Transport in San Jose

Buses Private bus companies connect different areas of city with each other and the suburbs. During rush hours most buses are stuck in traffic, as in most capital cities, but in general the system is efficient and cheap. Services to other parts of the country are provided by private companies which have stations or stops at random locations spread all over the city center (there is no central bus station).

Train There are now trains to Heredia from Estación Atlantico and Belen (just south of Alajuela airport) from Estación Pacifico. These only run on weekdays between 6am to 9am and 4pm to 8pm, every half an hour. There are plans to extend services to Alajuela and Cartago, but that will probably not be for another few years. There is another train that runs from Pavas in the west to Curridabat in the east of the city, which only runs every hour very early in the morning and in the evening. There is no service at weekends.

Taxis Taxis are fairly cheap, but you should make sure they use the meter (taximetro). It starts at 550 colones for the first few kilometres and a journey from Barrio Amon to most of the bus stations costs about 1500 colones. Avoid taxis that hang around the Coca Cola area, especially those that approach you grinning and speaking in English when you get off the bus. From the airport there is a special system with orange taxis that you pay for in advance at a kiosk in arrivals. They are slightly more expensive (25$ to San Jose) but the cars are all new and they are more trustworthy.