Driving in Costa Rica can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. The reason it can be ‘complicado‘ is that the country lacks adequate signage, the infrastructure isn’t always in the best condition, and there are unspoken social agreements that everyone knows…unless of course, they come from abroad!

Here are some examples of Tico driving tips, especially for downtown San José:

1. Running a red light.

   It’s common for many drivers to speed up at the last second, when the light’s changing from yellow to red.  This means drivers end up whizzing through the red light, or during the first few seconds after the change to red.  

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   If you’re waiting at a traffic light and it turns green, wait a few seconds before starting to drive — despite the inevitable honking from the impatient people behind you.

2. Disappearing lanes.

   Often a street will have two lanes and one of them suddenly narrows and disappears.  We recommend that you drive in the left lane to avoid being caught off guard during such occurrences..

3. Stuck behind a bus. 

   Streets are quite disorganized, so buses normally stop and block drivers who are behind them.  Do not drive behind buses on your route.  

   This will take a LOT longer. Much like the narrowing street instances above, try to keep to the left as much as possible..



4. Difficult road signs.  

   Probably one of the biggest challenges to driving in Costa Rica is the lack of signposting.  Some areas do have appropriate and consistent signs, but many others do not.  

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   Do not expect all street signs to be perfect! Some may even be hand-made.  Using either the GPS unit in your car or the Waze app on your cell phone — or both — will be great aids to your navigational needs.

5. Courtesy.

   Some drivers are friendlier than others, but most will follow these steps.  When you need another driver to give you some space or let you through, it is common to establish eye contact and make a hand gesture.

 

If there’s a passenger with you; they can help by lowering the window and waving to the other driver, so they’ll let you merge.  Don’t forget to gesture a friendly “Thanks!” afterwards.

Or… please fill out the simple form below:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.