San José, Costa Rica

Getting around San José

How to travel around San José — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-11

1. Uber and DiDi

Both widely used, though Uber's regulatory position remains unresolved.

2. Official airport taxis

The orange fleet is the only licensed operator at Juan Santamaría.

Watch outUnmarked cars offering rides at arrivals; the orange colour is the licence, and everything else is not.

3. Red taxis

Metered by law within the city — the meter is called the maría.

Watch out'La maría está dañada' is the standard opener. Insist or take another.

4. Intercity buses

Cheap and comprehensive, but each destination leaves from its own terminal.

Tip: Confirm which terminal before travelling across the city to the wrong one.

5. Domestic flights

Sansa flies to the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, turning a six-hour drive into forty minutes.

Booking apps in Costa Rica

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Uber

Widely used despite an unsettled regulatory position.

Coverage: San José, the Central Valley and the main beach towns.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

DiDi

The main alternative, usually cheaper.

Coverage: San José and surrounds.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

Taxis Unidos

The licensed orange airport taxi concession from San José airport.

Coverage: Juan Santamaría airport.
Why it helps: The orange fleet is the only one licensed at the airport, which is what distinguishes it from the unmarked cars offering rides at arrivals.