If there is Costa Rica, then there is paradise in this world. Better known as the Republic of Costa Rica, it is a small Central American country bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the Northeast, the Nicaragua in North, the Pacific Ocean to the Southwest and Panama lying in the Southeast.
Having a wide array of lush-green forests, exquisite waterfalls, pristine beaches and historic tourist attractions, Costa Rica stands tall as an epitome of tourism, diversity and beauty.
Beyond its celestial beauty, Costa Rica acts as a gateway to the culture of Latin America; sublime generosity within communities, diversity in languages, age-old traditions, among many more.
If you are an avid traveler, Costa Rica is an ideal destination as it a hub of global tourist, meeting growing tourist demands with each year. Whether you want a psychological retreat amidst the lap of nature or are the party horn looking around for some local booze and quirky nightclubs, Costa Rica will serve it all.
How to reach Costa Rica; transportation and related expenses
As we know, Costa Rica is a small Central American country and is hence relatively easier to reach. The country provides a wide range of transportation facilities for tourists coming from all around the world. Here are some of the top options:
- Air Travel – Airways
There are two international airports in Costa Rica – Saint Jose International Airport and the Liberia Airport. If a traveler is flying from the Pacific Coast, he/she can choose to land in the Liberia Airport for convenience. Others, travelling from different continents should prefer a flight to the Saint Jose International Airport.
If you are travelling from India, the average cost of a flight to Costa Rica (with return ticket) will be approximately around 1,17,000 – 1,84,000 INR. The cheapest one way flight might cost you around 72,000 – 78,000 INR.
If you are travelling from Europe, roundtrips flight will cost you between Euro 500-1000. Most flights fly from Seattle and Madrid where the average cost lies between Euro 650-800 per person.
In terms of travelers from Australia or New Zealand, there are no directly connected flights to Costa Rica; if you want to visit, you first have to Canada or the US and via them reach Costa Rica. From Australia, one should expect to pay between Aus$ 2000-2500 in peak season. In terms of travelers coming from New Zealand, one might have to pay as high as NAZ$ 2500-3200 in peak season.
Travelers from South Africa fly through Delta, reach Johannesburg and then via Atlanta reach Costa Rica. One is likely to pay around ZAR 15,000 – 23,000 for both ways flight tickets.
In terms of domestic air travel, a person can fly through Sansa Airlines, where the general cost is around $50 to $100 per person. Domestically, people prefer to travel by bus as it is a cheaper means of transportation.
- Bus and Train travel – Roadways
In comparison to airways, traveling to Costa Rica through a bus is fairly easier. The country has national bus company named ‘Tica Bus’ that operate and offer their transportation services between San Jose and other cities across America. One can travel from Managua at around US$ 28.75 (in 11 hours), from Panama City at US$ 44 (in 16 hours), and from Guatemala City at US$ 87 (in 60 hours). If you are to travel through the bus route, make sure to have booked your tickets prior to a month in advance.
Apart from Tica Bus, there are other providers such as TransNica that run busses between San Jose and Manugua at US$ 28-32 (in 11 hours) while there is another company named Central Line that provide its services from Granada starting at US$ 29 (reaches in 11 hours).
In terms of railway network, reaching Costa Rica through it can be complicated as there are no direct trains to the country from Europe. Majorly, there are five key railway lines from Europe, however, it is not a full-fledged train journey; it involves traveling by train first, and later taking a shorter flight. Here are the central railway networks you need to know of:
- Train to Frankfurt, then a direct flight to San Jose
Duration: 17 hours, 19 minutes
Cost: US$ 735.94 – US$ 947.12
- Train to Frankfurt, then a direct flight to Limon
Duration: 27 hours, 9 minutes
Cost: US$ 409.57 – US$ 767.94
- Train to Hannover, then a flight to San Jose
Duration: 19 hours, 23 minutes
Cost: US$ 853.53 – US$ 1868.65
- Train to Leipzig, then a flight to San Jose
Duration: 20 hours, 24 minutes
Cost: US$ 921.53 – US$ 1971.04
