Travel from SJO to MA?
May 10th, 2008, 04:47 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Travel from SJO to MA?
How would you recommend we travel from SJO to MA? We arrive in SJO at 2 pm and could go directly (flight), or other public transportation you recommend? Thank you
May 10th, 2008, 06:34 AM
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Ronald. I checked out that website but it did not mention anything about transportation.
Sjo to MA is a 4 hour ride if I recall. I had to take the bus as the van services were booked when I was there. So its good to check that out early. Maybe your hotel could arrange something.
Sjo to MA is a 4 hour ride if I recall. I had to take the bus as the van services were booked when I was there. So its good to check that out early. Maybe your hotel could arrange something.
May 10th, 2008, 11:00 AM
#3
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you are traveling light, you could fly or you could make arrangements to have someone drive you. This site has a number of good suggestions on who to contact. We are using two of the suggested drivers for our upcoming trip. You can do a search to get their e-mail addresses, etc. Since it will be getting dark about the time you'll be getting to MA, having a driver take you to your hotel lobby might be nice although I'm sure you could make your way out of the airport just fine. Cabs are typically easy to find.
Have you considered Interbus? Many people have good luck with them. I would think using them would be nicer than going by public bus but they would charge more too.
What do you plan to do in MA? We are going for the first time this fall so we are interested in knowing what not to miss, besides the park of course.
Have you considered Interbus? Many people have good luck with them. I would think using them would be nicer than going by public bus but they would charge more too.
What do you plan to do in MA? We are going for the first time this fall so we are interested in knowing what not to miss, besides the park of course.
May 10th, 2008, 12:23 PM
#4
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The evening comes early (compared to North America) in CR and a 2pm arrival will be bit late to trek to MA if it were me. I'd suggest an overnight at the Orquidias Inn in Alajuela (about 15-20 min ride that can be arranged by the hotel) www.orquideasinn.com ...
Rise early next morn and have a wonderful breakfast at the hotel and rent a car! The drive is wonderful with places to stop along the way if you wish. Don't be afraid....half the fun is getting lost and you won't do that going to MA as all the highways are pretty good. Just hold your breath at the bridge!! LOL Don't let the wild tales of horrible roads scare you. On the return, overnight again at Orquidias and be fresh for your flight home the next day!
PS - The BEST park in CR is actually (in our opinion) a private park called Parque Tropical - Turubari. It is located about 30 mins west of Orotino towards San Pablo and has the most wonderful flora/fauna/wildlife, along with an amazing zip line ride. The guides are college Eco grads or current students and are just the best. The admission is a bit high (about $60 a head with zip...) but well worth it. Their web site is www.turubari.com . MA is probably one of the most visited CR National Parks and is nice. The beach is right there so take your suit! Don't you just love that country? The people are so warm and the scenery is like driving through a huge nursery!
Pura vida!!!!
Rise early next morn and have a wonderful breakfast at the hotel and rent a car! The drive is wonderful with places to stop along the way if you wish. Don't be afraid....half the fun is getting lost and you won't do that going to MA as all the highways are pretty good. Just hold your breath at the bridge!! LOL Don't let the wild tales of horrible roads scare you. On the return, overnight again at Orquidias and be fresh for your flight home the next day!
PS - The BEST park in CR is actually (in our opinion) a private park called Parque Tropical - Turubari. It is located about 30 mins west of Orotino towards San Pablo and has the most wonderful flora/fauna/wildlife, along with an amazing zip line ride. The guides are college Eco grads or current students and are just the best. The admission is a bit high (about $60 a head with zip...) but well worth it. Their web site is www.turubari.com . MA is probably one of the most visited CR National Parks and is nice. The beach is right there so take your suit! Don't you just love that country? The people are so warm and the scenery is like driving through a huge nursery!
Pura vida!!!!
May 17th, 2008, 05:20 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry - I kind of went out of the picture after I asked this question. Great ideas - Thank you.
I am just trying to figure out if I should go to MA or Guanacaste due to the time of year (August).
