Known officially as the Republic of Costa Rica, Costa Rica is a small Central American country that shares its borders with Nicaragua and Panama, along with the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. It is known for its rich biodiversity, stable democracy, and strong environmental protection policies. Despite its size, it contains about 5% of the world’s biodiversity, with lush rainforests, cloud forests, volcanoes, and two coastlines. The country is also famous for ecotourism, national parks, and wildlife such as sloths, toucans, and sea turtles. Costa Rica has no standing army (which was abolished in 1948) and invests heavily in education and healthcare. Its culture blends Indigenous, Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, and other influences.
The nation's capital, San José, is the largest city of Costa Rica, located in the Central Valley. It serves as the country’s political, cultural, and economic centre, which features a mix of modern and historic architecture, with key landmarks such as the National Theatre (Teatro Nacional), the Gold and Jade Museums, bustling markets like Mercado Central, and parks and plazas that host cultural events. San José is also a transportation hub, linking travellers to the rest of the country’s natural attractions.
UTC-6.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and floods.
For traffic and driving violations, offences are listed in categories:
If a driver obtains 6 points, their licence gets revoked. Additionally; driving or parking on beaches will lead to a ₡62,309 (~£94) fine, entering protected areas, national parks or restricted zones without proper authorisation or outside official trails will result in heavy fines around ₡2.3 million (~£3,324), and failing to pay can block you leave Costa Rica (traffic police and immigration will cooperate).
The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish, but English, Jamaican Patois, Bribri and Mekatelyu are also spoken.
In Costa Rica, cars drive on the right side of the road. The legal driving age is 18, but to rent a car, drivers have to be at least 21 (or 25 for some rental companies) and must have a valid license for at least one or two years, depending on the company. Younger drivers may be required to pay a young driver fee. UK drivers don't need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Costa Rica for up to 180 days as a tourist as long they have a valid photocard driving licence. Those who have an older paper licence are recommended to get an IDP.
Most towns and major tourist routes have paved roads. However, many rural roads may have potholes, uneven surfaces, unpaved gravel, or sharp turns, which can become more dangerous during rainy season (May - November). If you're planning to visit rural, mountainous, or remote areas, a 4×4 or SUV is recommended.
At most petrol stations, regular (91 octane), 'Super' gasoline (95 octane) and diesel are widely available. There are many stations in cities and on main roads/highways, but stations have become much sparser in remote/rural areas. It is advise that drivers must refuel when they see a station when driving in rural areas. Stations are typically full-service and accept credit/debit cards, but in some smaller or rural stations, card-readers can be unreliable, so carrying cash is a good backup. If paying by card: ask the attendant to bring the machine to your window or pay inside, and check the meter matches the receipt. This helps avoid mistakes or over-charging.
The BAC limit is 0.05%. 0.02% for new or commercial drivers.
All occupants must wear seatbelts.
For children under 12 years or under ~1.45m tall, a suitable car seat or booster is required.