Driving a rental car in Costa Rica can be a great way to get out and explore lesser traveled areas, as well as save on transportation expenses if you plan on spending the majority of your time traveling during your stay. However, there are a number of things to consider when making your decision:
- Costa Rica driving is NOT like driving in the United States, most Americans find Costa Rican drivers to be extremely aggressive on the road, and to some it can be very stressful.
- Transportation in Costa Rica is expensive. Despite what you may find on the internet, you will not find a decent car for less than $50/day once taxes, securities and all fees are applied.
- There are no street names and numbers in Costa Rica which can be extremely frustrating to those trying to find their way for the first time and do not speak the language.
Always use a reputable company when choosing a transportation service. Be sure to verify basic info such as: the kind of vehicle being offered, if the driver is bilingual, if the vehicle is properly insured etc. It can be surprising what passes as professional transportation in Costa Rica.
The national taxis are a good and inexpensive option for local transportation. Always be sure to use a nationally licensed taxi, they are red and all have a yellow triangle on the doors indicating the vehicle ID number. Be sure to insist that the meter is used ("la Maria").
Though considered by most to be safe, it is always recommendable to drink bottled water to insure an illness-free vacation when traveling abroad. Foreign tap water is exactly that - foreign, and everybody reacts differently.
The currency of Costa Rica is called the Colon. You can click here for an up to the minute quote on today’s dollar/colon exchange rate.
Yes, credit cards and dollars are accepted in most areas that tourists frequent. However, along the road and in smaller towns the Colon is the normal form of payment.
Almost all ATMs in Costa Rica accept Visa/MasterCard ATM cards. Cash advances are also common at most Costa Rican banks though service fees may vary.
A valid passport IS required when entering Costa Rica. All foreigners must carry a valid passport that has validity for a minimum of six months following the date of entry in to Costa Rica. Additionally, be sure that your passport is in decent physical condition as damaged travel documents may be refused at the place of entry.
Citizens of the US, Canada and Europe are NOT required to have a special visa to enter the country. At entry a stamp will be made on your passport indicating date of entry and the 90 day period given when arriving as a tourist.
Costa Rica is THE safest place to travel in Central America. Costa Rica has no military, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate for President and boasts the most stable democratic government in Central America. Of course, common sense practices of securing valuables and essential documents is always wise. Petty theft is common in tourist destinations worldwide and Costa Rica is no exception.
Hiring a reputable company to handle your initial transportation and accommodations is always a good idea when visiting a foreign country for the first time. Use credit cards when in doubt, companies that do not handle credit cards can seldom be held accountable for their practices. Adventure Tours Costa Rica is glad to accept any major credit card for any of our services that you may require.
There are internet cafes almost everywhere a tourist has ever set foot now in Costa Rica. In major tourist destinations such as Jaco/Los Suenos, wireless signals abound. Contrarily, there are few international calling plans that actually do work (though most claim to) in Costa Rica. Depending on the technology, AT&T, Cingular and Verizon are among the few that do work inside the country.
