Costa Rica is a reasonably small nation, however the truth that greater than 50% of the nation is roofed in thick, lush rainforest signifies that distances between the locations are far more than you would possibly anticipate.
Public Transport in Costa Rica
We’re huge proponents of public transport, however in relation to Costa Rica, public transport hyperlinks between vacationer cities are sluggish or, extra typically, non-existent in any respect!
Positive, you’ll haven’t any downside going from downtown San Jose, the capital metropolis, to many locations across the nation, however touring from one vacationer vacation spot to a different with out connecting via San Jose or switching buses to a different vacation spot is virtually unimaginable.
As well as, native bus stops are hardly ever located close to city facilities, so these touring by bus will find yourself having to take a taxi to their vacation spot anyway.
So for these and plenty of different causes (like the power to discover by yourself), we recommend that vacationers to Costa Rica lease a automotive for his or her journey.
A neighborhood taxi in Paraiso, Guanacaste
Costa Rica Driving Suggestions
Driving whereas visiting Costa Rica offers you the liberty and suppleness to discover the nation at your personal tempo. You’ll be able to even observe our 2-week itinerary for Costa Rica or use it as inspiration to your personal schedule.
Renting a automotive in Costa Rica permits you to see what you wish to see by yourself schedule and with out the restrictions of pricy excursions.
Nonetheless, exploring Costa Rica by automotive comes with its personal points, and there’s a lot to think about when getting behind the wheel in a foreign country.
With these items in thoughts, we’ve created this information to driving in Costa Rica.
Issues to Keep in mind When Driving in Costa Rica
Driving Legal guidelines
A lot of the driving legal guidelines in Costa Rica might be much like your own home nation. Rushing, driving below the affect, cellular use, and never carrying a seatbelt are unlawful, and fines might be very excessive.
Bear in mind that the usual of driving in Costa Rica is kind of poor and might be harmful. Native drivers typically swap lanes with out utilizing their blinkers or run via visitors lights if there isn’t any one round.
For those who do obtain a visitors ticket, you may pay it at a state-owned financial institution; simply ensure that to make a copy of the receipt. Failure to indicate receipt of fee to the rental firm will lead to extra fines and doable administrative charges charged to your bank card.
Velocity Limits
Don’t overlook that the velocity restrict displayed on highway indicators is in kilometers per hour and never miles per hour.
- The minimal velocity on the freeway is 40 km/h (25 miles/h), and the utmost is 80 km/h (50 miles/h).
- Except in any other case indicated, the restrict on secondary roads is 60 km/h (37 miles/h), and 40 km/h(25 miles/h) in city areas.
- If you’re driving by faculty zones or hospitals, then the velocity restrict is 25 km/h (15.5 miles/h).
Highway Circumstances in Costa Rica
Whereas highways are usually okay, each different highway is filled with potholes. That is very true in rural areas the place all the things is an unpaved dust highway and really bumpy.
Our advice for automotive rent in Costa Rica is a four-wheel drive, particularly if you’re visiting through the wet season. Even on two-lane roads, watch out for drivers on the unsuitable aspect of the highway as they try and keep away from the large potholes.
A typical highway in Costa Rica
License Necessities
Most vacationers won’t want a global driver’s license to drive in Costa Rica. So long as your license is at the very least 2 years outdated and written in Roman script, you’re within the clear.
If, nevertheless, your own home nation license is written in, say Arabic or Russian, you’ll need to buy a global license forward of time.
In both case, you’ll must have a copy of your passport with you always whereas on the highway. Within the occasion of police checkpoints, law enforcement officials will wish to confirm that your vacationer visa is legitimate.
Important Data: Getting a Rental Automotive in Costa Rica
Whereas rental automobiles could appear costly upfront, they’re truly a very budget-friendly approach of driving round Costa Rica. You’ll be able to plan the last word Costa Rica highway journey from the Pacific to the Caribbean coast by yourself route and schedule.
So for those who’re questioning, “Ought to I lease a automotive in Costa Rica?” we are saying sure! Observe the guidelines under, and also you’ll be driving in Costa Rica very quickly.
Discovering a Rental Automotive Firm in Costa Rica
There are many rental automotive corporations in Costa Rica. You will discover worldwide operators corresponding to Hertz, Avis, Funds, Greenback, and Financial system, however there are such a lot of extra. Vamos is an area automotive rental firm that gives wonderful service and doesn’t sneak in charges down the highway.
