Planes, Buses, Automobiles, and a Bicycleta -- How I Made My Way to Samara, Costa Rica

Samara is a sleepy beach town on the Pacific-side of Costa Rica.   Here's how to get there when you can't speak Spanish and need to figure your way using the public bus system:

• At the airport, in between Immigration and Customs, you'll see ATM machines.  Take advantage and pull out 5,000 colones at a time, up to 20,000 colones ($40 USD).
• As you are exiting the airport, turn towards the left to the Taxi Stands.  These will be metered taxis, but for good measure I always ask how much.  To go to the "Empresa Alfaro" bus station, it's roughly 20-30 minutes and $27 USD (they will take USD).  (FYI, I was quoted $35 originally, but like I said, it was metered and turned out to be $27).
• The Empresa Alfaro station looks a bit like a blue garage.  When you walk in through the large opening of the building, you'll be in the Waiting Area with multiple benches.  The ticket counter ("Tiquetes") is in the room to the right and not in the back of the waiting area.  In the ticket room, get in the line on the right.  You'll see the bus schedule.  The price is approximately 3860 colones (roughly $7-8 USD), if I recall.  (For your knowledge, there is a bus that goes to Nicoya via Liberia.  You don't want to take this bus because it'll add several hours to your trip.  You want to take the one that goes "por puente"/by bridge.)
• In the Waiting Room, you'll notice people using Puerta 1 (Gate 1).  Even if you can understand Spanish, it's difficult to understand the man over the loud speaker.  For reference, the line for your bus will probably get started about 30 minutes before it's time to depart.  I just asked someone in line if it was going to "Nicoya."
• Once the gate line gets moving, the guy at the door will confirm your ticket.  He will also ask you what your final destination is so that he can sort your bag into the right pile for under the bus.  Watch to make sure that he puts your bag under the bus.  On your ticket, look for the word "asiento" ("seat") and will reference your assigned seat number on the bus.  Keep any personal belongings on the bus close by you because foreigners are known to be targeted for petty thefts on the bus.
• The trip to Nicoya is approximately four hours.  Two hours into the trip to Nicoya, there will be a 15-20 minute break to get off the bus at something similar to a rest stop.  Most everyone gets off and you can get snacks/drinks.  You'll want your colones handy for any purchases.  
• Because of the hour of my arrival in Nicoya, I caught a taxi ride (versus another bus) for 45 minutes to get to "el centro" of the town of Samara ($30 USD).  The roads and highway to Nicoya and Samara are VERY dark.  So it's easy to know when you are in Nicoya or Samara because there will all of the sudden be LIGHT!!!  You'll also see road signs pointing ahead to how much further to Nicoya and Samara is.

Oh, so how does the bicycleta fit into this picture?  It became a "cart" to wheel my suitcase over unpaved roads to my final destination at last.  Pura vida.