A lot of people seem to worry about driving in Costa Rica. It’s really not that difficult and with a few things to keep in mind, you will be fine. It’s a great way to enjoy all that Costa Rica has to offer.
While Costa Ricans are mostly pretty laid back and charming and not too worried about getting things done really quickly…… that all changes once they’re behind the wheel. Passing on a curve, passing on a hill, passing going over a speed bump. It seems that once that engine is turned on, someone else takes over! Don’t be put off by this — just do what you know is right.
Most of the highways in Costa Rica are two-lane and tend to be narrow. All in all, the roads are in good shape with no major problems. While the signs are in Spanish, the shapes and colors are the same: Stop, Yield, etc, are pretty obvious.
The main thing to consider when driving in Costa Rica is: slow down and be aware of what’s going on. It’s not a place where you can turn on the cruise control and sit back — you need to watch for pedestrians in the road (and I mean “in” the road and not “by the side of the road”), folks on bicycles, little trucks loaded down with fruit (with the bumper almost touching the pavement) and the occasional cow. It’s a lot like driving on a two-lane country road in North America or Europe.
To learn about any closures or problems on a route you want to take, look here: http://www.transito.go.cr/estadorutas/
As for the “legalities” — don’t speed, wear your seatbelt, don’t pass on the double line, don’t drink and drive, don’t use your cell phone while driving — no matter what anyone else is doing. If you are involved in an accident, that is minor, there is a new form you can fill out and then move on. Your rental car company will have this form. If it is a more serious accident, you must call the police and not move the cars until the police arrive.
If you are stopped for speeding or other traffic infractions, don’t offer the officer a bribe. Almost 20 traffic officers have been arrested in the last year for soliciting bribes as well as a few drivers for offering them. Just like anywhere else, take the ticket. You can pay it at a bank or online and the rental car agency can help with this.
When driving around your local area, be sure to take a copy of your passport with you. Leave your passport in the hotel safe and make sure you have copied the “main page” with your photo and the page that shows your entry stamp.
Don’t drive long distances after dark – except in your local area, to dinner, for instance. With the “obstacles” (such as bike riders wearing dark clothes with no reflectors on them or their bikes) and rain and possible fog, winding roads — it’s just not a good idea.
All in all, renting a car is the very best way to see Costa Rica and can be surprisingly reasonable, compared to some other modes of transportation.
