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kytraveler08:40 UTC05 Aug 2007

A couple of questions for experienced Costa Rica travelers:

1) About how long would it take to drive from Dominical on the Pacific coast to Cahuita on the Caribbean coast? The best that I've been able to figure is 8-9 hours (give or take a few...).

2) Is it possible to take a rental car from Costa Rica into Panama? My guess is that the red tape and insurance issues would probably be prohibitive. Anybody tried this?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Andy

spin09:35 UTC05 Aug 2007

I'd say that the drive from Dominical to Cahuita is more like 11 hours, barring mishaps or wrong turns.

I do not believe you can take a rental out of the country. It is a PITA just taking my own car over the border. Enjoy

anonymous17:43 UTC05 Aug 2007

Hi Andy

It will be my first visit to CR next year and I have seen some car rentals that will allow you to take the vehicle to Panama, trouble is I can't remember which ones but not many. I seem to think that the extra cost was around $350.

Trish

dkt2u19:11 UTC05 Aug 2007

It is not worth the extra money or hassle if you can even find a company that will let you do it. Best bet is to take the bus or Nature Air into Panama and then rent a new vehicle in Panama. The road between Dominical and Quepos is still horrible. Probably two hours at least. Then Quepos to Cahuita is minimum 8 hours. 3 to 4 to get to the Central Valley and then another 4+ to Cahuita.

scoot20:11 UTC05 Aug 2007

One of the companies that will allow you to drive into Panama is called "Renta4x4incostarica". They only rent small 4x4s and as stated above, the cost is over $300 for the extra insurance etc. It isn't necessary to drive through Quepos to get to the carribean from Dominical. It's much faster if you take the route via San Isidro del general , but would still be a very long day, especially in a small bone rattling 4x4.

kytraveler05:22 UTC06 Aug 2007

Hey thanks for all the replies. This info helps a lot!

cheers
andy

boomer108:56 UTC06 Aug 2007

..but Don Scoot, would the journey not be much smoother utilising the re-inforced ring structures and variable transmission offerings of, oh I don't know, perhaps the...Kia Sportage?????....

scoot09:07 UTC06 Aug 2007

Well BOOMER1...I suppose that if I regularly carted a load of blue hairs over to the local bingo hall, and some may become incontinent when we hit a pothole ....
Do you still drive the jeep before dark?

Driving in CR / Panama Country forums / Central America / Costa Rica
kytraveler08:40 UTC05 Aug 2007	A couple of questions for experienced Costa Rica travelers: 1) About how long would it take to drive from Dominical on the Pacific coast to Cahuita on the Caribbean coast? The best that I've been able to figure is 8-9 hours (give or take a few...). 2) Is it possible to take a rental car from Costa Rica into Panama? My guess is that the red tape and insurance issues would probably be prohibitive. Anybody tried this? Thanks for any help you can offer! Andy
spin09:35 UTC05 Aug 2007	I'd say that the drive from Dominical to Cahuita is more like 11 hours, barring mishaps or wrong turns. I do not believe you can take a rental out of the country. It is a PITA just taking my own car over the border. Enjoy	1
anonymous17:43 UTC05 Aug 2007	Hi Andy It will be my first visit to CR next year and I have seen some car rentals that will allow you to take the vehicle to Panama, trouble is I can't remember which ones but not many. I seem to think that the extra cost was around $350. Trish	2
dkt2u19:11 UTC05 Aug 2007	It is not worth the extra money or hassle if you can even find a company that will let you do it. Best bet is to take the bus or Nature Air into Panama and then rent a new vehicle in Panama. The road between Dominical and Quepos is still horrible. Probably two hours at least. Then Quepos to Cahuita is minimum 8 hours. 3 to 4 to get to the Central Valley and then another 4+ to Cahuita.	3
scoot20:11 UTC05 Aug 2007	One of the companies that will allow you to drive into Panama is called "Renta4x4incostarica". They only rent small 4x4s and as stated above, the cost is over $300 for the extra insurance etc. It isn't necessary to drive through Quepos to get to the carribean from Dominical. It's much faster if you take the route via San Isidro del general , but would still be a very long day, especially in a small bone rattling 4x4.	4
kytraveler05:22 UTC06 Aug 2007	Hey thanks for all the replies. This info helps a lot! cheers andy	5
boomer108:56 UTC06 Aug 2007	..but Don Scoot, would the journey not be much smoother utilising the re-inforced ring structures and variable transmission offerings of, oh I don't know, perhaps the...Kia Sportage?????....	6
scoot09:07 UTC06 Aug 2007	Well BOOMER1...I suppose that if I regularly carted a load of blue hairs over to the local bingo hall, and some may become incontinent when we hit a pothole .... Do you still drive the jeep before dark?	7

Driving in CR / Panama