Native corporations like Vamos and Adobe Hire a Automotive typically have simply as many choices as the massive guys with equally aggressive charges. Doing all your analysis will enable you to discover the very best automotive rental firm primarily based on worth, availability, and site.
For those who’re on the lookout for a automotive rental in Costa Rica at a foremost hub like San José airport, you’ll have loads of choices. However different elements of the nation are far more restricted.
You’ll be able to ebook with the businesses straight or use third-party reserving websites like Expedia or Orbitz, which regularly work out a little bit cheaper and don’t require fee upfront. Simply keep in mind that the costs proven hardly ever embody insurance coverage, so that you’ll must finances for greater than the displayed worth.
Insurance coverage
Complete automotive insurance coverage is important whenever you lease a automotive in Costa Rica. Normally referred to as “legal responsibility insurance coverage,” this protection is a requirement below Costa Rican regulation. Automotive rental corporations will cost for even essentially the most minor harm, and it may be a tidy sum.
Needless to say nearly all of driving in Costa Rica is on dust roads and previous thick vegetation. Even when driving via nationwide parks, any little scratch or velocity bumps taken too quick can lead to further prices, you don’t need.
Keep in mind, when wanting on the completely different choices for automotive rent in Costa Rica, third-party legal responsibility insurance coverage is obligatory however not included within the quote.
What appears to be like like a very low-cost deal at first is probably not as low-cost as you assume. You’ll have so as to add on an additional $15-30 per day for this insurance coverage whenever you lease a automotive in Costa Rica. Additionally, be ready to pay a harm deposit upon pickup, which might vary between $100-2,000 or extra, relying on the insurance coverage protection you choose and the rental firm you select to go along with. Some bank cards and journey insurance coverage insurance policies cowl legal responsibility insurance coverage for leases, so it’s a good suggestion to examine your protection earlier than paying out of pocket. Make sure that to learn the fantastic print as a result of not all legal responsibility insurance coverage is worldwide.
That’s except you ebook via Hertz. While you lease a automotive in Costa Rica with Hertz, you’ll be given the whole worth straight up. All insurance coverage is included in your quote, and also you pay the ultimate worth on-line when reserving.
No different rental automotive firm does this, so it may be useful to get an concept of what to anticipate. We additionally suggest calling whichever firm you select to verify pricing earlier than you choose up the automobile.
Alongside the highway in Santa Elena, house to the
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Prices of Automotive Rent Costa Rica
Costs of automotive leases can differ enormously primarily based on the demand and season. The wet season often bears the bottom costs, whereas the excessive season sees inflated costs on the identical automobiles. Throughout the 2020 pandemic, a variety of rental businesses needed to liquidate their inventories, inflicting a scarcity and growing the common automotive rental charges.
An financial system automotive with limitless mileage might be as little as $10-20 USD per day PLUS $10-20/day of third-party legal responsibility. Throughout the busy excessive season, leases can price anyplace between $50-100 per day.
For those who’re touring with the household, a customary SUV offers you loads of area and may vary from $50 to $80 USD per day.
The place to Hire a Automotive in Costa Rica
Most rental corporations could have automotive pick-up and drop-off factors all through the nation, specifically the airports of San Jose and Liberia.
Keep in mind that the airports are small, so automotive rental places of work are a couple of mile away. Some corporations could supply free transport from the airport to their workplace, however for others, this might be an additional price.
Some automotive rent corporations may also have places of work within the main cities, together with Tamarindo, Jaco, and La Fortuna, the place you may choose up or drop off the automobile. Keep in mind to at all times do an inspection of the automobile at pick-up and take images of any harm you could discover through the walk-through.
Driving via small cities in Costa Rica
Various Choices for Rental Vehicles in Costa Rica
With automobiles briefly provide in Central America and the remainder of the world, rental automobiles are a scorching commodity. Ever because the Covid-19 pandemic, rental automobiles have develop into costlier and more and more troublesome to seek out.
Many vacationers are opting to search for rental automobiles elsewhere, like Fb teams, Airbnb hosts, and thru native Costa Ricans. For those who select to go this route, you’ll must be further cautious that you simply’re protected with the correct insurance coverage.
You’ll wish to have all the proper paperwork with you in case of a visitors ticket or getting stopped by a police officer. It undoubtedly pays to talk Spanish in conditions like this to verify no necessary information will get misplaced in translation.
Sensible Suggestions for Driving in Costa Rica
Contemplating the highway circumstances and sometimes ignored visitors guidelines, you is likely to be pondering, “is it protected to drive in Costa Rica?”
