[ad_1]

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 you must know earlier than you go.
So that you’ve been wanting to go to for years, and are lastly planning your personal 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 instances, 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 way in which.
Listed below are some vital 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.
Driving In Costa Rica Information (2023)
1. Ought to You Drive In Costa Rica?

Hey, if you happen to love these large group bus excursions, by all means, go guide one. It’s a good approach to see Costa Rica if you happen to don’t have quite a lot of time.
No planning, no driving, simply sit again and let another person do all of the work!
However if you happen to’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 way in which.
If that’s the form of traveler you might be, renting a automobile in Costa Rica is the way in which to go!
Sure, there’s a public bus system in Costa Rica too, but it surely’s actually solely good for getting from one large 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 approach to get across the nation.
Simply understand that a few of the again roads in Costa Rica will be very tough & muddy, and a few native drivers don’t observe their very own legal guidelines. With some apply 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 slightly than hauling baggage all over the place.
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 referred to as Adobe Lease-a-Automobile, and plenty of extra.
However the perfect website to guide your automobile is Uncover Vehicles. They search each native and worldwide automobile rental firms that will help you discover the absolute best worth. That is the best approach to hire 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 not less than 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 not less than 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 will help you discover a whole lot.
3. Automobile 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 beneath.
Because of this I extremely suggest getting full insurance coverage protection.
Sometimes, rental automobiles 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 back the automobile in a single piece. CDW sometimes doesn’t embrace tire, cracked windshield, or undercarriage harm both.
When you can typically lower your expenses reserving your automobile with a good journey bank card that features automobile rental insurance coverage, you REALLY should learn the effective print, as a result of many individuals wrongly assume their card covers them in Costa Rica.
In case you get in a wreck driving in Costa Rica, declined full protection, and also you immediately 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 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 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.
Gasoline Costs
Presently, gasoline prices about $4.75 USD per gallon ($1.25 per liter) in Costa Rica. Diesel automobiles will typically 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!
Computerized vs Handbook
Computerized automobiles are costlier to hire than handbook automobiles (however manuals are extra widespread in Costa Rica), and you have to specify what sort you need when reserving. In case you’ve by no means pushed a handbook automobile earlier than, don’t begin in Costa Rica! It’s safer to get an computerized.
One-Means Leases
There’s an extra charge for one-way automobile leases in Costa Rica, which may 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 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 guide a automobile with. In addition they would possibly cost an extra charge (often $10 a day) if you happen to’re below 25 years previous.
6. Issues To Keep in mind Whereas Driving In Costa Rica

Driving legal guidelines in Costa Rica are much like driving legal guidelines in some other nation. Nonetheless native drivers don’t all the time observe them. For instance, drivers might not use flip indicators or will run crimson lights in the event that they suppose they’ll get away with it.
Velocity Limits In Costa Rica
Velocity limits in Costa Rica are quoted in kilometers per hour. The utmost pace 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).
In case you occur to get a rushing ticket, please let your automobile rental firm know straight away, as you’ll must pay for it while 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 much like US highway indicators, simply in Spanish. You’ll be able to 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 lined in again roads. A number of dust roads, and plenty of usually are not in nice form. Muddy, potholes, and so on. In case 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’ll be able to highway journey round Costa Rica with out ever having to cross a river, however there are additionally some again roads that move by way of rivers. Particularly in the course of the moist/wet season, and within the Nicoya Peninsula, Drake Bay and Osa Peninsula areas. In case you’ve by no means crossed a river earlier than, please watch another person go first!
Put your car 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 result of hidden obstacles, depth, or just the perfect 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 deliver your passport, bank card, and your driver’s license from your house 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. Which means if you happen to politely cease within the highway to let somebody cross, they’ll be confused, and the automobile behind you received’t count on it — which may trigger an accident! That is related in Mexico and different components of Central America.
- Don’t guide a automobile with out studying the corporate opinions. You’ll discover loads of dangerous opinions for each firm (individuals like to complain on-line), however attempt to choose one with the LEAST dangerous opinions.
- You could not all the time get the make/mannequin/sort of automobile you booked. If they provide you a smaller automobile, or a handbook while you requested for an computerized, be pushy and ask for an improve.
- Examine your automobile totally and file video in your smartphone declaring harm earlier than you permit. 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 refill with the proper sort at gasoline stations.
- Use Google Maps in your smartphone for instructions as an alternative of renting a GPS gadget. Merely use your personal hands-free automobile mount and a good worldwide mobile 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.
Nonetheless in case your automobile merely breaks down, and nobody is injured, its most likely higher to name your Costa Rican automobile rental firm’s personal emergency roadside help quantity situated on the rental settlement.
Take pleasure in Your Costa Rica Street Journey!
Exploring the small villages, pristine seashores, jungle mountains, and nationwide parks of Costa Rica in a rental automobile was positively the suitable selection for us.
Self-drive highway journeys permit you to get off the overwhelmed monitor to see issues most individuals miss! ★

Lease A Automobile In Costa Rica
Search each native and worldwide automobile rental firms that will help you discover a whole lot.
READ MORE COSTA RICA TRAVEL TIPS
I hope you loved my information for driving in Costa Rica! Hopefully you discovered it helpful. Listed below are just a few extra wanderlust-inducing articles that I like to recommend you learn subsequent:
Have any questions on driving by way of Costa Rica? What about different solutions? Be a part of the dialog on Fb, Instagram, or Twitter to share!
[ad_2]