10 Important Tips (Plus Mistakes To Avoid)

Costa Rica Driving Guide

Ready for an epic street journey driving in Costa Rica? Renting a automotive is one of the simplest ways to expertise this lovely nation. But there are some things you need to know earlier than you go.

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

For such a small nation, Costa Rica is surprisingly mountainous with winding filth roads and occasional river crossings, so my first time driving there was fairly an journey! Since then, I’ve visited the nation many instances, at all times preferring to hire 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 provides you the liberty to cease at each waterfall, volcano, seaside, and nationwide park alongside the best way.

Here are some vital suggestions I discovered about driving Costa Rica, so that you’re able to hit the street and discover the Rich Coast on a trip you’ll always remember.

Driving In Costa Rica Guide (2023)

1. Should You Drive In Costa Rica?

Hey, should you love these massive group bus excursions, by all means, go e book one. It’s an honest technique to see Costa Rica should you don’t have a whole lot of time.

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

But should 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 best way.

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

Yes, 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 exterior of city, so that you’ll additionally find yourself having to take a taxi. Not to say that touring by public bus is only a slower technique to get across the nation.

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

Another 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 all over the place.

2. Where To Rent Your Car In Costa Rica

Some frequent automotive rental corporations in Costa Rica embody Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz, an area one known as Adobe Rent-a-Car, and lots of extra.

But one of the best website to e book your automotive is Discover Cars. They search each native and worldwide automotive rental corporations that will help you discover the absolute best worth. This is the simplest technique to hire 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 a minimum of 3 1/2 hours earlier than your flight leaves. Because 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 a minimum of 2 1/2 hours earlier than your flight leaves. Again, due to the shuttle.

Rent A Car In Costa Rica

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

3. Car Rental Insurance In Costa Rica

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

This is why I extremely suggest getting full insurance coverage protection.

Typically, rental automobiles in Costa Rica include a primary Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), however this isn’t precisely insurance coverage, and solely covers the automotive for as much as $1000-3000 USD value of harm.

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

While you possibly can typically get monetary savings reserving your automotive with a good journey bank card that features automotive rental insurance coverage, you REALLY should learn the wonderful print, as a result of many individuals wrongly assume their card covers them in Costa Rica.

If you get in a wreck driving in Costa Rica, declined full protection, and also you immediately study your bank card doesn’t really cowl the injury — you’re screwed. I can’t inform you 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 definitely gained’t have to fret about accidents in any respect!

4. How Much Does In Cost To Rent A Car 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.

Gas Prices

Currently, fuel prices about $4.75 USD per gallon ($1.25 per liter) in Costa Rica. Diesel automobiles 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 within the United States!

Automatic vs Manual

Automatic automobiles are dearer to hire than handbook automobiles (however manuals are extra frequent in Costa Rica), and it’s essential to specify what kind you need when reserving. If you’ve by no means pushed a handbook automotive earlier than, don’t begin in Costa Rica! It’s safer to get an automated.

One-Way Rentals

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

5. Age Requirements For Renting A Car

The minimal age for driving in Costa Rica is between 21-25 years previous, relying on the corporate you e book a automotive with. They additionally may cost a further price (often $10 a day) should you’re below 25 years previous.

6. Things To Remember While Driving In Costa Rica

Driving legal guidelines in Costa Rica are much like driving legal guidelines in some other nation. However native drivers don’t at all times comply with them. For instance, drivers might not use flip alerts or will run purple lights in the event that they suppose they’ll get away with it.

Speed Limits In Costa Rica

Speed limits in Costa Rica are quoted in kilometers per hour. The most 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).

If you occur to get a dashing ticket, please let your automotive rental firm know immediately, as you’ll must pay for it while you drop off the automotive on the finish of your journey.

Road Signs In Costa Rica

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

Road Conditions

Costa Rica’s highways are paved and in good situation, nevertheless the nation can also be lined in again roads. Lots of filth roads, and lots of will not be in nice form. Muddy, potholes, and so forth. If you propose on driving off the crushed path in Costa Rica, I extremely suggest 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 can street journey round Costa Rica with out ever having to cross a river, however there are additionally some again roads that cross by way of rivers. Especially in the course of the moist/wet season, and within the Nicoya Peninsula, Drake Bay and Osa Peninsula areas. If you’ve by no means crossed a river earlier than, please watch another person go first!

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

7. International Driver’s License

No, you don’t want an international driver’s license to drive in Costa Rica or hire a automotive there. Just deliver your passport, bank card, and your driver’s license from your house nation. So sure, you possibly can drive in Costa Rica with a US driver’s license.

8. Extra Advice For Renting A Car & Driving In Costa Rica

• Lock your doorways whereas driving in Costa Rica, and by no means go away valuables seen in your automotive.
• Pedestrians don’t actually have right-of-way in Costa Rica. Meaning should you politely cease within the street to let somebody cross, they’ll be confused, and the automotive behind you gained’t count on it — which may trigger an accident! This is analogous in Mexico and different elements of Central America.
• Don’t e book a automotive with out studying the corporate opinions. You’ll discover loads of unhealthy opinions for each firm (individuals like to complain on-line), however attempt to decide one with the LEAST unhealthy opinions.
• You might not at all times get the make/mannequin/kind of automotive you booked. If they offer you a smaller automotive, or a handbook while you requested for an automated, be pushy and ask for an improve.
• Inspect your automotive totally and file video in your smartphone mentioning injury earlier than you allow. This is a backup in the event that they try and cost you for injury that was already there. This is a frequent automotive rental rip-off in Costa Rica….
• Pay consideration to in case your Costa Rica rental automotive takes common fuel or diesel gas, so that you replenish with the proper kind at fuel stations.
• Use Google Maps in your smartphone for instructions as an alternative of renting a GPS gadget. Simply use your individual hands-free automotive mount and a good worldwide mobile phone plan.

9. Accident & Breakdown Information

In an emergency, you possibly can dial the Costa Rican Emergency Phone Number which is 911, identical to within the United States. They have an English talking line too.

However 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 situated on the rental settlement.

Enjoy Your Costa Rica Road Trip!

Exploring the small villages, pristine seashores, jungle mountains, and nationwide parks of Costa Rica in a rental automotive was undoubtedly the suitable selection for us.

Self-drive street journeys let you get off the crushed observe to see issues most individuals miss! ★

Rent A Car In Costa Rica

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