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**Last updated on Dec 16th, 2011.**
Getting There
There are two international airports in Costa Rica from which you can reach us. Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), is near the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose. 2 people per year confuse San Jose, Costa Rica with San Jose, California and wind up having a much less fun vacation...try not to be that guy. The other airport is the Daniel Odubur International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR). Reaching us from either takes close to the same amount of time.
Considering the lack of road signs and the vast array of options from these airports, getting to Montezuma can be a bit complicated. Our recommendation is to allow us to help you arrange your incoming trip. Approximate cost will be $15-$230 depending on your time of arrival and the amount of people traveling with you. Please keep in mind that this cost is not included in our program fee.
For booking your flights to Costa Rica, consider that our programs begin on Sundays with accommodations after 2 pm (check in) and end with check out on Saturday before noon. Classes are held Monday through Friday.
Unless you're planning to take a commuter flight, we strongly encourage, and will be happy to help you to arrange, the "Easiest" option.
Easiest
SHUTTLE without Accommodations from SAN JOSE:
**Important Note** Your flight must arrive 2 hours before any shuttle departure and any time before 4:00 pm if scheduling a chartered shuttle for the same day.
SHUTTLE without Accommodations from LIBERIA:
- All year: Regular shuttle service leaves from LIR at 8:45am and costs $55 per person
- All year: Private shuttles can be arranged at any time for $230 for 1-4 passengers +$15 per persons 5-11.
SHUTTLE PACK
A good option for flights arriving on Saturday afternoon/evening.
From SAN JOSE:
Includes shuttle from the international airport
(SJO) to a hotel in Alajuela (where the international airport is
located), lodging, breakfast and shuttle to La Escuela Del Sol the next
morning:
For the shuttle pack, you may arrive at any time in the evening and
you will depart the following morning by van. The hotel will
pay your cab fare from the airport once you arrive.
From LIBERIA:
Includes Hotel in Liberia, breakfast and shuttle to LEDS the next morning. This shuttle pack does not include transfer from airport to hotel which will cost an additional $30.
Fastest
By Air
There are two companies which offer a 30 minute flight from San Jose or Liberia to the Tambor Airport (TMU), which is a 25 kms./30 mins. drive from Montezuma.
Sansa Air leaves directly from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) as well as the airport in Liberia (LIR). If you choose to fly with Sansa, you must aim to arrive at least 2 hours before your connecting domestic flight.
Nature Air departs from a small air strip nearby San Jose, called Aeropuerto Tobias Bolanos (30 min. drive from SJO) and requires an additional shuttle or taxi (approx. $25). They also have flights directly from LIR. If planning to fly with Nature Air, you should arrive at least 2 and a half hours before your connecting domestic flight if leaving from San Jose or 2 hours if leaving from Liberia.
For info and availability, please check http://www.flysansa.com/ or http://www.natureair.com/
Flights cost $22-$99 plus tax and an additional charge of $1/lb. for luggage weighing more than 27 lbs.
From Tambor, you can take a taxi which will take approximately 35 minutes to the school and cost between $35-$45. If you would like us to arrange your pickup in Tambor, a driver we know and trust will meet you at the airport for the lower price of $35.
Cheapest
By Bus From San Jose
There is daily, direct service between San Jose and Montezuma through Transportes Rodriguez ((506) 2642-0740; (506) 2642-0219). The trip takes approximately 6 hours, including a 1.5 hour ferry ride from Puntarenas to Paquera. The cost is approximately $12.
If planning to take the bus, you'll need at least 3 hours between your international flight arrival and the public bus departure.
With this option, you must first take a public bus ($1) or official (red or orange color) taxi (approx. $25) from the SJO airport to the “Coca Cola” bus station. From there, you will take the bus headed for Cobano, Mal Pais, Santa Teresa and Montezuma.
You will be making a stop in Puntarenas to hop on the ferry. After enjoying the views of the Gulf of Nicoya from the upper deck, your bus will meet you on the other side to bring you to Montezuma. Stay on your toes because you will have to change buses in Cobano for the last 20 minutes of the journey.
Buses depart at 6:00 am and 2:00 pm. Make sure to call ahead for any schedule changes (happens often). Reservations are not available, so arrive early for tickets.
