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Despite its small size, Costa Rica is chockfull of amazing destinations. Costa Rica is also one of the most diverse countries on Earth. In just one trip, you can see the rainforest, Pacific beaches, Caribbean beaches, volcanoes, islands, and more!
Getting around Costa Rica can seem daunting, but I promise it is much more manageable than you think! If you can travel in your home country, you can travel in Costa Rica.
How to Travel in Costa Rica: Renting a Car 🚗
I won’t beat around the bush—Costa Rica is best explored by car. Renting a car enables you to experience Costa Rica at your leisure! It provides you with the most flexibility and enables authentic travel. Go where you like, when you like, and stop whenever you like!
Renting a car gives you freedom. Simply put, getting your own car is the best way to experience Costa Rica.
There are many rental companies in Costa Rica. I’ve tried several of them, but my favorite is Adobe Rent a Car. This is a Costa Rican company that has a great reputation and offers competitive rates. I trust them so much, I partnered with them. You can get 10% off your car rental with this link!
As a traveler, it is important to me to give back to the home country as much as possible. Renting with Adobe Rent a Car is a great way to keep the money within Costa Rica and support local companies.
But what is driving like in Costa Rica?
Many people are concerned about driving in a foreign country, but of all the places I have traveled, Costa Rica is the easiest to adapt to. As a 29 year old woman, I have driven in Puerto Rico, Germany, Spain, and Costa Rica. Costa Rica has definitely been the easiest place to drive!
The signage in Costa Rica is most similar to the United States. Roads can be windy, as many mountain roads are in the USA, but you don’t feel burdened with extraneous signs and the driving laws are very similar. If you’ve driven in Small Town, USA, you can drive in Costa Rica. Just drive slowly and become familiar with the signs you’ll see ahead of time.
How do I go about renting a car?
Decide which kind of car you will need!
Look into your desired destinations—some places in Costa Rica are best accessed with a 4WD car. This is especially important during the rainy season, from May until November.
Most destinations, however, are perfectly accessible with a 2WD SUV. My recommendation is to always go with a high clearance car, even if it is only 2WD. It provides a peace of mind when traveling, no matter your destination. When renting, I opt for a small SUV over a sedan.
Don’t wait, reserve early!
Reserve your car in advance! There is not an overly abundant amount of rental cars in Costa Rica. Rent in advance to ensure that you get the most suitable car for your travels.
Look for pricing that includes the mandatory Costa Rican insurance!
Many travelers have told me that they were disappointed with the unexpected cost of insurance when picking up their vehicle. Costa Rica is unique in that it requires car renters to pay for a certain insurance. The cost that many companies advertise online does not account for this mandatory insurance. When you get here to pick up a car, this is an unpleasant surprise. Going with companies like Adobe Rent a Car ensures that the price you see is what you pay.
Slow Travel in Costa Rica: Public Buses 🚌
The first time I visited Costa Rica was when I was studying abroad in Heredia, a city outside of San Jose. I was very fortunate that my classes only ran Monday through Wednesday. My friends I would hop on a bus to a different town almost every weekend!
Public transportation is a great way to see the countryside and to get to know Costa Rica authentically. If you are interested in slow travel, or budget travel, opt for public transportation!
A disadvantage of traveling by bus is that you rarely take the most direct route. From San Jose, you can access every major destination in Costa Rica by bus. However, before traveling to the next place, you will need to return to San Jose. San Jose is the only true bus hub in Costa Rica! This makes for long, somewhat disjointed trips.
The other consideration is that the roads in Costa Rica are not overly efficient, especially by bus. During my time in Heredia, I found that there was one rule for bus travel: a bus trip from San Jose to any given location would take 5-6 hours (no matter what Google Maps says)! Jaco is one destination that only takes about 2 hours from San Jose.
In sum, in order to travel by bus you will need a flexible itinerary and a significant amount of time in Costa Rica. Rome2Rio is a great place to see bus terminals!
Taxis, Uber, and Taxi Piratas in Costa Rica 🚖
For shorter trips, such as picking money up from the bank, running to the store, etc., taxis can be a great way to travel! Costa Rica’s taxis are red with yellow triangles on the side of the car. I would suggest getting the phone number from your hotel or Airbnb hosts to call when you need a taxi.
