Traveling By Train in Costa Rica

Back in my childhood I can recall those goose pimples caused by the sound of that heavy metal train door…. a solid and robust clunk! The sound of the beginning of an adventurous journey.
“Wagon-lit” said those foreign and mysterious words painted in gold color under a dust and charcoal grit film of dirt.

Two days after my arrival in Costa Rica, back 13 years ago, I could not resist the temptation of visiting the “Estación del Pacifico”. (The Pacific Rail station).I was ready to buy a ticket to anywhere just for the sake of getting on the train when I realized that there was no train to be taken.

The railway station was too quiet, something did not sound quite right, as a matter of fact there was no sound at all! ”No hay tren señor”, (“there is no train sir”) the train guard smiled under his thick moustaches.

The “Estación del Atlantico” ( the Atlantic Rail Staion) had its doors closed down some months earlier, the history of the train in Costa Rica had come to a sad ending.

Public works and transport minister Randall Quirós once told the local press that the closure of the railway was an historic error that was committed not only by one administration but by the entire country.


The Costa Rican Railroad Institute (INCOFER) that was once the pride of the entire country had to surrender to government will.

There were 2 main railways in Costa Rica.The first line, the Caribbean railroad was built to connect San José to Moin harbour near the town of Limon on the Atlantic side; an harbour that was built in the late 19^th century under the leadership of U.S. entrepreneur Minor Keith.

The second line, the Pacific railroad, was built by the Costa Rican government; thus creating another important link to the towns of Caldera , Puntarenas and their harbors. This railway line was originally electric but later changed into diesel powered locomotors.

In addition to these two important arteries, the train was also offering transport within
the very heart of San José and its neighbouring villages that nowadays have become part of the capital city. Secondary railways were also built to facilitate the transport of agricultural products like bananas, palm and grains from their place of production to their distribution centers.

The railway system in Costa Rica reached its glory days in the mid -20^th century when the limited access to the Pacific and the absence of paved roads left passengers and cargo with no better choice than the train.

In 1991 a strong earthquake destroyed more than 50 miles (80 km.) of track on the Atlantic slopes.

This damage - along with the fact that the INCOFER had become over the years an ailing and bureaucratic institution that was drying government coffers - forced the closure by the then President José Maria Figueres. That was back in 1995.

Now the train is slowly coming back in business in the San José and Central Valley area for local commuters and also with some promotional trips to Puerto Calderas and Puntarenas for the delight of the Ticos and the visitors alike.

INCOFER new Executive President Miguel Carabaguiaz during an interwiew with Tico Time said that the train will represent a beginning of a new era for Central Valley transportation.

“Those train tracks that cut through the middle of San José had to be cleaned up…overgrown grass, broken glass, cement and even asphalt had to be removed in order to return the rails to their original shining splendor”.The splendor of solving those traffic problems that plague the city, the splendor of reducing contamination.
In some areas wire fences had to be removed from the abandoned railway that had meanwhile become part of some houses back garden. It was well worth the effort!

The trail is back on its….sleepers and….. is here to remain in the “pura vida experience”.

I saw the train gently strolling down alongside the Prospero Fernandez highway from Sabana Park to the outskirts of S. José.

People stood, as I did …and watched as if a sudden miracle happened, that of seeing the train back in the ”streets of the capital”.

For some it was a walk down the old memory lane, for others with eyes wide open…. words could not explain. Children greeted with palms wide open too! Traffic stood still!

The train is back to stay with us. The train’s horn and traffic police will escort the train in its route to warn drivers and citizens alike that the train is approaching. We have to re-learn to give way to the train as we use to do when the train was the main presence in the very heart of the capital.The return of the train wil not only bring back a nice tradition but will represent the beginning of a new era of Central Valley transportation.

If the goal of the train is that of reducing the use of fossil fuels, INCOFER is currently trying to make good use of miles of cable that has been stored in the last years. The train can become electric again….

Welcome back train!

Train tour to Atenas

At present there are two regular tours organized by the Tico Train Tour Corp. From S. José to San Antonio de Belén, Ciruelas, Río Grande de Atenas and Atenas.

The train leaves at 7:30 am from the Pacific Station (Estación del Pacifico in S. José) and arrives in Atenas at 9:30 am.

Once in Atenas passengers will have the opportunity to visit the ”Escuela Centroamericana de Ganadería “(Central America cattle raisers school) , enjoy the Escuela special show and reserve one of the three optional tours available (not included in package price): the tractor tour, the oxcart tour and the horse riding tour.

A selection of typical food and beverages (not included in package) will be available on board the train and at the “Escuela”.

On board home made typical delicacies are also offered by Doña Blanca, an historical presence, the lady that for over 35 years has prepared “gallos” (tico’s warm platters) for hungry travelers.

During the dry season (Dec.–June) the tour will be extended to Orotina , Puente Centenario, Río Grande, Tunnel of Cambalache, Mata de Limón and Caldera, on the Central Pacific Coast (informations are at present not available, please call The TIco Train Tour for further information).

The tour costs $ 10 per person
Free for children under 4 years
Departure on Saturdays and Sundays only
San Jose Round Trip Train Tour
A second tour will take you from the Estacion del Pacifico to the Estación del Atlantico for a 2 hours trip around the suburbs and in the very heart of the capital city S. José.

The train leaves from the “Estación del Pacifico” every two hours from 9.00am till 3.00am every Saturdays and Sundays

The cost is 750 colones (less than 2 dollars)