Costa Rica Driving Information

Prepared for an epic highway journey driving in Costa Rica? Renting a automobile is one of the best 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 individual epic highway 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 lease a automobile.

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

Listed here are some vital suggestions I discovered 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 an expert photographer & author. I hope you take pleasure in my Costa Rica driving suggestions! When you 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, when you love these massive group bus excursions, by all means, go e-book one. It’s an honest strategy to see Costa Rica when you don’t have plenty of time.

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

However when you’re like me, you like the journey of unbiased 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 type of traveler you might be, renting a automobile in Costa Rica is the best way to go!

Sure, there’s a public bus system in Costa Rica too, however 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. 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 could be very tough & muddy, and a few native drivers don’t observe their very own legal guidelines. With some follow although, you’ll achieve 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 relatively than hauling baggage in all places.

2. The place To Lease Your Automobile In Costa Rica

Some widespread automobile rental firms in Costa Rica embrace Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz, a neighborhood one known as Adobe Lease-a-Automobile, and lots of extra.

However one of the best web site to e-book your automobile is Uncover Automobiles. They search each native and worldwide automobile rental firms that can assist you discover the absolute best value. That is the simplest strategy to lease a automobile in Costa Rica.

We rented our automobile from San Jose Airport in Alajuela, and commenced 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 very 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 very least 2 1/2 hours earlier than your flight leaves. Once more, due to the shuttle.

Lease A Automobile In Costa Rica

Search each native and worldwide automobile rental firms 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 under.

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

Sometimes, 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 value 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 embrace 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 tremendous print, as a result of many individuals wrongly assume their card covers them in Costa Rica.

When you get in a wreck driving in Costa Rica, declined full protection, and also you out of the blue be taught your bank card doesn’t really 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 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 Automobile In Costa Rica?

Renting a automobile in Costa Rica goes to value 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 value you extra like $40-$70 USD per day.

A 4X4 campervan, or truck with a tent connected, goes to value over $100 USD per day (nonetheless you’ll be able to 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.

Fuel Costs

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

Automated vs Handbook

Automated vehicles are dearer to lease than guide vehicles (however manuals are extra widespread in Costa Rica), and you should specify what sort you need when reserving. When you’ve by no means pushed a guide automobile 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 automobile leases in Costa Rica, which might differ 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 Automobile

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

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

Driving legal guidelines in Costa Rica are just like driving legal guidelines in some other nation. Nevertheless native drivers don’t at all times observe them. For instance, drivers could not use flip indicators or will run pink lights in the event that they assume they’ll get away with it.

Velocity Limits In Costa Rica

Velocity 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).

When you occur to get a dashing ticket, please let your automobile rental firm know instantly, as you’ll need to pay for it if you drop off the automobile on the finish of your journey.

Street Indicators In Costa Rica

The highway indicators in Costa Rica must be fairly self-explanatory, as they give the impression of being just like US highway indicators, simply in Spanish. You may browse some widespread Costa Rican highway indicators right here.

Street Circumstances

Costa Rica’s highways are paved and in good situation, nonetheless the nation can be coated in again roads. Plenty of filth roads, and lots of should not in nice form. Muddy, potholes, and so on. When you plan on driving off the crushed path in Costa Rica, I extremely advocate 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 may highway journey round Costa Rica with out ever having to cross a river, however there are additionally some again roads that cross by means of rivers. Particularly through the moist/wet season, and within the Nicoya Peninsula, Drake Bay and Osa Peninsula areas. When 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 instantly, however require you to drive up or down stream earlier than exiting. This may be because of hidden obstacles, depth, or just one of the best 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 automobile there. Simply convey your passport, bank card, and your driver’s license from your property nation. So sure, you’ll be able to drive in Costa Rica with a US driver’s license.

8. Further Recommendation For Renting A Automobile & 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. That means when you politely cease within the highway to let somebody cross, they’ll be confused, and the automobile behind you gained’t anticipate it — which may trigger an accident! That is related in Mexico and different elements of Central America.
• Don’t e-book a automobile 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/sort of automobile you booked. If they provide you a smaller automobile, or a guide if you requested for an computerized, be pushy and ask for an improve.
• Examine your automobile completely and document video in your smartphone declaring 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 automobile rental rip-off in Costa Rica….
• Take note of in case your Costa Rica rental automobile takes common gasoline or diesel gasoline, so that you replenish with the right sort at gasoline stations.
• Use Google Maps in your smartphone for instructions as an alternative of renting a GPS system. Merely use your individual hands-free automobile mount and a good worldwide cellular phone plan.

9. Accident & Breakdown Data

In an emergency, you’ll be able to dial the Costa Rican Emergency Telephone Quantity which is 911, similar to in america. They’ve an English talking line too.

Nevertheless 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 Street 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 let you get off the crushed monitor to see issues most individuals miss! ★

Lease A Automobile In Costa Rica

Search each native and worldwide automobile rental firms that can assist you discover a whole lot.