I will be spending the first 3 days in Arenal - doing a couple of the tours, hopefully to do the canyoning. Then deciding whether I go North or South - and then to the turtles?
Suggestions?
I am just trying to figure out if I should go to MA or Guanacaste due to the time of year (August).
I will be spending the first 3 days in Arenal - doing a couple of the tours, hopefully to do the canyoning. Then deciding whether I go North or South - and then to the turtles?
Suggestions?
May 18th, 2008, 07:34 AM
#6
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
if you are coming to M.A. in august and arriving in san jose at 2pm, you definitely want to travel by road. a "tourismo" bus is probably the way to go, they will be waiting outside of the airport when you arrive and will bring you to M.A. for $140 in about 3 hours.
i can set you up with my driver if you need...tv in the van, cooler with cold ones, stop and see the crocs in tarcoles, etc.
i can set you up with my driver if you need...tv in the van, cooler with cold ones, stop and see the crocs in tarcoles, etc.
May 29th, 2008, 10:18 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kinembe,
Is the $140 charge from SJO to MA per person? I will have a family of 5 and I'm interested in options for transportation to our hotel in MA. $140 for all of us sounds reasonable, but per person would be way too steep.
Is the $140 charge from SJO to MA per person? I will have a family of 5 and I'm interested in options for transportation to our hotel in MA. $140 for all of us sounds reasonable, but per person would be way too steep.
May 30th, 2008, 11:40 AM
#10
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you decide you want to get to MA the same day, I'd definitely hire a driver. With a 2 pm arrival, it will be dark by the time you get there. We were told by a lot of people (including some on this board) not to drive at night and that was very good advice. For reasons I won't go into, we didn't arrive in MA until around 6 or 7 pm (from SJO in August in rental car). While the roads were good the last 30-40 mi, it confirmed the advice that driving in the dark is not recommend.
Flying in the afternoons during the rainy season probably isn't fun either.
Flying in the afternoons during the rainy season probably isn't fun either.
Jun 1st, 2008, 06:17 AM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 10,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We've driven that road many times and have always thought the roads to be just fine. Until just before you get to Quepos, where there are a couple of one way bridges. Surely no one expects to find the autobahn in Central America! 
The bad condition of the roads is WAY exaggerated on this board. There are a few that are exceptionally bumpy such as the one to Monteverde and a couple of roads on the east coast and down on the Nicoya Peninsula and the Osa Peninsula, but outside of those, the roads are pretty decent. Nothing to worry about.
The bad condition of the roads is WAY exaggerated on this board. There are a few that are exceptionally bumpy such as the one to Monteverde and a couple of roads on the east coast and down on the Nicoya Peninsula and the Osa Peninsula, but outside of those, the roads are pretty decent. Nothing to worry about.
Jun 1st, 2008, 07:27 AM
#14
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 24,814
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Personally, I would hire a private driver if I were getting in at 2:00; the roads are not that bad at all, but since it would be getting dark, I'd take the driver option. We've hired lots of drivers through our hotels and have had good luck doing that.
Jun 3rd, 2008, 05:11 AM
#15
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Laurie -
We're arriving at SJO around 2:00 pm also and decided that after the flight and busy morning, we'd rather have a driver take us to MA. That way, we can relax a bit and we won't have to worry about the clock ticking away before the sun sets. I've heard it's best not to drive after dark and considering the fact that we won't be familiar with the roads or area, I'd rather sit back and let someone else worry about it!
Have a great trip - we'll be there 6/17 thru 6/28...can't wait!
Jenn
We're arriving at SJO around 2:00 pm also and decided that after the flight and busy morning, we'd rather have a driver take us to MA. That way, we can relax a bit and we won't have to worry about the clock ticking away before the sun sets. I've heard it's best not to drive after dark and considering the fact that we won't be familiar with the roads or area, I'd rather sit back and let someone else worry about it!
Have a great trip - we'll be there 6/17 thru 6/28...can't wait!
Jenn
