8 Things to Know About Driving in Costa Rica

Driving in Costa Rica is one of the quickest ways to see everything from Tapanti Forest to the Osa Peninsula, but it also requires a bit of planning. Here are 8 things you should know before you road trip! 

In January 2018, I kicked the year off strong with a trip to Costa Rica.

In January 2018, I also made one of the riskiest yet exhilarating decisions of my life: I rented a car in Costa Rica.

Now, renting a car in Costa Rica in and of itself isn’t crazy, but renting a car, driving across the country and getting lost deep in the jungle? I believe rental car companies may frown upon that…

My friend Alisha and I were in Costa Rica to film the work of local tapir conservation group, Nai Conservation (more on that to come!). We had a quick six days and one heck of a mission – to film the work Nai is doing to help the tapirs in the forests and jungles of Costa Rica. This mission had us driving all over the country, from the highways while trying to keep up with local drivers to the jungle where we took our poor car through not one, not two but THREE rivers to reach our destination. 

So, unlike many Costa Rica vacations with beaches and relaxation, our trip was a daring, slightly ridiculous adventure.

But, we made it out alive AND (almost equally important when you’re cheap like us!) without a single scratch on the vehicle. {Pats herself on the back.}

If you’re looking to rent a car on your Costa Rican adventure, here are 8 things you should know before you go.

1. Costa Rica Rental Cars 101: What you Need, What you Don’t Need

We were on a budget this time around, so we went with Thrifty for our rental car and had a great experience. They were on time, quick and efficient. Because you’ll be driving through potholes (ohhh so many potholes) and, in our case, the jungle, make sure you have some form of insurance.

The topic of insurance is incredibly tricky – some credits cards offer collision insurance if you pay in full on your card, and sometimes your own insurance actually covers rental cars. I can’t recommend insurance enough, but to make sure you’re not overpaying, check with your credit card (here’s a great post on which cards offer which type of insurance), and talk with your insurance provider to see what insurance they offer and if Costa Rica is covered (each company has different rules, so best to check with them early!). Quick disclaimer – most insurance companies won’t cover offroading in the jungle or on dirt paths, so just know that going into it…

Also, we signed up for roadside assistance because I’ve had one too many road trips where a car malfunction has left us stranded on the side of the road. In most cases it’s cheap – just $10 per day – so if you’re planning to go on any sort of crazy (or semi-crazy!) adventure, this is a must-have.

And last, GPS. We had international data and gave Google Maps and Waze a shot; while both worked well in San Jose and the more urban areas, the second we hit the jungle, the rented GPS was our saving grace. It’s entirely up to you and dependent upon where you plan to drive, but if you’re taking a trip like ours and going outside the main cities, I can’t recommend renting the GPS enough! (It even recognizes the “Unpaved Road!”)

2. Driving Style: Prepare Yourself for a Wild Ride

New York City driving has prepared me for just about anything. Seriously. And I realized this more on our Costa Rica trip than I ever have in my life. On the main roads of San Jose, you’ll have cars coming at you from all directions, and what’s worse, many of these drivers don’t even have their licenses (gulp).

I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a madhouse, but it does make the drive anything but boring. You need to be constantly aware of what’s happening around you, flexing those defensive driving muscles, while simultaneously taking risks and making moves to get in the lane you need because no one will happily let you in. (See – seriously just like New York!)

If you’re not used to driving in big cities like New York, you’ll be OK, but take it easy particularly in the beginning, and go slow until you feel comfortable. Defensive driving is of utmost importance here, so if that means you have to build in time, do it. It’s better that than ending up actually using that roadside assistance!

3. Parking in the City: The “Car Watchers”

After parking for the first time in downtown San Jose, we were taken aback when a guy in street clothes “helped” us parallel park then asked for money to watch our car… in Spanish (a language I’m sadly not all that great at speaking). The Nai locals we were filming with helped us understand that these unofficial parking attendants are a staple throughout the city, and it’s better to just pay them 500 colones (less than $1) to “watch your car,” because otherwise … well… you may get targeted.

