Directions to the School of the World (Lack of street names makes directions sound like a wild goose chase but that's Central America)
From the Airport (airport code is SJO and is actually in Alajuela just outside of San José)
There are three transportation options from the airport in San Jose to the School of the World in Jacó: Private taxi, Shuttle service, or Public bus.
-Taxi Services (Private or Airport):
Private: We can arrange for a private taxi service to pick you up from the airport. Someone will be waiting for you as you exit the airport and will bring you directly to the school. The cost is currently $90 (U.S.) and can be shared by up to 5 people*. This service is the most expensive (when not shared) but also the easiest and fastest. Please pay the driver upon arriving at the school (dollars and colones are accepted). You can request this service by completing the Request Airport Pickup form.
*Note: Whenever possible we try and arrange for students to share this service in order to save money. There are never any guarantees when this is arranged due to late/missed flights, etc.
Airport: You can also take an airport taxi (all airport taxis are required by law to be orange in color) directly from the airport to Jacó. There is a taxi stand located to your left as you exit the airport. The cost is between $80 and $110 (price depends on your bargaining skills and what time you arrive).
Approximate travel time for both of these is 1.5 to 2 hours depending on road conditions.
-Shuttle Services:
The following shuttle services offer a limited bus schedule from San Jose to Jaco in a small bus that seats between 10 and 12 people . You will need to take a taxi from the airport to a hotel located nearby in order to connect with these services. The names of the hotels are listed below.
Easy Ride - price is $35, leaves San Jose at 9am and 3pm everyday -
http://www.easyridecr.com/timetable.htm
Interbus - price is $30, leaves San Jose at 8am and 2:30pm everyday -
https://www.interbusonline.com/home/home.asp# (click on rates)
Grayline - price is $33, leaves San Jose at 8:10am and 3:55pm everyday -
http://www.graylinecostarica.com/transportation/airport_shuttles.php
None of these services will pick you up directly from the
airport so you will need to take a taxi to either the Holiday Inn Express (
http://www.hiexcostarica.com/) or the Hampton Inn (
http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/accommodations.jhtml?ctyhocn=SJCAPHX),
which are located a short taxi ride from the airport, and the transportation services will
pick you up from there and bring you to Jacó.
The approximate travel time for this option is 1.5 to 3 hours but you should take into account the time you have to wait in order to be picked up by the shuttle service. There also may be a few stops along the way. This service needs to be arranged prior to arriving to Costa Rica and please keep in mind that if your flight is late or missed you will more than likely have to take a taxi.
-Public Bus:
If you are on a tight budget you might want to take the bus to Jacó. You will need to exchange some currency at the airport (it is safest to exchange inside the airport at the bank counter, and not with the money changers walking around outside the airport). There are buses that run frequently to downtown San José from in front of the airport.
Once the bus arrives in San José you will need to get to the Coca Cola bus depot, which is about three blocks away. You can get in a taxi or just ask someone "¿Dónde está Coca-Cola, el terminal de buses?" Once you find Coca-Cola bus station you can purchase a ticket to Jacó (costs approximately $4). Buses leave San José for Jacó everyday at 7:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:30PM and 6:30 PM (subject to change).
*Important - If your plane arrives any later than 4:30 pm it is suggested that you take a taxi directly to the school, because you most likely won't save any money if you have to spend the night in San José. If you do venture into San José, take precautions with your belongings - never leave them unattended and beware of pickpockets.
Jacó:
Once you arrive in Jacó, you will see that there is one main road that runs parallel to the beach. Roughly in the middle of town, on that main road you will see an ice cream shop called POPS, or a restaurant called Los Amigos. Follow the road next to POPS (that runs perpendicular to the main road) away from the beach about 300 meters and you will see a sign on the left that says Condominiums Nasua. Turn left after these condos and the school is 50 meters down on the left.
You can also take a taxi from anywhere in Jacó and ask the taxi driver to take you to Escuela del Mundo. Taxi fare around town is approximately 700 colones ($1.40).