3 Tips to Vacation Survival in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica the traffic laws are often disrespected by both pedestrians and vehicles. This means that unless you are prepared in advance you can have lots of headaches. This survival guide will teach you how to avoid getting “caught” in the middle of insanity:
1. Costa Rica’s Potholes are Enormous. Exactly, they are not big, they are huge! It is not uncommon to encounter potholes that go for two or three lanes. In some locations you can find more pothole than road! So what do you do in this circumstances? You rent a 4 X 4. Honestly, in Costa Rica you will need a car that can sustain tire damage without getting a flat tire. In the event that you do get a flat tire:
- Pull over (be careful in this step),
- Search for a safe spot for the “gata” (Spanish for hidraulic arm) to lift your car (you definitely don’t want your “gata” sliding while you are changing your tire) ,
- Change the tire
- Drive to the closest gas station to repair it (because you may need it again ** Don’t wait until the end of your trip).
2. Costa Rica’s Accidents can be avoided. Costa Rica has one of the highest vehicle accident rates in the world. Speed limits are often ignored. You will see sections of the road that have a 25 km an hour speed limit (which is equivalent to 15 miles per hour). It is impossible to drive at 15 miles per hour in a highway. Pedestrians sometimes cross highways by foot and stand in the middle avoiding traffic by inches. Sometimes you will see farm animals moved by foot on the highways. Be aware.
In the event of an accident first (above all) write down the license plate number of any other cars involved in the accident; then call 911 (just like in the States). You should be able to speak to somebody in English. Explain to them what happened and ask for the traffic police(policia de transito). If you don’t know where you are, ask somebody nearby. If you are driving late at night, be careful of another car hitting you from behind. This might be a trick to get you out of your car and assault you.
3. Costa Rica’s weather is aggressive. Chances are that you will experience rain and fog like you have never seen before (or you can’t see it because of the fog!) Anyhow, inclement weather is very common in Costa Rica especially in the months of September, October and November. Sometimes it can rain for days. Make sure that you if you are traveling during this time of year bring your favorite rain coats. When driving be extra careful since the roads are not designed to deal with such large amounts of rain. If driving to and from the coast be extra careful since the water may have moved and soften the land next to the road. Landslides are very common in the road from Limon to San Jose.
Finally, try our traditional coffee. No matter what you do, you won’t be able to survive a day in Costa Rica unless you delight yourself in a cup or two of our golden grain!
We sincerely hope you enjoy your stay in the beautiful Costa Rica. For more information about accommodation reservations in San Jose, Costa Rica, please visit Hotel San Gildar’s website.