To car or not to car, that is the question. Can you live happily in Costa Rica without the convenience of an automobile? The answer all depends on your personal needs. Of course nothing beats having your own ride. You are the captain of the ship, in control of the route, the destination, the in-car entertainment, whether it be music, sports or some podcast that takes you down a long dark rabbit hole of conspiracy theories and apocalyptic scenarios.
Stop when you want and arrive at your own pace. If your budget includes enough for a decent vehicle, gasoline, maintenance, repairs and the annual Marchamo payment, then it is a no-brainer. If you are on a tighter income, the possibilities vary. The national bus system is cheap to ride and covers all corners of the country.
The lines that run direct to San Jose are usually comfortable enough. Many have A/C and the overall ride is smooth. The regional interbuses that cover the provinces vary in ride quality from decent to brutal. You have no control over who else rides with you and if traveling alone, over who sits beside you.
The smaller companies stretch the life span of the buses to the max, and every bump in the road is a jolt to your body. The buses are constantly stopping to discharge or pick up passengers en route. The fares are cheap, but in many cases you truly get what you paid for. Uber is the new kid in town. For short hauls it is your best bet. The red taxis and the piratas fought against the entrance of Uber years ago– and lost. Now you have three options for private chauffeured transportation.
Over the years I have used all of the above, along with bicycling and good old fashioned walking. My first car, bought in the early 1990s, was a 1977 Jeep Curvito. These cars were assembled here in Costa Rica and featured a rag top and an extended back end. The Curvito was a functional 4×4, no radio, no frills, but got you to your destination.
I have owned eight other cars since, all of them teenagers, as I like to say: They were all at least thirteen years old at purchase. I have been tempted to join the legions of motorcycle riders, as it is both economical and efficient, but having cycled thousands of miles on our roads, I can’t imagine being on a two-wheeler going four times the speed of my bicycle while watching for all the bad drivers. It would be like signing my own death warrant.
At this writing, I am without a car by choice. I work from home, walk or cycle to town, use Uber and regular taxis, and ride the bus when going to the beach or to San Jose. When my kids were younger, and when I had jobs that required transportation, and lived more remotely than now, this would never have worked.
Now I am fine with being in the seeming minority of people here who live without a car. There are over 2 million vehicles on the road today in Costa Rica, compared to around 300 thousand when I moved here. Someday I may have the need for a car and rejoin the motorized vehicle world, but for now, I happily walk, pedal, Uber and bus anywhere I need to go. Pura vida!
Read more of Don Mateo’s writing from his newly published ebook.
