Costa Rica Car Hire

Car Hire in Costa Rica

Costa Rica lives up to its name: the rich coast is rich in biodiversity, rich in thrilling experiences, rich in surfing sites and richly rewarding for anyone lucky enough to visit.

Rainforest hikes, descending into bat-filled caves, ziplining through canopies, whitewater rafting, world-class surfing – these are just some of the activities available to you when you hire a car in Costa Rica.

Fancy a spin?

Cheap Car Hire in Costa Rica

Arrange your car hire in Costa Rica with Expedia and we’ll have your car waiting for you at the airport when you arrive.

Whether you are flying in to Liberia (Daniel Oduber) International Airport or San José (Juan Santamaría) International Airport you can book your car hire in advance.

If you want to hire a car in Cost Rica but have already arranged your transfer from the airport, Expedia can also arrange for your car to be picked up at several towns, cities or resorts.

Our vast network of car hire providers means that wherever you are in Costa Rica we can provide convenient rental options.

It’s because we work with so many car hire providers that you always have a fantastic choice of vehicles – and can access all the best car hire deals.

Simply plug in the dates you need a car for, choose where you’d like to start your car hire and select the type of vehicle you need for your trip. There’s everything from economical mini-class cars to spacious SUVs available.

It takes just one search to compare prices for car hire – and you can arrive in Costa Rica with the peace of mind that your onward travel will be ready to whisk you away to the next adventure.

Car Rental to Explore Costa Rica

Visit Manuel Antonio National Park, on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, to trek through rugged rainforest, relax on white-sand beaches and discover magnificent coral reefs under the water. The wildlife is fantastic here – take a guide to spot three-toed sloths, endangered white-faced capuchin monkeys and hundreds of bird species. The park’s 680 hectares are crossed with hiking trails, which meander from the coast up into the mountains.

In the northwest of Costa Rica, the town of Monteverde is hidden away in the mountains. This area is world-famous for its biodiverse forests bedecked in mist and clouds. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is home to countless wildlife species, including jaguar, ocelot and the colourfully plumed quetzal. How you explore the forest is up to you: follow the marked trails cut through ferns and orchids, zipline through the tree tops or walk on suspended bridges through the dense foliage.

All roads eventually pass through the capital of San Jose, and it’s well worth parking up to explore. Located in the Central Valley region, the capital has the Talamanca Mountains to the south and volcanoes to the north. The Spanish colonial architecture is beautiful – check out the Neoclassical design of the National Theatre of Costa Rica and discover Costa Rica’s history at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum just below the main plaza.

Things start to get hot at Arenal, a 5,437-foot volcano that looms large and ominously over the pastoral scene of green hills that surround it. Although currently in a resting phase, Arenal’s history is punctuated by violent explosions. Formed some 7,000 years ago Arenal’s most recent spectacular explosion occurred in 1968, when three small villages were buried by debris and lava. The brooding giant continued to simmer and sizzle until as recently as July 2010.

We certainly have not heard the last of Arenal – it’s just having a rest! Even so, without the fireworks, there’s still plenty of reasons to visit - Still, there is much to see and do here – and rainforest hikes, whitewater rafting, horseback riding are just a few.

For a remote experience of Costa Rica at its most peaceful make the drive up to the explore Caño Negro reserve. This often-overlooked reserve close to the Nicaraguan border is a lowland forested wetland that was set up to protect migratory birds. In the twitching community it has become well-loved for the opportunities to observe water-loving birds, especially during migrations. You can take an enchanting three-hour boat trip up the Río Frío through to the reserve at Caño Negro lake.

What Will You Do When You Hire A Car in Costa Rica

Surfing, diving, abseiling, rafting, hiking, cycling, canyoning, wildlife spotting – what will you do when you explore Costa Rica by car?