Driving & Car Rental
Driving Yourself
Many visitors choose to rent a car in San José and from there it is about a four hour drive to Osa Mountain Village in the South Pacific zone. If your flight arrives in the evening you may want to spend the night in San José and rent your car the next day.
A four wheel drive vehicle is needed if you plan to drive yourself to Osa Mountain Village Resort. The road to our mountain location requires 4 wheel drive for much of the year and is also what keeps Osa Mountain Village such a safe and tranquil perch on the edge of nature.
There are many options for car rentals in San José, but whichever you choose, we recommend that you rent a vehicle with 4-wheel drive. Rental car agencies are located both near the airport and in downtown. Some of the agencies will offer to pick you up from hotels if they are near the airport. The Costa Rican government requires a mandatory insurance for all rentals. All the agencies will try to sell you even more coverage which can drive your cost up to $80/day or more.
We have used several of the major companies, such as AVIS, National, Dollar and the Costa Rican companies, Mirage, Solid and Vamos 4X4. It is a good idea to check the rates before booking, as they can have quite a variance depending on time of year and how busy they are. Also, be sure to check what your credit card covers in terms of insurance and how you submit any claim before you sign up for all the options available.