The excellent news is that, sure, it’s protected to drive in Costa Rica so long as you drive cautiously. Simply abide by the identical visitors legal guidelines you’d at house, being attentive to visitors and velocity restrict indicators alongside the way in which. Concentrate on different drivers and observe these insider tricks to be a protected driver in Costa Rica.
Obtain a Navigation App
The most effective navigation app to make use of whereas driving in your Costa Rica journey is Waze. It’s community-based and up to date by locals in real-time, which makes it higher than all the opposite navigation apps for the distinctive problem that’s Costa Rican driving!
Google Maps is one other common possibility, nevertheless it lacks user-reported knowledge about visitors jams or the very best alternate route. That stated, for those who’re principally driving round cities, it’ll certainly enable you to navigate and plan your highway journeys.
Don’t Depend on Verbal Instructions
Right here’s the enjoyable half about driving in Costa Rica…there are not any highway/road names or home numbers! The one exception is in San Jose, however usually, road names and home numbers don’t exist, which makes discovering locations an ‘fascinating expertise.’
Locals often give instructions primarily based on landmarks as a substitute of road indicators. You’ll at all times have to stay alert and maintain your eyes peeled for even the vaguest of location markers. When doubtful, pull right into a fuel station and regroup!
Keep away from Driving at Night time
One thing we don’t suggest. For those who can keep away from it, don’t drive at evening. The roads are poorly lit, and for those who assume dodging potholes through the day is dangerous sufficient, it turns into further harmful in the dead of night.
Plus, for those who don’t know the roads, they are often very unpredictable, with sharp turns and no guard rails. For those who do should journey by evening, then don’t be afraid to use your excessive beams and take it sluggish.
Go Sluggish at River Crossings
River crossings could also be obligatory sometimes. Don’t panic an excessive amount of, it’s a traditional a part of driving in Costa Rica, and locals will cross rivers every day. A few of these routes will solely be satisfactory through the dry season anyway.
You’ll be able to examine our month-to-month information to the finest time to go to Costa Rica and keep away from the wettest months.
After all, don’t drive proper in! There may be some security measure to take beforehand:
- Take a look at the depth by strolling throughout it on foot
- Solely cross if the extent of water is under your air consumption
- Drive slowly otherwise you threat flooding the engine
Max at a river crossing in Costa Rica
Give Manner at Bridge Crossings
Whereas on the highway in Costa Rica, be looking out for an indication saying ‘Puente Adelante’ (Bridge Forward). A lot of the bridges are only one lane, and figuring out who has proper of approach might be troublesome.
For those who’re fortunate, there might be an indication saying Ceda el Paso (Give Manner). Which means that you should yield to oncoming visitors earlier than continuing onto the bridge. Highway indicators in Costa Rica are few and much between, however these ones might be very useful.
Bridge crossing in Costa Rica
Drive Quick on the Seashore
On the whole, driving on the seaside in Costa Rica will not be allowed. Plus, we don’t suggest it as it will possibly severely harm the seaside and, doubtlessly, wildlife. Make sure that to learn the fantastic print in your legal responsibility insurance coverage coverage as a result of your insurance coverage is likely to be voided if the automobile incurred harm whereas driving on the seaside.
If you’re driving on the seaside, keep away from delicate sand and at all times use 4-wheel drive. Preserve a fast-steady velocity, or you’re sure to get caught within the sand.
Driving on the seaside will not be allowed in Costa Rica
Re-fuel Typically
Filling up within the cities is cheaper than in smaller cities. Plus, as soon as you’re on the highway, petrol stations in Costa Rica might be laborious to return by.
Do not forget that distances between locations are lengthy. If you’re operating low, ensure you know the place the fuel stations are on route.
Move With Nice Warning
One factor you’ll discover when driving in Costa Rica is that unsafe passing is regular. You’ll see some maneuvers that can depart your abdomen in your throat most occasions.
Passing on curves, on double-striped roads, and in areas the place visibility is solely unimaginable is widespread, regardless that it’s towards the regulation and carries a heavy fantastic (as much as $500).
Costa Rican roads shouldn’t have a lot signage
Be Ready for Checkpoints
There are sometimes random visitors checkpoints by visitors police, and if stopped, you’ll be requested for ID. For those who plan on driving whereas in Costa Rica, you should have a sound driver’s license from your own home nation and a sound passport.
You’ll have to indicate each of those if stopped. Your passport will need to have a stamp of entry into the nation that’s not greater than three months outdated.
