www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I looked but didn't see any threads here about renting a car or jeep and exploring the country side. Is this activity not recommended?

Irish,

If this is your first trip would not recommend that option. Get use to the roads, tico drivers, travel times with a hired driver then when your comfortable rent a 4WD and go explore.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Thanks bro....I guess I'm a search gimp. I really did search tho...honest!

You don't really need a 4WD vehicle unless you plan to travel on
'secondary' roads during the rainy ('green') season. I've rented a
4-cylinder Yaris (automatic) on about a dozen trips, and it's always been satisfactory. I was actually surprised at the power it had climbing the mountain roads from Atenas to Orotina and the highway (Pan Am) from San Jose to Cartago and points south. Nothing spectacular, but certainly adequate.

(I know a little about power, having leased a '96 Corvette for four years).

_________________
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

no worries Irish. didn't post that to make you feel stupid or anything. in fact, I couldn't even find that thread using the "Search" function. I only found it looking at my list of previous posts.

renting a 4x4 will depend on where you want to explore. I always do it because we do surf trips and always end up on the sand and/or traversing estuaries.

personally, I wouldn't drive by myself. so much easier with at least one other guy.