Is it Safe to Drive in Costa Rica? Learnings from Our 8 Years of Experience

For a small country, Costa Rica has all sorts of roads.

We have driven the winding mountainous roads through lush green forests, smooth highways, coastal roads, gravel paths, both in dry and wet season.

Through all of it, we have never felt that we cannot drive in Costa Rica. In fact, we have always loved our road trips throughout the country and the flexibility to explore beyond the destinations.

But at the same time, we don’t want to say that driving here comes without challenges. Just that with the right preparation and realistic expectations, driving in Costa Rica is absolutely manageable for most travelers.

Keep reading for our experiences, takeaways and tips on if it is safe to drive in Costa Rica.

Is it Safe to Drive in Costa Rica? The Short Answer

Our quick answer is, yes. It is safe to drive in Costa Rica. If you stay alert and calm, plan ahead, and know what to expect, you will be fine and can enjoy the experience.

We have driven, in our own car as well as in many rental cars, thousands of kilometers across this country over the years, spanning over different regions, seasons and road types. And we have always had fun on these road trips.

That said, driving here may feel challenging to ‘you’ for various reasons. The driving conditions may feel different than your home country, and so is the driving culture, however, different does not mean unsafe.

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What Makes Driving in Costa Rica Different

Before your drive, it helps to understand what you are getting into. Here are a few factors that make driving in Costa Rica unique.

Varied Road Conditions

While driving between popular destinations, you are one moment on well-paved highways, and the next, you can be on gravel roads with potholes trying to get to your accommodation or place of activities.

Our Experience

We have driven Route 27 from San Jose to Jaco, Manuel Antonio, Uvita or further south of Pacific coast many times. They are connected by good highways with clear lanes and good signage. Most of it is easy to drive.

We have also driven to Drake Bay and the back roads of the Osa Peninsula where the paved roads disappear and you are navigating unpaved roads and rocky surfaces.

The drives from San Jose to La Fortuna and San Jose to Monteverde are on paved roads, but with stretches on winding single-lane mountainous roads, which are narrow at times.

All the above driving experiences are Costa Rica. You just need to know which one to expect on your route.

Takeaway

Main highways connecting major tourist destinations in Costa Rica are generally well-maintained. Beyond the main routes, there can be varied kind of roads. Research your specific route before you go, and ask your accommodation host about the approach road.

Photos: Multi-lane highway on the left, and paved single lane mountain road with green scenery on the right. Both are part of the driving experience in Costa Rica.

Local Driving Habits

It goes without saying that Costa Rican drivers have their own style. If you are planning to pick up your rental car near the airports, San Jose or Liberia, the roads are generally busier. Start steadily to get used to the style and environment.

Our Experience

These are some of our observations:

• It can feel assertive in the urban and busy areas, such as downtown San Jose and the adjacent cities or Liberia.
• In our experiences, drivers generally follow signages, and maintain lanes while driving. They follow the Alto (Stop in English) and Ceda (yield or give way in English).
• Drivers can choose to overtake slower cars but generally show patience for the right time and wait for full visibility.
• Honking is uncommon and used for communicating, as ‘thank you’ for giving way, or can be an angry one if someone missed following a rule.
• Motorcycles weave through traffic in the urban areas and cyclists share narrow roads without bike lanes.

We have set our expectations and drive accordingly. We do not assume anything, drive attentively and keep the car slow and steady when in doubt.

Takeaway

Focus on your own driving and do not take risks to keep up with the traffic. Leave extra space and let faster drivers pass.

Weather Patterns

Since you are planning your Costa Rica trip, you already know that Costa Rica has two seasons. Dry season runs from December to April, and rainy season is from May to November.

But, being a country of micro-climates, the weather can change quickly as you move from place to place. Also, it can rain in dry season as well.

In Costa Rica, you cannot depend on weather forecasts. So set your expectations to experience different weather patterns during your stay and your road trips.

➡️ Related Readings:

• Why Visit Costa Rica in Rainy Season?
• Tips for Visiting Costa Rica in Rainy Season

Our Experience

If you are traveling during the dry season, you will find the roads in good shape most of the time. We have not faced much difficulty on unpaved roads during this season, as occasional showers do not result in lasting impact.

