Is Driving Safe in Costa Rica?

Driving in Costa Rica can be safe or unsafe, depending on your level of awareness about the terrain, state of roads, and traffic laws. If you are from a different country, you must realize that driving in Costa Rica is a different ball game and employ techniques that would help you drive safely while you are there.

Wonder what we mean by safe driving techniques for those visiting Costa Rica? It is because over there, they have a peculiar driving culture, which you must be aware of. The terrain, roads, and driving style are completely different and need to be studied carefully by tourists.

One equally important factor is that traffic laws are not strongly enforced there, unlike in so many other places. Therefore, you may get confused when you talk about assertive drivers on the road. In this article, we will enlighten you on the things you need to know to drive safely in Costa Rica.

Key Takeaways from the Article

• Roads in Costa Rican cities are in much better condition than those in rural areas. At the same time, rural areas have fewer cars and experience less traffic.
• Costa Rica makes use of the right-hand drive, just like Canada and some other places.
• Road signs in Costa Rica are written in Spanish. Therefore, it is advised that you familiarize yourself with them as you prepare to visit. 
• Costa Rican drivers are not known to stop for pedestrians. If you intend to stop for them, be mindful of the car behind you and signal to avoid them running into you.

Road Signs in Spanish	English Translation
Una  via	One way
Desvio	Detour
Alto	Stop
Ceda del Paso	Yield
Despacio	Slow
No hay Paso	Do not enter.
No virar en u	No U-turns
Velocidad  maxima	Maximum speed in KPH
Puente Agosto	Narrow bridge
Curvas peligrosas adelante	Dangerous curves ahead
Calle sin Salida	Dead end
No estacionar	No parking
Carretera en mal estado	The road is not good
Cruce de monos	Animal crossing (with a pictorial image of the particular animal)
Puente en mal estado	bridge is not good

A table that shows popular Spanish road signs in Costa Rica and their interpretations. 

What you need to know about driving safely in Costa Rica

Here are some facts to take note of when it comes to driving in Costa Rica:. Let’s know which point is different from that of your home country.

• Speed limit

In Costa Rica, the normal highway speed limit is 120–90 km/h. Because Costa Rica uses the metric system, you can expect to buy gas in liters and find the speed limit in kilometers.

• Age limit

Only individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible to drive in Costa Rica, according to the law. However, car rental companies have varying age limits, but it’s usually 21.

• Right-hand drive

Just like in Canada and some other countries, driving in Costa Rica is on the right, not the left. So, if you have not already used it, you might need to adjust.

• Driving requirements for foreigners.

You are allowed to drive in Costa Rica using your driver’s license and passport issued by your home country. However, you must ensure that they are authentic and valid, and their validity must cover the period of your stay there as stated on your tourist visa.

Once the validity of your tourist visa expires, it becomes an offense to drive, and getting a temporary driver’s license is not a possibility.

• Traffic sign shapes

Familiar with the octagon-shaped, red-colored stop sign? You will find that in countries like Canada and the US, and the same goes for Costa Rica. The shapes of the road signs are all similar.

• Road/Traffic Signs

Understand some Spanish? Well, you will need it, as the traffic and road signs in Costa Rica are in Spanish. Do we see you dusting off your Spanish? Smart move!

• Driving style

What is the best driving style to adopt in Costa Rica? Defensive driving, that’s what. In the course of reading this article, you will find out why.

Driving laws in Costa Rica that you must know

• Seat belt

This is emphasized for your safety. Always ensure that you, as well as every occupant of the vehicle, strap on their seat belts.

• Children’s car seat

If you have kids under the age of 12, see that they are not seated with you in front but at the back. Younger kids should be properly strapped in a children’s car seat. If there are none at the time of renting a car, request one from the rental company.

• Do not drink and drive.

Driving under the influence is a crime that is taken very seriously in Costa Rica. If you must drink, do not drive. The same also applies to using your phone while driving.

• Pay all traffic violation tickets.

If you are issued a ticket for violating any traffic law, prepare to pay it to the exact car rental company you patronized. It is a good time to make a payment when returning the car. Ensure to collect your receipt, as it will serve as your payment proof to the authorities.

What is the condition of the roads in Costa Rica?

The condition of roads in Costa Rican cities is quite different from what you will find in remote areas there, and as such, driving in the city is a different experience altogether from driving in these rural areas.

