It's possible to travel overland to Costa Rica from the USA, crossing Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The nearest US town is Brownsville, Texas, 4000km (2480mi) away. Overlanders can either catch a series of public buses or drive their own car. The main border crossing between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is at Peñas Blancas on the western coast. There are three border crossings between Costa Rica and Panama for travelers heading to or arriving from the south: Paso Canoas on the western coast; Sixaola/Guabito on the Caribbean coast; and the little-used Río Sereno near the Parque Nacional Volcán Barú.

International flights arrive at San José's Juan Santamaria international airport, though the airport in Liberia, 217km (135mi) northwest of San José, has been upgraded and now operates as a second-string international airport. There are good connections to US and Canadian cities and several Latin and South American countries. Scores of tour operators in North America and Europe run tours to Costa Rica, though these tend to be for first-class visitors and expensive. There is a departure tax of around US$17 on international flights.

There are two domestic airlines: SANSA and Travelair. Demand for seats is high, so try to book as far in advance as possible. The majority of Costa Ricans do not own cars, so public transportation is quite well developed, although connections between towns other than san José are limited. Most multi-destination trips will require backtracking into San José and then catching another bus outward again.

The buses are not that comfortable and to the uninitiated and faint-of-heart the system can seem incredibly chaotic, but ask any Costa Rican for advice and they'll point you in the right direction. The good news is that the fares are generally cheap - no destination is more than US$7 away. There are three major bus depots: the Coca-Cola depot about a 20min-walk east from the city center, down Avenidas 1; the newish but understated Atlántico Norte terminal; and the new Caribe terminal north of Avenida 13 on Calle Central.

Taxis are considered a viable form of public transportation for long journeys, and can be hired by the day, half-day or hour. Cars and motorbikes can also be rented in San José.

The railway network in Costa Rica was severely damaged during the 1991 earthquake and is unlikely to reopen.