There are rent-a-cars in Costa Rica, in the airport, in the capital city of San Jose and other cities and in some rural areas. Lots of these cars are four-wheel drives, but they're not used only for rural roads, since potholes abound in main streets in major cities. Lately, the roads have been well-marked and one can get maps and directions from the ICT (Tourism Bureau) in downtown San Jose, under the Plaza de la Cultura. Some legal facts that a driver and car renter should be aware of, are: driving age is eighteen and over but if you're a foreigner, you must be 21 years old and always carry a passport; a tourist's driver's license is valid only for three months after arrival, after which he/she has to apply for a Costa Rican license. People who have never driven in Costa Rica before, must be psychologically prepared to do so. Some drivers here are reckless and rude, especially in a major city. Although the speed limit is usually 50 mph, Costa Rica holds the world's highest auto fatality rate (18 deaths per 100,000 kms., as opposed to 2.7 deaths in the U.S.) Driving outside of San Jose is not nearly as stressful, but one must beware of potholes and of sharp curves, especially in mountainous regions.

Taxis, like buses, offer excellent service and they are much cheaper than in other countries. All taxis in the cities have a meter, which you must make sure is turned on when you enter the cab. Taxis charge more if they leave the city, so you must make sure to ask about an approximate amount before being taken there.

Buses are a good option if you want to travel cheaply, and as I've mentioned before, they are abundant. They can get pretty crowded sometimes, and people have to ride standing up and holding on to a rail, but this doesn't really matter for short rides.