Driving in Costa Rica: What I Learned From Renting a Car and Exploring on Our Own

When you look at a map of Costa Rica, it can be VERY deceiving. Two places may appear to be only 60 miles apart, so naturally you assume you can hop in the car and be there in a little over an hour.

That is NOT how driving in Costa Rica works.

My best friend Amber and I rented a car and drove from the Guanacaste area to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna. The trip took between four and five hours, even though it looked fairly short on the map. The roads were winding, conditions varied and we certainly weren’t cruising down a major interstate at 75 miles per hour.

But honestly? Self-driving ended up being one of the biggest highlights of our entire trip!

Amber and I are extremely adventurous when we travel and love having the freedom to be spontaneous. We jammed to our music, laughed until we cried, stopped whenever we wanted and had the best time exploring this beautiful country at our own pace. We could do exactly what we wanted, when we wanted, and we loved every minute of it.

Driving in Costa Rica isn’t the right choice for everyone, but for us, it was absolutely worth it.

For the Pacific Side, I Prefer Flying Into Liberia

Based on my own experience, I really liked flying into Liberia Guanacaste Airport. It was easy to navigate and convenient for reaching the resorts and destinations along Costa Rica’s Pacific side.

Liberia is the primary airport gateway to Guanacaste, making it a logical choice if you’re staying around the Papagayo Peninsula or starting your vacation with a few nights near the coast.

I personally stayed at Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica. It was a cool resort and a good home base for that portion of our trip, although travelers should know that the property is VERY hilly. The resort has shuttles to transport guests between their rooms and different areas of the property, but it may not be the right fit for someone who wants a flat, easily walkable resort.

Costa Rica also isn’t necessarily the traditional white-sand beach destination some travelers picture. The beaches we experienced had much darker volcanic sand. It wasn’t the dramatic, jet-black sand you might imagine, but after walking along it, our feet definitely looked muddy!

That doesn’t mean the beaches aren’t interesting or beautiful. It simply means Costa Rica offers a different kind of coastal experience than Mexico or many Caribbean destinations.

Why I Would Focus a First Trip on the Pacific Side

While we were in Costa Rica, Amber and I met another traveler who had explored nearly the entire country. He felt that the Caribbean side required considerably more effort to reach and didn’t offer enough for him to recommend it over the other places he had visited.

That was his personal opinion, and I know there are travelers who enjoy Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. However, his experience reinforced my feeling that most first-time visitors will get a better introduction by choosing a manageable route instead of attempting to cover the entire country.

Starting in Guanacaste and then traveling inland gives you access to completely different landscapes and experiences without cramming too many regions into one vacation.

Costa Rica may look small on a map, but that does not mean you should attempt to see every corner of it in one week.

Costa Rican Miles Are Not Iowa Miles

This may be the most important thing I can tell anyone planning to drive in Costa Rica: never estimate your travel time based solely on mileage.

A route that appears quick on a map may include sharp curves, slower traffic, changes in elevation and roads that require far more concentration than the ones you drive at home.

The good news is that the scenery is GORGEOUS.

Having our own car gave us the flexibility to pull into viewing areas, try roadside restaurants and stop whenever something caught our attention. We weren’t treating the drive as time we had to get through before the “real” vacation could begin. The drive became part of the adventure.

There is just something about exploring a beautiful country with your best friend, music playing and absolutely no pressure to follow anyone else’s schedule.

Use Waze, but Have an Offline Backup

For navigation in Costa Rica, I recommend using Waze. It is widely used locally and can be especially helpful with current road conditions, traffic and unexpected route changes.

However, do not assume you’ll have reliable cell service everywhere you travel. Before leaving your hotel, enter your destination and make sure the complete route has loaded.

I also recommend downloading the region you’ll be visiting through Google Maps so you have an offline backup. Waze is great for live navigation, while Google Maps allows you to download an entire area to your phone in advance.

Using both gives you a little extra reassurance when you’re traveling through remote or mountainous parts of the country. You don’t want to lose service in the middle of the rainforest and suddenly realize neither you nor your best friend knows which winding road you’re supposed to be following!

Leave Early and Arrive Before Dark

While I enjoyed driving in Costa Rica, this is not a destination where I recommend starting a long drive late in the afternoon and hoping for the best.

If you’re heading inland to La Fortuna, Monteverde or another rainforest destination, leave in the morning and plan to arrive well before dark.

Not every road is paved or in perfect condition. You may encounter narrow sections, sharp curves and limited lighting once you leave the more populated areas. There are few streetlights in the rainforest and mountain regions, and heavy rain can make driving even more difficult.

Daylight also lets you enjoy the scenery and stop along the way without worrying about racing the sunset. Amber and I love an adventure, but even we weren’t interested in navigating unfamiliar rainforest roads in total darkness!

Should You Rent a Car or Book Private Transfers?

A rental car gave us exactly the kind of freedom we wanted, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right answer for every traveler.

If winding roads make you nervous, you don’t enjoy navigating unfamiliar places or you would rather relax while someone else handles the drive, private transfers can be an excellent choice.

The price of a private transfer may initially seem high on longer routes. Once you consider how much time the driver is committing to the journey—and the fact that the vehicle may need to return without passengers—the cost begins to make more sense.

Travelers considering a rental car should also look beyond the first advertised price. Basic rental-car insurance is mandatory in Costa Rica and can significantly increase the total cost. Make sure you understand the complete price before deciding that renting a car is automatically the less expensive option.

This decision isn’t only about cost. It’s also about how comfortable you feel and how much independence you want during the trip.

Would I Drive in Costa Rica Again?

Absolutely!

I wouldn’t recommend renting a car to someone who knows the road conditions will make them anxious. That isn’t how anyone should spend a vacation.

But if you’re adventurous, comfortable taking your time and want the freedom to change your plans, driving can become one of the most memorable parts of the experience.

Some of my favorite memories from Costa Rica weren’t tied to a resort or scheduled activity. They were the moments Amber and I spent in the car, music playing, laughing together and pulling over simply because something looked interesting.

Just remember: don’t trust the mileage alone, leave plenty of time, use Waze, save an offline map and arrive before dark.

If you’re considering Costa Rica but aren’t sure which airport, destinations and transportation options make sense together, that’s where thoughtful planning makes a huge difference. At Good Trip Travel Co., I can help you build an itinerary that includes plenty of adventure without making the logistics more complicated than they need to be.

Ready to start planning? Contact Hildy Webb at Good Trip Travel Co., and let’s create a Costa Rica vacation that fits the way you actually want to travel.