10 Essential Suggestions (Plus Errors To Keep away from)

Costa Rica Driving Information

Prepared for an epic highway journey driving in Costa Rica? Renting a automobile is the easiest way to expertise this stunning nation. However there are some things it is best to know earlier than you go.

So that you’ve been wanting to go to for years, and are lastly planning your individual epic highway journey to drive round Costa Rica!

For such a small nation, Costa Rica is surprisingly mountainous with winding dust roads and occasional river crossings, so my first time driving there was fairly an journey! Since then, I’ve visited the nation many occasions, all the time preferring to hire a automobile.

Renting a automobile and self-driving Costa Rica by yourself is the easiest way to expertise this beautiful nation, because it actually provides you the liberty to cease at each waterfall, volcano, seashore, and nationwide park alongside the best way.

Listed below are some necessary ideas I realized about driving Costa Rica, so that you’re able to hit the highway and discover the Wealthy Coast on a trip you’ll always remember.

Hello, I’m Matthew Karsten

I’ve been touring the world for 10+ years as knowledgeable photographer & author. I hope you get pleasure from my Costa Rica driving ideas! In the event you discover them helpful, utilizing my affiliate hyperlinks will give me a small fee, at no additional price to you. Thanks!

Driving In Costa Rica Information (2024)

1. Ought to You Drive In Costa Rica?

Hey, for those who love these massive group bus excursions, by all means, go e-book one. It’s an honest strategy to see Costa Rica for those who don’t have numerous time.

No planning, no driving, simply sit again and let another person do all of the work!

However for those who’re like me, you favor the journey of impartial journey.

No set schedule or timetable — driving round Costa Rica with the liberty to cease anyplace cool you discover alongside the best way.

If that’s the form of traveler you’re, renting a automobile in Costa Rica is the best way to go!

Sure, there’s a public bus system in Costa Rica too, nevertheless it’s actually solely good for getting from one massive city to a different, and sometimes the bus stops are situated simply outdoors of city, so that you’ll additionally find yourself having to take a taxi. To not point out that touring by public bus is only a slower strategy to get across the nation.

Simply understand that a number of the again roads in Costa Rica may be very tough & muddy, and a few native drivers don’t observe their very own legal guidelines. With some follow although, you’ll acquire confidence driving right here!

One other good factor we loved about having a automobile was the flexibility to retailer issues within the trunk, stopping off in Costa Rican cities with small journey backpacks slightly than hauling baggage in all places.

2. The place To Lease Your Automotive In Costa Rica

Some widespread automobile rental corporations in Costa Rica embody Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz, an area one known as Adobe Lease-a-Automotive, and lots of extra.

However the very best web site to e-book your automobile is Uncover Automobiles. They search each native and worldwide automobile rental corporations that will help you discover the absolute best value. That is the simplest strategy to hire a automobile in Costa Rica.

We rented our automobile from San Jose Airport in Alajuela, and started our Costa Rican highway journey from there.

San Jose Airport: Plan to select up your automobile about 60 minutes after your flight arrives. When departing, attempt to be on the airport at the least 3 1/2 hours earlier than your flight leaves. As a result of returning your rental automobile and catching a shuttle again to the airport can take as much as half-hour.

Liberia Airport: Plan to select up your automobile about half-hour after your flight arrives. When departing, attempt to be on the airport at the least 2 1/2 hours earlier than your flight leaves. Once more, due to the shuttle.

Lease A Automotive In Costa Rica

Search each native and worldwide automobile rental corporations that will help you discover a whole lot.

3. Automotive Rental Insurance coverage In Costa Rica

A few of the rumors about driving in Costa Rica are true, and the roads are VERY tough in some areas. Particularly the again roads outdoors Costa Rica’s smaller cities. Don’t fear, I’ll share some ideas for coping with them under.

This is the reason I extremely suggest getting full insurance coverage protection.

Usually, rental vehicles in Costa Rica include a primary Collision Harm Waiver (CDW), however this isn’t precisely insurance coverage, and solely covers the automobile for as much as $1000-3000 USD price of injury.

That is the quantity they maintain in your bank card till you come the automobile in a single piece. CDW sometimes doesn’t embody tire, cracked windshield, or undercarriage harm both.

When you can usually lower your expenses reserving your automobile with a good journey bank card that features automobile rental insurance coverage, you REALLY should learn the positive print, as a result of many individuals wrongly assume their card covers them in Costa Rica.

In the event you get in a wreck driving in Costa Rica, declined full protection, and also you abruptly be taught your bank card doesn’t truly cowl the harm — you’re screwed. I can’t inform you what number of journey horror tales I’ve heard like this…

It’s why I normally pre-book full protection on-line. It’s cheaper than on the counter — and then you definitely gained’t have to fret about accidents in any respect!

4. How A lot Does In Value To Lease A Automotive In Costa Rica?

Renting a automobile in Costa Rica goes to price you round $25-$40 USD a day, relying on the kind of automobile you get. Our 4-door sedan was about $25 per day. A four-wheel drive SUV will price you extra like $40-$70 USD per day.

A 4X4 campervan, or truck with a tent connected, goes to price over $100 USD per day (nonetheless you may sleep in it too!)

I like to recommend renting a automobile with an precise trunk (no hatchbacks) to cover your baggage from prying eyes. It helps to stop break-ins if thieves can’t see your stuff.

