Car rental in Costa Rica

Tips for scoring a cheap car to rent in Costa Rica

Need a cheap car rental in Costa Rica? With Economybookings, you can easily compare multiple providers to find the best possible deal, no matter what you plan to do while driving around Costa Rica. A quick comparison can save you time and money, which means you can kick back and enjoy some classic pura vida.

• Compare pickup locations – Select the broader urban area instead of a specific location to unlock more deal options, including off-airport savings.
• Slightly adjust pickup times and dates – Even changing your booking by an hour can reveal lower rates.
• Choose the right car for your needs – For more rugged excursions into the rural backcountry areas, a sportier four-wheel drive vehicle can help navigate through rougher terrain. But if you mostly plan on exploring in and around San José, a compact car can help you save time on finding parking and money on fuel costs.
• Book early – Peak travel periods like the dry season (December-April) and summer holiday season (July-August) often see higher prices, so reserving in advance helps secure better rates and availability.

Tips when renting a car in Costa Rica

• Rent a car if you plan to go beyond San José and the popular resort towns to reach smaller towns, the mountains, and remote beaches, as mass transit options are limited outside the most touristy regions.
• Avoid rush hour traffic on major highways like National Primary Route 1 (or Carretera Interamericana Norte), National Primary Route 27, and National Primary Route 34 (or Carretera Pacífica Fernández Oreamuno).
• Picking up your rental car at major airports like San José and Liberia provides the best vehicle selection and access to toll road options.
• Choose a mid-size or compact car for easier parking at resorts and city centers, and consider a SUV if you aim to drive far beyond the major cities.
• Costa Rica currently has no emission zones or congestion pricing programs, but it does have three toll roads—ask your rental company about toll payment options.
• Always inspect the car and take photos before and after your rental.

Driving tips in Costa Rica

• Drive on the right and overtake on the left.
• Headlights flash as a polite signal (e.g., to let you pass), and they may be required to drive at night.
• On highways faster drivers tend to drive in the left lanes, while the right lanes move more slowly.
• In San José, plan to pay around ₡1000-1500 (or about USD$2-3) per hour for parking in a secure lot.
• While the San José metro region tends to maintain well-paved roads, you will likely encounter some gravel and unpaved roads in rural areas. If you plan to drive into the backcountry during your trip, it pays to research local road conditions in advance.
• In Costa Rica, gas stations are highly regulated for consistent safety and quality across the nation. Also keep in mind that all stations are full-service, meaning an attendant will pump gas for you.
• Keep your driver’s license, rental papers, and insurance with you at all times. (You might also want to keep your passport or proof of valid passport within easy reach as well.)
• Costa Rica requires all drivers to have Third-Party Liability Insurance (TPL), and your rental agency will likely add liability coverage to your bill before handing over the car keys.

Speed limits

In Costa Rica, speed limits are typically 40 km/h (25 mph) on city roads, 80 km/h (50 mph) on rural highways, and 90 km/h (56 mph) on multilane highways. Also note that driving over 120 km/h (74 mph) is considered a felony crime, so resist any urge to drive super fast on the highway. Always watch for posted signs, as limits can vary.

Road signs

Costa Rica road signs follow international standards and are usually clear and well-placed. They’re primarily in Spanish, but they often include some English translation and use symbols for quick understanding. Speed limit signs are in kilometres per hour (km/h). In Costa Rica, look out for signs marking one-way only streets, bus-only lanes, shared bike lines, and designated school lanes, which may have time-based restrictions and speed limits.

Toll roads and park fees

As of 2025, Costa Rica has three national highways that operate as toll roads: Routes 1 and 2 in and around San José, and Route 27 from San José to the Pacific Coast of Puntarenas Province. All these highways have toll booths that accept cash payment (in colónes), and Route 27 has recently begun to accept credit card payments. In addition, Costa Rica is rolling out the QuickPass electronic transponder system for Route 27.

If you plan to drive to any of Costa Rica’s national parks and reserves, note that many of these parks charge admission fees. Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from USD$5 at Río Macho Forest Reserve to USD$16 at Manuel Antonio National Park. And unlike most everything else, foreign visitors are charged in US dollars (or the equivalent amount in colónes) for park admission.

Discover Costa Rica by car

Since Costa Rica has so much rural territory that happens to have many of the nation’s top attractions, a car can really help you reach everywhere you want to go. Unless you plan to stay in the city or at your beach resort, a rental car makes it much easier to get to Costa Rica’s world-famous volcanoes, the spectacular coastal rainforest at Manuel Antonio National Park, and the wondrous wildlife habitat at Monteverde Cloud Forest. While you can find a few tourist buses that serve these areas, a rental car provides a whole lot more flexibility and freedom.

