Driving to Costa Rica is on the radar of many people due to its thrilling activities, wildlife, rainforest, and its incredible diversity. When you drive to Costa Rica for the first time, it may be daunting or overwhelming for you. As a tourist, you often travel by bus or van in Costa Rica before getting yourself behind the wheel as it takes numerous visits to gather some courage to drive alone.
Driving Costa Rica from the US is quite an adventurous trip. Within 8 days, you can drive from the US to Costa Rica without taking any stop and crossing all the borders dead on.
The journey is safe but there are numerous questions regarding how long will the trip take, how much it will cost, what types of vehicles are recommended, is Costa Rica dangerous to travel to, etc.
This article talks about everything you need to know for driving from the US to Costa Rica and also sheds some light on how long you could stay in Costa Rica with your American or Canadian plated car, etc. Continue reading to learn more.
How long does the trip take
Your travel time varies depending upon different factors including your location, and the speed of the vehicle you use. Similarly, you will have a different travel time if you drive from California to Costa Rica than from New York.
Driving Directly From California to Costa Rica
The driving distance from California to Costa Rica is 5574 kilometres, taking 2 days and 20 hours of direct drive. You have approx 68 hours of direct driving time from New York to Costa Rica so driving 8 hours a day will take you 8 days approximately and with 4 hours of driving a day, you would need to drive 17 days.
Driving Directly From New York to Costa Rica
Driving from New York to Costa Rica will take much longer than driving from California. New York to Costa Rica driving distance is 6365 km and will require approx 78 hours of non-stop drive. You have approx 78 hours of direct driving time from New York to Costa Rica so driving 8 hours a day will take you 10 days and with 4 hours of driving a day, you would need to drive 19 days approximately.
How much will the leg US-Costa Rica cost
The cost of driving a vehicle from the US to Costa Rica is $504.29 one-way and $1,008.58 round trip according to the current gas prices. The following table will provide you with some insights related to cost computation.
| Mileage | Fuel price | Usage | One-way Cost | |||
| 25 mpg | 9.409 L/100 km | $4.235 US dollars/gallon | $1.87 dollar/litre | 119.08 gallons | 450.767 litres | $504.29 |
While driving from the US to Costa Rica, renting a place or a room will be the most expensive yet the most comfortable option as you wouldn’t have to camp on the route. The average cost of renting an entire cottage for a night will be $260 and the average cost of food will be $360. So, the one-way average cost of driving from the US to Costa Rica will be $1124. The average cost will be directly influenced by the number of nights you’ll stay in the cottage while travelling.
Estimating Driving cost from California to Costa Rica
Current gas prices indicate a round-trip driving cost of $1,465.45 and a one-way driving cost of $732.72 for a vehicle travelling from California to Costa Rica. You can find some insights regarding cost computation in the following table.
| Mileage | Fuel price | Usage | One-way Cost | |||
| 25 mpg | 9.409 L/100 km | $4.906 US dollars/gallon | $1.296 dollars/litre | 149.36 gallons | 565.389litres | $732.72 |
Renting an entire guest suite for a night while driving from California to Costa Rica will cost you on average $106 and the average cost of food will be $555. The average cost will vary as per your stay and consumption of food. However, the one-way average cost of driving from California to Costa Rica will be $1,393.
Estimating Driving Cost from New York to Costa Rica
The cost of driving a vehicle from New York to Costa Rica is $696.89 one-way and $1,393.77 round trip according to the current gas prices. Below is a table that explains how costs are computed for driving from New York to Costa Rica.
| Mileage | Fuel price | Usage | One-way Cost | |||
| 25 mpg | 9.409 L/100 km | $4.318 US dollars/gallon | $1.14 dollars /litre | 161.4 gallons | 610.96litres | $696.89 |
The average cost of renting an entire place for a night while driving from New York to Costa Rica will cost you $131. Further, the average cost of food during the drive will be $880. The average cost will vary as per your stay and consumption of food. However, the one-way average cost of driving from New York to Costa Rica will be $1,707.
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Can I camp on this trip?
Camping through Mexico, El Salvador to Costa Rica gives you an adventurous experience because of their wild beaches, lush green farms, famous volcanoes, and natural parks. Planning a camp in these countries requires different tips and strategies to follow.
You can camp on this trip while driving to Costa Rica. Mexico is best suited for camping due to its developed infrastructure for camping locations, driving vehicles, and varied adventure. Longer en route camping gives you the opportunity of exploring the ocean, volcano, swimming in lakes, making your food, socialising with ordinary people, and wandering the colonial areas.
However, before dreaming of camping in the route, the following are some safety tips for your consideration.
- Set up your camp in daylight
- Beware of slippery areas and low-hanging branches that can make running or walking dangerous.
- Get a map.
- Avoid taking isolated roads. Always stay on the main roads or tracks.
- Keep your passports, driving license, car registration, and other important documents. Have their copies as well.
- Carry a big umbrella or side awning for shade.
- Keep an eye on weather conditions.
- Look out for the poisonous creature.
- Keep bug repellent.
- Be ready for heavy rain.
- Clean the area before sitting or sleeping.
- Keep your food and trash container safe from insects.
- Do not sleep on the ground as ants can crawl and bite you.
