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10 Things You Must Know Before Driving In Costa Rica

10 Things You Must Know Before Driving In Costa Rica

Last updated: October 25, 2026. Updated rental insurance and vehicle qualifications, night-driving and navigation precautions, pedestrian and passing guidance, toll and payment context, and rebate and gear-link limitations. Date information added October 30, 2026.

Costa Rica with kids: in the car

▶Family car time 20 sec

A moment in the car during our Costa Rica family trip.

Traveling internationally can be nerve-wracking. We’ve done enough of it in our 2+ years of full-time travel to not be as intimidated, however, it’s always a new adventure when you haven’t been to a country.

Originally published in March 2021. Rental costs and trip memories reflect that past journey; check current rental terms and road conditions for your route and travel dates. When we booked 10 days in Costa Rica we wondered if we could drive around by ourselves as a family? After a bit of research we went for it.

Overall, we drove a good portion of the entire country. We spent over 20+ hours driving in our rental car and visited five different regions of Costa Rica. Thankfully, you drive on the right in Costa Rica (like the US).

Booking a Rental Car

We scored an amazing rate on our 7-seater Toyota Rush at $163/week on that trip! Wow. We just used our go-to travel app, Expedia, and booked with Budget.

For our rental, it helped to know how to drive a manual. The cheapest option we found was manual, and with the roads we encountered, I preferred controlling the gears.

Watch the full Costa Rica family film on Vimeo, or visit our Monteverde family film on YouTube.

Ask the rental company for an all-in quote explaining mandatory third-party liability coverage, whether it requires its Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or accepts credit-card proof, exclusions, and deposits. On that trip, the insurance cost us about $100 more per week.

Tips for Driving In Costa Rica

1. Choose a vehicle based on your itinerary and rental agreement. Check any unpaved-road restriction and 4WD requirement. On our trip, we encountered steep, rocky roads on the way to La Fortuna and Monteverde.
2. Driving during the daytime is best. It’s just easier to see, although it’s also busier. ACAR advises avoiding night driving because lighting and signage can be limited and potholes, wildlife, and pedestrians may be harder to see. We tried our best to drive during the day, but probably spent 50% or more of our drive time in the dark. It’s more nerve-wracking and gave me a few tension headaches, but driving slowly does not remove the risks. Plan rural journeys for daylight, and stop somewhere safe if visibility or road conditions become unsafe. You’ll see some interesting wildlife also! However, if it is also raining, I’d recommend not driving and getting a hotel instead.
3. Download offline map directions before you leave. Do not assume your phone plan will provide reliable data along every route. It was impossible to get GPS to pull up on our drives in the middle of the rainforest.
4. Bring a wifi hotspot. This makes it a bit better, although if you don’t have cellular data you probably won’t have wifi on this either.
5. Signage is slim, so pay attention to your GPS. Signs and markings can be unclear on some routes; do not rely only on navigation instructions when road conditions or signs indicate otherwise.
6. It’s a bumpy ride. Some of our driving was so bumpy my Apple watch logged exercise minutes. While I used my core to brace myself, I certainly wasn’t doing anything aerobic. Those roads were not smooth!
7. Watch for wildlife. The roads are windy and sometimes steep. It’s not uncommon to come across some wildlife, especially at night. We saw lots!
8. Go slow. My husband took some of the roads like a video game driver, but that’s not the best way to drive! We often would come around a corner to find standstill traffic, a bicycle rider, or a truck unloading. Be very aware!
9. Pay attention to random things on the road. A palm leaf or sticks might warn of a pothole or broken down truck. On a very busy highway, I saw one truck drive put logs out like warning lights.
10. Things get steep! Our mountain drives involved plenty of steep climbs and descents. Allow extra time for winding routes and changing road conditions.

Other Road Trip Tips For Costa Rica

Gas Stations in Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s fuel stations are full service: an attendant handles the pump. Check accepted payment options and local tipping expectations before filling up.

Restrooms in Costa Rica

The bathrooms in Costa Rica took me by surprise. They were all flushing toilets and quite clean. In some parts of Costa Rica you are not supposed to flush the toilet paper, so watch for signs. Never flush anything else either.

Getting Food While Driving in Costa Rica

As you drive, you’ll see plenty of “sodas”, which are small cafes. You’ll also see signs for restaurants. We stopped at plenty and the food is delicious! The most common meal, the casado, can be found everywhere in Costa Rica. It is some variation on: plantains, beans and rice, pico, and meat. I love the fish as it was always so fresh, but you can find beef, chicken, pork, or vegetarian.

Service can be relaxed and slow. Pura vida is the motto everywhere and it means your food will come when its ready (when applied to food service. It applies to everything in Costa Rica!). If you are in a hurry, go for the “comida rapida”, or fast food.

Little markets are also plentiful with chips and small snacks. Fruit stands are common. Pull over for some fresh bananas!

Tolls on Costa Rica Roads

Some routes around San José have tolls; check current tolls and payment methods for your route. On our trip, tolls were about 400–800 colones (roughly $1 at the time), and we were able to pay in U.S. dollars and receive colones in change. Budget recommends carrying local cash; payment options can vary.

Pedestrians and Bikes/Scooters/Motorcycles

Drive defensively around pedestrians. Slow down, follow traffic signals and local right-of-way rules, and yield where required. When crossing on foot, use designated crossings where available and check that approaching drivers have stopped.

Expect lots of bikes and scooters/motorcycles. They weave in and out of traffic. You might have to wait to pass them as well.

Passing on Costa Rica Roads

Risky passing can put everyone in danger. Follow signs, road markings, and local traffic rules. Do not pass where it is prohibited or where you cannot see enough clear road to complete the maneuver safely. You may need to wait behind a truck until a permitted, safe opportunity appears.

More Tips For Driving in Costa Rica

Click here for more tips I found useful in my own research.

We enjoyed being able to see so much beautiful Costa Rica driving around in our own car. With kids, we love the flexibility of a car. I’d absolutely drive in Costa Rica again when we visit again!

Stay safe!

Xoxo,

Leslie

Additional Reading

Travel Tip: The Schwab Bank Investor Checking debit card offers rebates for eligible ATM cash withdrawals, subject to current account terms. Dynamic currency-conversion costs and fees for non-withdrawal transactions are excluded. Check current terms before relying on a rebate.

For the rental company we used on this trip, see Budget Costa Rica for its local rental options.

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