Gasoline Costs

At present, fuel prices about $4.75 USD per gallon ($1.25 per liter) in Costa Rica. Diesel vehicles will usually prevent some cash on fuel, and diesel gas prices about $4.20 per gallon. It’s rather more costly than within the fuel in america!

Computerized vs Guide

Computerized vehicles are dearer to hire than guide vehicles (however manuals are extra widespread in Costa Rica), and you need to specify what sort you need when reserving. In the event you’ve by no means pushed a guide automobile earlier than, don’t begin in Costa Rica! It’s safer to get an automated.

One-Method Leases

There’s a further price for one-way automobile leases in Costa Rica, which might fluctuate by firm. For instance, if you wish to drop off the automobile in a special metropolis than the place you began from. However as a result of the nation is so small, you in all probability gained’t want to do that.

5. Age Necessities For Renting A Automotive

The minimal age for driving in Costa Rica is between 21-25 years outdated, relying on the corporate you e-book a automobile with. Additionally they may cost a further price (normally $10 a day) for those who’re beneath 25 years outdated.

6. Issues To Bear in mind Whereas Driving In Costa Rica

Driving legal guidelines in Costa Rica are just like driving legal guidelines in another nation. Nonetheless native drivers don’t all the time observe them. For instance, drivers could not use flip alerts or will run purple lights in the event that they suppose they will get away with it.

Pace Limits In Costa Rica

Pace limits in Costa Rica are quoted in kilometers per hour. The utmost velocity on most highways is 120 km/h (about 74 miles per hour). On secondary roads, the restrict is normally 60km/h (37 miles per hour), and round cities & cities it’s 40km/h (25 miles per hour).

In the event you occur to get a rushing ticket, please let your automobile rental firm know straight away, as you’ll must pay for it whenever you drop off the automobile on the finish of your journey.

Highway Indicators In Costa Rica

The highway indicators in Costa Rica ought to be fairly self-explanatory, as they appear just like US highway indicators, simply in Spanish. You possibly can browse some widespread Costa Rican highway indicators right here.

Highway Circumstances

Costa Rica’s highways are paved and in good situation, nonetheless the nation can be coated in again roads. A lot of dust roads, and lots of aren’t in nice form. Muddy, potholes, and so forth. In the event you plan on driving off the overwhelmed path in Costa Rica, I extremely suggest renting a four-wheel drive SUV. Some bridges are solely single lane, requiring one automobile to attend for the opposite to cross earlier than continuing.

River Crossings

You possibly can highway journey round Costa Rica with out ever having to cross a river, however there are additionally some again roads that cross via rivers. Particularly through the moist/wet season, and within the Nicoya Peninsula, Drake Bay and Osa Peninsula areas. In the event you’ve by no means crossed a river earlier than, please watch another person go first!

Put your automobile into 4X4 mode, go gradual, and take note of the route. Some rivers aren’t crossed immediately, however require you to drive up or down stream earlier than exiting. This may be as a consequence of hidden obstacles, depth, or just the very best entry/exit factors.

7. Worldwide Driver’s License

No, you do not want an worldwide driver’s license to drive in Costa Rica or hire a automobile there. Simply carry your passport, bank card, and your driver’s license from your house nation. So sure, you may drive in Costa Rica with a US driver’s license.

8. Additional Recommendation For Renting A Automotive & Driving In Costa Rica

• Lock your doorways whereas driving in Costa Rica, and by no means go away valuables seen in your automobile.
• Pedestrians don’t actually have right-of-way in Costa Rica. Which means for those who politely cease within the highway to let somebody cross, they’ll be confused, and the automobile behind you gained’t anticipate it — which might trigger an accident! That is comparable in Mexico and different elements of Central America.
• Don’t e-book a automobile with out studying the corporate evaluations. You’ll discover loads of unhealthy evaluations for each firm (individuals like to complain on-line), however attempt to choose one with the LEAST unhealthy evaluations.
• You could not all the time get the make/mannequin/sort of automobile you booked. If they offer you a smaller automobile, or a guide whenever you requested for an automated, be pushy and ask for an improve.
• Examine your automobile completely and report video in your smartphone declaring harm earlier than you allow. It is a backup in the event that they try to cost you for harm that was already there. It is a widespread automobile rental rip-off in Costa Rica….
• Take note of in case your Costa Rica rental automobile takes common fuel or diesel gas, so that you replenish with the right sort at fuel stations.
• Use Google Maps in your smartphone for instructions as a substitute of renting a GPS machine. Merely use your individual hands-free automobile mount and a good worldwide cellphone plan.

9. Accident & Breakdown Info

In an emergency, you may dial the Costa Rican Emergency Cellphone Quantity which is 911, identical to in america. They’ve an English talking line too.

Nonetheless in case your automobile merely breaks down, and nobody is injured, its in all probability higher to name your Costa Rican automobile rental firm’s personal emergency roadside help quantity situated on the rental settlement.

Get pleasure from Your Costa Rica Highway Journey!

Exploring the small villages, pristine seashores, jungle mountains, and nationwide parks of Costa Rica in a rental automobile was undoubtedly the best alternative for us.

Self-drive highway journeys mean you can get off the overwhelmed observe to see issues most individuals miss! ★

Lease A Automotive In Costa Rica

Search each native and worldwide automobile rental corporations that will help you discover a whole lot.