Costa Rica’s Golden Legacy, Hidden Underground. Located beneath the Plaza de la Cultura in the center of San José, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum houses one of the most spectacular archaeological collections in Latin America. This subterranean vault protects over 1,600 artifacts dating from 500 AD to the Spanish conquest.
National Theatre (Teatro Nacional)
A Renaissance Masterpiece, Fuelled by Coffee. Considered the most historically significant and architecturally beautiful building in Costa Rica, the National Theatre (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica) is a masterpiece of Neoclassical design located in the heart of downtown San José
Local Tips - Shuttle
Bring Some Cash
Roadside stands, fruit vendors, and small shops often accept cash only, so having a few colones on hand is helpful.
Make Scenic Stops
Private shuttles allow flexibility—ask your driver to stop at viewpoints, waterfalls, or roadside fruit stands along the way.
Tap Into Local Knowledge
Drivers often know the best restaurants, hidden hot springs, and trusted tour operators that travelers might otherwise miss.
Ask About Local Markets
Drivers can point you to artisan markets and local shops where you’ll often find better prices than tourist areas.
Make Scenic Stops
Private shuttles allow flexibility—ask your driver to stop at viewpoints, waterfalls, or roadside fruit stands along the way.
Don’t stick to just one type of transport!
The best Costa Rica trips mix and match to make the most of your time and experiences.
Example: Land in San José and grab an Orange Taxi straight to the hotel. Hop on a City Bus to explore the Central Market and downtown area. That evening get pickup by Uber for a quick ride to dinner. The next day take a Private Shuttle on a scenic trip to La Fortuna — complete with sightseeing and shopping stops along the way. In the morning take a Red Taxi to Mistico Park for a Hanging Bridges tour.
National Theatre (Teatro Nacional)
A Renaissance Masterpiece, Fuelled by Coffee. Considered the most historically significant and architecturally beautiful building in Costa Rica, the National Theatre (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica) is a masterpiece of Neoclassical design located in the heart of downtown San José
Costa Rican Glossary
¡Upe!
OO-peh! A common call to see if anyone is home or to get someone's attention at a house or small business. It's more polite than shouting 'hello?'
In a sentence: "He walked up to the pulpería and called out, '¡Upe!'"
¿Al chile?
al CHEE-lay? A slang phrase meaning 'Really?', 'For real?', or 'Seriously?'. Used to express disbelief or to ask for confirmation.
In a sentence: "Q: 'I saw a jaguar on the trail.' A: '¿Al chile?'"
Birra
BEE-rrah Slang for 'beer.' Borrowed from the Italian word.
In a sentence: "It's hot today, I need a cold birra."
Bomba
BOHM-bah Literally 'bomb.' In Costa Rica, this refers to a gas station.
In a sentence: "We need to stop at the next bomba to fill up the tank."
Brete
BREH-teh Slang for 'work' or 'a job.'
In a sentence: "I have to go to brete early tomorrow morning."
Buena Nota
BWEH-nah NO-tah Literally 'good note.' A phrase used to describe a person who is cool, kind, or has good vibes. It can also mean 'cool' or 'right on.'
In a sentence: "The surf instructor was really buena nota."
Cacique
kah-SEE-kay Costa Rica's most popular brand of guaro, a clear liquor made from sugarcane. It's the go-to spirit for many local mixed drinks and shots.
In a sentence: "Can you make me a chili-guaro with Cacique?"
Casado
kah-SAH-doh Literally 'married man.' It's the quintessential Costa Rican lunch plate, consisting of rice, black beans, a salad, fried plantains, and a choice of protein (fish, chicken, beef, or pork).
In a sentence: "I'm hungry, I'm going to order a casado with chicken."
Chepe
CHEH-peh colloquial and affectionate nickname for the capital city, San José.
In a sentence: "We're heading to Chepe for the weekend to visit the museums."
Chunche
CHOON-cheh A catch-all word for 'thing,' 'stuff,' or 'what-cha-ma-call-it.' Used when you can't 1remember the name of an object.
In a sentence: "Can you pass me that chunche from the table?"
Colones
co-LOH-nays The Costa Rican Colón (₡), named after Christopher Columbus, is the official currency of Costa Rica, recognized for its vibrant banknotes that celebrate the nation's rich wildlife.
In a sentence: "Excuse me, how many colones is the casado con pollo?"
Empanada
em-pah-NAH-dah A savory pastry, typically fried, filled with ingredients like cheese, beans, potatoes, or shredded meat. A popular and quick snack or breakfast item found in sodas and bakeries.
In a sentence: "I'll grab a cheese empanada and a coffee for breakfast."
Gallo
GAH-yo Literally 'rooster.' In Costa Rican food culture, a 'gallo' is a small snack, similar to a soft taco. It's typically a corn tortilla topped with a small portion of a filling like shredded meat, potatoes, or picadillo.