When to Visit

Since Costa Rica sits fairly close to the equator, they don’t experience the four-season weather patterns that US, Canadian, and European travelers are accustomed to at home. More specifically, Costa Rica has a (mostly) dry season that spans from December to April, and a very wet season that lasts from May to November.

For the best road trip weather, you may want to stick to the dry season, when you will run into less rain and more sunshine. But if you’re hoping to see the most wildlife at the national parks and preserves, July and August are the best months for animal watching. And if you’re aiming to avoid the biggest crowds, May and June tend to be relatively quiet. Whenever you plan to hit the open road, make sure to pack water and sunscreen, and to check weather forecasts before leaving.

Languages & Communication

Spanish is the primary language spoken in Costa Rica, yet this nation is also quite multicultural and home to diverse communities. In largely indigenous rural areas, you may encounter locals speaking indigenous languages like Bribri, Maléku, Cabécar, and Ngäbere. And in Limón Province on the Caribbean Coast, you may hear a lot of Jamaican Patois (an English-based Creole language) due to the local population of Afro-Caribbean immigrants and their descendants.

At the same time, as Costa Rica has become a popular tourist destination, they’ve become well-equipped to welcome global visitors. Especially in San José and major coastal destinations like Peninsula Papagayo and Jacó, most services are available in English, and you will encounter hotel and resort staff who are highly experienced in assisting non-Spanish speakers.

Currency & Payments

Costa Rica primarily uses its own currency, the colón. While US dollars are widely accepted in some places, banks and vendors may be particular on which dollars they will accept (as in, they may not take dollars that are too crumpled or torn), so you will likely have an easier time using cash colónes or credit cards.

Speaking of credit cards, they are widely accepted in Costa Rica, and contactless payments have become increasingly common at gas stations, hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs, which are known locally as cajeros automaticos, are readily available throughout cities and popular tourist destinations, making it easy to withdraw cash if needed.

Top driving routes in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a phenomenal place for road trips. Whether you aim to go surfing at the beach, climb atop volcanoes, or wander into the rainforest, these top driving routes highlight some of the best day trips and weekend getaways across the nation:

• Peninsula Papagayo – In recent years, this northwestern corner of Guanacaste Province has become a luxury travel hotspot with resorts like the Four Seasons, the Andaz, and the Nekajui Ritz-Carlton Reserve. But even if you prefer the simple grandeur of Mother Nature, it’s close to the beautiful coastal dry forest at Santa Rosa National Park.
• Arenal Volcano – About halfway between Liberia and San José, you will find one of Costa Rica’s most famous volcanoes at Arenal, along with the refreshing waters of Lake Arenal, and the breathtaking Catarata La Fortuna (waterfall).
• Limón – Though Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast tends to get more attention, the Caribbean coast of Limón Province has a number of special gems worth discovering. More specifically, Tortuguero National Park is an amazing place for wildlife viewing (especially sea turtles), and the city of Limón has several inviting beaches.
• Nosara – It can be a long drive from Liberia (3-4 hours) or San José (4-6 hours) to the Nicoya Peninsula. But once you reach Nosara, you will discover a lovely, laid-back surf town with friendly surf schools, scenic beaches, and a growing array of welcoming boutique hotels and eco-conscious resorts.
• San José – Even if you’re not planning to spend a lot of time in San José, Costa Rica’s capital city is still worth at least a day trip. While in town, check out the cool cafes and boutiques of Barrio Otoya, the soaring heights at Pico Blanco, and the uniquely perky treasures of Hacienda La Chimba, a museum dedicated to Costa Rican coffee.
• Poás Volcano – Poás Volcano National Park is within easy reach of San José, and it’s worth the drive to marvel at one of the world’s largest craters (that’s still an active volcano!). On the way back to town, you can also stop at some authentic Costa Rican coffee farms, including the Hacienda Alsacia that serves as Starbucks’ global research hub.
• Jacó – Take Route 27 west of San José, then take Route 34 south to reach the storied shores of Jacó. The town itself has great surfing beaches and a cool local surfer culture. Just beyond are special gems like Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park, where you can try everything from ATV rides in the jungle to ziplining and chocolate tastings.
• Manuel Antonio – It’s just over a three-hour drive south of San José, but the drive to Manuel Antonio is oh-so worthwhile for its lush rainforests, beautiful white-sand beaches, and world-class wildlife watching.