Last Updated: May 19, 2025
First things first…Do you need a car in Costa Rica? No. You do not. You can see the best of Costa Rica without the stress of renting and driving a car yourself. But, renting a car will give you more flexibility with where you go, where you stay, and access to additional activities.
If you’re nervous about driving a car in Costa Rica, this guide will help you with that tough decision. The two most practical ways for visitors to get around Costa Rica are by driving or using private shuttle transfers. I will help you compare the costs, advantages and disadvantages of each option.
For more help with planning your trip, see my Step-by-Step Travel Guide to Costa Rica, where I help you with other difficult choices like where to go, where to stay and what to do.
Is it Cheaper to Rent a Car or use Private Transfers?
Short answer: If you follow this 7 Day – Best of Costa Rica itinerary, which takes you to La Fortuna, Monteverde and the Pacific Coast Beaches, the cost of renting a 4WD SUV car for 7-8 days will roughly be the same cost as booking private transport to all three destinations.
Costs vary widely depending on demand, season and provider, but a ballpark estimate to help you with your budgeting is about $200 per 3-4 hour private transfer, and about $600 for a one-week car rental (plus $100 for gas/petrol).
Long Answer: The costs can be impacted by a number of factors and the only way to get an absolutely accurate answer is to get quotes for your exact travel dates and destinations.
To get exact pricing, you can check rental car costs easily by going to this Vamos website. Costa Rica has mandatory insurance requirements and taxes, and this local Costa Rican company does a great job of being transparent with all of the costs up front. International car rental companies like Avis, Hertz etc. usually don’t include this mandatory insurance in their quote, so keep that in mind when comparing prices. If you use a credit card with CDW coverage, you can opt out of damage insurance (separate from liability insurance) to save money.
For booking private shuttles, I emailed a number of providers for quotes and got the best results from ILT Costa Rica and Costa Rica Trip Guide. You can also quickly check transfer costs online here or other booking sites.
Here are a list of things that will make one option more expensive than the other
- If you are visiting for longer than 7 – 10 days, renting a car is likely to be more expensive.
- If you are traveling solo or as a couple and willing to use shared transport, it might be cheaper than renting a car
- If you are only visiting 1 – 2 destinations or staying at the same accommodation for a week or longer, it might be cheaper not to rent a car.
- If you want to stay outside of town in vacation rentals, Airbnbs or remote eco-lodges, then renting a car is cheaper than paying for taxis and Ubers
Also keep in mind that High/Low season pricing and special deals can vary significantly. You will need to compare prices for your dates to know for sure. Some transport and tour providers charge higher or use premium vehicles. Likewise, some car rentals are more expensive than others. Always compare prices to get the best rates.
In a nutshell, if your vacation is mostly visiting a beach resort for your entire stay and taking day trips with tour providers, then just book a transfer from the airport and skip driving. But if you hope to see as much of Costa Rica as you can, and want plenty of flexibility, then renting a car is better.
If you decide not to rent a car, make sure you book accommodation within the tour pick-up zones. If you stay outside these zones, many providers will not pick you up. My Accommodation Guide to La Fortuna and Accommodation Guide to Monteverde will show you exactly where the boundaries are for tour pick ups.
What is it like to drive in Costa Rica?
Driving in Costa Rica can be challenging at times, but very doable for an experienced driver. Many of the main highways, especially near airports and popular beach towns, are easy to drive. Even during the busiest times of the year, we found traffic to be pretty light. Here is a more detailed breakdown of road conditions around popular destinations.
San Jose – Avoid driving into the city entirely. If you have to stay overnight, stay near the airport.
La Fortuna – The roads to La Fortuna can sometimes be steep, winding and narrow – especially around Lake Arenal. But overall, this is a relatively easy drive.
Monteverde – Driving to and from Monteverde is more challenging because it is up in the mountains. The drive is very scenic, but the roads are not always well-maintained. Sections of the road are unpaved and at times very narrow. In the rainy season, things get muddy quickly and you might have poor visibility. In most cases, you will need a 4WD vehicle to comfortably get around (though of course you will see locals in beaten-down tiny cars zipping by with no issues).
With that said, if you’re an experienced driver and you’ve driven mountain or country roads before without trouble, Costa Rica shouldn’t be a problem for you. Thousands of visitors from the US and other countries rent and drive cars every year with no regrets. Just plan an extra hour or two above any estimate from Google Maps so you can go slow and recover from any unexpected delays. And always plan long drives in daylight. Leave in the morning so you can avoid afternoon rainfall.
Navigation – Google Maps and Waze both work well here. We found Google Maps estimates to be pretty spot on. However, you can get stuck behind a slow-moving vehicle and passing can be challenging. Always plan extra time for such delays.
You 100% need a data plan so your phone navigation still works if you make a wrong turn. We got the Holafly unlimited data plan for Costa Rica and had great signal almost everywhere we went. You can buy this plan in advance online, and it only takes a few minutes to set up after you arrive in Costa Rica. I also recommend saving your maps offline when you have access to hotel Wifi.
Bottom line – If you are an experienced driver with realistic expectations of the driving conditions and plenty of extra buffer time, then the freedom and flexibility that driving affords you makes it absolutely worth it. But if driving in general stresses you out, then it’s not worth the hassle.
What are the Car Seat Laws for Costa Rica?
Car seats or booster seats are mandatory for children 12 and under, up to 57 inches/145 cm or 79 pounds/36 kg. Here are the specific laws:
- Infants up to one year – Rear facing in the middle seat.
- Babies and children ages – Front facing in the middle seat.
