One of the most common questions people ask when planning a trip to Costa Rica is:
“How easy is it to get around?”
The honest answer?
It’s doable but it’s not always smooth, and flexibility is key.
We travlled across Costa Rica using a mix of buses, taxis, and boats, moving between multiple destinations without hiring a car. We spoke to a couple who had hired a car when there and they said it was really expensive. When we travel for a longer period of time, we really try to do it as authentically as possible which is why we use public transport.
Here’s what getting around Costa Rica was really like, and what we’d recommend if you’re planning a similar route.
Our Costa Rica Transport Route (Real Example)
To give you some context, our route looked like this:
- Arrived in San José
- Planned bus to La Fortuna (missed it!) You can read about why we missed the bus here: Costa Rica with Kids: The Ideal First International Family Adventure
- Taxi to La Fortuna instead and we then ended up using the same taxi driver for the next few trips as we took his number.
- Taxi to Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Taxi to Jacó
- Bus to Uvita
- Bus to Dominical
- Taxi to Sierpe
- Boat to Drake Bay
- Local hotel transfers only in Drake Bay
- Bus back to Los Sueños
- Taxi to Poás Volcano
- Taxi back to San José airport
This mix worked well but each transport type comes with pros and cons.
Using Buses in Costa Rica
Buses in Costa Rica are cheap and widely used, but they require patience.
What to know:
- buses don’t always run on strict schedules
- delays are common (“tico time” is very real)
- routes can change without much notice
- signage isn’t always clear
That said, buses are great for:
- shorter routes
- budget travel
- relaxed travel days
- meeting the locals
- experiencing real Costa Rica
We used buses successfully between Jacó, Uvita, and Dominical but we never relied on them when timing was critical.
👉 Important tip:
Having mobile internet access is essential when using buses in Costa Rica. We strongly recommend using an eSIM so you can check routes, message accommodation, or book alternative transport if plans change.
Taxis: Convenient but Pricier
We used taxis a lot especially when:
- we missed a bus
- traveling longer distances
- moving between destinations with no direct routes
Taxis are:
- easy to arrange through hotels
- generally safe
- flexible
For families taxis can be worth the cost for:
- reduced stress
- door-to-door transport
- avoiding multiple bus changes
Taxis whilst inevitably pricier than a bus, they are still relatively cheap compared to European/Western prices! If we wanted to ensure we kept within a set budget though, we would have stuck to buses more apart from airport runs!
Boats & Remote Areas (Drake Bay)
Some destinations, like Drake Bay, require boat transport.
From Sierpe, we took a boat across to Drake Bay which was:
- scenic
- well-organised
- straightforward when booked locally
Once there, we didn’t need transport at all beyond hotel transfers, which made things very easy.
The boat is certainly an experience, but beware the docking area you’ll see plenty of crocs in the water!
Do You Need a Rental Car in Costa Rica?
We didn’t hire a car and for our route, we didn’t need one.
However, a rental car may suit you if:
- you want total flexibility
- you’re visiting remote areas daily
- you’re confident driving in challenging conditions
For us, taxis + buses + boats worked well especially when traveling as a family and wanting less responsibility.
Final Thoughts: Getting Around Costa Rica
Getting around Costa Rica isn’t difficult but it does require flexibility and realistic expectations.
Buses are affordable but unpredictable.
Taxis are convenient but of course more expensive.
Boats are essential in some regions.
With mobile internet, patience, and a willingness to adapt, traveling Costa Rica without a car is completely doable even with kids. In fact, our kids loved Tico buses!
Planning your route?
You can see how we structured our Costa Rica journey here:
👉Costa Rica with Kids: A Real Itinerary You Can Copy
And if you’re still deciding where to base yourself, these posts may help: