Traveling in Costa Rica and Renting a Car
Presently there are no rental car companies in Monteverde so you should rent in San Jose or Liberia or other larger towns. Be warned that Costa Rica has some pretty adventurous roads!
We are happy to report that every year they improve more and more! The famous road to Monteverde is now completely paved from the Pan-American Highway all the way to Guacimal (Guacimal is about a 40 minutes drive from Monteverde and this is still a dirt road). In January 2011 there are plans to pave the rest of the road from Guacimal to Santa Elena.
Video of Road to Monteverde
Although note that road conditions have vastly improved over the last few years if you plan to visit Monteverde you are much better off with a four-wheel drive vehicle for the added clearance it gives you, you'll probably never need to use the 5th gear.
Renting a car gives you added freedom to explore - especially if you are on a tight schedule and
do not want to be w aiting on shuttles or the buses.
A foreign drivers license is valid in Costa Rica as long as your passport and visa are in order as
well. Note: most rental agencies ask a $1000 deposit or deductible.
On the negative side renting a car also adds additional responsibility. The roads signs are bad
or non-existant and there are many thefts from rental cars. The drivers are not the best in the
world and driving in San Jose is a nightmare! The highways here are not like in the US, Canada
or Germany - there are sometimes hazards with little or no signage and you never can be too
sure there's not a cow looming around the next corner. Most roads are two lane and there
are many older cars and some bad drivers that can make the roads here even more
dangerous. Always drive defensively and stay alert. Excess speed is the cause of most
accidents.
Speaking a little Spanish can go along way in getting driving directions. You should find that
Tico's live up to their reputation and will be happy to assist you on the road. Being a 'Gringo'
(all foreigners are called Gringos it seems!) may get you special attention from "Traficos" (traffic
cops) who may look to write you up a speeding ticket in an attempt to extort a little cash. This
is small hassle and does not happen that often. Just pay the tickets small fine from any bank in
Costa Rica before you leave, don't pay them directly (always ask for a written ticket). And of
course, never leave valuables in the car unattended!
Costa Rica has a good public transportation system and there are companies that cater to
transferring people from one tourist destination to another. Think about where you are going,
will you actually need the car when at each destination or will you just use it to get from point A
to B? Taxis are also abundant all over the country. If you have questions on getting around
Costa Rica please email us and we can try to help.
Check out our maps, our transport sections and our searchable transportation database.
Check out our other transport sections:
Directions to Monteverde (including video of Monteverde Road)
Public Bus Schedule (Monteverde,Arenal Volcano and other parts of Costa Rica)
Searchable Transportation Database (Monteverde, Arenal Volcano and other parts of Costa
Domestic Flights (within Costa Rica)
Taxi-boat-taxi service between Monteverde and Arena Volcano
Horseback Riding from Monteverde to Arenal Volcano
Maps of Costa Rica (Monteverde, Arenal Volcano and Costa Rica)
We can recommend Adobe Rent a Car
Click Here to check rates.
Return to Monteverde Costa Rica Transport Information Directory
