Getting to Costa Rica has gotten so much easier since the opening and continual expansion of the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) in Guanacaste’s capital of Liberia. Luckily, so has getting around the country as we all rejoice in better road conditions, map applications and road assistance.
While ending up in small towns like Playa Grande is perfect for the peace and tranquility that comes with being off the beaten path, travelling to different beaches, hitting the grocery store and general exploration can take a back seat if you are limited to your surfboard for transportation. That’s why, we advocate renting a car in Playa Grande—go ahead and broaden your paradise horizon.
As you check out your options for different cars and companies, we wanted to share some key tips for a smooth time with renting a car in Costa Rica.
1. Reserve Ahead
It may not be a surprise that as the rain subsides and holidays come around, tourism reaches its high season. As such, rentals become unavailable. Fleets deplete so to speak. Make sure to rent months in advance if you are planning on travelling December-April, especially over Christmas/New Year’s and Easter weeks!
2. Choose your car wisely
Many roads have been recently repaved and are in great condition, however if you are thinking of finding those hard to reach spots, a 4×4 will be a better investment. It is not uncommon to hit heavily worn dirt roads and streams you might need to cross. And who wants to worry about bottoming out their sedan if they want to adventure in wild terrain?
3. Insurance
So, working off our last point, insurance is important. All car rental companies will require you to pay for mandatory insurance on your vehicle as per Costa Rican laws, even if your credit card plan includes rental insurance. But please consider additional coverage as this does not cover your rental car. Additional coverage options include collision damage waivers and zero liability.
4. Know where you are going
Costa Rican roads can be unpredictable in terms of addresses and directions. The good news is, Costa Rica has been mapped top to bottom by Waze, a real time map application, even for those middle of nowhere rural spots. Find hidden locations as well as stay informed on accidents, traffic stops and more. Plus you can’t go wrong when it’s free. Why not download it and keep it in your back pocket? All the locals do.
5. Keep an eye on your gas gauge
As you will see in our maps and Waze, gas stations are few and far between, and it can get a little trickier if they ran out at the pump. So make sure to have some idea of your destination, and if not, where the next gas stop will be.
6. Keep an eye on the road
The majority of the roads you will travel on are not big ones, even if they are pleasantly, freshly paved. This means more narrow lanes, no shoulders at time and no zones designated for pedestrians. Schools can pop up what seems like out of nowhere, bikes are prevalent and animals are common on the side of the road, and let us not forget the occasional cattle takeover in Guanacaste. There are a lot of distractions out there, so we caution you to stay safe and urge you take it easy.
7. Car delivery is an option
Some of us do live by the seat of our pants. Maybe you landed in Grande thinking you were cool staying local, but something came up. No worries (well, save for Tip 1). But if you are flexible, Adobe tries to be too. One awesome feature the company has is delivery and pickup of their rentals to you at your house, hotel, hostel, tent, you name it. Convenient, huh? It’s a Playa Grande car rental miracle, especially great if you are only wanting a rental for a short part of your stay.
With a car rental enjoy all of your destinations and the in between moments. And, just like Mom says, we can’t help ourselves…make sure to buckle up and drive safe. For more information and to make a reservation, click here.
