Costa Rica is full of opportunities for adventure—and one of the best ways to explore is on a self-drive road trip. Renting your own car means you have the freedom to take spontaneous detours and side trips.
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Costa Rica is full of opportunities for adventure—and one of the best ways to explore is on a self-drive road trip. Renting your own car means you have the freedom to take spontaneous detours and side trips.
The best way to get around Costa Rica is by bus, which is reliable, navigable, inexpensive and frequently runs through San José, Costa Rica's capital. Driving on your own is not highly recommended as some roads are tricky (speckled with potholes and ambiguously marked intersections).
It's easy to experience sticker shock when checking into eco-lodges and renting vehicles and booking tours in Costa Rica. Indeed, it is the most expensive country in Central America, thanks to a booming economy and well-developed tourist sector.
Driving in Costa Rica is definitely safe, as long as you realize: the rules and road conditions are very different from what US drivers are used to. Challenges include animals, weather, and a lack of signage in cities.
Country Summary: While petty crime is the predominant threat for tourists in Costa Rica, violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault, occurs in Costa Rica.
The cheapest time to visit Costa Rica is during the green season or rainy season, May to November. As the largest influx of tourists visit Costa Rica during the dry season (December through April), that is the most expensive time to visit. Read more about Costa Rica weather to know what to expect.
Pura vida — Hello/Goodbye/Thank you/You're welcome (lit. “pure life”) You'll hear pura vida used as a greeting, a goodbye or a way to say “thank you” or “you're welcome.” It's basically like the Costa Rican “aloha.” It's a positive phrase about seizing the moment and enjoying life.