Driving In Costa Rica: What To Know Before You Go

Q: Are there specific tips for navigating Costa Rican roads?

It's a good idea to use offline maps like Waze, as internet coverage can be spotty in some areas. Also, be aware of one-lane bridges and occasional river crossings, especially in rural areas. During the rainy season, driving conditions can worsen, with increased risks of landslides and washouts.

Q: What about traffic signs and gas prices in Costa Rica?

Traffic signs in Costa Rica are similar to those in the US and Canada, but learning some Spanish terms can be helpful. Gasoline prices are relatively high compared to other countries in Latin America, with an average of around $4.75 per gallon.

Driving in Costa Rica is an art form, especially for Americans accustomed to more orderly traffic conditions. Of course, the ideal scenario when traveling there is using public transportation.

However, considering how small Costa Rica is compared to many other countries, it blows my mind how long an inter-city bus ride can take. Sometimes, renting a car and driving yourself is the only solid option.

But not to worry. I’ve got you! After having driven myself there, I’ve learned a few things, which I’ll share with you. To get you started, they drive on the right side of the street, like in the US.

Disclaimer 1: I’ve only driven from San Jose to La Fortuna, Puntarenas, and Paquera. These are relatively easy, well-paved roads to drive on. Please do research your destination if it’s not one of these places. You will need a 4×4 to drive on some of the rural roads there. There will be river-crossings and all the fun stuff.

Disclaimer 2: I originally published this post in May of 2022. I’ve recently updated it to include more recent and relevant information for you.

Disclaimer 3: This post has affiliate links that can help me earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you in advance for the support! 🥰 Learn more

Table of Contents

How to Navigate the Roads in Costa Rica

Driving in a foreign country is stressful for most people. First, the law is different. The road conditions are different. The navigation system is different. Sometimes, even the driving side is different.

How can you educate yourself enough to feel prepared? Let’s try.

A winding dirt road surrounded by lush green trees and a bright blue sky, showcasing typical rural driving conditions in Costa Rica.

Introduction to Driving in Costa Rica

First, let’s get to know the driving scene in Costa Rica in the most basic sense.

Driving Side

Costa Ricans drive on the right side of the street, the same as the USA, Canada, and the EU.

Driver’s License

As long as your home country license has the Roman alphabet on it, you’re fine using only that to drive in Costa Rica. But here are some conditions:

You must have had the license in use for at least 2 years.
Only the original copy will be accepted.
Temporary permits are not valid.
The minimum age for renting a car here is 21-23 years, depending on the supplier.
Always have your passport. The driver’s license alone will not work.
If your home country license doesn’t have the Roman alphabet on it, you must bring an International Driving Permit along with that license.

Before Driving

This section will familiarize you with all the necessary preparations before driving.

Addresses in Costa Rica

The first and most important thing you need to know before you hit the road is this: There are no street addresses in Costa Rica.

You read that right. Houses and buildings don’t have numbers, so a home address would look something like this: 200 meters north of Parque Juan de Jesus Flores on Calle 6, Heredia.

What this means: On Calle 6, continue 200 meters north of the Juan de Jesus Flores Park, and you will reach your destination on the same side of the street as the park.

Here is the good news: While these are not addresses as we know them, they are VERY accurate.

When I was trying to find the local supplier to the company I rented from, I didn’t know what the rental house was called, only that it was 1.4 km east of the Airport Holiday Inn Express.

So I got onto Google Maps and ran the GPS from the Holiday Inn to every rental shop on that highway until one had a distance that said “1.4km.” That ended up being the correct place.

I also tried selecting another company right next to it to see what the distance would be, and it was already slightly different!

A screenshot of Google Maps showing a 7-minute, 1.4-kilometer drive from Holiday Inn Express San Jose to Adobe Rent A Car Aeropuerto. This visual demonstrates navigation and address systems. — *How I worked with Google Maps to figure out which rental house I was going to before I knew it was Adobe. Note that the distance in these addresses is very accurate.* *One door over and the distance would have changed.*

Renting a Car

If you have rented a car anywhere else, you’ll be fine renting one in Costa Rica. It’s exactly the same system and process. But below are some key points to remember just in case.

