Getting to Costa Rica

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Costa Rica Travel

Costa Rica offers miles of unparalleled beaches on both its Caribbean and Pacific coastlines. Stunning volcanoes, sultry hot springs and lush rainforests dot the country from coast to coast. Use the Costa Rica Travel Web Guide to locate everything you need, including valuable travel tips and recommendations. Whether you're a detail-oriented traveler or a spontaneous wanderer, enjoy lodging in the lap of luxury or prefer a budget vacation, our Web Guide can help make planning your Costa Rica trip a breeze.

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Costa Rica Travel Basics

Costa Rica is a country filled with natural beauty, including beautiful beaches, breathtaking ... read more »

Travel Requirements for Costa Rica

Costa Rica has managed to avoid many of the conflicts that have plagued its Central American ... read more »

Getting to Costa Rica

As it becomes an increasingly popular destination for tourists from the United States, more and more airlines offer direct flights to Costa Rica. Or maybe you'd prefer arriving in Costa Rica on a cruise ship; explore your options below.

Dulcinea's Insight

TACA and several other Central American carriers offer flights from the United States to San Jose. Be forewarned, however, that smaller carriers don't always adhere strictly to travel schedules and sometimes make unscheduled stops, making travel times longer.

Many travel agents try to convince tourists to say in San Jose overnight, but unless you are interested in exploring the city, this isn't really necessary. Consider booking a domestic flight or bus to get to your destination city quickly. See the "How will I get around while I'm in Costa Rica?" section for more information.

Heading to Costa Rica from outside the United States? There are also direct flights from Canada and from many places in Europe. From Canada, try Air Canada's Web site. From Spain, check out AirMadrid for direct flights to San Jose.

Most major carriers offer flights to Costa Rica and fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose.

Air travel from most U.S. cities to Costa Rica takes about four to seven hours, and nonstop flights are available

Dulcinea's Picks

For information on getting to Costa Rica by air ...

BookingBuddy lets you avoid traipsing from one airline or travel Web site to another. You can compare flight prices from many different providers in two easy steps: enter your departure and arrival locations and click on the provider icons to see your price.

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American Airlines offers many nonstop flights every day from major U.S. cities, including Miami, Chicago, and Houston.

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Continental Airlines also offers many direct flights to San Jose. As with the Web sites for most major air carriers, this site is easy to navigate.

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US Airways is another worthwhile site to check for flights. The number of flights offered is limited, but flexible travelers can often find good deals.

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TACA is one of the major Central American airlines and has recently expanded to offer flights from more cities in the United States.

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For information on cruising to Costa Rica ...

Cruise West specializes in cruises to Costa Rica and Panama. One of the many specialty cruises offered is a photographers' cruise, cohosted by a professional photographer who conducts field trips and onboard workshops in photography. And don't miss the "Videos" section for a glimpse of past cruises and locales.

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VacationsToGo.com is a cruise clearinghouse that offers discounts from several companies with cruises to Costa Rica. Travelers can do a side-by-side comparison to find the dates and price that works best for them.

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