Car Hire Costa Rica

Why rent a car in Costa Rica

A popular tourist destination, renting a car in Costa Rica offers flexibility and independence that public transport or group tours simply cannot compete with. With so much on offer, this diverse country is best explored from behind the wheel of a rental car. Whether here for a week or a month, you'll never tire of the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead and a rental car in Costa Rica allows you to make the most of your time here.

Costa Rica Mini Guide

Forming a bridge between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean, Costa Rica is also a buffer between less tranquil countries: Panama to the south and war torn Nicaragua to the north. Costa Rica - the 'Rich Coast' - has a tradition of neutrality which its population enthusiastically support. The only cloud on its horizon is the risk of neighbouring conflicts spilling over its borders.

Much of the country consists of volcanic mountain chains, running north-west to south-east, that reach their highest point at Chirripo (3,820m, 12,533ft). Over half of the 2.7 million people live in the Valle Central, a highland basin which was the first area settled by the Spanish in the 16th century. The rich volcanic soils of the upland areas are good for coffee growing and the slopes provide lush pastures for cattle.

Lowland swamps cover most of the two coasts; the Pacific coast is wetter and cooler than the Caribbean. The north-west region is partly savannah and partly lowland forest. Increasingly people are settling along the river and mountain valleys. About four fifths of the country remains forested.

Costa Rica differs from its neighbours in that 80% of the people are white and most of the rest mestizo (of mixed European and native Indian ancestry). When Europeans arrived in the 16th century they introduced diseases, including measles, to which the Indians had no resistance. Thousands died and they have never recovered their numbers.  Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to grow coffee and bananas commercially, which are still its major agricultural exports.

Should you rent a car in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is a haven for nature lovers as even though it is a relatively small country, it is home to around 5% of the world's biodiversity. It also boasts fantastic beaches with lots of activities to enjoy such as surfing, diving and snorkelling and for those less keen on the beach there are the endless tropical forests to explore.

If you're taking the family on a well deserved holiday, then don't be confined to the perimeters of your hotel resort or complex, hire a car and go on an adventure to see fully what Costa Rica has to offer. We have a great range of SUV and 4x4's to hire if you plan to go off road, with models available such as the Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Rav4. All of our hire cars in Costa Rica come with efficient air conditioning systems, which will keep you cool in the tropical heat.