At first it was jarring, but at the same time, it’s $1, and this is commonplace in San Jose. Sure, we’re not comfortable with it, but in travel it’s always better (and respectful) to absorb and follow the local culture.

4. The Speed Limit: “There Isn’t One”

When the locals told me speed limits “aren’t really a thing” I didn’t believe it. That’s the easiest way to get a false sense of safety and, consequentially, a foreign speeding ticket. So, while in Costa Rica, I mostly followed the speed of traffic to blend in because speed limit signs are minimal in the countryside (I didn’t see more than one!). And, a heads up, the speed limits (when actually posted) are in kilometers per hour.

That being said, it’s smart to go into your trip knowing a thing or two, so here’s a quick overview of the signs you should know from the police website. And, like driving at home, just follow your judgement. If you’re driving by a school, they may have signs to slow down but even if they don’t … slow down! If you’re navigating a road construction area, again, tread slowly!

5. Toll Time: Have Cash Ready

We only encountered a few tolls on our trip, but the first time we had exactly zero colones on us … and therefore, we were freaking out. Fortunately the team we were traveling with for filming covered us the first time around, and you better believe we kept colones on us at all times moving forward. For reference, tolls are about 300 – 500 colones give or take.

Once you do pay, make sure you keep your ticket because they’ll ask for it at the next station. I may or may not have messed this one up once, too… (I learn just about everything by making a mistake, sigh).

6. Fueling Up: What to do at the Gasolineras

This goes without saying, but before you even pull up to the gas station, make sure you know which side of your vehicle the fuel tank is on. (I seriously always mess this up…) Once you do pull up, the station attendants will pump your gas for you, just remember the type of gas you need (diesel vs. regular). We used a credit card to pay for gas, but it’s a good idea to have cash on you at all times just in case. Speaking of payment, gas is pretty expensive, so just know that going into it…

While they’re fueling you up, the attendants will also ask whether or not you want your windshield cleaned. This is personal preference, of course, so do as you see fit. And last, you don’t have to tip the attendants, but if you have colones on you, you might as well because in our cases, they earned it.

7. Offroading: Tread with Caution

As I mentioned, offroading was a big part of our trip, but it was hardly a walk in the park, er, a drive on the highway. If you’re driving through the jungle – from, say, the Tapanti National Forest to the Osa Peninsula – know that you’ll be driving through at least three “rivers” (they’re seriously rivers – the water was almost above our entire tire, eek!). It’s essential you have an SUV with 4 wheel drive, and, equally important, a confident, calm and capable driver. If you’re uncomfortable about crossing the rivers, wait for another vehicle to go first; watch their path through so you attempt the shallowest route possible. (Again, this is NOT for the faint of heart and you have to be extremely careful and accepting that you could possibly get stuck. Tread with caution, and if it looks too deep, don’t tread at all!)

The last thing – if possible, have a Spanish speaker with you. We had Mauricio from Nai join us for the trip down south, and he was able to talk with locals to gauge water levels and to help us navigate entirely unmarked roads when we were lost in the jungle at night. Because we were lost in the jungle at night…

8. Drive Slowly in the Forests: Save the Tapirs!

As I’ve mentioned, we were in Costa Rica to create an awareness-building film for Nai Conservation, a local group that’s working to help the endangered tapir species. In addition to habitat loss and poaching, traffic accidents are one of the major threats facing this insanely adorable and important species. So it goes without saying that my most important tip for driving in Costa Rica is to drive slowly in tapir habitats, which include the forests, mountains and jungle.

Nai is installing road signs in the most accident-prone places, so pay particularly close attention to your speed when you see those and try not to get too distracted by how stinkin’ cute the tapir silhouette is!

And … that’s a wrap! I’ll be honest, we figured out the logistics of driving in Costa Rica once we were actually there, so it’s hardly rocket science. That being said, it’s always smart to go into any road trip knowledgeable and prepared – so if you have the time and foresight, your future, Costa Rica road trippin’ self will thank you!

Looking for other road trip adventures? Check out some of my favorite road trips of all time!