Because we were staying for the unusual time frame of seven months, my husband and I knew we needed a car. The question was what to do, do we ship one of our cars and then sell it? Or do we rent a car for seven months....oooof pricey?! Or do we buy a used car there,and then sell it when we leave? I tell you it was a really hard decision to make. It was specially hard because we are five, and three of our family members require car seats. Not many cars can fit three car seats in the back. So we did our research as with everything else.
To rent a car for seven months runs between $7,000 and $12,000. That is including tax and insurance, and of course it is for a fairly large car such as Rav 4, Mitsubishi Montero, Toyota Prado and a few large sedans. There are many very good sites in which you can calculate what you will spend for the amount of time you are staying. If you can afford it, renting a car is the best choice.
To bring one of our cars was a real big hassle. To ship it would be between $3000 and $4,000 and then when the car enters Costa Rica it has to pay tons of tax, then you still need insurance and in the end you need to sell it and sell it fast. The catch is there is tons of competition in the Costa Rican used car market, so selling can take a long time. And the other side of that coin is that, you can buy a car that is at a fair price when you buy second hand, and that makes it attractive to buy. Last but not least, the cherry on the cake was that at our return, we would have no car and would be left scrambling to get a new one.
The third choice buying a car in Costa Rica was a fairly good choice. But my father said many cars are sold in bad shape, and it is hard to foresee what kind of mechanical problems you will have. With three kids in the car, the windy roads and dangerous road conditions, and with the off the beaten track locations were we were heading to, we needed the safest car we could get. That would be a
hard thing to guarantee if we bought a used car. My dad also said in Costa Rica parts are expensive and that taking the car to service comes with high price tag.
So after doing the math and weighing pros and cons we decided to rent. We found a great Rav 4 for a fairly good price. It included the carseats , so that was a real advantage. Thinking about carrying our carseats in addition to all the luggage was not pretty. In the end my niece heard I was renting and thought it would be a good deal both for me and for her if we rented her car. So after some negotiating we rented her Toyota Landcruiser (old style but 2012) for 7 months, with insurance and service included for the same we would have rented a Rav 4. We think it was a good deal for both, although the Old Style landcruiser is not a family friendly car. But it has braved the toughest roads in costa Rica like a champion. And an added bonus is that the car is diesel and so it has kept our transportation expenses fairly low
Also, we knew we would be traveling from beach to beach, in some real isolated locations so we needd a very safe and tough car. In general main roads are in very good shape, but the smaller secondary roads that take you to the different beaches are not. As a general rule I would say that it is our experience that most roads that take you to the beach are in fact dirt roads. Roads that are narrow and generally not smooth, full of holes, and badly light.
If you can I would say renting a car would be your best bet. CostaRica is small and it is fun to drive around discovering places. Ideally get a 4x4 but they are very expensive to rent specially after the taxes and insurance charges are added on top of the base price. But if you can not afford it, my husband and I both agree any car will do. Just be careful where you go into, and try to travel in dry season if possible. If you are traveling on rainy season you must have a 4x4.
The Toyota Landcruiser we rented from my niece is like a tractor. It has no luxuries, and it is not family friendly, but it goes everywhere with no problem. We have gone all the way to Drake Bay and back, and that is an adventure all in itself! We went through rivers, hills and a National Park- the car was worth it! There is no place that has been on our way that has remained undiscovered!
One great option we noticed many people chose was to buy a kind of a golf cart. They are easy to maneuver, the fit four to five people, they are electric and you can get in wet, sandy and not worry about a thing. Honestly it was a lot of fun, and a very clever way to get around short distances. They go for about $2000. If we moved here we would get one for sure!
....lets continue Around Costa Rica in 7 months!
