TRAVEL INFORMATION

Canadians, US Citizens, citizens of the European Union, Swiss, Australians and citizens of some other countries do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica and are usually allowed to stay up to 180 days in the country. However, they must have a current valid passport and a return ticket to exit Costa Rica (either to return to your country or go to another country). The passport must be valid for a minimum of 3 months from the day you enter Costa Rica.

For foreigners of other countries, the tourist visa will depend on their nationality and they should apply for it at the Consulate of their jurisdiction.

If you will be travelling to Costa Rica from South America you will need the YELLOW FEVER VACCINE to enter Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has two international airports; Daniel Oduber Intenational Airport, in Liberia, in the province of Guanacaste, which is just 66,6 km away from Tamarindo and Juan Santamaria International Airport, in Alajuela, close to San José, with a distance of 247 km to Tamarindo.

For students that are staying with host families or at the student houses in Tamarindo, we need to know if you are planning to come to Tamarindo by plane, public bus or private bus and the approximate time of arrival.

TRAVELLING FROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DANIEL ODUBER, IN LIBERIA, TO PLAYA TAMARINDO, VILLAREAL AND SANTA ROSA

The airport is about 70 km away from Playa Tamarindo. We can arrange a private shuttle from the airport in Liberia to Tamarindo or directly to your host family in Villarreal for USD 113.00. The travel time is less than 1 hour.

How to get there

TRAVELLING FROM SAN JOSÉ TO TAMARINDO

Upon arrival students can change their money into Colones in the bank at Juan Santamaria International Airport. The exchange rates, and above all, the commission of changing USD or Euros into Colones, is higher than changing in other banks in the country so therefore we recommend only to change a small amount of money.

Interbus is a private shuttle company that operates twice daily from most hotels in San José as well as directly from the airport to Tamarindo. The journey takes approximately 4.5 hours and costs US$ 68.00 per person. The modern shuttles are air-conditioned, equipped with WiFi, and offer a high level of comfort.

Morning departure times vary depending on the pick-up location, between 07:00 and 08:15 am (from the airport at 07:45 am and 2:15 pm). If you arrive in San José later, an overnight stay is required before continuing to Tamarindo the next day. In this case, we recommend Hotel Berlor, located only 1.5 km from the airport. A night at the hotel costs US$ 75.00, including breakfast, WiFi, and taxes.

We will be happy to make the reservation for you with both Interbus and Hotel Berlor. A ticket is not necessary, as the driver has a passenger list.

For participants staying in one of the student houses, the house keys will be placed in a lockbox at the entrance gate. The code, along with further check-in details, will be sent to you via WhatsApp or email before your arrival.

Participants staying with host families in Villarreal should get off the bus at the Centro Comercial GOLLO in the center of Villarreal, where a member of the host family will be waiting for them.

How to get there

BY AIRPLANE

SANSA fly from San José's Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Playa Tamarindo (TNO) around 3 times a day. Students can purchase the ticket with SANSA on-line on their website SANSA: https://www.flysansa.com

At the airport, in Playa Tamarindo, you can take a taxi for about USD 10.00 to get to Santa Rosa, Villareal or Playa Tamarindo. Please do not forget to keep your lodging information at hand in order to tell the driver the address.

DANIEL ODUBER QUIROS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (45 miles to Tamarindo)

The Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia connects Guanacaste with 21 cities in five countries.

Amsterdam* - KLM
Atlanta - Delta Airlines
Baltimore - Southwest Airlines
Boston - Jet Blue
Calgary - West Jet
Charlotte - American Airlines
Chicago - American Airlines, United Airlines
Dallas - American Airlines
Denver - United Airlines, Southwest Airlines
Edmonton-Calgary - Sunwing
Gatwick - Tui
Houston - United, Southwest Airlines
Los Ángeles - Alaska, Jet Blue, United Airlines
Miami - American Airlines
Minneapolis - Delta Airlines, Sun Country
Montreal - Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing
Newark - United Airlines
New York - American Airlines, Jet Blue
San Francisco - United Airlines
Toronto - Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing, West Jet
Zurich* - Edelweiss

*These flight connections make a stop at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO).

BY PUBLIC BUS

The TIG bus company offers 2-3 times a day transport from San José to Playa Tamarindo, the departures in San José are at 8: 30h, 11: 30h and 15: 30h, the ticket price is about US $ 10.00. The bus station is at Paseo Colón, del Hospital Nacional de Niños 100 metros oeste y 275 al norte contiguo a la Conferencia Episcopal de Costa Rica (Cecor).

The bus ride takes about 6 hours. Tickets can be purchased on-line at https://tiguanacaste.com.

Since the school's reception is open until 4 pm on Sundays, students who live in a student house should not travel by public bus to Tamarindo. For students in host families, however, there are no problems if they arrive by public bus.