To rent or not rent a car… that is the question!
From Airport Shuttles to Rent-A-Cars, we’ve got you covered.
Airport Transfer Service
Private shuttle service from Liberia airport is available through our preferred partners at Ecogetaways. They offer private transportation services from Liberia Airport (LIR) to / from Tamarindo Area: starting at $130 USD per way (1 to 4 pax) as well as Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to / from Tamarindo Area: $415 USD per way.
Shared shuttle services are also available for a rate of $20-30 per person with Tamarindo Shuttle. (Please check their prices as they may have changed)
Renting a Car
Renting a car in Costa Rica is easy, but don’t be fooled by the super low rates that you find online through third party outfits like Orbitz or Expedia. Rentals are comparatively expensive due to domestic insurance requirements. Here are a few key things to note:
The average car rental will cost you $500-900 per week with insurance and taxes depending on the size of the car. If you want an automatic or 4x4 this will cost you more.
You can expect to pay an additional $25-45 per day in rental car insurance in addition to your daily rate plus a 13% VAT tax.
Do NOT purchase rental insurance in advance through a third party! The Costa Rican car rental agencies will not honor third party insurance booked through an online vendor (such as Orbitz) when you get there the car rental agency will make you pay for it again. Third-party online rental outlets are happy to take your money and make you fight for a refund when you get back.
Manual transmission is the norm for cars in Central America, so if you do not know how to drive a stick shift, make sure to select an Automatic when you reserve your car.
Also, if you are sticking to the straight and narrow, a regular car is just fine—the roads between the airport and beaches of Guanacaste are really good. That said, if you plan to do any adventuring or exploring in more remote areas of the region we would recommend you rent an all terrain vehicle like a small SUV. 4x4 is not needed on the main roads, however, if you plan to venture off you may need it. You will be visiting the region during rainy season and many of the smaller roads are made of gravel and could require a vehicle that sits higher and has more rugged tires. If you are renting a home outside of town, please confirm with the owner that access to the home is by paved road and does not require a 4x4.
Budget and Avis are two solid options for nicer vehicle if you are flying into LIR or SJO and there are also affordable options with Adobe and National in San Jose.
