I'm wondering if anyone can tell me their experiences with flying Sansa or Nature Air for short hops within Costa Rica.

I don't mind a small plane. But, I do like it to have 2 engines (or propellers). Wondering what these planes are like. I thought I saw a picture of one, and it looked like it just had the one propeller in the front.

We took Sansa and had no problems, but one of our guides told us he prefers NatureAir because their planes have 2 props. The planes are very tiny, but we felt perfectly safe.

Thanks, volcanogirl. Now I've just got to get past worrying about the driving!

Hi caligirl,

The worst part of driving in my opinion, is navigating out of the hustly-bustly area around the airport. Once you hit the open countryside, it's no big deal. The scenery is beautiful and even if you get lost, you usually get yourself back on track quickly enough. I'd look into a GPS unit if you feel particularly nervous about that. Otherwise, take a good map and be a defensive driver. Let any impatient cars pass and take it nice and slow, especially around those curvy hillsides!

I've successfully navigated my around Costa Rica on 2 different trips and have lived to tell the tale! Unless you plan to drive extensively around San Jose, I wouldn't be too stressed.

cmerrell,
Thanks so much for the encouragement.
That's just what I need, because I've read so many really scary things. I guess the worst is about passing cars coming at you around a blind curve. The thing is, hiring a driver wouldn't solve this problem.

We had even hoped to drive from Arenal to Monteverde. But now I've read that many people absolutely advise against self-driving in the Monteverde area. Have you done that?

cali, I think you'll do fine. We always hire private drivers because that's easiest for us, but plenty of people drive without any problems. If you want to save time, there's a jeep/boat/jeep transport to Monteverde that companies like Desafio and others offer. It's supposed to cut a little time and hassle off the drive to Monteverde.

I haven't made the trek to Monteverde yet, but I know the road is notoriously bumpy. I believe most of the drive is actually fine but there is a stretch that's chock full of rocks and divets that absolutely requires a 4X4 for clearance. I don't think it's scary so much as a bit bone-jarring! You have to take it nice and slow which makes for a rather lengthy journey. Once you're there, I think getting around Monteverde is fine.

The blind curves are present; Costa Rica is a very hilly country! Alert, defensive driving is a must, but don't psyche yourself out! I was initially nervous too and I was the primary driver for our trip. I think I totally white-knuckled it from the airport to the Peace Lodge our first day in the country but by day 2, I let the nerves go and was able to enjoy!

Thanks so much. Costa Rica sounds way too beautiful to miss--so I'll have to just get past it. You are both very encouraging!

To be honest--I don't think I've ever been so scared in a car as I was in a New York taxi. The driver got into some kind of a fight with the taxi driver next door and kept trying to cut him off. You just never know!

You know we've had good luck with our drivers; I don't remember having any nervous moments, just lots of beautiful scenery. I hope everything goes great for you.

May you fall in love with Costa Rica like so many here have done, caligirl!

How soon are you planning to go?

I'm actually not sure when we'll go yet. I'm in the very early planning stages.

But I read so many really scary things about driving that I got worried.

We have our own car down there now and it can be scary. The largish city we live near is like one big game of chicken to drive in but once outside of the city it isn't bad at all. Out of the city I just pull over to the side a little while still moving and they just pass me.

Do look for the CEDA signs when passing over a bridge. Many bridges are one lane and you do have to yield in one direction. If there are two bridges in close proximity only the first one will have the sign most likely but you need to follow the same direction of yielding on the second.

When going through small towns look out for the sleeping policemen (speed bumps) near schools.

I used to fly Nature Air most of the time and still do when I need to fly. Mostly because of their schedules. We have flown single props with only a pilot sitting on a huge book and we have flown on larger planes down there with 2 props. We have never had a problem. Scary at times yes. Generally going into or out of the Central Valley can be a bit bumpy but it is smooth most of the rest of the time.

Back to the original question, which seemed to be rooted in anxiety about air safety. It is possible to find air accident databases online that describe what has happened in most of the world (including Costa Rica) in terms of crashes, fatal and non-fatal. Having looked at these, I would say don't worry. The number of engines doesn't seem to be a factor in problems. If you are already edgy about it, don't seek out the databases. Weather is often the deciding factor, and typically flights are cancelled or delayed.

We usually hire a driver, even to The Osa, simply so I (the default driver) can enjoy the scenery.

If you start out from SJO, the 30-minute ride to the Nature Air terminal may add enough "road risk" to balance out any advantage the 2-engine Nature Air planes may have over the single engine Sansa planes.

It's all chance, anyway, and chance has no memory.