10 Necessary Suggestions (Plus Errors To Keep away from)

Costa Rica Driving Information

Prepared for an epic street journey driving in Costa Rica? Renting a automotive is one of the simplest ways 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 personal epic street 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, at all times preferring to lease a automotive.

Renting a automotive and self-driving Costa Rica by yourself is one of the simplest ways to expertise this gorgeous nation, because it really offers you the liberty to cease at each waterfall, volcano, seashore, and nationwide park alongside the way in which.

Listed here are some vital suggestions I realized about driving Costa Rica, so that you’re able to hit the street 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 an expert photographer & author. I hope you take pleasure in my Costa Rica driving suggestions! For those who discover them helpful, utilizing my affiliate hyperlinks will give me a small fee, at no additional value to you. Thanks!

Driving In Costa Rica Information (2024)

1. Ought to You Drive In Costa Rica?

Hey, in case you love these large group bus excursions, by all means, go e-book one. It’s a good solution to see Costa Rica in case you don’t have numerous time.

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

However in case you’re like me, you like 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 way in which.

If that’s the form of traveler you might be, renting a automotive in Costa Rica is the way in which to go!

Sure, there’s a public bus system in Costa Rica too, nevertheless it’s actually solely good for getting from one large city to a different, and infrequently the bus stops are positioned simply exterior 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 solution to get across the nation.

Simply remember the fact that among the again roads in Costa Rica could be very tough & muddy, and a few native drivers don’t comply with their very own legal guidelines. With some observe although, you’ll acquire confidence driving right here!

One other good factor we loved about having a automotive was the power to retailer issues within the trunk, stopping off in Costa Rican cities with small journey backpacks slightly than hauling baggage in every single place.

2. The place To Hire Your Automobile In Costa Rica

Some widespread automotive rental corporations in Costa Rica embrace Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz, a neighborhood one referred to as Adobe Hire-a-Automobile, and plenty of extra.

However the most effective web site to e-book your automotive is Uncover Automobiles. They search each native and worldwide automotive rental corporations that can assist you discover the very best value. That is the simplest solution to lease a automotive in Costa Rica.

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

San Jose Airport: Plan to choose up your automotive about 60 minutes after your flight arrives. When departing, attempt to be on the airport no less than 3 1/2 hours earlier than your flight leaves. As a result of returning your rental automotive and catching a shuttle again to the airport can take as much as half-hour.

Liberia Airport: Plan to choose up your automotive about half-hour after your flight arrives. When departing, attempt to be on the airport no less than 2 1/2 hours earlier than your flight leaves. Once more, due to the shuttle.

Hire A Automobile In Costa Rica

Search each native and worldwide automotive rental corporations that can assist you discover a whole lot.

3. Automobile Rental Insurance coverage In Costa Rica

Among the rumors about driving in Costa Rica are true, and the roads are VERY tough in some areas. Particularly the again roads exterior Costa Rica’s smaller cities. Don’t fear, I’ll share some suggestions for coping with them beneath.

That is why I extremely advocate getting full insurance coverage protection.

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

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

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

For those who get in a wreck driving in Costa Rica, declined full protection, and also you all of the sudden study your bank card doesn’t truly cowl the harm — you’re screwed. I can’t let you know what number of journey horror tales I’ve heard like this…

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

4. How A lot Does In Price To Hire A Automobile In Costa Rica?

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

A 4X4 campervan, or truck with a tent hooked up, goes to value over $100 USD per day (nevertheless you possibly can sleep in it too!)

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

Fuel Costs

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

Computerized vs Guide

Computerized vehicles are costlier to lease than guide vehicles (however manuals are extra widespread in Costa Rica), and you have to specify what sort you need when reserving. For those who’ve by no means pushed a guide automotive earlier than, don’t begin in Costa Rica! It’s safer to get an computerized.

One-Manner Leases

There’s a further charge for one-way automotive leases in Costa Rica, which may fluctuate by firm. For instance, if you wish to drop off the automotive in a special metropolis than the place you began from. However as a result of the nation is so small, you most likely received’t want to do that.

5. Age Necessities For Renting A Automobile

The minimal age for driving in Costa Rica is between 21-25 years previous, relying on the corporate you e-book a automotive with. In addition they would possibly cost a further charge (often $10 a day) in case you’re underneath 25 years previous.

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

Driving legal guidelines in Costa Rica are much like driving legal guidelines in every other nation. Nevertheless native drivers don’t at all times comply with them. For instance, drivers could not use flip indicators or will run crimson 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 often 60km/h (37 miles per hour), and round cities & cities it’s 40km/h (25 miles per hour).

For those who occur to get a dashing ticket, please let your automotive rental firm know straight away, as you’ll should pay for it while you drop off the automotive on the finish of your journey.

Highway Indicators In Costa Rica

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

Highway Situations

Costa Rica’s highways are paved and in good situation, nevertheless the nation can also be coated in again roads. A lot of dust roads, and plenty of will not be in nice form. Muddy, potholes, and so forth. For those who plan on driving off the overwhelmed path in Costa Rica, I extremely advocate renting a four-wheel drive SUV. Some bridges are solely single lane, requiring one automotive to attend for the opposite to cross earlier than continuing.

River Crossings

You possibly can street journey round Costa Rica with out ever having to cross a river, however there are additionally some again roads that go by means of rivers. Particularly in the course of the moist/wet season, and within the Nicoya Peninsula, Drake Bay and Osa Peninsula areas. For those who’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 attributable to hidden obstacles, depth, or just the most effective entry/exit factors.

7. Worldwide Driver’s License

No, you don’t want an worldwide driver’s license to drive in Costa Rica or lease a automotive there. Simply convey your passport, bank card, and your driver’s license from your private home nation. So sure, you possibly can drive in Costa Rica with a US driver’s license.

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

• Lock your doorways whereas driving in Costa Rica, and by no means depart valuables seen in your automotive.
• Pedestrians don’t actually have right-of-way in Costa Rica. Which means in case you politely cease within the street to let somebody cross, they’ll be confused, and the automotive behind you received’t anticipate it — which might trigger an accident! That is related in Mexico and different components of Central America.
• Don’t e-book a automotive with out studying the corporate opinions. You’ll discover loads of dangerous opinions for each firm (folks like to complain on-line), however attempt to choose one with the LEAST dangerous opinions.
• You could not at all times get the make/mannequin/sort of automotive you booked. If they provide you a smaller automotive, or a guide while you requested for an computerized, be pushy and ask for an improve.
• Examine your automotive completely and document video in your smartphone stating harm earlier than you allow. This can be a backup in the event that they try and cost you for harm that was already there. This can be a widespread automotive rental rip-off in Costa Rica….
• Take note of in case your Costa Rica rental automotive 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 an alternative of renting a GPS system. Merely use your personal hands-free automotive mount and a good worldwide mobile phone plan.

9. Accident & Breakdown Info

In an emergency, you possibly can dial the Costa Rican Emergency Cellphone Quantity which is 911, similar to in the USA. They’ve an English talking line too.

Nevertheless in case your automotive merely breaks down, and nobody is injured, its most likely higher to name your Costa Rican automotive rental firm’s personal emergency roadside help quantity positioned 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 automotive was positively the proper alternative for us.

Self-drive street journeys will let you get off the overwhelmed monitor to see issues most individuals miss! ★

Hire A Automobile In Costa Rica

Search each native and worldwide automotive rental corporations that can assist you discover a whole lot.