Driving in Costa Rica: The Complete Guide for Tourists

Driving is the best way to see Costa Rica: you set your own pace, stop at every roadside fruit stand and reach places tour buses never go. It’s also different from driving at home. Here’s everything we wish every visitor knew before their first kilometer.

Do I need an international driving permit?

No. A valid license from your home country is accepted while you’re in the country on your tourist entry stamp. Carry your passport (or a copy with the entry stamp page) and your license whenever you drive — police check both. Most rental companies require drivers to be at least 21 (some 23 or 25), with a young-driver fee below 25.

Speed limits and cameras

• Highways such as Route 27: up to 100 km/h where signed.
• Most rural roads: 60–80 km/h.
• Towns: 40–50 km/h, and 25 km/h in school zones when children are present.

Limits are posted in km/h (1 km/h ≈ 0.62 mph). Traffic police (Policía de Tránsito) use radar guns, and fines for serious speeding are steep — often hundreds of dollars. Fines for rental cars are charged to your card by the agency.

Police stops: what’s normal and what isn’t

Traffic checkpoints are common. Pull over, stay calm, and show your license, passport and the car’s documents. Officers cannot collect fines in cash: tickets are paid through the banking system. If an officer suggests you can “pay now” to avoid a ticket, that’s a bribe request — politely decline and ask for the written ticket (boleta).

Tolls

The main toll roads are Route 27 (San José–Caldera), Route 1 near the capital, Route 2 toward Cartago and Route 32 toward Limón. Tolls are small (from a few hundred colones up to around ₡1,000–1,600 per booth for a car on Route 27). Carry colones in small bills; many booths also accept cards.

One-lane bridges

You’ll cross dozens of single-lane bridges. A “Ceda el paso” (yield) sign on your side means you must wait for oncoming traffic. If there’s no sign, whoever arrives first goes, but be courteous and flash your lights to signal “go ahead”.

Night driving: just don’t

The sun sets between about 5:30 and 6:15 pm all year. Rural roads have no street lights, few reflectors, deep ditches instead of shoulders, and pedestrians, cyclists, cattle and dogs on the road. Combine that with sudden fog in the mountains, and night driving is the top cause of scary stories. Plan to arrive before dark.

Real driving times

Winding mountain roads, trucks you can’t pass, road works with flaggers and afternoon downpours make Costa Rican drives slower than navigation apps predict. Every one of our route guides lists a realistic range next to Google’s estimate — on average, real drives take noticeably longer.

Gas stations

Stations are full service: an attendant fills the tank. Say “lleno con súper” (fill with premium) or “regular”, and check that the pump starts at zero. Prices are set nationally, so every station charges the same. More in our fuel guide.

Navigation apps

Waze is king in Costa Rica: locals use it and it reports police, accidents and closures in real time. Google Maps works well too. Download offline maps for areas with weak signal, and don’t blindly follow app “shortcuts” onto gravel roads or through rivers — see Waze vs Google Maps.

Parking and theft

Violent crime against drivers is rare, but theft from parked cars is very common at beaches, trailheads and viewpoints. Never leave anything visible — or ideally anything at all — in the car. Use paid, guarded lots (“parqueo”) and hotel parking. Informal “guachimanes” who watch cars on the street expect a small tip (₡500–1,000).

Other rules that surprise visitors

• Seat belts are mandatory for everyone; children need appropriate car seats.
• Using a phone while driving is illegal unless hands-free.
• Don’t turn right on red unless a sign explicitly allows it.
• Blood-alcohol limits are strict, and penalties are severe.
• San José applies weekday plate-number driving restrictions in the city center at peak hours — ask your rental agency whether they affect your car.

Bottom line

Driving in Costa Rica is very doable: drive defensively, keep it to daylight hours, double Google’s optimism on mountain roads, keep your car empty when parked, and check our route checker to rent the right car for your roads.