Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America and has coastlines both at the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. Travelers come to Nicaragua for the beauty it has to offer. Whether you look for eco-tourism, beaches, adventure travel or colonial cities, you’ll find them here.

Many travelers choose to visit most (if not all) of the Central American countries during a single vacation, so getting between Costa Rica and Nicaragua (or the other way) is not only popular, but also affordable and easy to tackle.

Quick summary

The cheapest way to travel from Costa Rica to Nicaragua is definitely by bus. You can catch a bus from San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, and travel to Mangua, Granada, or Rivas in Nicaragua. Single fare is US$26*.

Flights from Costa Rica to Nicaragua

Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, is served by Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) , which is the fifth busiest airport in Central America. It is hub for La Costena and focus city for Copa Airlines.

Flights from Costa Rica to Managua are available from San Jose – on Copa Airlines and TACA/LACSA – and Liberia – on Nature Air.
The flight time from San Jose (SJO) to Managua is 1h 20 min and , during the dry season, single fare starts at US$254 on LACSA.
The flight time from Liberia (LIB) to Managua is 35 min and, during the dry season, single fare starts at US$85 on Nature Air.

Read more about:
>>Cheap Flights to San Jose
>>Cheap Flights to Liberia

Buses from Costa Rica to Nicaragua

The simplest way to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua by bus is to travel from San Jose to Mangua, Granada, or Rivas on Tica Bus . Regardless of the route, the single fare is US$26. Economic buses depart San Jose at 12 p.m. and arrive in Nicaragua at 2 p.m. , 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively, depending on the destination.

Another option is to take a local bus to the border, walk to the other country and take another local bus for the reminder of the trip.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Costa Rica

Driving from Costa Rica to Nicaragua

There is only one border crossing from Nicaragua to Costa Rica if you choose to travel by car. That’s at Penas Blancas, near Lake Nicaragua.

So, rent a car in Costa Rica and drive to the desired destination in Nicaragua but make sure to ask whether the rental company allows the border crossing.

If you drive between the two capitals, there are two possible routes. Both take about 6 hours to drive (422 km). Route 1 (see map below) is via Liberia , while Route 4 is via San Jose de Alajuela.

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Note:* price valid at the time the article was written

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Original article can be found here: Getting from Costa Rica to Nicaragua (and return)

Liberia features colonial style buildings and is the gateway into the beaches of Nicoya Peninsula, as well as the national parks in the area. It used to be a gathering point for the ranching communities, as well as a hub for transportation of all kinds. Thanks to the new airport which opened close to the city, Liberia is now even a larger hub in the area.

The Arenal Volcano is one of the must visit places in the country. The abundance of the activities to do here, makes it a heaven for adventure lovers. Until late 2010 Arenal Volcano was the most active volcano in Costa Rica, but has entered a resting phase. No one knows how long it would take, but meantime you can enjoy the views and not focus on the eruption itself.

Quick summary

Although the distance between Liberia and Arenal Volcano is rather short, the lack of proper bus connections, make it a long affair (at least 4h 30 min). And flying is not exactly a cheap option either, so a good option is renting a car and driving between the two places.

Flights from Liberia (LIR) to Arenal

Liberia is served by Daniel Oduber International (LIR), located right in the city. It is a major hub for those who visit Western Costa Rica and the Pacific Coast.
Nature Air offers direct flights from Liberia into La Fortuna, located close to the Arenal area.

In the travel season, single fare starts at US$98 (the flight is via Tamarindo), while return fares start at US$276. Flights can be booked online.

>>read more about Cheap Flights to Liberia

Buses from Liberia to Arenal

It is possible to travel by bus from Liberia to La Fortuna, via Canas and Tilaran. The travel time is either 4h 30 min or 11 h , depending on which connections you choose (how long you plan to stay in Canas and Tilaran). Once you get to La Fortuna, there are taxis to Arenal.

The scheduled can be checked here but they do not list prices.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Costa Rica

Driving from Liberia to Arenal

You can rent a car and drive from Liberia to the Arenal area. The shortest route is 126 km and you should be able to cover it in about 2h 10 min.

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Original article can be found here: Getting from Liberia to Arenal (and return)

Costa Rica and Panama both have Caribbean and Pacific Ocean coasts, as well as rainforests. While Costa Rica does a great job at preserving its natural beauty in its numerous national parks, Panama is more of an idyllic destination for those looking for beach getaways and a more bustling capital for those looking for partying.