- Children ages 4-6 – Booster seat with a back.
- Children ages 6-12 – Booster seat without a back.
You can rent car seats from the rental car company, or bring your own car seats. If you are booking private transfers, make sure to let the company know that you would need them to provide car seats. If you don’t bring your own, you might need to pay a small fee of $10 to $20 per car seat.
Advantages of Renting a Car
If you’re on the fence about renting a car, here are some advantages to consider.
- Less planning needed – Without a car, you will need to carefully arrange all your transfers in advance with a local provider. With a car, that’s just one less thing to do.
- Flexible schedule – If breakfast is running a little late because you want a second serving of eggs, if you just spotted a rare bird, if your toddler won’t leave the hotel room without his orange sock – well, no pressure.
- More accommodation options – Most tours will do pickups but only within a certain distance from town. Some of the best resorts can be much further away and you may need to pay a premium to get pickups from there. My Accommodation Guide to La Fortuna and Accommodation Guide to Monteverde will show you exactly where the boundaries are for tour pick-ups.
- More activity options – Some adventures like hiking around Arenal Volcano can be done without a tour or guide, but only if you can get there on your own.
- Tour pick-ups can take forever – You can spend an extra hour or two in the tour van driving around to various hotels to pick-up guests. Not great – especially if you have impatient kids.
How to Get Around without a Car
If you don’t have a car, private shuttle transfers are the next best option. You can also take Public Transport or Shared shuttles, but these options aren’t very practical for families or those on tight itineraries. Domestic flights are also a great option to get around, but can be expensive for a family of four.
From airports to towns and cities
- Private Shuttles – This is the best and most practical option between cities and airports. There is usually a fixed price per group of up to 6 people. You can choose the time and location in advance, and you will be transported in a comfortable minivan with plenty of room for luggage. These are also easy to book online.
- Shared Shuttles – Similar to a private shuttle, but you pay per person and you will share the van with other passengers. This may be cheaper for 1-2 passengers but for families, it works out better to get a private shuttle. Also, sometimes there are only a couple of shuttles per day (usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon). Shuttles may sometimes get cancelled if there are not enough passengers. They also take longer as they have to drop off groups at different hotels.
- Domestic flights – You can get local flights between Libera and San Jose airports, as well as flights to La Fortuna, Tamarindo, Drake Bay and other tourist hubs saving significant travel time. Flights may even work out cheaper than a private shuttle for groups of 1 – 2 people. But you still have to figure out how to get to/from the airport.
- Ferries – You can also get a ferry across Lake Arenal, making the journey from La Fortuna to Monteverde shorter and more scenic. This will most likely be arranged for you as part of your private transfer between these two destinations. Ferries also connect the Nicoya Peninsula with the mainland.
- Public buses – An extensive and affordable network connects most towns and tourist destinations but this is not a practical option if you are only here for a short time. Buses can take twice as long and are not always punctual.
Local travel inside towns
- Taxis – Traditional red taxis (with yellow triangles) are the only official sanctioned taxi service, and they use meters called “marias.” When using regular taxis, always ensure they use the meter to avoid overcharging. Your hotel can also call taxis for you.
- Uber and ride-sharing apps – Available in most tourist areas and cities, they are legal but operate in a regulatory gray area. They are used widely by tourists and locals but pick-ups at airports can be problematic.
- Guided tours – Most tour companies offer transportation from your hotel. However, you will need to pick a hotel close to town. My Accommodation Guide to La Fortuna and Accommodation Guide to Monteverde will show you exactly where the boundaries are for tour pick-ups.
How do I book transfers?
For booking private shuttles, I emailed a number of providers for quotes and got the best results from ILT Costa Rica and Costa Rica Trip Guide.
You can also compare and book most transfers online on websites like Get Your Guide. Look for providers that have a history of good reviews. The pricing is transparent and the bookings are usually cancellable up to 24 hours in advance. Booking through a review aggregator website incentivizes providers to give you a better service to earn 5-star reviews. You should be wary of deposit payment collection on new or unknown platforms (or directly through whatsapp) as it is harder to keep your payment details safe or get refunds for cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions on Private Transfers
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions that I’ve collected from talking to multiple shuttle providers. While this can give you an idea of what to expect, please check details with your specific provider at the time of booking.
What kind of vehicle will be used?
Usually a Hyundai H1 van
How many people and how many pieces of luggage are allowed per transfer?
Usually 5 – 6 people. 1 checked luggage piece, such as a medium/large suitcase or large duffel bag weighing 50 pounds or less each (per person). 1 carry-on item, such as purses, laptop cases, briefcases, small suitcases, and backpacks (per person).
If we want to make a 2-hour stop at a waterfalls or other attraction on the way, how is this charged?
Stops are usually charged at about $50 per hour.
How many restroom or lunch stops can be made?
You have up to 1 hour for stops on services that are over 2.5 hours long, and 30 minutes for services over 1.5 hours. Complimentary time is only for restroom breaks, photos, groceries, or a quick meal.
Do you provide Car seats? What do they cost?
Car seats are available if reserved in advance and cost $10 per ride for infant, toddler, and booster seats
What is the refund policy?
Refunds can be made in full for up to 48 hours before the service date
Ready for the Next Step?
- Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Costa Rica for Families – Know everything you need about flights, food, currency, rental cars, accommodation and activities
- 7 Day Itinerary from San Jose Airport or 7 Day Itinerary from Liberia Airport
- Which Airport should I fly into?
- Download a Free Wildlife Spotting Guide and other Costa Rica Fun Facts for Kids by subscribing to my Newsletter.
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