When booking your rental car, make sure your credit card comes with rental car damage protection. If it does, pay with that card for an extra layer of safety.
When checking out your rental car, I highly recommend getting the roadside assistance package since you never know what will happen. The last thing you want to be is lost and helpless in a foreign country when you’re supposed to be living your best life. The full package I got cost only $85 and offered full protection on all sorts of unfortunate events.
Take pictures of any dent or scratch you see on your rental car before getting in it. Your rental company associate will likely be doing this as well, but it’s always safe to have your own record of things.

Find the best rental car deal for you and get driving!

Navigation System

I admit Google Maps and Apple Maps have been amazing buddies of mine when planning travel. But when driving in Costa Rica, Waze is your one and only best friend.

It tells you what the road conditions are like as you’re driving. If there’s an upcoming pothole in the middle of the road, it will warn you. Ticos use Waze daily, so the information on the app is highly up-to-date.

NOTE: To get local phone service for navigation and other purposes anywhere, I always use AIRALO. They’re an eSIM service that lets you keep your current SIM and number while accessing local data.

On the Road

Now, we’re going to talk about what to expect when you’re driving in Costa Rica!

Signage

Apart from its unique addresses, another thing to note is that street labels are minimal here. You should see some street names when in San José, but once you’re out of the capital area, it gets tricky. So here I will be talking only about the smaller towns like Heredia, Alajuela, and the like.

Street Names

Street name signs, if any, will be on the side of the building that’s on the corner, not on its own pole like what we’re used to seeing. Sometimes, if there’s not a building on the corner, it will be stuck onto the fence.

Again, the majority of streets have no signs at all. So do expect that, but no need to worry. Waze is really good at getting you where you need to go. I promise.

A quiet residential street, with a small, inconspicuous road sign mounted on a building rather than on the street. — *This photo was taken in Heredia, one of the smaller cities near San José. Note the very small “Ave 11” sign on the side of the house to the right.*

Traffic Signs

The great news is that traffic signs are universal, and so are the ones in Costa Rica! They all look identical to the ones in the US, only with Spanish words on them.

But just for your peace of mind, I’m listing what I saw most often below. I wish I had pictures, but I was driving solo the whole time I was there, so no photographer, I’m afraid…

ALTO = STOP
No Estacionar = No Parking
Velocidad Maxima = Maximum Speed
Ceda El Paso = Yield
No Hay Paso = Do Not Enter
Cruce De [insert animal] = Animal Xing (You’ll find all types of animals on these signs!)
Mal Estado = Bad Road Conditions (There’ll be a picture explaining what exactly the problem is)
Curvas Peligrosas Adelante = Dangerous curves ahead

Speed Limit

The most common speed limits you will see are 40 kph, 60 kph, 80 kph, or 90 kph, depending on where you are. Most small-town streets will have a 40-60 kph limit, while highways range between 60-90 kph.

The most common limit on highways is 80 kph. If the roads get curvier, it goes down to 60.

The speed limit signs are not as frequent as in the US, but they’re painted right onto the street surface at much smaller intervals. So be sure to keep checking the surface. If you have Waze on, of course, it will let you know the current speed limit as well.

Pedestrians

If you’re coming from the US, this is probably the hardest habit to shake… But pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way in Costa Rica.

If you see a person on the side of the street waiting to cross, do not stop unless you want to get rear-ended. Because the car behind you won’t expect you to stop, even the pedestrian won’t expect you to stop.

Sometimes, you’ll even see a pedestrian starting to cross as you’re about to pass them. It looks terrifying, but they know what they’re doing. Keep driving at the pace you were going at, and everyone will be safe!

Road Conditions

All the streets in San José and its surrounding areas are well-paved, as well as all the main highways, regardless of which part of the country they’re in.

Most roads here don’t have shoulders. So you will often run into a bicycle or a pedestrian blocking half your lane simply because there’s nowhere else he/she could be. Simply wait for the other side of the road to clear, then pass them.

If you’re driving through neighborhood roads in La Fortuna or Paquera, however, it gets a little rougher, but by no means difficult.

