Most international flights arrive at San José's Juan Santa Maria international airport.  There are good connections to US and Canadian cities and several Latin and South American countries.  Travel options after arriving at the international airport are domestic air transfers, rental cars, public buses or private taxis.

***We suggest traveling to Golfito by air. The Sansa Terminal is only a block away from the International Terminal.  The official "orange" airport taxis are safe and charge a regulated fare which you pay at the Taxi office in the airport.  The flight is only 45 minutes so you can be sipping a cool drink beside the pool at the lodge instead of traveling 8 hours by bus or rental car.

Click To Book National Sansa Airline Flights

Golfito by Air

TravelAir or NatureAir flies daily from Tobias Bolanos airport in Pavas, west of San Jose.  Luggage allowance limited to a total of 25 pounds per person.  Excess baggage is allowed BUT is subject to space or weight capacity.  One way ticket price $84

                      Flight #060 Departs San Jose at 6:00am    Arrives Golfito 7:10am
                      Flight #061 Departs Golfito at 7:20am       Arrives San Jose at 8:10am 

Sansa airline leaves from Juan Santamaria International airport and has a limited luggage allowance of carry-on and checked baggage to a maximum of 25 pounds per person. Excess baggage is allowed at an extra charge BUT is subject to space or weight capacity and there is an additional charge per pound after 25..  A total of 2 surf boards (max. size 6’8”) are allowed per flight.  If you want to ship your board check it in early. One way ticket price $76.  Flight schedules are variable, but there is generally one early morning departure in and out of Golfito plus an additional flight around mid-day. During the high tourism season, a third afternoon flight will be offered.  

To Check SANSA schedules and make Reservations With Land Sea Services Ticket Agent Click HERE

Golfito by Bus
Bus travel is cheap and very good.  The Tracopa-Alfaro bus company leaves from the main Coca-Cola depot about a 20 minute walk east from the city center.  The official address is Calle 16 Avenida 1-3.  This is not the best part of town, so watch for pickpockets and use common sense.  Never leave your bags unattended.  The area is generally safe during the day, though after dark you might take a taxi rather than walking.  Some travelers suggest that you take a cab at any time.  Watch your luggage stored in overhead compartments, scamsters will "push" bags to the back of the bus and then pass them out the window to an accomplice before the bus ever leaves the terminal.  If you put luggage under the bus use care at each stop to make sure that another passenger doesn’t get your baggage by mistake.
                                            Buses depart from San Jose to Golfito from the Coca-Cola depot at 7:00am and 3:00pm daily

                                            Buses depart from the Golfito Tracopa terminal to San Jose at 5:00am and 1:00pm daily

Renting a Car
     Renting a car and driving in Costa Rica allows total freedom of movement. You can cover a lot of ground without delay, and you can stop and sightsee wherever you want. Plan your route before you take it, then stop and ask if you need directions. Costa Ricans do not like to say that "I don't know" and sincerely want to be helpful. You may need to ask more that one person and get a consensus.
     Remember to never leave valuables in your car. It is best to carry them with you. There are sometimes young boys in parking lots of nicer restaurants who will offer to watch your car for you while you eat. It is best to agree and then tip them a few hundred colones (approx. $1 U.S.).
     When you get your rental car, the representative will have you check the car for nicks, dents, and adequate tires. Exaggerate this procedure. Also, be sure to fill the car before you return it, or be prepared to pay $20.00 for a fourth of a tank of gas.
     It is best not to speed, and the speed limit signs are in kilometers. If you are pulled over by the police, they will want to see your rental papers and your passport. Be polite, but never let them keep either of these documents. Also, do not pay the police for the ticket. You pay the ticket to the rental car company when you turn in the car. Paying the police creates corruption.
     There is about 29,000 kilometers of highway in Costa Rica but only about 14% of that is paved. This is why we recommend 4 X 4 vehicles to most areas. Even Manuel Antonio and Monteverde (as popular as they are) have terrible roads to get there. But, look at it this way, if the roads were great, the places would be too crowded.

Car rental notes:
     Car rental companies in Costa Rica charge a mandatory minimum insurance per day of approx. $16.00. This is not included in package and is payable direct to car company on arrival. Car rental companies will require a deposit on a major credit card on arrival of anywhere between $1,000 - $1,500. It is recommended that you check car body and tires for damage and advise personnel before departing with car. Deposit will be refunded on return.

     Please pay attention to all the recommendations the people at the car rental company will give you in regards to the possible scams thieves are running. One of the most common is to puncture a tire while you are not aware and wait until the tire is flat, then while you are changing the tire the thieves will try to steal your luggage. If you notice a flat tire pull over into a gas station for extra light and safety.