In rainy season, afternoon showers are common across Costa Rica. We have been careful while driving during wet season, as the visibility may sometimes drop, particularly on the mountain roads. Also, we have seen dirt roads turn into mud pits after rain.

Irrespective of the season, we have driven without any issues by planning our drives the right way:

• Know your route beforehand for possibilities of unpaved roads
• Strictly avoid driving at night for long distance routes as visibility could be low due to weather, cloud or rain.
• If visibility drops beyond your comfort level, plan for stops and take breaks

Takeaway

In rainy season, do your driving as early as possible. Aim to reach your destination by early afternoon before the heavy rains hit, but be prepared to adjust your plans on the travel day.

Know the Signages

If you are not familiar with Spanish, it is important to know the basics to understand the signages. Signages are present fairly across Costa Rica and we have not faced much difficulty in understanding most of it.

Our Experience

We are now used to the signages in Costa Rica. We look for the ‘Alto’ (Stop) or ‘Ceda’ (Yield) signs at the crossings or the odd ‘animal crossing’ sign while driving through forest areas.

Takeaway

Learn the basic Spanish of the common signs. Look for the signs painted on the road or by the roadside.

The Single Way Bridges

On many routes, you will find small single lane bridges (‘Puente Angosto’ in Spanish) over rivers. Only one car can pass at a time, while the others wait for their turn.

How do you plan your crossing on such single lane bridges:

• Look for the sign ‘Puente Angosto’. This tells you if there is a one-way bridge ahead of you.
• You have to slow down and check if there is a ‘Ceda’ board by the side or painted on the road.
• If not, then you have the priority to pass, unless there is already a car crossing the bridge. In that case, wait for it to pass, and then move ahead.
• If you see a ‘Ceda’ sign, you need to wait if there are cars from the other direction.
• When there is none left to pass, then move ahead.

Our Experience

We have encountered these bridges a number of times across Costa Rica. We always slow down when we see the sign, whether we are on the priority direction or not.

These bridges are typically paved and if you take it slow and cross, there is not a problem. Often, when there is a slower car, it could take some time for your turn to cross. We wait for our turn patiently before going ahead.

Takeaway

If you encounter a Puente Angosto sign, slow down and check first for the Ceda sign or an incoming car.

Situations Where We Had to Be More Careful

Some drives required extra attention. Let us share some examples when we had to slow down and focus.

Driving at Night

This is the one piece of advice we give everyone: avoid driving between destinations at night if you can.

Our Experience

Many roads have no street lights at all and potholes are easy to spot during the day. Also, if it is cloudy or raining, it adds to the challenge.

We first realized this when we left late in the afternoon, driving from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on the Caribbean side to San Jose. The mountainous stretch was in complete darkness and it was cloudy which dropped the visibility further. In those years, there were no reflectors on that road, making the drive challenging.

We had to drive slowly, grip the wheel tightly, and stay hyper-focused the entire time following the red lights of the car in front of us. We made it fine but it was stressful.

And more recently, we encountered another similar situation when driving back from Bijagua via Vara Blanca. The presence of clouds and mists and absence of street lights and road reflectors on curvy singly lane mountainous roads made for a stressful drive.

Takeaway

Plan your drives so you arrive before sunset. If you must drive at night, go slow, use high beams when appropriate, and stay extremely alert.

Driving Mountain Roads in Heavy Rain

Rain along with winding mountain roads is a combination that demands additional concentration.

Our Experience

We have driven through the mountains between San Jose and La Fortuna during heavy downpours. We had to slow down significantly and stay focused on every curve.

Takeway

If you encounter heavy rain on mountain roads, slow down. Do not shy away from pulling over if visibility becomes too poor.

Driving Unfamiliar Back Roads

Sometimes a ‘shortcut’ on Google Maps turns out to be a rough dirt track that we had not expected.

Our Experience

We have taken suggested routes that looked fine on the map but turned into rocky paths. In higher cars, we managed. As we do in most such situations, we drive cautiously and go slow.

Takeaway

Be cautious with shortcuts, especially in remote areas. If a road looks worse than expected, look for another way.

River Crossings (Don’t)

Some roads in Costa Rica may require driving through rivers. These are generally shallow during the dry season but can be difficult to drive through in the rainy season.

