General Travel Information
General Travel Information
Passport - You will need to present a valid US Passport when you check in with the airline; USA citizens do not need a visa to visit Costa Rica for up to 30 days. Holders of foreign passports may need to obtain a Costa Rican travel visa. Check to be sure.
Air Travel to Costa Rica
Delta, Continental, and United all serve San Jose connecting through Atlanta, Houston, and Miami respectively. Who can say about the cost. We've paid more than $700 RT and as little as $430. We try for a group rate for the class, but sometimes this is not much of a deal.
Connecting Flights Warning
Depending upon the airline our route will take us to Miami, Houston, or Atlanta for a connecting flight to San Jose. The domestic flight is only about 3-3.5 hrs. However, be aware of connection times. Going to Costa Rica you arrive domestic and must walk or take airport transit to an international terminal for the connecting flight. On the return, you arrive international and must transfer to domestic. So check the terminal & gate location for your connecting flight, and then don't waste any time.
On the return trip you will go through USA customs & immigration just after arriving, and then you must trek back to the domestic terminal to catch your connecting flight. With only 1:10-1:20 hr of time, this is almost impossible. Make all possible haste.
Departure Tax
There is a $20 departure tax, in US$, at the San Jose airport.
Arrival in San Jose
a. Immigration - Upon exiting the plane you must go through immigration and customs to enter Costa Rica. Other than the length of lines, this is no problem for ecotourists. They will want to see you passport (& visa if not a USA citizen).
b. Pick up your checked bag in the gallery below. Tourists can exit directly in almost all cases into a mele of taxi drivers and bus operators.
c. For the class look for either an ISU sign or a Best Western sign for a motel ride, depending on how we arranged things. Otherwise grab a taxi. You might ask if any speak English. The cost of a ride into town should be about $12, no more than $15; ask how much (quanto?) before going. If the price is right just say OK, if not act like you're going to look for someone else, that usually does the trick. You can pay in US$.
d. Exchange $20-40 for colones at the motel desk.
e. If you need a dinner, get a taxi to El Pueblo & pick one of several eating establishments within. All are pretty good. Take another taxi back. They should cost 300-500 colones each way. Show the driver a hotel card to get back.
Getting to La Selva.
By Coach (bus)
An express commercial coach departs the Caribe bus station at 6:30/8/10/11:30 am and 1:30/3/4:30/6 pm for Rio Viejo de Sarapiquí (Note there is a second Rio Viejo down south near Cahiuta that departs from another station). The bus station is near the Best Western (behind the Children's Museum), but with a bag its probably better to take a taxi. Purchase a ticket inside the station. Keep you eyes on your bags & sit where you can watch them loaded and unloaded, just in case. Every now and then someone will try to swipe a "gringo" bag. They do this by getting off the coach before you and just taking your bag. So be watchful. The coaches are nice and comfortable. This will only cost C700-800.
The La Selva bus stop is just a rain shelter next to a gravel road on the west side of the road (you're traveling more or less north, so on your left hand side). La Selva is about 0.8 km down this gravel road to the left. A few farmer's shacks are along the right hand side of the road, turn left at the only turn. There is a gate and guard post at the beginning of the field station. The cafeteria & station office are on your right another 400 m or so along the road.
This is a long walk with a bag, and they won't roll well on the gravel. As a recommended alternative, ride the coach all the way into town. The bus will stop in beautiful downtown Puerto Viejo next to the soccer field and across from the bus station. Just down the sidewalk is a taxi stand (mostly red vehicles) and any of them will take you to La Selva (OTS). Fare is about $800-1000 for gringos.
Gray Van Lines
The Gray Van Lines will pick you up and deliver you to just about anywhere door to door in Costa Rica for $20 each way. They have an office at the Best Western, and its best to make reservations ahead of time.
Car Rental
Some people just have to have a car. But we do not recommend this, especially if you have not driven in a third world country before. Parking at the field station is limited. Public transportation is cheap and excellent, so why bother?
Checking in at the field station
The field station office is just down the hill from the cafeteria on your right. Ask them where ISU is lodged. Then just wait around for someone to show up. Just relax, get a cup of coffee, sit on the veranda and look around. It’s a pretty good view.