Most people use the ATM's, with a Bank Debit Card. You just to need to make sure you don't have a high Foreign Transaction Fee, and Non Network Fee. If your back charges you 2% or less on a transaction thats good, and or less than $3 fee for non network...its usually one, or the other. USD is widely accepted as well, and you can get change back in Colones. You will need local currency to public transport. There is a ATM upstairs at SJO.
To get the bus from SJO to downtown, which takes 45 minutes and is a $30 Taxi ride, you would exit baggage claim and walk down driveway where taxi's are lined up, and head to main street, there are Red Buses there that will say San Jose above drivers head. Once downtown, you would then taxi from Coca Cola bus station to the north caribe atlantic terminal, this will be about $6 take 15 minutes depending on traffic.
You will then buy a bus ticket to Cariarri. You want to get a a early start,(8am bus) so you you make the connection in Cariarri to Pavona at 11:30-12, otherwise, you have to wait in Cariarri until 3 pm, for the bus to Pavona, where boats meet the buses.
From Cahuita, you boat 3 hours to Moin, and from there can bus to Limon and another bus to Cahuita, or taxi hire from Moin to Cahuita (35 minutes) and maybe split it with other travelers. From Cahuita south, there are buses hourly almost to Pt Viejo and Manzanillo...
Tortuguero I like Miss Mariam II, between village and ocean. $25
Cahuita a nice treat is Alby Lodge $50
In Punta Uva I like Punta Uva Cabinas. next to Selvyns, or, stay in Playa Cochles, just south of Pt Viejo and much more quiet.
