Driving in CR in December-HELP Please!
 

We will be in CR the last week of December. Driving from San Jose to Arenal and then to Guanacoste. We rented a regular car not a 4X4, but now I am having second thoughts.

I was told that for the most part I should be OK with a regular car. Any opinions?

Also, do I need a GPS or map is fine? All the hotels we are staying at don't even have an address to put into the GPS system. They provided us with very rough directions to nearest town and said to look for hotel signs from there...We are mostly travelling during daylight, so hopefully it will be ok...

Lastly, did anyone rent a car in CR? I was forced to take a collision waiver for $12/day, but the $750 deductable makes it basically worthless for small damage. They suggested that we take $6/ day for vandalism insurance as this is apparently a big problem in CR? Any thoughts?

Any general suggestions about rent a car or drinving in CR?

Rent 2wd a lot most recently July.
Did this route in a 2WD Sentra in July roads were good.The only really dodgy road is a short stretch between Tilaran and Monteverde still no problem going
slowly.

www.mapcr.com good map no GPS

worked fine for me.

Used my CC for the CDW had to
pay $12/da for LDW did not take
vandal insurance had no problem
just kept everything in trunk.

Under $200/wk total Europcar Adobe

Have fun,

We rented a car in CR in April and had no problems. We took the collision waiver but not the vandalism insurance. We had a regular car (something small like a Toyota Corolla). We drove from San Jose to Manual Antonio then up to La Fortuna/Arenal area and back via Peace Lodge. There weren't many road signs but we made do just fine without a GPS. The only place we got lost was in the city on the way back to the airport. I didn't have good directions and figured there would be signs for the airport... but there weren't! We did have a decent road map that I bought from Barnes and Noble before we left.

Lynne

Hi,

I'm in CR now and you're right a 4x4 may not be nec. BUT the high under carriage will be appreciated. I cannot rec. a GPS enough. If you need to save on the car... spend it on the GPS. It's worth it's weight in gold. Please check the road to La Fortuna when you come as the road from San Ramon is currently closed from bad rains. Follow directions for Zacero (not in GPS) so type in San Carlos then La Fortuna...

Canoa Adventures, Cano Negro tour is fabulous! Ask for Jorge he's the best guide we've EVER had. You will love the tour and him. btw, book tours directly and save money too.

You can get by without a 4X4, but as mentioned, the extra clearance is always nice. Those roads, in particular, tend to be pretty good, except for a stretch around the lake en route to Guanacaste.

The Zarcero route is beautiful. You will enjoy it. We get along just great without a GPS, but I know lots of people like using it.
Don't worry; it isn't as bad as you may have heard.

Have fun!

Thanks to everyone for your replies. Very very helpful! Will saty with the car and will probably add GPS, just in case.