Smaller sedans are safe in all the towns I’m mentioning; just make sure to drive at appropriate speeds to avoid destroying the poor car on rockier terrains.

A narrow dirt road winding through a dense green forest under a bright blue sky. — *One of the mid-quality roads I drove on in Paquera; unpaved but very drivable.* *The main roads in this town were paved, and there were rockier terrains as well.*

The speed bumps outside the cities are also very intense but not well-marked. Keep your eyes peeled at all times so you don’t get surprised by one.

If you’re driving in San José as well, be very careful of all kinds of things. People will pass each other on the shoulders. There will be very little courtesy, no such thing as one car at a time.

There are bikes everywhere. It’s every man for himself. If you’re not used to chaotic driving, stay in your lane and focus on the road and all its inhabitants at all times.

When changing lanes, do not assume that people will let you in just because you turned your blinkers on. ALWAYS look over your shoulder as well to make sure before making the lane change.

One-Lane Bridges

When driving in rural areas, you will run into many of these one-lane bridges. Some of them are situated right at an extreme curve after a blind corner on mountain roads, so be aware of that.

If you’re on the side that needs to wait, you will see the sign “Ceda El Paso” right by the bridge. In this case, let the cars coming from the other side pass first, if any.

Also, note that this is not a car-per-car situation. When you’re yielding for the other side, they will come in a batch. Wait until they’ve all gone through, then continue on your way.

Mountain Roads

Another reason to be very careful approaching blind corners on mountain roads: People pass each other EVERYWHERE here, even during a curve on a 2-way street in the mountains.

The good news is that the mountain roads are never crowded. I was there during a holiday, and the cars were scattered all over, so I mostly felt like I was alone on the roads.

Getting into an Accident

If you get into an accident (God forbid), the most important thing is to stay calm.

Call your rental car company. They should have given you emergency contact numbers when you checked out the car. Let them know what happened.
If someone is injured, the number is 911, just like in the US.

Filling Gas

Gas stations in Costa Rica are full-service. You only need to tell the attendant which type of gas you want and for how much (Full, for example).

They take credit cards. And yes, the attendant will be the one running the card for you as well.

Another thing that might surprise you: Gas is EXPENSIVE here. You’re safe to do your budget for Costa Rican gas off the gas pricing in Los Angeles. It’s insane!

Other things to note…

Before I leave you to your travel plans, here are some more common reminders… because sharing is caring 😉

NEVER ever, ever, ever leave your possessions visible inside your rental car. Costa Rica is a relatively safe country, true. But don’t push your luck. You don’t want to lose your possession AND get the rental car damaged getting broken in.
If you’re going out of the cities, try to plan so that you don’t have to drive at night on potentially rockier terrains.
I don’t know much about the exact driving laws in Costa Rica, but I stuck by what I would have done in the US. DO NOT break the laws, not even when the locals are clearly doing it.

Have fun in Costa Rica! The country will blow you away!

Common Questions

How are the road conditions in Costa Rica?

Roads in Costa Rica can be quite unpredictable. Potholes are common, even on major highways, and unmarked speed bumps can appear in unexpected places, such as residential areas or rural roads. It’s important to drive cautiously to avoid damage to your vehicle and ensure safe travel.

Is it necessary to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle?

While a four-wheel-drive vehicle isn’t always necessary, it can be beneficial, especially if you plan to explore off the beaten path or during the rainy season when roads can become challenging. The cost of renting a car varies, with 4WD vehicles being more expensive.

>>Check rental car pricing<<

Are there specific tips for navigating Costa Rican roads?

It’s a good idea to use offline maps like Waze, as internet coverage can be spotty in some areas. Also, be aware of one-lane bridges and occasional river crossings, especially in rural areas. During the rainy season, driving conditions can worsen, with increased risks of landslides and washouts.

What about traffic signs and gas prices in Costa Rica?

Traffic signs in Costa Rica are similar to those in the US and Canada, but learning some Spanish terms can be helpful. Gasoline prices are relatively high compared to other countries in Latin America, with an average of around $4.75 per gallon.