Beautiful beaches home to crystalline blue waters, active volcanoes heating geothermal hot springs, lush jungles harbouring abundant wildlife; holidays to Costa Rica bring you closer to nature than ever before. Not only that, but the country’s tourist infrastructure is excellent. Wherever you go, there are great hotel options and remarkable wrap-around activities, from birdwatching to adrenaline-fuelled workouts.
However, one unique way of experiencing the sights and sounds of this marvellous country is a self-drive itinerary.
Costa Rica self-drive holidays allow you to traverse along sapphire rivers, down muddy paths around the Arenal Volcano and through pristine rainforests down the Pacific Coast. Being able to go off-the-beaten-track gives you the freedom to explore some lesser visited parts of the country and have the flexibility and freedom to go at your own pace.
Driving in Costa Rica
Is it safe to drive in Costa Rica?
Driving in Costa Rica isn’t quite like the white-knuckle ride of a zip-wire, white-water raft or abseil down a waterfall, but it certainly has its fair share of thrills. A self-drive trip may see you navigate gingerly past sections of bridge washed away by autumn rainstorms and dodge plenty of potholes along the way. But overall, it's a safe and exciting way to see the country.
Needless to say, your vehicle will be well up to the task. Many come equipped with your own portable Wi-Fi hub to keep track of where you're going during the trip. In the rare case that you break down, you're also only ever one phone call away from assistance! Plan your route ahead of time in order to avoid any hiccups and find out where the petrol stations are; you'll save yourself having to search for one halfway through your journey.
Is it easy to drive in Costa Rica?
In Costa Rica, it’s no coincidence that the best places are the most difficult to access. These are the most pristine parts of the country, where there are so few visitors that the wildlife very often comes to you. On top of this, the roads can be left undeveloped for a reason: to prevent over-expansion and land speculation. Be aware that places like the Osa and Nosara peninsulas have more changeable road conditions. But the few others you meet on the roads, in addition to the astonishing wildlife and remote beaches, make it well worth the effort.
There are no driving restrictions to be aware of in Costa Rica, and the only difference between the UK is driving on the right-hand side of the road. Outside of San José and the main highways, the roads are much quieter than what we might be used to - though do be prepared for heavy traffic to and from the airport!
Best Time for a Self-Drive Holiday in Costa Rica
A Costa Rica self-drive tour can work at any time of the year. But to experience the country at its best and most accessible, the dry season from November to May works excellently for an itinerary.
During the wettest periods of the year (particularly September and October) some roads can become impassable due to washouts and rivers overflowing. Outside of these times, while you can always have rain in the tropics, you'll still discover beautiful sun-soaked beaches and a variety of wildlife-rich eco-systems.
Benefits of Self-Driving in Costa Rica
There's so much more to a Costa Rican road trip than the fun of crossing a river. One of the key things is a greater flexibility for your trip. This could mean you're able to get off-the-beaten-track to more remote parts of the country or simply eat at restaurants away from the standard hotel dining options.
More flexibility
Having your own vehicle affords you the independence you'll really enjoy. You can transfer when you want, squeeze in an extra early morning forest trail and stop wherever you fancy to soak up the views and watch wildlife. Even though lots of hotels have everything you need, you can head into places like La Fortuna to eat at a local 'soda' or enjoy exploring different beaches around Nosara. This flexibility also extends to tours, where you can independently walk the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges, hit the zip-wires at the Sky Park and drive to Ostional to see the turtles.
With a base on the Pacific Coast, having your hire car allows you the flexibility to explore some of the quieter and more off-the-beaten-track bays and beaches. Remote spots in areas like Playa Flamingo, Ostional or Nosara allow for this. So, by planning which areas you'd like to stop at, you can explore more of the country and experience unique activities you wouldn't be able to with a set tour.
Off-the-beaten-path exploration
When it comes to self-drives, the journey is all a part of the adventure.
Travelling on the road, you can stop at lesser visited spots and look for unusual bird species. Bajos del Toro Cloud Forest, in between San José and Arenal, is home to an array of unusual hummingbirds. Whereas Sarapiqui, located between Tortuguero and Arenal, is home to the excellent OTS La Selva Research Station and a great range of wildlife. Off-the-beaten-path areas can be difficult to access without a car, so a self-drive itinerary offers the convenience you need to explore in your own time. The cloud forest town of San Gerardo de Dota, home to resplendent quetzals, would be another perfect location to have the freedom of your own vehicle.
On the Southern Pacific Coast, leave your vehicle behind and snorkel among gorgeous coral reef and tropical fish in the unspoiled Caño Island Biological Reserve. Nearby at Corcovado National Park, you can search on foot for more of Costa Rica’s wildlife highlights. This includes howler, spider and squirrel monkeys as well as some of the rarest species in the country, jaguars and ocelots.
