BootsnAll Travel Community

Hello -- I am heading to Costa Rica with my 10 year next week. I would like ideas for the best way to get from point to point. We are flying in to San Jose arriving afternoon -- then heading 2 hours north to our eco-lodge (Selva Verde) -- a couple of days later we are heading to the volcano (Arneal) and then later back to San Jose. The lodge was going to arrange private transport -- but it ended up be close to $500 -- I don't want to spend that much unless I absolutely have too. I am a single mom traveling alone with a child so I don't want to take any risks but at the same time am hoping to find a more economical way. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance

I can make one suggestion. A company called A Safe Passage can handle all of you transportattion needs. You can look them up and contact them here.

I just used them a week or so ago. I needed to get from the airport near San Jose to Jaco - about 80 or 90 miles, I think - and back again later. They picked me up at the airport, which I was grateful for as it was an overnight flight. They then took me for a leisurely drive to my hotel. We stopped at a couple of sights so I could stretch my legs, and they even bought me breakfast. To get back to the airport I needed to be picked up a 5:00 am, (it was dark and raining) and there they were, right on time, and again took me to breakfast before dropping me off.

It was a private van so the schedule was all mine. My Spanish is not very strong, but that was not a problem. In fact the owner came along on both trips and he is originally from the States. I booked online and paid when I got to CR. I asked, so I know, that they will go all over the counrty even from hotel to hotel whenever you want. It's not as cheap as the local buses etc., but a lot cheaper than what you've been quoted.

They are on time, helpful, flexible, friendly, SAFE, and I recommend them highly. Tell John, the owner, I sent you and he might give you a deal.

Just to give you another option:
Take a taxi to Puerto Viejo de Sarapequi where you can catch a bus to Ciudad Quesada (generally known as San Carlos) and another bus to Arenal. There is no need to go back to San Jose and it will sure beat $500. I used to make runs from San Jose to the Pacific coast when a Tico friend was double booked and that was $50 (gee that is almost 10 hears ago). Your journey isn't as long so even now I would think that you could get private transportation for $100. There are a lot of ads in the english language weekly Tico Times for private transportation so you might contact one of them even just to negotiate a better price from Selva Verde. Safe Passage sounds secure but I note that Spiralout didn't give an indication of the rate. One thing that I should add is that reliability is important and unfortunately no shows can be a problem.

I didn't supply a rate because I don't know what that trip will cost.

Good suggestions from

quote:

cdndread

We arrived at the San Jose airport 2 years ago and hired a taxi van for the day. Cost us 75 USD. He took us anywhere we wanted to go. I recently took a cab from Atenas to San jose, an hour trip, for 20USD.

Tico Times is here www.ticotimes.net and you might want to check the classifieds on www.amcostarica.com

I know for a fact that there are drivers out there who will work for 60.00 per day + fuel but I'll be darned if I can find their info at the moment.

raffi

Thanks for all the feedback. I did request info from Safe Passage -- so I am hoping that works out.

One more thing -- when we are at the lodge and the volcano we are planning to do activities (canopy tour, rafting, horseback riding, etc...) will most of those take credit cards, or just cash. And if it is cash, does it have to be in the local currency or USD?

Thanks so much!
Colleen

I found that most tours (and larger restaurants etc.) took dollars, colones or credit card. At 500 colones to $1 US the exchange rate is pretty easy to work out in your head.

Last minute questions. I booked a ride with Safe Passage -- I am supposed to pay (cash) when I see him -- but for all three rides? How do I know he is going to show up for the other two rides? Why am I totally panicking about this trip? I think it is all fine -- but I don't know about paying upfront in cash and then trusting him to show up again 4 days later and then 6 days later?

Is this totally standard? Am I being paranoid?

No, your not being paranoid. I had the same misgivings as well. But I paid, and they showed up, as I said at 5:00 a.m. in plenty of time to get to the airport.

Ironically, this is why I recommend them so highly, because I had the same doubts and would have been seriously inconvenienced if they hadn't delivered as promised.

They will be at the airport with a plaque with your name on it, and they will be there when you have arranged to be picked up at you hotels, and they will be there if you change your plans. And when you get back you can tell about how the transportation went so smoothly.

By the way, check your private messages for more info from me.

Safe passage was absolutely the best money I spent. Well worth it and we had a very different experience than I would have with basic taxi service. John was terrific -- so much fun and really great to travel with. He made sure we got where we needed to, took us to Easter Mass in this little village church and took us for terrific local eats. He was great with my son and the driver was fantastic. It was really terrific --thanks so much for giving me the info.