Driving in Costa Rica is an adventure that I would not recommend for the faint of heart, so car services like these are very useful. Uber is also quite affordable, much easier to use and quicker than the bus.
As for operating a motor vehicle in Costa Rica, it is comparable to the Wild West: lawless and extremely dangerous if you are accustomed to it! Red lights and stop signs seem to be more of a suggestion than a hard stop, merging consists of tactfully cutting off whoever is in your way, and speed limits are even less important here than in Alabama! To top it all off, motorbikes (literal bicycles with motors attached) and motorcycles have even more freedom on the road; while the cars are stuck in traffic, the motos will just weave through the cars, split lanes, and even drive on the sidewalk. It is truly a sight to see!
When I first arrived, the bus system terrified me and the lack of reliable information had me near tears many times in my first few weeks. Wanting to save money, I attempted to take the bus to work on the first few mornings which meant I had to be up at five to shower, pack my lunch, and head to the bus stop to catch my first bus at around 5:45 AM. That bus would then take me into downtown San Jose where I would catch the 6:50 AM bus to Pavas, the town in which I work, and arrive at work by 7:30 AM. Sounds pretty easy, right? Just two buses, no big deal. WRONG! The buses that run from San Jose to Pavas are all numbered the same, but some of them do not actually stop in Pavas or stop on the other side of town. I eventually gave up and began using Uber in the morning and taking the bus home in the afternoon when I was more coherent.
