One of the first issues you need to address before heading south, is making sure your truck is ready for the drive to Costa Rica.
You should be concerned with the mechanical soundness of your truck. No matter where you trip begins, Canada or the United States, you will be driving a fair distance, so you will want to ensure that your car is in good mechanical working order. Do not let little things slip off your radar like windshield wipers, fuses, cracks in your windshield etc.
For those whom are not mechanically inclined, your better off to take it to a trust worthy certified mechanic for a thorough inspection. Even if you are mechanically inclined this may be a good idea, just for some added peace of mind. Depending on your SUV and the condition it is in, you may also want to do this well before you intend to leave. You do not want an outrageous repair bill to catch you off guard, or even worse have a mechanic tell you that your SUV just won’t make the trip. Then you are faced with a whole other challenge of buying one that will. If money isn’t a problem, purchasing new will not be either. But for the rest of us, having to purchase another van isn’t something we can do on a whim. So be sure to have your truck inspected well in advance of of the date you intend to leave your departure date.
Whatever you are driving, do ensure you have very good tires. In Mexico and Central America you will be travelling on roads which can and will not be to the standards you are used to in North America. So you may want to ensure that you are travelling in a truck appropriate to those roads. Although most vehicles are fine, consider a a 4×4, it isn’t a bad idea. You need to remember a few things when travelling through those Countries. First off, when it rains, it can be a substantial down pour. It may not last long but it can come down like a wall of water. Secondly, the pot holes can resemble miniature canyons. There is one near our home in Costa Rica which has been named the Toyota Killer. You will not be wanting to drive a little car down those roads, you may just lose it in a pot hole.
A small to mid sized sports utility vehicle is a preferred choice. You want to be comfortable and ensure that you will be able to traverse whatever the road brings. The ability to throw it into four wheel drive without getting out of your vehicle is a god send as well. With the extra room an sports utility car provides you can also through more things in the back. Items will be easily accessible in comparison with having to get out and root through the trunk of a car. A sports utility SUV works well if you are taking your pets with you. It gives them that little extra room to stretch out or even move around, if you don’t have it packed to the roof with belongings.
No matter what, be sure your truck is ready for the drive to Costa Rica, and that you have one that is appropriate for the road and weather conditions you will more than likely encounter.
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We are a family of four two children aged 16 and 18 and really fancy Costa Rica. We would be in the country for about two weeks and would look for a mix of jungle wildlife and beach. Maybe for-five days jungle/volcano and the remainder lazing around. Any suggestions for a couple of areas. We would hire a car so dont mind a little driving around but do not want to be spending all day in a car. Any suggestions would be mopst helpful.
Nice blog, not sure if you are simply backlink hunting or if you are really sincere? well here goes.
As your blog states Costa Rica is a vacation paradise so I am not sure what help I can be. I do know I can suggest JD Watersports tour coordinators. When we first went to Costa Rica they setup our tour, was a little expensive but we did it all and saw most of the central and north part of the country. We later found the south is by far the most natural untouched area of Costa Rica and decided to buy a house in that area.
By the way I have removed the link to your Costa Rica travel blog in your post. If you wanted a backlink all you had to do was ask for a link exchange.
Regards
Glenn
Hi – I received a quote from tricolor for a Daihatsu Terios, one week rental in San Jose at/near the airport, for $286 that includes mandatory and the CDW insurance,free mileage and all the taxes. Is this a good rate? I’m still a bit unsure of what the cost of mandatory insurance is and what CDW is. I also received a quote from Budget for $137 but I’m sure it didn’t include the mandatory insurance and/or taxes. I would appreciate any advise! Thank you.
Tricolor tends to be one of the more expensive rental agencies. I have found the cheapest rental agency to be Discount Car Rental. Rates vary significantly depending on the time of year you are going to Costa Rica so you will want to keep that in mind. Green season is the cheapest and tends to be May to November, High season is of course the remainder of the year. CDW stands for Collision Damage Waiver, basically protects you from repair costs of the other vehicle if you get into an accident, does not cover repairs on your rental though. I have collision coverage on my credit card, it costs $25 CDN/year with MasterCard and includes trip cancellation, interruption and loss of luggage.
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We (myself, my gf, and two friends of ours) are going to be in the arenal area for 3 or 4 nights in august. I’m trying to figure out where we should stay. The reason we wanted to stay near arenal is because of all of the activities around- the zipline, white water rafting, hot springs, etc…
As a graduation trip I (an older adult) am taking 4 18 year young women to Costa Rica. By the time we get to the beach we will have spent 5 nights in the Avenal/Monteverde area hiking, and zipping through the jungle. I would like a recommendation for a very nice place to stay with available night life nearby, nice beach/pool, and possible spa? Thanks
I happen to know the perfect place to stay in Costa Rica which fits all the requirements you request. The place is called Casa Los Indios Costa Rica Vacation Rental, check the link for more detailed information.
Is it safe for a woman to be alone in Costa Rica Obviously I will be using caution but do need to take taxi’s etc. From the airport to the B& B and will get recommendations. But…I’m told cash is the best to bring. Think I may need a money belt? Any tips?
Costa Rica is quite safe, in fact they are very protective of tourists because they bring business to the country. American money is your best bet when out and about, Costa Rica Colones is the national money in Costa Rica and believe it or not is printed in Canada.