Need transfer from San Jose Airport to Puerto Calderas (somewhat urgent)

My in-laws are in San Jose CR, and in a few days will need to get to Puerto Calderas to embark on a ship.

They are being quoted around US$140 each for the bus. I've never been there, but that seems really expensive for a reportedly 2 hour bus ride.

Can anyone suggest another alternative?

If that's reasonable for Costa Rica (I haven't been there yet), fine, but it seems pretty high to me.

they can probably take a cab for even less than that price!!

hell, I might even take them myself ROFL

http://www.interbusonline.com/

they can use that service from San Jose to Puntarenas , then in Puntarenas they will have to arrange for a taxi to Caldera (should be a short ride)

I can tell you that it certainly is a rather exhorbitant fare to quote for the reasonably short drive between Puerto Caldera and San Jose. Problem is, Puerto Caldera is more or less just a cruise ship/cargo port, with no associated town. Thus, there is no scheduled bus sevice to Puerto Caldera, as stated in the following discussion that I found on another website:

"Cruise ships stopping on the Pacific coast usually call at Puntarenas. They can tie up at the dock in the city or at Puerto Caldera, the country's busiest commercial dock, which is about 10 mi/16 km south of Puntarenas. You can walk into town from the dock at Puntarenas, but if your ship stops at Puerto Caldera, you won't find much to see or do. There's no town—Puerto Caldera is merely a jumping-off point. You'll find phones at the International Calling Center (which accepts major credit cards) in the air-conditioned terminal building and a few local vendors selling handicrafts and coffee. Taxis usually await ships and offer a variety of day tours. Puerto Caldera has no public bus service or rental cars available. However, a tourist information booth is open whenever cruise ships are in port."

I agree with the previous poster that you may well be able to hire a taxi to drive you between the two pints for less than the total $280 quoted for the bus.