Bienvenidos a Costa Rica!

Woo-hoo you made it to Costa Rica! People are speaking in a foreign language and your High School Spanish is a tad rusty. Rusty as in you only remember how to introduce yourself…

“Hola, me llamo Kristen!” (Hello, my name is Kristen!)

So you are either at one of the two international airports, San Jose (SJO) or Liberia (LIR). Now how the heck do you get to that tropical paradise called Tamarindo that I keep posting sunset photos of?? Like my “How to Get to Costa Rica” post, let’s keep it simple.

How to Get to Tamarindo:

From Liberia (LIR):

Depending on how fast you or your shuttle drives, Tamarindo is about 1-1 1/2 hours from LIR.

• Hotel Transfer: If you booked your accommodations with a hotel, they may offer airport transportation. Rates vary, so if you are cost conscious, you may want to book a shared shuttle.
• Shared Shuttle: There are several shared shuttle services operated out of Tamarindo that take you direct from the airport to Tamarindo. I personally use Tamarindo Transfers and Tours or XPlore Costa Rica. Cost is $20 per person. Make sure you book in advance to reserve your spot as shuttles tend to fill up, especially during high season.
• Private Shuttle: If you are traveling in a group, a private shuttle may be the the most affordable option. Cost is ~$80 in total. Both the shuttle services mentioned above offer private shuttles.
• Taxi: When you exit customs in LIR, there will be countless taxi drivers trying to get your business. BUT, these guys will try to rip you off. If you forgot to book a shuttle, make sure you you do not pay more than $70 for a taxi.
• Rental Car: If you are comfortable driving in foreign countries, a rental car may be the best option, especially if you plan on exploring the surrounding beaches of Tamarindo. Cost with full insurance is anywhere from $50-$100 a day.
• Public Bus: Sure, the fare may be cheap, but three hours and a hot bus ride later you will arrive in Tamarindo…

From San Jose (SJO):

Depending on how fast you or your shuttle drives AND traffic on the Pan American Highway, Tamarindo is anywhere from 4-6 hours from SJO.

• Shared Shuttle: There are several shared shuttle services operated out of Tamarindo that take you direct from the airport to Tamarindo. You can book with Tamarindo Transfers and Tours, and they will arrange your shuttle with Gray Line Costa Rica. Cost is $50 per person. Make sure you book in advance to reserve your spot as shuttles tend to fill up, especially during high season.
• Private Shuttle or Taxi: If you are traveling in a group, a private shuttle may be the the most affordable option. Cost is ~$300 in total.
• Rental Car: If you are comfortable driving in foreign countries, a rental car may be the best option, especially if you plan on exploring the surrounding beaches of Tamarindo. If you decide to drive from San Jose, I suggest making a stop or two on the way to help break up the drive, like visiting Monteverde or Arenal. Also, download the Waze app for navigation if you have an international data plan. Waze is hands down the best navigation program in Costa Rica, especially since streets literally do not have names here!
• Public Bus: Sure, the fare may be cheap, but eight hours and a hot bus ride later you will arrive in Tamarindo…
• Fly: If you are traveling solo, this may be the best option cost wise. Both of Costa Rica’s regional airlines, Nature Air and Sansa, offer a limited lumber of cheap fares. Cheap as in $70 one way and a 45 minute flight! BUT, make sure you coordinate your arrival and departure time in-and-out of San Jose with the flight schedules of these regional airlines. There is nothing like booking a good fare and then realizing you have to overnight at a hotel in San Jose because you did not give yourself enough time to make the connecting flight!

How to Get to Costa Rica:

Want some uber helpful tips on flying to Costa Rica? Then head on over to my post “How to get to Costa Rica“!

Over to You!:

Do you have any travel tips on how to get to Tamarindo? Leave a comment below and share the knowledge!