Costa Rica Guide

travel information and maps

  • Vacation Planning
  • Best Trips Ever>>
  • More Fun Than Humanly Possible
  • Costa Rica
    • Top Ten
    • Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
    • Things To Do in Costa Rica
    • Maps
    • Transportation
      • Rental Cars
        • Advantages of Driving
        • Disadvantages Driving
        • Code of the Road
        • Navigation & Drive Time
        • Rental Insurance Explained
        • Can’t Get There
      • Airports
        • Flights Worth Taking
        • LIR or SJO
        • Airfare Deals
        • Domestic Airlines
        • Domestic Air Tips
      • Taxis
      • Bus Schedule
    • Food
      • Typical Menu
      • Batidos & Refrescos
      • Gallo Pinto
      • Tamales
      • Ceviche
      • Ensalada Palmito
      • Sopa Negra
      • Vinagre Chilera
    • Weather
      • Seasons in Costa Rica
      • Current Storms in Costa Rica
    • Regions
  • Nature & Wildlife
    • National Parks
    • Wildlife Refuges
    • Ecozones
    • Best Places to See Wildlife in Costa Rica
  • Practical Info
    • Health & Safety
      • Health Tips
        • Altitude Sickness
        • Chikungunya
        • Natural Disasters
      • Crime
        • Cons & Rip-offs
        • Corruption
        • Violent Crime
    • Will My Phone Work?
    • Packing List
    • Passports & Docs
    • Money – How To?
    • How Much Does it Cost?
    • Travel Tips
  • Stories
    • Photos
    • Trek Across Costa Rica
    • Sendero de Oro
    • Quebrada Gata
    • Bicycle Touring
    • About Us
  • Move to Costa Rica
  • Free Travel Pack
no obligation custom trip plan & price quote

1-866-816-0197

· Copyright © 2023 ·

Disadvantages of Driving in Costa Rica

(also see advantages)

Cost

As noted under advantages, a rental car can be budget friendly transportation. However with only one or two people, you’ll pay more for the convenience. A four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicle isn’t absolutely necessary, but there are many places you can’t get without one, and they survive the battering of the huge potholes on the paved roads much better.

Car in Costa RIca with a broken axle
According to the fine print on the rental agreement this broken axle will come out of the driver’s pocket…especially since you can’t get to this spot on the Osa without fording a river…

A mid-size SUV costs around $US 60-75 per day, plus gas (typically double the U.S. price – for example ¢625 per liter or ~$US 5.60 per gallon in mid 2015) and insurance ($US 12-18 per day), plus a 12% airport concourse fee if you pick it up there. Don’t forget that you will be paying for the car every day, so three days of hanging out on a beach will cost you at least $US 200 for your parked car.

One way rentals are possible but surcharges for drop-off at your destination tend to be expensive.

Inconvenience

The biggest inconvenience experienced by most renters is the complete lack of respect for customers that has become the standard culture at the rental agencies.   At least half the times we rented a vehicle there have been hidden charges, fake taxes added, no car when we arrive with a reservation (and once it took two days…), the wrong car (“sorry I understand your reservation was for a 7 passenger SUV but you’ll either have to strap your luggage to the roof of this compact car and all cram in or head to the bus station”), $200 car wash charge (fought that and got it dropped) or some other scam.

We’re not the only ones.  Just take a look at tripadvisor.  It’s epidemic, present in every agency from the big international chains to the small local companies, and they simply have no incentive to change.  There are more renters than cars so they’re not afraid of losing business and you have to return home at the end of your trip making it very difficult to fight any unfair charges.

On the tourist trail theft from parked cars is epidemic. You must remove everything each time you stop, leave someone with the car constantly, or hire someone to watch it. It is ill advised to park even an empty car outside a secure lot overnight.

General Canas Traffic
Traffic can be a definite disadvantage to driving anywhere in Costa Rica but especially around San José

Getting lost can be an adventure or an inconvenience. You won’t really be sure until you try it, but pilots and bus conductors rarely lose their way.

There are places like Tortuguero that you can’t access by road even if you go buy a Humvee.  Other places travelers without a car have fun options like a boat ride across Lake Arenal then Horseback to Monteverde while those with a car are stuck driving 4 hours.

Danger

If you’re not experienced driving narrow, winding mountain roads with no guard rails and facing oncoming loco drivers passing on a curve then you might be better off leaving the driving to someone who is and traveling in a good sized mini-bus instead of a little economy car.

Insulation

A car insulates you from the people, culture and wilderness. You won’t meet fellow travelers or people along the way, and it’s unlikely that you’ll notice the column of leaf cutter ants marching alongside the road.

From the above descriptions of bad drivers, bad weather and bad road conditions it should be obvious that Costa Rica demand all of the driver’s attention.  I know many of the routes “like the back of my hand” after driving them dozens of times to update the map but I still never get to look around and enjoy the scenery when I’m behind the wheel.

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact


toll free Costa Rica travel desk!
1-866-816-0197

CONTACT US

Driving
  • Do I Need Four Wheel Drive in Costa Rica?
  • Costa Rican Code of the Road
  • How to Rent a Car in Costa Rica
  • Stress Free Car Rental in Costa Rica
  • Credit Card Insurance
  • Navigation & Drive Time
  • You Can’t Get There From Here
  • Traffic Violations, Citations & Fines in Costa Rica
  • You GOTTA Be Kidding – Stupidity on the Roads
  • Best Car Rental Agency
  • No, No, Your Other Izquierda – Passing Lanes
  • Guide to Rainy Season Driving In Costa Rica
  • Rental Car & Driving Tips
  • Advantages of Driving in Costa Rica
  • Disadvantages of Driving in Costa Rica
  • Costa Rican Rental Car Insurance Explained (Sort Of)
  • Extra Costs of Renting a Car in Costa Rica
  • Okay to Break the Law
  • Fording Rivers
  • Remarkable Roadwork



Costa Rica Guide on facebook
Costa Rica Guide on Facebook