Cheap Way to Travel to Costa Rica

By Air

• Search for cheap airfares online. Cheaptickets and Travelocity are good starting points. US Airways, American Airlines, TACA, and Mexicana Airlines tend to be the cheapest options. New York City is the departure point for the most flights to Costa Rica and thus is less expensive. Los Angeles and Atlanta also have regular flights, but the fares are generally higher. Fares will also be higher during the tourist season of December to April. Most international flights arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose.

By Land

• With border permits, gas, and insurance, it's generally more expensive to drive to Costa Rica than fly. Most travelers fly into San Jose and rent a car from there.

  If you are already in Central America, taking a bus from neighboring countries is a relatively cheap option. International buses link San Jose with Panama City, Panama; Guatemala City; Managua, Nicaragua; San Salvador, El Salvador; and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. International buses cost slightly more than a local bus to the border, but the extra money is worth it when it comes to navigating customs procedures.

By Sea

• The third option is by sea. Although it is slower than other modes of travel, an ocean lover will enjoy the Caribbean. Multiple cruise ships stop in Costa Rica, mostly along the Caribbean coastline. But unless you have won your boarding pass in the company raffle, this is an expensive option. The alternative is to apply for crew positions on vessels en route to Costa Rica. Some websites (floatplan.com, sailnet.com, cruiserlog.com) have postings for captains looking for crew or crew seeking passage. These are generally non-paid positions that return your duties as a crew member for free passage. If you are in a southern port, such as Miami, it is worthwhile to hang out at the marina in hopes of finding a ship destined for Costa Rica.