In a sentence: "I'm not very hungry, I'll just have a gallo de papa (potato gallo)."
Gallo Pinto
GAH-yo PEEN-toh The national breakfast dish of Costa Rica. It's a mix of rice and black beans, often cooked with onions, sweet peppers, and cilantro. Usually served with eggs and sour cream.
In a sentence: "I could eat gallo pinto for breakfast every day."
Guaro
GWAH-roh The generic term for alcohol, but most often refers to Cacique, the national sugar-cane liquor of Costa Rica.
In a sentence: "Let's do some shots of guaro!"
Macho / Macha
MAH-cho / MAH-chah Slang for a light-skinned or blonde person (macho for male, macha for female). It is not derogatory.
In a sentence: "My friend with the blonde hair is often called 'macha' by the locals."
Mae
my The Costa Rican equivalent of 'dude' or 'bro.' Used informally and very frequently between friends, mostly by men.
In a sentence: "Mae, let's go grab a beer."
Pulpería
pool-peh-REE-ah small neighborhood convenience store or corner shop that sells basic groceries, snacks, and drinks.
In a sentence: "I need to go to the pulpería to buy some eggs."
Pura Vida
POO-rah VEE-dah Literally 'Pure Life.' The national motto of Costa Rica. It's a greeting, a farewell, and a way of life meaning everything's great, life is good, and you're thankful for what you have.
In a sentence: "Q: How are you? A: Pura Vida!"
Salado
sah-LAH-doh Literally 'salty.' Used to describe someone who has bad luck or is in a tough situation. It means 'too bad' or 'you're out of luck.'
In a sentence: "You missed the last bus? ¡Qué salado!"
Soda
SOH-dah A small, family-run, traditional Costa Rican restaurant. Sodas serve local dishes like 'casado' at very affordable prices. This is the best place for an authentic meal.
In a sentence: "We had lunch at a soda on the way to the beach."
Tico / Tica
TEE-ko / TEE-kah A colloquial term for a native Costa Rican man (Tico) or woman (Tica). It comes from the local tendency to add '-ico' to the end of words to form a diminutive.
In a sentence: "The local Ticos are very friendly to tourists."
Tuanis
TWAH-nees slang word meaning 'cool,' 'awesome,' or 'great.' Believed to be derived from spelling the English words 'too nice' in Spanish.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Costa Rica’s water transportation options, ferry routes, scenic jungle boat shortcuts, and coastal water taxis to help travelers leveraging the country’s diverse waterways.
Efficiency Over Pavement
Bypass 4-6 hours of mountainous driving by taking the direct route across the gulf.
Immersive Sightseeing
Public ferries and taxis double as wildlife tours. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins.
Wilderness Access
Tortuguero and Corcovado are roadless; boat travel is the only way to reach these gems.
The Nautical Advantage
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Costa Rica’s water transportation options, ferry routes, scenic jungle boat shortcuts, and coastal water taxis to help travelers leveraging the country’s diverse waterways.
Efficiency Over Pavement
Bypass 4-6 hours of mountainous driving by taking the direct route across the gulf.
Immersive Sightseeing
Public ferries and taxis double as wildlife tours. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins.
Wilderness Access
Tortuguero and Corcovado are roadless; boat travel is the only way to reach these gems.
Major Car Ferries
Puntarenas – Paquera
The most popular ferry. Connects the mainland to the southern Nicoya Peninsula (Santa Teresa, Montezuma).
Departs from La Pavona. The only way to reach Tortuguero village. Watch for caimans and monkeys on the 1-hour river journey.
Arenal Boat
The fastest link between Arenal and Monteverde. A van picks you up, drops you at a boat to cross the lake, and another van finishes the trip.
Sierpe to Drake Bay
A thrilling ride through the Sierpe mangroves out into the Pacific. The standard way to reach remote Osa Peninsula lodges.
Coastal Water Taxis
Jaco to Montezuma
Avoid a 5-hour drive by taking a 1-hour speedboat across the Gulf of Nicoya. Departs daily from Playa Herradura.
Golfito to Puerto Jimenez
A scenic 30-minute ferry/panga across the Golfo Dulce. Watch for dolphins and whales during the crossing.
Local Tips on Water Transportation
The “Wet Landing” Rule
In Drake Bay and Montezuma, water taxis pull up directly to the beach. You will step into knee-deep water.
Morning is Best
The Pacific is calmest at 8:00 AM. Afternoons bring choppy winds that can make for a bumpy ride.
Rental Reminder
Confirm your rental insurance allows for ferry travel. While the gulf ferries are massive, small boat transfers for luggage are common in remote areas.
Book tickets online at QuickPayCR 
Tortuguero Boat