Arrival into Costa Rica
Arriving in Liberia (Suggested)
This is the closest airport to Playa Tamarindo. From the airport to Playa Tamarindo it only takes 40 minutes by vehicle. Students can request the school’s pick up service for $40 US. We recommend this service since it is less expensive than taxing a taxi and more reliable than taking the bus. Upon arrival in Liberia, students will need to look for a sign that says Tamarindo Shuttle and/or the student’s name. The driver will take the student to their accommodations in Tamarindo. The school must have the student’s arrival flight information with at least one week’s notice to arrange airport pickup from Liberia.
Arriving in San Jose
Once at the airport in San Jose students will need to get to Tamarindo.
To do this they have several options:
1. Take the private INTERBUS service offered by a local travel agency for $35 (Note: if the student is the only person scheduled for the inter-bus, the price will be $50). Ask us for help in setting up the service. If you have arranged this through us the student can meet the bus at the designated hotel at the time of reservation. Buses typically leave around 7:30 am and 2:00 pm. Once in Tamarindo, students may take a taxi to their accommodations. They may also contact us and we will arrange to have their host family meet them at the major intersection in Villarreal.
2. The public ALFARO bus company offers daily service to Playa
Tamarindo at 11:30am and 3:30 p.m. for approximately US$ 6.00, from the ALFARO bus station, at Barrio Coca Cola, calle 14, between avenida 3 - 5. Students can take a taxi to the Alfaro bus station by giving the cab driver the following directions to the Alfaro bus station: “La estación Alfaro esta ubicada a ciento cincuenta metros al noroeste de la estación Coca Cola” The bus arrives in Playa Tamarindo at 9:00 p.m., approximately. You can also take a bus from the airport to the central part of San Jose and then locate the bus station. The bus ticket usually costs around 1$.
3. Take a short flight from the airport in San Jose on Sansa Airlines for about US $85 one way. The school must be contacted with a minimum of 1 week in advance if you want us to reserve a flight. Once at the San Jose airport, students can pick up the ticket at the counter in the SANSA terminal, which is next to the Juan Santamaria international airport. Students must check in at least 45 minutes before their plane leaves to Playa Tamarindo. The estimated times of departure from San Jose are: 05:15, 08:30, 11:50, 13:10, 14:35.
At the airport, in Playa Tamarindo, students can take the SANSA shuttle bus for ¢1,000 Colones ($3.00) to get to Villareal or Playa Tamarindo.