By Bus in Costa Rica

Tica Bus has daily runs between Costa Rica and Panama or Nicaragua; Transnica has daily service between Costa Rica and Granada and Managua. We recommend choosing Tica Bus if at all possible, but Transnica is acceptable in a pinch. Tica Bus offers an "executive" service on some of its green-season Managua-Costa Rica runs, which means for about $3 more you'll get breakfast. Both companies have comfortable, air-conditioned coaches with videos and on-board toilets, and make it easy to cross the border.

Bus Companies

Tica Bus (C. 9 and Avda. 4, San José. 221-8954. www.ticabus.com). Transnica (C. 22, between Avdas. 3 and 5, San José. 223-4920.)