October 31, Escazú, San Jose – Costa Rica
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have started our descent … the temperature at the destination is 21 C and it’s raining“. Qué? 21? Didn’t he mean to say 31?
Boarding COPA aircraft in Panama City during storm with lightning, thunder, and the worst downpour
I landed in San Jose, Costa Rica. Such a short distance away from Panama City yet the temperature dropped by 10-15 C. What a surprise. (Apparently) that sudden temperature drop is due to real mountains in the country (3,820 meters, 12,533 ft). At night the temperature drops down to 16 C. Winter. So glad I didn’t toss my ‘winter clothes’ away, the whole five kilos of them, which I have been dreaming of doing every single day.
Humidity is bad but not as bad as in Panama. In fact, I spend my first night and day without AC wearing long pants with a long-sleeved shirt and loved it.
Winter, or rather a rainy season, in Costa Rica is definitely no beach season, especially not on the Pacific side of the country where water can be quite chilly. Like Panama, Costa Rica is also blessed with two oceans, colder Pacific for surfers and warmer Caribbean for beach bums like myself.
Visiting Costa Rica was in my plans, but not just yet. The sudden itinerary change was simply an impulse act. Got tired of looking for something that doesn’t seem to exist – a reasonably priced place on the Panamanian beach. So, I left – for the most expensive Central American country. Go figure. (It can only get better from here? Back to Panama? Eventually, for I am still on my way to Panama.
Tocumen International Airport Panama City, Panama
NOTE: You need to have an onward ticket when entering Costa Rica. Immigration may not ask for it but then they may. They didn’t ask me. Instead, I was asked to show my onward ticket by checking staff at the Panama City Airport. I flew with COPA.
TIP: There is a lot of conflicting information regarding transport from San Jose airport. This is how it works (or at least worked yesterday)
Upon entering arrival hall you’ll be approached by numerous drivers offering various transportation deals. Just ignore them and leave the airport.
There is no organized taxi cue, so if you don’t have a hotel pick up you need to arrange the transport yourself.
1. Shuttle: Yes, there is one. Once you leave the airport turn right. At the end of the road (maybe 50 m), you’ll find minibusses that go into town and stop at major attractions on the way. The ticket costs 12 USD.
2. Uber: Yes, it does come to the airport. Call for the service once you’re out as drivers won’t be waiting for you but will cancel the trip instead.
3. Taxi: Once you leave the airport go left and then deal with orange taxi drivers parked there. There are also red taxis that are supposed to be ok but the orange ones are recommended. Taxis have meters, so you can either let the meter run or make a deal. Regular price downtown San Jose is 30 USD. However, if you come during rush hour (5 p.m. – 7 p.m.) perhaps making a deal is a better option. It can take up to 2 hours to get into town … while the meter is ticking and ticking and ticking. ‘My” meter has ticked away to 45 USD, yet I wasn’t even going all the way downtown but to Escazu a few kilometers before the city center. Luckily I was sharing a taxi so it worked out at the end. Alternatively, have a (free) cup of coffee or even a dinner at the airport for the money/time you’ll waste/save sitting in the traffic.
Why Escazú and not downtown San Jose? Security. Escazú is one of the best and safest residential areas only 10-15 minutes from downtown San Jose. I figured I better check out the city from a distance of my secure accommodation before I (eventually) make a move. For now, I plan to take a bus downtown and explore it during day hours, so .. stay tuned.
Garden of my Airbnb in Escazú