Panama City, the capital of Panama , is definitely more exciting than San Jose , the capital of Costa Rica. Travelers to Costa Rica can extend their vacation and also include Panama in their plans.

Quick summary

If you need to travel between the two capitals – San Jose and Panama City- then the cheapest and easiest alternative is to travel by direct bus. It takes 16 hours and the single fare is US$35.

Flights from Costa Rica to Panama

There are two major airports serving Costa Rica:

• Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO), located close to the capital of San Jose, the main airport serving the country. It is hub for TACA/LACSA and a focus city for Copa Airlines.
• Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR), located close to Liberia on Nicoya Peninsula, and is the second busiest airport in the country.

Panama is also served by two major airports:

• Tocumen International Airport (PTY) , located about 24 km from Panama City , and is hub for Copa Airlines. It is the busiest airport in Central America in terms of passenger traffic. Direct flights from San Jose are operated by Copa Airlines and TACA Airlines. The flight time is 1h 16 min.
• Enrique Malek International Airport (DAV), located in the city of David. It receives direct flights from San Jose operated by Air Panama and Sansa Airlines. The flight time is 1h 45 min.

Single fares from San Jose to Panama City start at US$306 on Copa Airlines or LACSA, regardless on when you travel during the high season. Return fares start at US$487.
Single fares from San Jose to David start at US$125 on Air Panama.

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to San Jose
>>Cheap flights to Liberia, Nicoya Peninsula

Buses from Costa Rica to Panama

Both Tica Bus and Expreso Panama offer direct buses from San Jose to Panama City. The 16 hours journey is definitely the easiest, fastest and most comfortable way to travel between the two countries.

On Tica Bus, an economy ticket costs US$37 one way and US$74 return. Buses depart Costa Rica at 12 p.m. and arrive in Panama at 4 a.m. the following day.

Expreso Panama offers two departures per day, at 12 p.m. (arrival at 3p.m. or 4 p.m. in Panama) or 11 p.m. (arrival at 3p.m. or 4p.m. in Panama). A single ticket is US$35 while return tickets are US$70.

Should you decide to see more of Costa Rica while you are traveling to Panama, you can take two alternative routes. The northern route starts in San Jose, from where you can take a bus to Sixaola, on the Atlantic coast (about 6 hours). Cross the border to Changuinola (Panama) and then take a direct bus to Panama City.
Another option is the southern route which also starts in San Jose. Take the bus to Ciudad Neily (about 8 hours) and from here take the 30 minute bus across the border to Canoas in Panama. From here, take a direct bus to Panama City.

Driving from Costa Rica to Panama

You can rent a car in San Jose, Costa Rica and drive to Panama City, Panama, stopping along the way to enjoy the views and rest. The total drive time is about 12 hours (800 km) and a large part of the road is right by the coast line.

Just for general reference, the route highlighted in the map below is between San Jose and Panama Canal (close to Panama City)

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You can also drive from San Jose to David , which is located on the Pan American Highway. David is a popular stop for those interesting in gambling as it is home to some casinos. You can also take a day trip to some hot springs.
There are 350 km between San Jose and David. The drive time is about 5 hours.

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Original article can be found here: Getting from Costa Rica to Panama (and return)

If you have never been to Costa Rica, or any other second/third world country, you might be in for a surprise when you walk out of the airport. Don’t expect loads of people picking up their friends or loved ones. Instead, be prepared to be bombarded by cabbies, bus drives, homeless people, and the occasional drug dealer.

If you are unprepared for this it’s easy to not only be scared, but get taken advantage of. There are a few things you can do to make sure you get your money’s worth and get to your destination safely.

Helpful Tips:

• Official Costa Rica cabs are bright red and have a yellow sticker on them stating such. There are lots of privately owned taxis and “pirate” taxis. Avoid these if you can.
• Always ask the price for the ride before you get in.
• Some cab drivers will tell you that your hotel or hostel is full; don’t believe them. They are simply trying to take you to a hotel where they will get a commission from dropping you off.
• If you are traveling with a few people your best bet is to have the airport set you up with a private van. These cost about $20US total. Find the information booth once you get off the plane and the agents will handle this for you.
• Be ready for a roller coaster experience. Driving in Costa Rica probably isn’t anything like where you are from. Dodging oncoming traffic, regular use of the horn, yelling, and high speeds down one way streets are all very common practices.

Original article can be found here: How to Get Out of the Airport