My wife and I will be visiting CR for a week in mid-July. At this point, we are planning to land at SJO and rent an auto to take us to our son's wedding in Manuel Antonio. Post-wedding, we plan to drive to the Orosi Valley for the remainder of our stay before driving to SJO on our final morning.
Given these destination points and the roads in-between, do you believe we need to rent a 4 x 4, or would a "lesser" auto be perfectly adequate?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
No a sedan is fine. I usually prefer to rent a small AWD SUV, even a Diuhatsu Terrios is fine (Toyota Emerging market brand), but a Toyota Rav 4 or Susuki Vitara is fine too...I just like to sit up higher and the sight lines are nice.
It will be all two lane roads, other than the Toll/Caldera from Alajuela to Jaco...
All the roads are surfaced, no worries there. Getting from MA to Orosi will be a lot of driving, but once on others side of San Jose/Cartago, a easy and gorgeous drive....
I use Alamo and Mapache. I get all the insurance, makes a small SUV about $60 day but you still have to give them a $1000 Deposit Hold on the CC...
Don't drive at night, gets dark 530-6pm...unless just down road to dinner...
Any reason you have not considered the Osa, or La Amistad/Talamanca area? Or even Tenerio/Rincon areas...
Thank you very much for your detailed reply. This certainly addressed, and even anticipated, all of our questions.
The selection of the Orosi valley was primarily a function of (1) the limited time available to us after our son's wedding, (2) combining coffee plantations, forest hiking, and a volcano all within easy access of a single hotel point, and (3) leaving a short drive to SJO for our departure. I have no doubt that we will be thoroughly delighted by our stay in CR, no matter where we spend the last few days.
Thanks for your input.
Take a look at Wild Rider! They are a good and honest car rental company. Owned by a couple of guys from Germany that maintain their cars with care. You will find that there are no hidden charges. I agree that a small SUV is they right vehicle to rent, for in Costa Rica it's about ground clearance.
We shall check them out also, Tim. Lining up the rental car is next on our list - within the next couple of days. Thanks again for your ongoing assistance.
Neil
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