Uber is also available in more populated cities, such as San Jose, Heredia, Tamarindo, Jaco, and La Fortuna.
Costa Rica also has unregistered taxis called “taxi piratas”. Drivers generally do not speak English. If you are feeling more adventurous or in a pinch, you could ask your host for a trusted taxi driver and go from there!
Private and Shared Shuttles 🧳️
If you are not too keen on renting a car, another great option is taking a shuttle. Shuttles will be faster and more comfortable than going by bus.
Costa Rica has private and shared shuttles. Private shuttles are great for group travel. The price of a private shuttle depends on the size of the party, as that will determine the kind of vehicle required.
Shared shuttles have a set schedule. They offer morning or afternoon trips. For around $60-80 dollars you can pay for a seat on a shuttle/van. Some companies require you to reserve seats for at least two passengers. Shared shuttle generally hold about 10-15 people.
Shared shuttles do not pick up from the airport. There is generally a different meeting spot about 5 minutes away. Since it is shared transportation, they will also not take you to the doorstep of your hotel or Airbnb. You will need to rely on a taxi to get the rest of the way there.
Shuttles transport between bigger destinations, such as Liberia to Monteverde, Liberia to La Fortuna, San Jose to Tamarindo, etc. I used a shared shuttle when going from San Jose to Puerto Viejo. This made for a quick and comfortable trip!
Ferry between Coastal Destinations ⛴
Costa Rica has a ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera, a port very near to Santa Teresa and Montezuma. If you are traveling to or from Santa Teresa/Montezuma to any destination on the mainland of Costa Rica (not Guanacaste), traveling on the ferry makes for a memorable and unique experience! The ferry even takes cars! You can purchase your ticket at the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry website.
Domestic Flights in Costa Rica 🛫
Hopping on a flight is the fastest way to travel in Costa Rica. Imagine trading your 5 hour driving trip for 40 minutes in the air!
Domestic flights, however, can be pricey, ranging from $50-$300 for a one-way ticket. Schedules are also quite limited. Airlines may offer two flights a week during high season, and then completely do away with that flight during low season. It is important to look into domestic flights ahead of time. Sansa Air is the biggest airline in Costa Rica and is a great place to start!
Flights between San Jose and Liberia are generally pretty easy to come by. Flights between one of those destinations and a smaller town, like La Fortuna, Monteverde, Drake Bay, Tamarindo are more scarce. They also use smaller jets.
Final Thoughts on Traveling within Costa Rica 🚦
There are lots of different options for getting around Costa Rica.
♦️ Although it may seem intimidating to drive in a foreign country, the majority of tourists that come for a short (5-12 day) trip opt for renting a car. Renting a car in Costa Rica allows for a flexible trip. Travel at your own pace, change plans as needed, stop at any destination or restaurant along the way! If you choose to rent, Adobe Rent a Car is Costa Rica’s most trustworthy company. Enjoy 10% off with this link.
♦️ Relying on private and shared shuttles for longer distances, and taxis for shorter trips, is another great option. You can reserve shuttles on Viator or Tripadvisor! Try searching “Shuttle from San Jose to La Fortuna”, or whichever destinations you need to travel to/from.
♦️ If you are on a budget and are planning a longer trip, public transportation in Costa Rica is moderately easy to figure out and widespread. You can book travel here at Rome2Rio, just be sure to choose the correct destinations.
♦️ If you have more financial freedom, or are traveling with limited time, you can opt for flying with local airlines like Sansa Air.
You can also combine any of these options to create the best travel plan for your trip! Whatever you decide, you already made the best decision—answering the call to come see paradise for yourself.
Wondering where to visit in Costa Rica? Check out these amazing destinations.
🌿 Monteverde – Experience the Costa Rican cloud forest and spot toucans & other amazing wildlife
🌋 La Fortuna – See sloths and enjoy the view of the Arenal Volcano
🌴 Playas del Coco – Soak up the sun and enjoy great restaurants and nightlife
🐚 Potrero – Escape to a quiet beach community with plenty of amazing destinations nearby!
Wishing you a lovely stay in Costa Rica! ¡Pura vida!
About Costa Tica Travel