Be Conscious of Indicators (or Lack Thereof)
Bear in mind that cease indicators will not be a 4-way cease, so at all times examine earlier than you go. It should actually rely upon which a part of the nation you’re in as as to if you see roads or not.
Vacationer areas could have them, however for those who go off the crushed monitor (which we actually suggest!), then it’s much less doubtless, and for those who do see them, they are going to be in Spanish. It’s a worthwhile security tip to familiarize your self with widespread indicators so that you perceive the Spanish wording. This checklist from the Costa Rica Automotive Rental Affiliation is an efficient web page to bookmark!
Rod to Rio Tigre
Don’t Go away Valuables Contained in the Automotive
We all know it’s widespread sense, nevertheless it’s value saying anyway: Don’t ever depart something of worth in your automotive. Petty theft is widespread, and automotive robberies are identified to occur.
Rental automobiles are marked as such, and whereas that’s helpful to declare to different highway customers that you simply’re not savvy with the highway guidelines, it may also be an enormous neon signal to thieves.
If you’re driving in Costa Rica, notably in San Jose’s sluggish visitors, watch out to not depart valuables on the seat with the home windows open.
Typical highway in small Costa Rican cities
Be Conscious of Different Highway Customers
As we’ve already talked about, the roads will not be in nice situation, and most don’t have sidewalks. Beware that there might be pedestrians strolling, individuals biking, or horse-riding on the sides of the highway. It’s widespread to see canines in or on the aspect of the highway, and it’s finest to only give them the precise of approach.
Keep in mind, one of many causes you’re most likely within the nation is to see the great wildlife and unique animals of Costa Rica. Bear in mind that a few of that wildlife could wander onto the roads, so at all times concentrate on your environment.
Make Positive to Park within the Right Areas
Parking on yellow traces, or the place in any other case restricted, can lead to your rental automobile being “grounded”. The automobile’s license plates might be eliminated, you’ll be charged a fantastic, and the automotive must be towed to the rental company. Evidently, this can be a enormous, costly headache, so take care to concentrate. It’s higher to stroll a little bit farther from a chosen parking spot than get stranded!
Highway to Mal Pais, Nicoya Peninsula. Costa Rica
A typical Costa Rican highway
Within the Occasion of a Automotive Accident
If you’re unlucky sufficient to have an accident on the highway in Costa Rica, stick with the automobile whether it is protected to take action. For severe incidents, name 911 instantly; in any other case, name the automotive rental firm.
FAQs About Costa Rican Driving
Is it troublesome to drive in Costa Rica?
No, the precise driving is identical as anyplace else, however being in tune with the bumpy roads and lack of signage generally is a problem. Be vigilant and observe our suggestions, and also you shouldn’t have any points.
Is it scary to drive in Costa Rica?
Admittedly, it may be. Like we stated, different automobiles on the highway might be your largest impediment. So long as you’re paying consideration and maintaining your distance, you’ll be fantastic.
Is it protected to drive your self in Costa Rica?
Sure! Renting your personal automotive is one of the best ways to discover the nation. Simply drive such as you would in your house nation and keep alert. Do you have to encounter hassle like a flat tire, it’s finest to tug over at a fuel station or any well-lit populated space if doable. Whereas most individuals have good intentions and genuinely wish to assist, there have been situations of vacationers getting robbed after their tires had been intentionally punctured.
Can foreigners drive in Costa Rica?
Sure, foreigners will simply must double-check if a global driver’s license is required or not. It’s often solely obligatory if the license from your own home nation is in a distinct alphabet, corresponding to Mandarin, Arabic, or Hebrew. A world license often prices round $20 and might be bought forward of time in your house nation. In any English-speaking nation, it’s not obligatory. You’ll simply want your present driver’s license and a replica of your passport.
Are electrical automobiles obtainable for lease?
Electrical automobiles have gotten extra widespread, and at the moment, Costa Rica has over 260 public charging stations. In recent times, Costa Rica has launched its Nationwide Decarbonization Plan, which goals for a decarbonized financial system by 2050. A part of this plan is to switch all public transportation with electrical automobiles and for all non-public gross sales to be zero emission by 2050.
Whereas the best focus of charging stations is in San Jose, there are a number of popping up throughout Puntarenas and Guanacaste. Earlier than deciding on whether or not an electrical automobile is appropriate to your itinerary, examine for charging stations and think about the quantity of driving and terrain you’ll be coping with.