Frequently asked questions
Find the answers to many of the most common questions our clients ask. They are conveniently divided by subject matter for easier perusal. If you cannot find the answers to your questions, feel free to contact us.
- Inbound/Outbound Airport Shuttle
Ticket for a trip between Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and any of the major hotels along the highway to San Jose or in the San Jose metro area. - Inbound Connection
Ticket for a trip between Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and Rio Segundo, the pickup location for Shared-Ride Services. - Shared-Ride Services
Reserved ticket for trips on regularly scheduled routes within Costa Rica. - Pickup & Drop Off locations
Questions pertaining to passenger pickups and drop offs. - The Buses
Questions pertaining to the shuttlebuses used by our service providers. - Luggage & Cargo
Questions pertaining to the luggage and cargo allowed on the shuttlebuses.
- What is an Inbound/Outbound Airport Shuttle?
Airport Shuttle provides our customers with a safe, affordable and convenient means of getting between Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), and hotels along the highway to San Jose or in the San Jose metro area. Each Transfer In/Out is valid for one one-way trip and must be used at the time of arrival in or departure from Costa Rica. All shuttlebuses are air-conditioned, non-smoking and include no more than eight passengers. The trip must be reserved with the service provider before the time of pickup. Availability is guaranteed with 48-hour advance notice. Each use includes space for one carry-on and one item of luggage. Transportation of additional luggage or large items must be arranged ahead of time with the service provider. Both children and adults can use the Transfer In/Out. A guardian must accompany children at all times. - How do I choose an Inbound/Outbound Airport Shuttle?
With an Airport Shuttle, there are only two possible origins and two possible destinations. For an Inbound Airport Shuttle, which takes passengers from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to their first hotels, the origin is Main Terminal Juan Santamaria (SJO) and the destination is San Jose. For an Outbound Airport Shuttle, which takes passengers from their hotels in the San Jose area to the airport, the origin is San Jose and the destination is Main Terminal Juan Santamaria (SJO).
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- What is an Inbound Connection?
With an Inbound Connection, individuals arriving in Costa Rica who wish to journey immediately to more distant parts of the country rather than remain in the Metro San Jose area can purchase a ticket to Rio Segundo, the pickup location for Shared-Ride Services. All trips are from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Rio Segundo. Each ticket is for a one-way trip. All buses are air-conditioned, non-smoking and include no more than eight passengers. Availability is guaranteed with 48-hour advance notice. These tickets are available for adults, children, additional luggage and surfboards. Each use includes space for one carry-on and one item of luggage. A guardian must accompany children at all times. Car seats for children are provided upon request at no extra charge. - How do I choose an Inbound Connection?
If you wish to go directly from the airport to any Shared-Ride destination, book an Inbound Connection Service from the Main Terminal Juan Santamaria to Rio Segundo, which will drop you off at The Calalu Restaurant. You will find the Inbound Connection in the Shop Online Section. Next, choose your travel date, select the tickets you wish to purchase and enter your flight number and arrival time. Finally, book a Shared-Ride Service from Rio Segundo (pickup at The Calalu Restaurant) to your desired Shared-Ride destination. Please remember, that when you hire an Inbound Connection Service the customer decides the pickup time, but with Shared-Ride, schedules are pre-set. Please be sure that your drop off time in Rio Segundo is sufficiently prior to the pick up time of the Shared-Ride.
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- What is a Shared-Ride Service?
Shared-Ride Services are shuttle bus trips designed to take passengers from one tourist destination in Costa Rica to another. All trips are from the passenger's old hotels to their new ones, with the exception of Inbound Connection passengers picked up in Rio Segundo. Each ticket is for a one-way trip. This service is especially convenient because it is safe, efficient and delivers you directly from one hotel to another. All buses are air-conditioned, non-smoking and include no more than eight passengers. Availability is guaranteed with 48-hour advance notice. These tickets are available for adults, children, additional luggage and surfboards. Each use includes space for one carry-on and one item of luggage. A guardian must accompany children at all times. Car seats for children are provided upon request at no extra charge. - How do I choose the right Shared-Ride Service?
To choose the correct Shared-Ride Service for your purposes, you must first go to the Shop Online section of this website. Next, you should determine the point-of-origin and destination for the trip/s that you would like to make. The page will display possible departure times. Choose the time best suited to your needs and click on the Book a Ticket button. The next page will allow you to choose the date on which you wish to travel, the number and type of tickets needed and pick-up and drop-off sites.
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- How will I find my shuttle bus at the airport?
When a customer is being picked up at the airport, the service provider sends a representative to meet incoming passengers at the International Arrivals area. This representative helps the passengers with their luggage and guides them to the appropriate van. All passengers must look for the service provider's representative. This representative always carries a sign and wears the service provider's uniform. - How will I find my shuttle bus at my hotel?
When the driver arrives at the reception area of a hotel, he identifies himself and asks for passengers. Once located, the passengers are led to the shuttle bus and the luggage is loaded onboard. - Can we be picked up at the airport?
Only if you purchase a ticket for an Inbound Airport Shuttle or Inbound Connection, not for Shared-Ride services. If you wish to go directly from the international airport (SJO) to any Shared-Ride destination please refer to Inbound Connection.
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- What are the sizes of the shuttle buses?
Our service providers generally use either 15-passenger microbuses or 8-passenger microbuses for greater comfort. Smaller microbuses considerably reduce the time lost during pick-ups and drop-offs, leaving passengers with more time to invest in their vacation. Occasionally the service providers will use 30-passenger shuttle buses, but in these cases only 16 passengers are allowed onboard. These larger microbuses are used only when there is a large quantity of passengers leaving from the same hotel and traveling to the same destination. In all cases, the luggage will always be placed inside the shuttle bus to safeguard passenger possessions. - Are there restrooms available on the shuttle buses?
There are generally no restrooms aboard shuttle buses. However, policies require that longer trips must include one rest stop of 15 minutes. Each of these rest stops takes place at or near restaurants or sodas for the benefit of our passengers. These stops always include areas with clean bathrooms and fresh food.
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- How much luggage can I take with me?
Each adult or child ticket includes space for one carry-on and one item of luggage. The carry-on must stay with the passenger at all times, while the driver attaches a tag to the luggage identifying the final destination and issues a claim ticket to the passenger. Neither the service provider nor The Costa Rica Shuttle Bus will be held responsible for loss or damage to carry-on items left unsupervised by the passenger. This includes carry-on items incorrectly stored with the luggage. Transportation of additional luggage, surfboards (maximum 7 feet in length), or large items are not included in the price and must be arranged ahead of time. A payment of $10 (U.S.) is required for extra items. Additional luggage or large items are stored in the luggage compartment, while surfboards are secured to the roof of the shuttle bus. All extra items are accepted according the available space. If there is no space remaining, the extra items cannot be transported. - Can I take my pet with me?
No, no animals are allowed on the shuttle buses.
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