Cahuita National Park, in the Southern Caribbean, is another great addition to your self-drive. Pacas, northern tamanduas and capuchin monkeys shelter in the forests while green iguanas and gigantic blue crabs live in the marshes.
Suitable for families
Being able to freely explore Costa Rica your way is perfect for a family holiday. Ensuring the children are entertained is a tall task at times, but knowing when and where to take a break can truly keep the experience feeling fresh and always exciting. With a self-drive, you determine everything on your terms - from the size and style of vehicle you think is best to driving times and distances to keep everyone happy.
In the case of Costa Rica, a family self-drive can be an adventure holiday packed with action and activities; a wildlife discovery reaching remote and unspoilt parts of the country; or a relaxation and luxury-focused road trip staying in some of the best accommodation the country has to offer. From Rincón de la Vieja's natural hot springs to Tamarindo's beaches and Monteverde’s lush cloud forests, there’s truly something for everyone. As you choose where to go, you keep the whole family happy and wanting more!
Top Self-Drive Routes and Destinations in Costa Rica
Pacific Coast
Along the Pacific Coast, west from San José, you can set out on a road trip of a lifetime.
Tour the spectacular landscapes of Manuel Antonio National Park, the sanctuary for prolific wildlife such as toucans, butterflies, hummingbirds and macaws as well as wild beaches where the rainforest meets the Pacific Ocean. Further south, you'll discover Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park. Here, there's an astonishing 2.5% of the planet's biodiversity crammed into just 0.001% of the surface area – a must if you're visiting southern Costa Rica. The national park occupies a majority of the land while Golfo Dulce and Peñas Blancas round off the astonishing range of natural highlights.
Arenal Volcano
Costa Rica's most iconic active volcano, Arenal Volcano stands 1633m tall in the northern highlands, offering astounding sights for your self-drive adventures. In the Arenal Volcano National Park, several trails harbour fascinating flora and fauna species, from toucans and monkeys to sloths and treefrogs. As well as being a nature-filled environment, Arenal is also the adventure sports capital of the country, with various options available from zip-lining to white-water rafting and mountain biking.
Lake Arenal is similarly gorgeous. The calm waters are ideal for watersports, all with stunning views of the flanking volcano. Around a 15-minute drive from Lake Arenal, there are various hotels that have their own thermal hot spring heated pools for you to relax in. Following a long day travelling across the country, what's better than taking a dip in the relaxing waters and unwinding?
Monteverde Cloud Forest
During your journey, stop by Monteverde Cloud Forest for its range of 3,200 plant species, 425 bird species, 120 mammal species, 600 butterfly species and 120 species of reptile. Its primary forest is made up of 26,000 acres, covering eight separate biological zones and its star attraction being the opportunity to spot the rare resplendent quetzal.
Hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Santa Elena Cloud Forest and The Children’s Eternal Rain Forest while keeping your eyes and ears open for the surrounding wildlife. There are hanging bridges and waterfalls where you can pause for a moment. Alternatively, head into the forest at night for a nocturnal tour of what the cloud forest environment has to offer.
Tamarindo
In Guanacaste, discover the bustling town of Tamarindo. With exceptional surf spots along soft sands and a great location near the mangrove forests of Las Baulas National Park, it has everything you need for a final beach stop on your self-drive itinerary. Away from the town and down the Pacific Coast in some of the quieter bays, nesting season for the resident turtles commences between November and February, when the gentle giants emerge to lay their eggs on the sun-soaked shores.
During your exploration, look out for the 32 species of amphibians, 12 reptile species, 153 species of bird and 34 mammal species. Its diverse habitats include tropical forests and mangroves across the region.
Tortuguero National Park
On the Caribbean Coast, you'll find Tortuguero National Park – one of the world's most important nesting sites for green sea turtles. Around 111 species of reptile call the area their home too, including caimans and boa constrictors. Throughout the surrounding forests, canals and lagoons, you may even see alligators, howler monkeys and a myriad of birdlife. Its peaceful atmosphere is truly one-of-a-kind.
There's a rich array of fauna as well as flora, spanning from 400 different types of trees to 2,200 varieties of plant. Along the tranquil waterways and canals that run inland, you can explore the flooded forest by boat and experience the wonderful array of wildlife from the water.
San José
San José is a sprawling metropolis and the beating heart of Costa Rica. With most self-drive itineraries, you can avoid the heavy traffic of the capital by staying on the outskirts of the city in the Central Valley area. Here, your hire can be delivered directly to your hotel around 20 minutes from the International Airport, allowing for a stress-free arrival and departure with the car!
If you wish to explore a little more of this part of San José and the surrounding valley, not only are there some interesting museums and galleries in the city centre, but you're also in close proximity to the Poás Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Garden and various coffee plantations.
Discover the Best of Costa Rica with Rainbow Tours
Speak with our travel experts to start planning your ultimate Costa Rica self-drive. From offering invaluable insights to helping you choose where to stay, we'll ensure your experience is unforgettable.
){kind=icon}