❗️ Beware: do NOT do river crossings with your rental car in Costa Rica, as doing so will void your rental insurance.

Many times, these are just small streams and do not pose a big challenge. In some cases, they are wider, and in those cases we recommend taking a call at the spot.

Unless it is a remote area or a specific destination, there should be an alternative better way to take.

➡️ Related Reading: Understanding Car Rental Insurance in Costa Rica

Our Experience

We have crossed rivers with our car (NOT by rental car) in the Osa Peninsula, Ostional and a road connecting Santa Teresa and Malpais. Also, some small rural roads connecting the bigger roads to the beaches may go over small streams. Some were shallow and easy, while others were deeper and required careful assessment before driving through.

Takeaway

If you encounter a river crossing, stop and assess first. Watch if other vehicles cross and check the depth if possible. If it looks too deep and you traveling during the rains, do not risk it. And definitely, do NOT try river crossing with your rental car.

Our Top Tips for Safe Driving in Costa Rica

From our experience of years of driving in Costa Rica, these are our top learnings condensed into practical advice for planning your road trip.

Give Yourself More Time Than What Maps Say

Distances in Costa Rica can be deceiving. A 100 km or 60 mile drive can easily take two to three hours depending on the route.

We always build buffer time into every drive. Apart from weather condition changes, traffic and road-related issues, we plan for stops. We plan such that we can enjoy the views more and stress less.

Drive During Daylight

We cannot stress on this enough. Plan your drive, stops and activities, such that you arrive before dark when driving between destinations.

This single plan eliminates most of the risky situations you might encounter on your road trip.

Do Not Rely Solely on GPS for Remote Areas

Use Waze or Google Maps as a guide, but also verify routes with your accommodation contact or rental company or locals, if you are heading somewhere remote.

We have not faced much problem when planning our drives to the prominent destinations. But when reaching some of the remote areas, the online maps sometime take you to odd roads just to save a few minutes.

We check beforehand if there is a 4×4 required to navigate the road, or if there is any other challenge navigating the route, so that we have the right expectations.

Drive Defensively

We do not assume anything while driving in Costa Rica. Check for the signages, and assume other drivers might pass unsafely, stop suddenly, or not see you.

Stay alert for the next turn, a single-lane bridge, converging lanes or change of road conditions, and even animal crossings (you are in Costa Rica!)

➡️ Related Reading: Wildlife in Costa Rica

Watch the Road Surface Constantly

Potholes can exist anywhere, sometimes even on paved roads. Also, there are often speed-breakers on the highways near the toll booths, or on roads in dense localities or school areas. They appear suddenly, so keep your eyes on the road for the potholes and speed-breakers. After rain, the holes can fill with water and become small pools.

Fill Up Your Tank On Time

This may feel basic but we have learnt the hard way to keep this in mind on time. There were at least a couple of occasions when we visited remote destinations.

We had not filled the tank up on time and had some scary moments when we thought that we could be stranded in the middle of nowhere. The fuel gauge touched the lowest point when we just managed to get to a gas station.

We recommend not to let your tank get below a quarter full, just to be safe. Also, be aware of the nearest gas stations through your Google Maps.

Take Breaks When You Need Them

If you are feeling fatigued or stressed, pull over, find a soda for some coffee and snacks. Rest well before continuing with your trip.

Staying alert while driving is important and you will not be aware of the conditions all the time.

Choosing the Right Vehicle

This is important, not just for a comfortable road trip but also to be confident on the type of roads you may need to drive on during your road trip.

When a Standard Car Works

If you are sticking to main highways and popular destinations, a compact car is usually sufficient.

Routes like San Jose to La Fortuna, San Jose to Manuel Antonio, are fine with a 2WD vehicle.

🚗 We recommend a compact SUV with good ground clearance, in case you are renting 2WD.

When You Want a 4×4 in Costa Rica

For remote destinations, rainy season travel, or simply peace of mind, a 4×4 rental car makes a difference in Costa Rica.

Places like the Osa Peninsula, with unpaved approach roads or steep hills, and remote beaches and accommodation off the main routes are easier with a 4×4.

We have a full breakdown on the topic here, where we help you decide if you need a 4×4 rental car in Costa Rica, and what are the things to look for while choosing the right vehicle.

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