TRANSUCA is a reliable transportation company that will offer individual and group transportation from the airport to the participating conference hotel in downtown San José. David Matarrita has worked with this company on many occasions over the last 20 years and trusts their owners and service. Two forms of transportation can be offered by this company, both which will require registration in advance. The first consists of individual transfers, which will be approximately $60. The second option consists of group transportation. We envision that there will be 5-8 buses per day the day previous to, the day that the conference starts, and the day the conference ends. The price for group transfers will depend on the size of the bus required and the number of individuals registered, which is why it is important to register in advance. Our goal is to maximize the number of conference attendants per trip, in order to minimize the cost. Our estimates is that this service will cost around $10 per person if there is enough demand. Registration for these two types of services will be mandatory, as this will help us coordinate the itinerary of the buses that will be offered per day. The registration for both services will open 1 month before the conference and close 1 week before it starts. More details on how to register and specific prices will be offered as we approach the conference.

Taxis Unidos Aeropuerto Juan Santamaría is the company that offers airport taxis (orange cabs) and these are available as needed at the airport. Reservations can also be made online. Their fee to San José as of March 2021 is about $80.

TUASA is a public company that travels from Alajuela to San José. The company offers several stop and non-stop services, with the green line of their stop service stopping at the airport on its way to San José. Tickets are purchased at the bus at a cost of approximately $1 (Costa Rican colones only). Once in downtown San José, conference attendants would need to walk about 10 blocks in the city in order to find the participating hotel.

While Uber and similar services currently operate in Costa Rica, its presence as of March 2021 is still not legally backed up in the country, which has generated conflict with the association of taxi drivers of Costa Rica. While limited, there have been instances where organized groups of taxi drivers have entered into altercations with Uber drivers. Further, while users of the Juan Santamaría airport have free wifi within the premises, the apps for Uber and similar platforms are blocked while using the airport’s wifi. Thus, the only way to arrange these types of services through their respective apps is if you have your own data plan when you arrive to Costa Rica. Currently, the government is legalizing the company’s presence in the country but the issue is still in progress.