Let’s take a look at Alajuela, San Jose, and Cartago, for instance. Here you find nicely paved, properly maintained roads, with some of them having painted lines for easy direction. There is no basis for comparison between the roads in these cities and the bumpy, porthole-ridden ones found in remote areas.

To this end, it is advised that you drive extra carefully when plying the roads in rural areas, especially during the rainy season. Reduce your speed limit, put on your headlight as you may not find streetlights, and be on the lookout for bumps, portholes, animals crossing the roads unexpectedly, or even humans walking or cycling on the road.

The only advantage of driving in remote areas over city areas is that there is usually no heavy traffic congestion; meanwhile, it is a normal occurrence on city roads.

Driving Culture in Costa Rica

The driving culture in Costa Rica needs careful study so that you can drive safely. Going there ignorant of this would leave you feeling confused, and who knows, with accident cars too.

One fact that we should know about most Costa Rican places apart from San Jose, the capital, is that there are few streetlight fixtures and painted lines. Even in the capital city, where there are roundabouts, they do not have painted lines for proper direction.

Are you now beginning to get a picture of the road craziness expected there? It will get a lot clearer as we proceed.

Driving in Costa Rica can be likened to a battle of the strongest. Even though traffic laws exist, they are not strictly enforced, and so you see a lot of strong-headed and impatient drivers who honk unnecessarily, do not give in to other drivers, or make use of their indicators.

Defensive driving is advised for tourists, as you must stay in control. Do not stay too close to the car in front nor leave too much space, lest a car overtake you. Some of the roads, too, can be found without signs or warnings, so you may be taken unaware on freeways when you drive to the end and meet no signs.

We must emphasize the need to drive carefully too and not rely on road signs and warnings, not even before a speed bump.

Tips for driving in Costa Rica

• Avoid rush hour.

One thing you must notice while driving in Costa Rican cities is the three-hour rush hour, especially on weekdays between 5 and 8 am. If you can help it, wait until it is over, but if you must drive, be super alert and drive carefully.

• Stay alert

There are no provisions for sidewalks on some Costa Rican roads; the roads too, in remote areas, are full of bumps and portholes. Wildlife zones are filled with monkeys, deer, and other animals. Staying alert while driving will keep you in charge, prevent you from running into animals, and help you avoid accidents.

• Drive defensively

Drivers in Costa Rica are very assertive, and to match their energy, you have to drive defensively.

• Get the right vehicle.

The right vehicle can handle the tough conditions of the road. Depending on the routes you intend to take, this may either be a 4WD or a 4×4. If you will be renting a car, be sure to factor this in.

• No competition on the road

If you see a vehicle driving closely behind you, always remember that it is their usual behavior, and don’t attempt to compete with them. Keep calm, stay alert, and allow them to overtake if need be.

• Look carefully before switching lanes.

You might be used to switching on your indicators when you need to switch lanes, but it’s almost useless in Costa Rica. Put it on anyway, but make sure you triple-check before switching lanes.

• Beware of cars behind you.

It is not a common sight to see Costa Rican drivers stop for pedestrians to cross, so don’t be surprised when you see them approach your cars brazenly in a bid to do so.

If you decide to stop for pedestrians, you have to consider the driver directly behind you, who may not notice your intentions and ram into you. If you hit the brakes abruptly, notify the driver behind by turning on your emergency light.

• Avoid speeding tickets.

Avoid speeding tickets and any other offense that may earn you a ticket. The fact that traffic laws are not adhered to in Costa Rica does not, in any way, endorse others doing the same. As a tourist, it is expected that you be of good conduct as a sign of respect for your host country.

Here’s another motivation to drive safely: in Costa Rica, speeding or other driving violation tickets are very expensive, ranging from $300 to $400. 

Did that sink? We’re sure it did.

For a smooth journey through Costa Rica, check out our Complete Guide to Car Rentals and Driving in Costa Rica.

You should also check out our guide on Vehicle Inspection in Dekra if you’d be visiting Dekra.

Conclusion

Driving is safe in Costa Rica, as long as you read up on the peculiar driving culture and the requirements for driving there as a tourist.

With our detailed breakdown of these issues above and the additional driving tips, you are bound to have no issues with the solution.

Drive safe!