The location of Playa del Coco is a convenient 25 min drive from Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia. Here are a few ways you can get there:
Bus – for the backpacking/frugal/adventurous gang. There is no direct bus from the airport so you will need to walk about 15 minutes to the main road once you exit the building. (Turn right)
The bus is blue and the company name is called “Pulmitan”. They run from 6am-8pm every day and the Playa Del Coco bus runs every 45 minutes. It WILL say Playa Del Coco on the front and you will need to wave it down. With all of the stops it will take you about 1 hour to get to town and will cost a whopping 700 Colons (Costa Rican currency which we will talk about as well) This is about $1.20US. Our only disclaimer is that the timelines provided are mere guidelines. You will have to roll with the timing, however it be :)
Taxi – There will be many options when you exit the gate. Be cautious of pirate taxis that will charge you much more to get the Coco. They are not insured and can essentially say one thing and charge another once on the road.
Look for the official RED taxis. They have a yellow light on the roof and generally a yellow sign on the driver’s door with their plate number. This trip should cost you roughly $40-55 to get to Playa Del Coco – anything else quoted is way too much. Haggle them down to $50 and if they don’t bite, walk away. There are plenty others to negotiate with.
Private Shuttle – This really is such an easy, convenient way to travel from the airport to Coco. We recommend Eitel Castrillo with Miguetours Transfer & Tours. He can be reached by his Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Miguetours or WhatsApp @ +506 8448 5743.
Eitel is very responsive with both methods of communication. The flat rate cost for up to five
people is $45-50 USD. If you need to stop for any essentials before arriving at one of our units, he will do so at no additional cost. This obviously makes your first day a heck of a lot easier. The beauty here is that Eitel also runs tours! Talk about feeding 2 birds with 1 scone ;) Miguetours comes highly recommended and has some great tour options to discuss. On a side note: though tipping isn't expected, it's certainly appreciated and customary to do so. We would recommend between $3.00 - $5.00 USD total for the trip from the airport to our unit. There are certainly more alternatives if for some reason Eitel is not available. Please reach out to us for more contacts.
Car Rental – Lots of people rent a car while visiting though this will be your most expensive route albeit the most convenient for kicking around the beautiful villages of Costa Rica. The drive from the airport to Coco is ridiculously straightforward and short. You will find rental car companies in the baggage claim area of Liberia’s airport. The options that have actual booths inside are the following:
Budget, Apex
Economy, Advantage
Enterprise, National, Alamo
Solid/NU
Dollar
The airport is too small to have rentals on the property so you will have to take a 2-5 minute shuttle to their offices. DO book ahead of your vacation if you plan on visiting between the months of Dec-Apr. The likelihood of getting a rental upon arrival during this time is slim. Once you exit the airport there will be a group of people holding up signs. Look for your car rental and YOUR name on it. They will also be wearing their rental uniforms. Many people will try to offer you cheaper rentals or say that you are being scammed. Ignore them and move along to your agent with the sign :)
Insurance! You must purchase or show that you have insurance covered. Most companies are not upfront about this additional cost and it can feel like a “scam” when they ask you to pay for this at the office when you arrive for your vehicle. When you call the companies ahead of time make sure you ask about this cost so you are aware and can plan accordingly. Furthermore, if your credit card company offers insurance on international travel, you will need to have a letter from the said credit card company printed off. You will show them the letter along with the credit card. Providing proof of insurance or purchasing through the car company is mandatory and no way of getting around this.
Most companies you book through will automatically reserve a manual/standard car for you. If you need an automatic you MUST indicate this when booking.
Lastly – getting your rental takes a bit of time so be patient. Once you get your sweet ride, driving in Guanacaste is very easy! Enjoy!
As with any advice on planning your trip for Costa Rica; please do not hesitate to reach out if you need clarification on booking details or general procedures.
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