By Bus From Liberia
There is no direct bus from Liberia to Montezuma but there are local buses. Connections are not timed so it may take you all day (or two!). If you don't speak fluent Spanish, this is not a recommended way to travel.
Most Adventurous
By Car
If you are renting a car in San Jose or Liberia, the car rental company will normally provide you with an adequate map (be sure to ask if they haven’t!). You may also request GPS navigation for additional cost.
New Highway from San Jose:
The new highway opened in February 2010 and has a few advantages. It shaves about 30 minutes off of the trip in exchange for about $8 in tolls. Be sure to ask your rental car agency for directions to the new highway if you choose this option.
Scenic Route from San Jose:
To see the beautiful countryside, you'll want to take the Panamerican Highway #1 towards Puntarenas. Along the way, you will be following signs for Palmares, San Ramon, Esparza and Puntarenas respectively. Once in Puntarenas, follow signs for the Paquera Ferry (schedules at http://www.navieratambor.com). Kick back and enjoy the views for an hour and a half until you reach the ferry dock. After you return to your car, you will follow signs for Tambor and then Cobano. Turn left at Cobano and follow signs to Montezuma. The whole trip should take approximately 5-6 hours.
Driving from Liberia:
Be sure to ask for directions and a map from your car rental company. There are several routes and a lack of road signs on many of them. This is a difficult way to go if you don't know your way around but is possible. The trip should take about 5 hours.
**Note on driving in Costa Rica**
You will encounter many unpaved and quite bumpy roads along the way. In addition, there may be a difference in road quality between the dry season (Nov-Apr), the green season (May-Aug, Nov) and the rainy season (Sept-Oct). During the green and rainy seasons especially, we recommend that you drive nothing short of a 4x4. Also note that road signs are often missing or hidden behind fast growing trees or bushes. Be on your toes if driving. You may want to splurge on a GPS device to keep you going in the right direction.
Your Final Destination
Once In Montezuma
Look for our sign on top of Montezuma's central park. Our address is (this is our mailing address too, believe it or not):
La Escuela Del Sol
Frente al parque infantil
Montezuma, Puntarenas
Costa Rica, Centro America
And To Get Home...
By Air
Commuter flights run from Tambor Airport (requires a 35 minute, $35 taxi from Montezuma which we can arrange for you) and take approximately 30 minutes. Check http://www.flysansa.com/ or http://www.natureair.com/ for available flights. Sansa flies to SJO International Airport whereas Nature Air flies to an airstrip 30 minutes from SJO and offers shuttle service to the international airport for an additional $35. A taxi will bring you there for closer to $25. Both airlines fly directly to LIR.
By Bus
Buses leave from Montezuma to San Jose each day at 6:30 am and 2:30 pm and make a stop at the international airport (SJO) on the way to San Jose. The trip is approximately 6 hours. There are no direct buses to Liberia.
By Shuttle
The same rates apply as above. To SJO, shuttles leave Montezuma from Dec-Aug at 6:30 am and 2:30 pm and arrive around 1-2 pm and 9-10 pm (depending on traffic and road conditions). From Sept-Nov, shuttles leave Montezuma for SJO at 8:30 am and arrive around 2-3 pm (depending on traffic and road conditions). The shuttle pack is also available to stay the night in Alajuela, near SJO.
To LIR, regular shuttles leave Montezuma at 9am and arrive around 3pm for $55 per person. Private shuttles are available on your schedule for $230 for the first 4 passengers and $15 for each additional person up to 11.
By Boat and Shuttle Package to San Jose
Shave off 2.5 hours from the trip by taking this transfer package. A boat will take you from Montezuma to Herradura where a shuttle will be waiting to take you to San Jose. Boats leave at 10:30 am and arrive around 2:30 pm at SJO International Airport. It costs approximately $160 for 1 or 2 people and $70/person for 3 or more people. You may also take the boat and find a bus from Jaco to San Jose to save money. Speed boat costs $35. Buses cost around $10. Schedules vary but buses depart as frequently as every 2 hours.
By Car
To San Jose, follow signs out of Montezuma towards Cobano, Tambor and Paquera. Take the ferry to Puntarenas and continue driving towards Caldera, then San Jose. Be very careful to follow signs.
To Liberia, get a good map and/or GPS and pray you don't get lost. It's not an easy journey, especially in the rainy season.
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