Car rental San Jose

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Prior to our rebrand from Airport Rentals and Motorhome Republic
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Explore Costa Rica by renting a car in San José

From a distance, the Costa Rican capital of San José may seem like a concrete jungle, but venture just a little into its colourful streets and you’ll soon find a world of wonders. Take your time wandering through historic neighbourhoods, discover hidden gems of old converted mansions turned into art galleries, peruse farmers markets on the weekends, and dance the night away at one of the city’s lively inner city clubs. Explore the city or head into the countryside by renting a car in San José.

Grab a cheap car hire in San José with GoSee

Secure a rental car for your holiday in San José in just a few clicks with GoSee. Thanks to our wide network of rental suppliers, you’ll see all the best rental car options available to you at San José Airport.

Start by entering your desired travel dates, and hit ‘search’. Compare multiple car rentals, and refine your search by brand, car type, group size, and more to narrow your options to find the ideal option for your trip. When you’re ready to book, you’ll receive instant confirmation, secure online booking, and incur no additional fees. GoSee is your one-stop shop for booking a rental car in San José.

An overview of the Juan Santamaria International Airport

The Juan Santamaria International Airport is the primary airport serving San José, and has multiple international flights to cities such as Mexico City, Madrid, and Los Angeles (to name but a few) every day. An array of diners and restaurants are scattered around the airport, with stores at most gates and in the arrival and departure lounges. You can make use of the free WiFi, or pick up some supplies before you head off on a Costa Rican adventure. Collect your rental car keys from the desks located by customs in the arrivals lounge.

Driving your car hire in San José

Driving in San José does take some getting used to; there is a lot of traffic and streets aren’t always signposted or well-maintained. With a little forward thinking, however, you’ll be cruising around the city like a local in no time. Check out our guide on driving in Costa Rica for more details.

Driving to and from San José Airport

The Juan Santamaria International Airport is located just over 17 miles northwest of the CBD, with the drive taking around 30-minutes. From the airport, head out onto Route 1 and follow the highway all the way into the city.

If you choose to pick up your rental car from San José, there are taxis available from the airport, as well as the public bus system which costs USD$1 per person.

Tips for driving in San José

  • Motorists in Costa Rica drive on the right side of the road.
  • Speed is measured in kilometers, with a limit of 45 km/h in urban areas, and between 80-100 km/h on highways.
  • Motorbikes often weave quickly through traffic; stay alert.
  • One-way bridges and roads are very common.

New to driving in Costa Rica?

You can expect professional, reliable and genuine service when you rent one of our cars. Read the reviews on airportrental.com, independently compiled by TrustPilot, to see for yourself. Find out what many happy customers from across the world have to say about their experience hiring a car from us. Here are some more tips for driving in foreign countries.

Where to park your rental car

At the Juan Santamaria International Airport, parking is available for short- and long-term stays. Rates begin at USD$2.40 per hour and reach a maximum of USD$35.00 per day. The parking zone is located just a short walk away from the terminal.

San José has a great number of parking lots throughout the city, which vary in price. On-street parking is also available; these spaces are metered and the average price ranges from $0.25-$2 per hour. Do make sure your valuables are hidden away before you leave your hired car.

What our customers say

IT WAS VERY EASY TO MAKE BOOKING
I WILL RECOMENDE GOSEE TO MY FRIENDS
Mileta Markovic
She was awesome, great lady over the phone, She explained everything in detail.
Anthony Unabor
Having had an awful service with QEEB, despite having booked a car months ago, we needed to look for a new provider. It is only 3 weeks until our holiday so I was worried that we would face an expensive car hire. GoSee had reasonably priced cars and the experience was hugely different to that of QEEB.
GoSee website was easy to use, straight forward and we were able to save a quote for the car we were interested in. A member of the GoSee team called that evening to make sure we had all of the information we needed and she sent us through the quote again... Thank you for making a stressful situation much more tolerable!!
Catherine
fast reaction on our request
Huub
The whole booking experience was alright. The necessary information was given to find the right choice.
Rene Beyer
Online booking process was nice and easy, no complications at all. Confirmation email sent soon after booking is completed.
Max
There was no problems from the initial on line booking to returning the car to Perth Airport.
Lorraine
Easy and efficient with a competitive price to boot!
Jerry O Gorman
This company is very good. They have saved me money.
Barry Rose