Once you land in Liberia, you will need transportation to Nosara. Nosara is about a 1.5 – 2 hour trip from Liberia. You have two options: hire a transport or rent a car. I recommend renting a car if possible, your stay in Nosara will be greatly enhanced. There also is nothing stopping you from having a transport take you to Nosara and then renting a car in Nosara (except cost, this would be more expensive).
Hire a Transport
There is a transport company that will come pick you up at the airport and bring you directly to your hotel/house for a fee. The charge is approximately $180 each way. If you’re interested in this the company is Fishing Nosara and you can just call or email them. They are reliable and on the phone and email they speak/write English. Your driver may not be 100% fluent in English but don’t let this deter you. He will know exactly where you are going, will get you there safely, and will be extremely warm and welcoming. The drivers usually stock up on a few waters and beers (enjoying some “adult beverages” is allowed in a vehicle for all BUT the driver). The driver will also stop at a restaurant for you to eat if you are hungry.
Rent a Car
Nosara is a small and beautiful town. Your stay will be greatly enhanced by having reliable transportation! We highly recommend renting a car for the trip. There are a few tips for renting a car:
- First off, don’t rent a “car”, you will need to rent an SUV. Nosara is one of the world’s best hidden gems and as such the roads to paradise are not paved! You will see locals driving cars but they do not care if the bumper gets ripped off by a pot hole. You will care! Get an SUV.
- The basic SUVs on the rental sites are small. They have very little trunk room. These “toy boxes” as the locals call them, are fine for a maximum of 3 people for the trip from/to Liberia. They will NOT fit 4 people AND luggage from Liberia. Around Nosara, you can fit 4 or cram 5 people into them. Don’t expect to do the same for the 2 hour trip to Liberia! If you’re splitting the car with 4 or 5 people, then opt for the bigger models.
- Basic rentals are manual transmissions! Remember, 90% of cars in the USA are automatic. If you don’t know how to operate a manual car, you will need to upgrade to an automatic transmission.
- Whenever possible – don’t drive at night! American flights land between 1-3pm for good reason – it allows Americans enough time to get rental cars and hit the road to get to their destination. The sun sets at 6pm. While the drive from Liberia to Nosara is very unique and cool, you need to stick to a schedule! Don’t stop and window shop! Your goal is to get to Nosara by 6pm if possible. If the sun starts setting, don’t be worried, but drive a bit slower and more cautious. You’ll be fine and you’ll get there!
- Drive Slow, Don’t Tailgate, Be Cautious. Everyone I know who has rented a car and driven in Costa Rica has had a pleasant experience. But it is important to remind guests that Costa Rica is a different country. The speed limit is slower and you will need to follow it. Cows, horses and dogs wander into the road. Trucks break down and sometimes carry hay or logs without any type of fasteners. In other words, objects in the road happen with more frequency than in the USA. Roads are not maintained by the government, so massive potholes are common. Bridges outside of major cities are typically one lane for both directions. You will need to approach them slowly and establish if it is your turn before proceeding over them.
- Don’t worry, cars drive on the right side of the road, JUST LIKE IN THE USA!!
- A united states drivers license, a major credit card, and Passport will be all you need to rent a car. You do NOT need an international drivers permit, or any other form of documentation.
- It is a good idea to bring a copy of your passport biography page to keep in the glove box should you get pulled over. There are routine check points to check valid paperwork and vehicular registration. I was pulled over once without any identification and luckily did not encounter any problem, but was scolded and told to keep identification in the vehicle.
I have rented a car from both of the places below and had pleasurable experiences.
They both will send a guy with a sign to the airport gate who will be waiting for you when you arrive. They will put you in a shuttle van and drive you to the car rental place. They are both less than 5 minutes away. There are no “in-airport” rentals. These are as close as you get. There are also about 15 other car rentals surrounding these places as well, so don’t be worried if these two have no more cars available for some reason. Remember to select “Liberia Airport” as the pickup location. Provide your flight date, airline, and flight number to ensure the rep will be waiting for you when you land. FYI, Dollar I felt was cheaper in price and had the same level of service as National. Before you book, remember to check with your current auto insurance, or your credit cards to see if they will cover any “international” car rentals. If they do, you may be able to skip the extra collision insurance and save a bunch of money! Do what you please, but my advice is to skip the pre-paid gas, and skip the gps!