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Good to Know

Plan your trip
on a bike in Costa Rica

When to go, what paperwork, how much to budget, how people drive here. Everything we'd have liked to know before our first trip.

When to go

Costa Rica has two seasons, and both are good to ride.

The dry season runs from December to April. Clear skies, firm tracks, it's the ideal time for off-road, and it's also high season: book early, accommodation prices go up.

The green season runs from May to November. It rains, but rarely all day: the usual pattern is a bright morning then a shower in the late afternoon. In exchange, the country is spectacularly green, the waterfalls run full and there are far fewer people. September and October are the wettest months on the Caribbean side; the northern Pacific often stays rideable.

Our take: if you're aiming for the Offroad Tour, come in the dry season. For the other tours, the green season gives better value and better-looking landscapes.

The rainy season, month by month: Riding in the green season

Documents and formalities

  • Passport valid for at least six months after the return date.
  • Motorcycle license currently valid, and covering the engine size of the bike you choose.
  • Credit card for the $800 security deposit per bike.
  • No visa for tourist stays under 90 days for most European and North American nationalities: check for your own passport.
  • Proof of onward travel (a return ticket) may be asked of you on arrival.

Foreign license, engine size, international permit: the law explained. Which license do you need to ride a motorcycle in Costa Rica?

Getting there

Juan Santamaría international airport (SJO), near San José, is the most convenient way in: the agency is less than an hour's drive away. On a rental, the bike is delivered wherever you want in Costa Rica, airport included: we bring it to you on arrival, so you have no transfer to organise. On a tour the bike is not delivered: your guide meets you at the exit and takes you to the workshop, which is where the tour starts and ends.

Plan to arrive the day before departure. A long-haul flight plus jet lag is not the best state in which to take a bike onto an unfamiliar road.

Airport pickup, in detail: Motorcycle rental at SJO airport

Budget

Beyond the tour or the rental, budget on site for:

  • Meals : $6 to $10 for a casado in a soda local, $15 to $30 at a restaurant.
  • Fuel : about $1.20 a liter, the same price all over the country.
  • Accommodation (outside the tour): $40 to $80 a night for a good boutique hotel.
  • National park entry fees : $10 to $20 per person.
  • The US dollar is accepted everywhere; the local currency is the colón.

Rental and tour prices, security deposit included: Our prices

Health and safety

No mandatory vaccines. Tap water is safe to drink in most of the country. The Costa Rican health system is good, but a travel insurance policy covering the bike is essential: many policies exclude two-wheelers by default, read yours before you leave.

The country is safe for an attentive traveller. The precautions are the same as anywhere: leave nothing visible on the bike, avoid riding the dirt tracks at night, and trust your guide when he says you're not going through.

What to pack

  • Riding boots : not provided, and essential on dirt.
  • Light, breathable clothing: it's hot and humid down low, cool up high.
  • A fleece: at Cerro de la Muerte, at 3,300 m, it can be 8 °C.
  • High-factor sunscreen, sunglasses, cap.
  • A dry bag for the electronics.
  • Insect repellent, especially in the green season.
  • A soft bag rather than a hard case: it straps down better.

The full list, and what you can leave at home: What you really pack

Riding in Costa Rica

Traffic drives on the right. The main roads are decent, the rest much less so: potholes, single-lane bridges, animals on the road, and signage that is sometimes creative. The speed limit is whatever the signs say; with no sign, the law sets 60 km/h, 50 km/h in town and 25 km/h near schools, with frequent checks and hefty fines.

A few local habits: a driver flicking on the left turn signal is often inviting you to overtake; branches laid on the road mean a broken-down vehicle further on; and a track that looks dry can hide a river crossing after the next bend.

Helmets are mandatory for both rider and passenger, as is reflective clothing; headlights stay on day and night, and drunk driving is severely punished. And night falls fast and early, around 6 p.m. all year round: plan your legs so you arrive before dark.

The road rules that apply to riders: Which license do you need to ride a motorcycle in Costa Rica?

And our favorite roads, for the legs of your trip: The most beautiful roads in Costa Rica by motorcycle

Staying connected

Mobile coverage is good on the main roads and in the towns, non-existent in some valleys. A local SIM card or an eSIM costs a few dollars and makes everything easier. On guided tours the question doesn't come up: the guide has the signal he needs and the route in his head.

Our guides to dig deeper

Each topic on this page has its own detailed guide, written by the team:

And our practical pages:

Our destination stories

Stories from the team, written from 2022 to 2026 about the places we ride, republished here with their photos:

The information on this page is given as a guide and may change, especially local rules (licences, insurance, border formalities). It is not a contractual commitment: only the terms confirmed in writing when you book are binding. If in doubt, ask us to confirm before you travel.

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