport for return. New web sight would not work. Telling me that they would pick me up at the Dunn Inn-Not where I was staying HLH-at 0400 to arrive airport at 0625 when my flight was leaving. Called in got reservations verbally. Had to call again since my CC authorization didn't arrive. Receive CC info, sent reply that I received it with my local ph # and in ten min sent the CC info. Outlook showed it received. I had a reservation # and a correct time on PU and arrival with all the names I had spoken with (Diego Monge). I called all day on Sunday to confirm with no answer. 0340 I walk with my 50lb bag to the Dunn Inn where I meet Jorge Jimeny (sp) Manager asking if I was crazy standing outside the hotel at that time. Let me wait inside, got me coffee and tried to call for me which I had already done seven times. At 0420 I looked at new email and found that they had cancelled my reservation. Thanks to Jorge, got me a cab which had to stop you a ATM (OK, I gave it all away for a six hour session with three Ticas on my last night. What would you have done???) then to the airport.

When I returned, mailed Interbus about my concerns with the response, "we didn't get you CC info-don't know why." So for $12 it almost cost me hundreds for a missed flight. They never responded to any other emails. If you want to try, be sure you don't give a damn about getting someplace and have a back up.

Now I know everyone wants to be helpful here, but I have seen several post jumping on the guy who has complained about services in CR that it is really his fault because he didn't do it the way he should have done it. I seldom post, but do read your posts. For 15yr I planned travel for an European car company with a $27M budget with flights, hotels and entertainment in US and Europe. I know a FU when I see one.

Thanks for letting me vent. AT LEAST I'M NOT BITTER!!! See some of you on the 30th.