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fiogf49gjkf0d ROAD ---- DRIVING IS ON THE RIGHT, AND MOST NATIONAL LICENCES ARE ACCEPTABLE. THE STANDARD OF THE ROADS ARE GENERALLY VERY GOOD, THERE ARE 35,583KM (22,110 MILES) OF ALL-WEATHER HIGHWAYS INCLUDING 663KM (412 MILES) OF THE INTER-AMERICAN HIGHWAY. BE VERY CAREFUL WHILE CROSSING THE STREET IN SAN JOSE. DRIVERS DO NOT LIKE TO PROPER WAY TO PEDESTRIANS. CAR: SEVERAL MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CAR RENTAL FIRMS MAINTAIN OFFICES AT SAN JOSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND CITY CENTRE, AND THERE ARE MANY LOCAL FIRMS. A WIDE VARIETY OF VEHICLE TYPES AND RATES IS OFFERED. IN GENERAL DRIVING IS NOT DIFFICULT, BUT IT IS PREFERABLE IF POSSIBLE TO AVOID DRIVING IN SAN JOSE, DUE TO DIFFICULT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE SCARCITY OF SAFE OVERNIGHT PARKING.
TAXI: TAXIS ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN TOWN & ARE INEXPENSIVE. THE TAXIS ARE COLOURED RED. AGREE UPON THE FARE BEFORE YOU HIRE A TAXI. TAXIS ARE USUALLY METERED IN MAIN TOWNS. DO NOT TIP TAXI DRIVERS IN COSTA RICA. BUS: LONG DISTANCE BUSES CONNECT THE MAIN CENTRES. FROM SAN JOSE TO PUERTO LIMON AND PUNTARENAS THEY RUN ALMOST EVERY HOUR. THERE ARE BOTH NONSTOP AND INDIRECT SERVICES. IT IS BEST TO BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE TO ENSURE A PLACE BECAUSE NORMALLY BUSES ARE CROWDED. THE BUSES ARE NOT THE MOST MODERN, BUT MOST ARE CLEAN AND REASONABLY COMFORTABLE AND WELL MAINTAINED. SMOKING IS NOT ALLOWED. THERE IS NO CENTRAL BUS STATION IN SAN JOSE AND THE BUSES LEAVE FROM VARIOUS POINTS AROUND THE CITY. THE STOPS, CALLED 'PARADAS' ARE KNOWN BY THE NAME OF THE DESTINATION AND TAXI DRIVERS HAVE A GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF THEM.
RAIL ---- SINCE THE EARTHQUAKE DESTROYED THE TRACKS ON THE SAN JOSE TO LIMON ROUTE, THERE ARE NO PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICES IN COSTA RICA, APART FROM A SUBURBAN TRAIN FROM SAN JOSE TO HEREDIA (8KM.) AIR --- LACSA (LR) IS THE NATIONAL AIRLINES WHICH CONECTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS. SANSA (RZ) IS THE OTHER AIRLINES WHICH OPERATES SERVICES BETWEEN SAN JOSE AND PROVINCIAL TOWNS & VILLAGES. A NUMBER OF SMALLER AIRLINES ALSO PROVIDE INTERNAL FLIGHTS.
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