To rent a car or not rent car?
Road Conditions
The main roadways from all surrounding airports to our area are all paved and in great condition. You will only had approximately 5 minutes of a "Costa Rican" unpaved/bumpy road leading to our house. We HIGHLY recommend a 4x4 in our village (it may also be needed in other areas depending on the activities and places you might be visiting). If you rent a 4x2 and get stuck anywhere, you would have to call roadside assistance (through your rental car company) to get a car to car tow.
Which side of the road do you drive
In Costa Rica, we drive on the right side of the road (same as in the US and Canada).
What is needed to rent a car
You will need your passport, your drivers license, and a credit card to rent a car. A full tank of gas in a 4X4 is approximately $65 (this can last you about 1 week)
Mandatory Insurance
Insurance in Costa Rica is a government monopoly. Car rental liability insurance is absolutely mandatory (limited liability Coverage for 3rd party) . Mandatory insurance from Adobe that costs $13-25 USD a day depending on the type of vehicle.
Sort of Mandatory Insurance
Mandatory car protection coverage unless you already have this coverage through your credit card or travel protection policy. To decline, you must present written proof of coverage from your credit card issuer
How easy is it to navigate
Very easy using Waze. In Costa Rica, there are no addresses so you must enter in the name of the place you are going and Waze will navigate you there.
Which car company should I rent from
We recommend & personally use Adobe ourselves and have partnered with them to book any of our guests.
Adobe is 100% Costa Rican, have the largest fleet, have over 15 offices, and are completely transparent about prices and insurance. Adobe Rent a Car is one of the most popular car rental companies in Costa Rica since they have more offices in the country, it is easy to reach them in case you have an emergency.
We can assist you with your rental or you may search rates/availability and book online.
Without A Car Rental
Modes of transportation to our house
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Private transfer from anywhere in Costa Rica
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Domestic flight to Quepos (1 hour away) and then a private transfer the remaining distance
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Uber or Taxi
Modes of transportation while at our house
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Food or grocery delivery service to the house
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Hire a chef, book your massage to the house, hire your yoga instructor to come to the house
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Uber eats to our house
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Uber, Taxi, or private driver to anywhere you'd like to go
What is within walking distance from our house
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Beautiful walks amongst the village life and waterfalls
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The nearest market and or restaurant could be within walking distance for some people (but not most as it is very hilly and would not be enjoyable especially if you got caught in the rain)
If you are able to, we would recommend a car rental in the South Pacific. The charm in this region is the fact that it is more off the beaten path and not as developed as other areas. It will be much more convenient having a car to explore all of the gems and to run to the market for that forgotten ingredient. It can certainly be managed without a car, but will take much more pre-planning of your days and patience while waiting on your modes of transportation.