Transportation
Pedestrians
Many students enjoy walking around San Pedro and San José, particularly when the weather is nice. However, it’s important to remember that pedestrians have little priority on the road. As one local guide said, “Local custom is that cars do not yield to pedestrians.” Always be cautious when walking, especially on busy streets.
Taxis
Costa Rica has a large number of taxis, and by North American or European standards, they are quite affordable. During the dry season, you will have no trouble hailing a cab. However, in the rainy season, it can be more challenging to find a taxi. If it’s not raining, taxis are easy to catch, but as soon as it begins to rain, everyone opts for a cab, which means you may need to wait a bit longer. If you want a taxi to pick you up at your home, it’s possible, but you may need to call the taxi company a few times. A quicker option is to head to a busy street and flag one down.
Taxis in Costa Rica are required to use meters. If your driver does not use the meter, simply ask, “La María, por favor,” which will activate the meter. The initial cost, marked in red digital numbers, is currently 215 colones for the first kilometer, with the price increasing per kilometer. Taxi drivers should have no problem giving you change for bills of 1,000 colones or less.
When returning home, it’s recommended to call a taxi to take you to the airport. Sometimes, host families offer to take you, and it’s a nice gesture to offer them around $18 (the equivalent of a taxi fare). Alternatively, we can arrange for someone to pick you up at your home and take you to the airport.
When taking a taxi, especially if you don’t know the area well, having some knowledge of Spanish will make your experience much easier. Addresses and street names are often not used or can be difficult to locate, so being able to explain your destination in Spanish is important. Memorizing a few key phrases will help:
- Libre – Available or free cab
- Ocupado – Unavailable cab
- Lléveme a… – Take me to…
- Pare aquí – Stop here
- A la derecha – Turn right
- A la izquierda – Turn left
- Una cuadra – A block
- Frente a… – Across from…
Buses
Navigating San José by bus is straightforward and affordable. Once you get to know the various neighborhoods, you’ll find that the bus system is a cheap and efficient way to get around. Bus fares typically range from 65 to 80 colones, and while you don’t need exact change, larger bills (like 5,000 colones) may not be accepted. If you pay with a 1,000 colones note, expect a lot of coins or small bills as change. Buses stop frequently throughout the city, so you won’t have to wait long. Most buses operate from around 5 a.m. to 10-11 p.m.
Many students take weekend trips to explore more of Costa Rica. Buses are an excellent and budget-friendly way to travel. From San José, buses depart frequently to most destinations across the country. For major cities, there’s usually a bus leaving about every hour. The Costa Rican Tourist Board (ICT), located beneath the Plaza de la Cultura (next to the National Theater), maintains an updated list of bus schedules. ILISA also provides this information.
It’s always a good idea to purchase bus or plane tickets in advance to guarantee your seat.
Planes
Two local airlines, SANSA and Travel Air, offer affordable flights to various domestic destinations, with fares around $50 one way. We can assist you with making reservations, but be sure to purchase your tickets early—these airlines have a tendency to “lose” reservations that aren’t paid for right away.
Driving
While buses are a budget-friendly option, they can also be quite crowded and not the most comfortable. If you’re willing to drive, you might consider renting a car with other students. ILISA has a special agreement with Dollar Rent-a-Car, offering competitive rates and excellent service for students. Be aware that during the tourist season, it’s best to make car rental reservations in advance. Contact Evelyn at ILISA for assistance with this.
Costa Rican driving can be more aggressive compared to the laid-back nature of its people. While it’s not a deterrent to explore the country by car, it’s important to drive with extra caution. When driving, always carry your valid driver’s license, credit card, and passport.
Time
Costa Rica operates on Central Standard Time, which is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During U.S. daylight savings time (from late March to late October), Costa Rica aligns with Mountain Time.
Tour Desk
ILISA has its own on-site tour desk, open Monday to Friday, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jean-Pierre manages the desk and offers great deals on hotels, car rentals, and weekend tours to popular locations throughout Costa Rica. Be sure to stop by and let him assist with your travel plans!
Travel Documents
Citizens of the United States, Canada, and most Latin American and European countries can stay in Costa Rica for 90 days without a visa. You must arrive with at least $300 in cash and a return ticket. Citizens from certain Latin American, Asian, African, and Eastern European countries may need a visa from a Costa Rican consulate and may have to pay a deposit upon entry, refundable when they leave. Always check with your nearest consulate for the latest entry requirements.
U.S. citizens can enter Costa Rica by purchasing a tourist card, which is valid for 30 days. You’ll need to present two forms of ID, one of which must have a photo (such as a driver’s license, birth certificate, social security card, or voter registration card).
If you overstay your tourist visa, you will need to apply for an exit visa, which costs about $45. Additionally, a small fee of $1.50 is charged for each month or part of a month you stayed without a valid tourist card.
It’s important to carry identification with you at all times. If you don’t want to carry your passport, make a copy of it and take that with you instead.
Ultra Violet Rays
The sun in Costa Rica is intense. After just two hours on the beach without sunscreen, you’ll likely regret it! Even seasoned tanners have been caught off guard. To avoid sunburn, you’ll need more than just SPF #8 or #15 sunscreen—higher SPF is recommended for longer protection. Don’t take the sun lightly!
Variety of Teachers
At ILISA, you will have a different teacher each week, giving you the opportunity to experience a variety of voices, accents, and teaching styles. While your teachers will change, the teaching methods will remain consistent. Teachers meet at the end of each week to coordinate class changes.
If, over time, you develop a preference for a particular teacher (especially if you are taking private lessons), we will do our best to accommodate your request based on scheduling availability.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required to enter Costa Rica. However, it’s a good idea to check with your local health department for any recommended vaccinations based on your travel plans.
Water
The water in Costa Rica is safe to drink in most parts of the country. However, in some areas, particularly on the Caribbean coast, it’s advisable to stick with bottled water and avoid using ice in your drinks.
Weekend Activities
To get the most out of your weekend, we recommend checking out a Costa Rica guidebook. “The New Key to Costa Rica” and the Lonely Planet guide are great resources to help you plan. Fellow students are also an excellent source of recommendations. Additionally, our office staff is available to assist with suggestions and reservations.
Z – Last Word
Airport pick-up
Although we or our host families and drivers always check your arrival time before leaving for the airport to pick you up, there is a slight possibility that we may get caught in a traffic jam or that something unforeseen may happen. In the unlikely event that you don’t find anybody waiting for you … don’t despair! Just stand outside the exit doors with your luggage and wait for about 15 minutes while scanning the crowd and looking for the ILISA sign with your name on it. Try not to stand in the middle of a crowd because it will be harder for us to spot you. Do not stay inside the building because we are not allowed to enter it, and this would make it impossible for us to find you. If after 20 minutes nobody has shown up yet, we suggest you call the school during office hours (2280-0700). If on the weekend, please try our on-call cell phone at 6278-7058 (Hellen). In case nobody answers, call the host family. Normally these actions will not be necessary. Please don’t take a taxi or uber without informing anybody because you can be sure somebody is on his or her way to pick you up. In case your luggage is lost and you have to fill out the baggage claim forms, text Hellen on WhatsApp or your driver (in spanish), we send you his/her contact
information with your almost in Costa Rica email.
Now DON’T WORRY…99.9% of the time everything goes smoothly. These notes are not meant to make you concerned, but to assure you that even if things don’t go smoothly at first, there’s always a happy end in sight!
¡HASTA PRONTO!