Most
flights arriving in Costa Rica arrive at the capitol of
San Jose. A Costa Rica car rental is a great way to get
around at your own pace. Roads in this country are often
in bad shape, so you will need some patience if you are
going to be driving a rental car in Costa Rica.
Taxis are a great and inexpensive way to get around.
Rates are generally the same from taxi to taxi, since
the taxi union sets them. For those who want to avoid
the perils of driving in the dark and rain over potholed
roads, this can be a great alternative.
If you do decide you want to make driving a Costa Rica
rental car part of your Central America adventure, you
might just want to err on the side of caution and rent
a 4x4 vehicle. National, ADA, Exotic, Dollar and Budget
can all provide you with a rental car in Costa Rica.
Driving in this country can be quite an adventure; the
drivers speed up instead of slowing down if there is a
pedestrian ahead, and they are even less courteous to
other drivers. Brace yourself and put yourself in a aggressive
frame of mind, especially in the congested streets of
larger cities, or you will not get anywhere.
There are smaller Costa Rica car rental companies with
vehicles that are used, or old. The importance of having
a reliable, new car cannot be stressed enough. This is
another good reason to choose a Costa Rica rental car
over a taxi, which are likely to break down as well. This
is a rugged country and many of its best features are
in remote places with rough terrain.
Insurance is another aspect of a rental car in Costa
Rica that you have to consider if you decide to drive
there. The insurance market is Costa Rica is run by a
government monopoly. This makes choosing insurance when
you book a car a totally different experience than in
the US and other countries. Many Costa Rica car rental
companies will detail the various options for you. A regular
car is going to need the standard insurance, which is
$12 a day with coverage up to $950. 4x4 vehicles will
need the $15 daily coverage and has a deductible of up
to $1500. Tires, Gasoline, and personal items are not
under coverage. Your insurance claim can be invalidated
if you drive across rivers, beaches, or any roads not
marked on a map. You can avoid any problems with insurance
claims in case of an accident by making sure the driver
is the same person on the car rental contract, that they
are over 21 years old and not under the influence of drugs
or alcohol. Driving a rental car in Costa Rica can be
an exciting experience. Having this information helps
to ensure a safe, stress-free and enjoyable adventure.