- Study your environment.
- Bring water bottles, edibles, towels, sunscreen, and torchlights.
- Be prepared for the wet nights as 80% of the rain falls overnight in Costa Rica from May to December particularly.
Considering a campervan for camping on this trip is the best option so far because it gives you the freedom of travelling and accommodation. The trip to Costa is full of secret and adventurous places covering numerous regions and countries.
You can move to your campervan if you find no suitable place to stay or sleep. Campervan allows you to enjoy the most beautiful scenes of sunset closely. Whether you want to see a volcano from 2 feet away or want to taste the flavour of adventure, you can enjoy everything through a campervan.
What types of vehicles are recommended
Deciding on the type of vehicle while driving from the US to Costa Rica is one of the most asked questions. Several factors should be considered before choosing a vehicle such as budget limitation, number of people, amount of luggage, and the spots you will be visiting.
One of the most economical solutions combined with accommodation and transportation is Toyota 4Runner because it is best for outdoor camping. Toyota 4Runner has all the durable features and all-terrain tires that can drive you through muddy roads, and rocky land.
If you want to have more comfort and plan to camp for longer periods then a camper van is what you need because it is your moving home that can take you on spontaneous trips.
These types of vehicles provide you with a Two in One package as they are composed of a living room, a fitted kitchen, and a comfortable bed. With a camper van and 4×4, you can carry your home anywhere.
Alternatively, a Sedan can be a better option if you are travelling with one or two people and carrying limited luggage.
However, if you have large luggage, equipment, and you are also packed in tight with some people, your trip will become uncomfortable. In the following table, you will find the types of vehicles recommended to travel from the US to Costa Rica with their pros and cons.
| Categories | Types of Vehicles | What to expect | Pros | Cons |
| Compact Car | Hyundai i10, Hyundai Grand i10 | Automatic, and manual transmission | Fit up to FOUR passengers easily | A short trunk makes it difficult to fit the large luggage |
| Sedan | Hyundai Accent Blue | Automatic and manual transmission | Comes with five seatbelts. Suitable for FIVE passengers | Not suitable to cover long, rough, and uneven roads with muddy large holes |
| Economy SUV | Suzuki Jimny | Manual transmission only. A 4×4 vehicle | Fits TWO people easily.Highly upgradeable | Tiny backseat and trunk space make it difficult for serious off-roading.Engine lacks power |
| Compact SUV | Mitsubishi ASX | More security than a sedan | Fit up to FOUR peoplePowerful engine | Not suitable for rough and muddy roads.Poor interior design |
| Minivan | Hyundai H1 | Higher clearance than a sedan.Both automatic and manual transmission | Fit up to NINE people with six-bag luggage.Comfortable seat | Meagre security features.Out-dated infotainment system |
How long can I stay in Costa Rica with my American or Canadian plated car?
Normally, you can stay 3 months (90 days) in Costa Rica with your American or Canadian plated car, if you exceed this time, the authorities will force you to import the vehicle and get Costa Rican plates, which can cost up to 50% of the fair value as per the Costa Rican authorities.
Cars in costa rica pay an enormous amount of tax, and the prices are usually very high compared to Canada or the US, this makes the importation fees ultra high, in some cases people end up leaving the car there.
During the 3 months of their stay, American and Canadian tourists are allowed to use their legal home country driver’s license to drive in Costa Rica. For a similar period, a vehicle import permit is also valid temporarily.
If your stay exceeds 3 months of duration, you will be liable to pay a fine of $100 for each month you stayed beyond your authorised staying period. You need to obtain a Costa Rician driving license after 90 days of your stay.
You may also be deported, imprisoned, or not permitted to come back to Costa Rica for three times more than the days you overstayed your visa
To avoid this situation, American or Canadian tourists should start processing to renew their visa as soon as could be expected. Also, they should make sure that they stay in status during their visit to Costa Rica.
Is the trip dangerous?
When driving from the US to Costa Rica, we cross different regions and countries which makes the trip dangerous because not all of them are safe.
Although, Costa is the safest place to travel and its ecotourism areas make it a fascinating place to visit.
The trip is not completely safe as a few countries and cities such as Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and several others are unsafe.
Due to drug related crimes, Mexico has a bad reputation because some crime reports indicated that drug cartels have killed travelers. Guatemala is known for its violent crime rates mostly in tourist places. The local gangs in Guatemala can trouble the tourists so beware of them.
Similarly, Belize has high crime rates and tourists are more likely to be targeted for thefts, and pickpocketing. Honduras is slightly safe but during your trip to Costa Rica, beware of public transportation and tourist places as scam and crime exists.
Costa Rica itself is not dangerous even solo female travellers are at liberty to visit the country without the fear of being attacked.
However, you can avoid encountering some dangerous situations if you avoid confined or isolated areas, and stop travelling alone at night.
You may also like: Is the Panamerican Highway dangerous?
Conclusion
Driving from the US to Costa Rica through the Panamerican road covers different countries. In North America, it passes through Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. So, you crisscross different attractive areas and surroundings along the way.
You can drive from the US to Costa Rica securely by planning and taking precautionary measures. To enjoy an unforgettable time in Costa Rica, ensure you read the article thoroughly and follow the recommendation above!
