Country Information

Flights to Costa Rica are roughly the same prices throughout the year, with costs rising noticeably only for major holidays. The national airline is Avianca (www.avianca.com). Lots of major international airlines fly to Costa Rica, such as American Airlines (www.aa.com) and Delta (www.delta.com). From Europe, the biggest carriers are British Airways (www.ba.com) and Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.com). Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is closest to San Jose.

Costa Rican domestic airline Nature Air (www.natureair.com/nature-air-pass.aspx) offers air passes for either a week or a fortnight, allowing unlimited flights in that time for a set price. It’s a good opportunity, given that many roads in Costa Rica are rough or mountainous. If you’re travelling further afield in Latin America it’s also a good idea to have a look at the All America Airpass (www.allairpass.com) to see if any of the airlines and flight paths work for you.

US$29, payable if staying more than 24 hours. Note that if paying by credit card there is an extra fee.

Liberia International Airport (LIR)The airport is 8 km (5 miles) west of Liberia. To/from the airport: Regular buses serve the airport, connecting Liberia with Playas del Coco and other beach resorts. Rental cars are available.

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)As Costa Rica's principal gateway, Juan Santamaría is serviced by a number of international carriers, and serves as the hub for domestic flights on Sansa Airlines.Juan Santamaría Airport is located 17km (10.5 miles) northwest of the city centre just outside the city of Alajuela. Tel: <p>437 2626</p>. To/from the airport: The all-red Tuasa bus runs frequently from the airport to the city centre, journey time is less than 45 minutes. Taxis also serve the terminals.

Puntarenas, the main port in the Costa Rican Pacific coast, is a major port for cruise-liners and is situated about 113km (70 miles) from San José. There are hourly public buses to San José from Puntarenas' main bus station. When crossing the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera to explore the southern regions, be aware that although the final ferry leaves quite late, the roads on the other side are bumpy and take a while âEuro“ you may well end up arriving at your destination in the middle of the night, so allow plenty of time.

Royal Caribbean cruise through Costa Rica (0844 493 4005; www.royalcaribbean.co.uk), as do Princess Cruises (0845 3555 800; www.princess.com). However, there are plenty of Costa Rican ferry companies for smaller and more local trips that can be found at any tour operating company in any city or town you travel to.

Costa Rica is a major tourist destination with the wealthy American set, and as such is a favourite for cruises. The proximity of the Panama Canal affects this, too, and plenty of cruise ships are heading to or from here. The larger ships will dock at Porto Caldera or Puntarenas, giving you a day or so to explore. Some cruises âEuro“ usually the shorter routes âEuro“ stop at National Parks en route or the sort of remote beaches that you just wouldn't be able to reach otherwise, which can be a wonderful way to see the country. Puerto Limón receives cruise ships on the Caribbean side.

Coming into and leaving Costa Rica is by way of the same road – the Pan-American Highway. Getting in and out is all very accessible, but have your passport and entry card handy because stop-and-checks are frequent. For getting in, out and around the country, the Tica Bus (www.ticabus.com) has routes running from Mexico down to Panama, and Transnica (506 2223 4242; http://transnica.com) services Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The international buses can get chilly, so bring a jumper.