Costa Rica: Must I have a car to live there....?

Question

I will be living in Heredia, a suburb of San Jose, Costa Rica and want to visit some of the night clubs in downtown San Jose on the weekends. Is there safe buses back to Heredia at night or should I cab it, or spend the night in a hotel? Must i have a car to live in Heredia/San Jose?

Answer 1

The bus system in Costa Rica is very reliable and very well organized as surprising as that seems. The majority of the people rely on this system to make it to and from work within San Jose and from the surrounding suburbs. I think that traveling from the night clubs at night would be dangerous on public transportation. People get jumped all the time in San Jose. Taking a taxi is a good option, or stay in the hotel, you choose.

Cars are nice to have but not necessary.

All the best

Answer 2

Funny, as I don't believe anyone "must" have a car.

I see you are in L.A. I bet you think you couldn't live there without a car.

I lived there (L.A.-car city) without one for years, so you can surely do so in Costa Rica.

By the way, if you are leaving L.A. to move to Costa Rica I give you major kudos-wise decision!

Answer 3

You don't have to have a car there. The public transportation works fine.

On the weekends, it is better if you take a cab back to your place. Buses stop running at certain time during the night and depending on where you live, it might not be secure.

Answer 4

hey bro... if u r a man, u should hv a car. don't think bout expanses... car will make u happy and erect with the accompany of women in costa rica. they r mind-blowing.........

enjoy urself~~~~????????

Answer 5

well, first of, heredia is not a suburb of san jose, its another province. then if by night clubs you mean cool bars to hang out at, the best are in heredia anyway! if you mean nightclubs as stripclubs, then its a whole different thing, ans yes most are in san jose downtown.

the best way to move around would be on a car, but be advised that driving in costa rica is much harder than in us in general-many holes and bumps on the streets, lack of streets, people driving like maniacs in general, lots of people dui, most cars are stick, poor road signs or lack there of, narrow one way streets, etc..-heredia is still quite rural in some parts, and taking a cab, especially by yourself could be quite dangerous.

Answer 6

You don't need a car to get around.  Most Costa Ricans don't own one. The bus system, both within and between cities, is quite extensive and frequent, as well as cheap.  And the taxis are very cheap as well compared to US taxis- this was a few years ago but I recall getting a taxi across San Jose's downtown for a buck, and from downtown to a suburb for 2 or 3.

There are, if I recall, buses between Heredia and SJ at all hours of the night, so technically that would work for partying.  But the intercity bus areas in both towns are a bit dodgy after dark, if I recall, so caution might be a bit advised.  The bus itself would probably be safe.  Bus passengers by and large are a much more respectable crowd in Costa Rica than in the US. My rule of thumb was that if there were other respectable people out and about, it was probably safe, if it was deserted, beware.

San Jose hotels are not that pricey by US standards, so you could do that.