This is a guest article by Travel Mother, one of our favorite Blogs about Costa Rica. Please consider liking them on Facebook. Sometimes I receive emails from mothers who would… Read more » Continue reading →
This is a guest article by Travel Mother, one of our favorite Blogs about Costa Rica. Please consider liking them on Facebook.
Sometimes I receive emails from mothers who would like to move to Costa Rica, but are unsure of how comfortable it would be living here without a car. While it is possible to go carless hereas we have done thus farit is not always convenient, especially when you have young children. Id like to share some tips about a few options for transportation in Costa Rica: using the public transportation (buses and taxis) and buying or leasing cars.
Buses:
After six months of busing around and between Atenas and Grecia, I can assure you that using solely the buses and taxis IS a reliable and affordable means of getting around. The buses are timely and safe, and they come around each neighborhood, as it spiderwebs out of the town center, almost every hour. In Santa Eulalia de Atenas, the bus does a circuit at least every three hours. Here in El Cajón de Grecia, the bus comes up and back down to town every hour. The cost has been nearly the same-415 or 420 colones, which is a little less than $1. We have taken the bus from Atenas to Alajuela, and from Alajuela to Grecia, which is only a few dollars each. Weve made one memorable trip to Playa Hermosa beach and Jaco, via the bus, but that was a little too hot and cramped for my liking.
Sometimes there is only standing room on the bus, which can make for an uncomfortable journey. However, if you are pregnant, elderly, or have a small child, you have a ticket to the generosity of the people around you. I am always assisted with my children or bags, and never have to stand. People on the bus are friendly and considerate. If you are taking a local bus around a towns center, the people generally know most of each other or are even related. It makes for a pleasant experienceespecially when the older men in the front start singing their merry songs or there are other kids for ours to play peek-a-boo with.
A few negatives about the bus: it takes longer to get places than in a car, sometimes you have to stand in the heat or rain, the bouncier routes can make you nauseous, and you cant strap your little kids down. I have heard of thefts on the buses between major towns. You can avoid this concern by keeping your bags in front of you, and never on the shelf above. Our luggage has been safely transported in the compartment below the bus when going from Grecia to the airport.
Taxis:
If we are desperate to get home quick, we can always grab a cab. The red taxis are the legal ones, and are more expensive than the white or green ones. Any color besides red is probably a pirate taxi. These taxis are safe. They have charts for pricing, and have always charged us at least $2 less than the red ones. If you plan to live in Costa Rica without a car, make sure to get familiar with a few of the pirate taxis, so you have someone to call on a regular basis, should you need assistance. They are happy to arrange weekly grocery runs or even trips between cities. We pay about 8,000 colones or $16 to go from Grecia to Atenas.
Buying a Car:
If you do wish to purchase a car while living in Costa Rica, there are plenty for sale. Almost every other car I see says vender/for sale on it. I would strongly recommend coming here with your car savings, but waiting for a few months to find a good deal. Because of import taxes, cars here are ridiculously expensivethousands more than they would be in the States. However, if you can be patient, you are bound to find a deal eventually. People are often picking up and leaving the country, and other people might be trying to sell a car quickly to make some cash. So, give the buses and taxis a go for a short while, and keep your eyes and ears open for something affordable and reliable.
Leasing a Car:
Leasing a car is a perfect solution for many families. Rather than going through a big business, ask around a bit. Odds are, youll eventually find someone who knows someone who wants to rent out their extra car for $25ish/day. If you can find a situation like this, you may be able to rent a car for a few days here or there (for long trips or visa runs) or even on a long-term basis. By holding out and asking around in this manner, you will be able to avoid having to leave a huge deposit.
If we were planning to live in Central America for more than a year, we would most definitely be on the hunt for a car to buy or lease long-term. Living in Costa Rica without a car is absolutely a terrific way to save money, but it is a sacrifice of comfort and speed. Even so, I have had the pleasure of conversing in Spanish on each ramble down town, and have met many sweet and helpful neighbors along the way. I dont regret going carless these last six months. If anything, its been quite an experience.