Welcome to the Costa Rica Motorcycle Travel Guide. This detailed guide for adventure bike riders explains everything you need to know about riding a motorcycle in Costa Rica whether you’re travelling the Americas on your own bike or flying in to rent – start here…
This guide was produced jointly by Mad or Nomad based on our ride and experiences through Costa Rica and our friend Luis’s expert knowledge on the country. The guides on this website are constantly updated with info from contributors to keep them up-to-date.
Contents
Motorcycle Travel Costa Rica
By Luis Rojas and Mad or Nomad
Luis is a Costa Rican adventure motorcyclist and runs GoRide Moto Costa Rica
Why motorcycle in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a peaceful, safe and beautiful country. And we love motorcycles, which makes it the perfect place to visit!
You can ride at sea level after your morning coffee and then be 2,500 metres above the ocean within a couple of hours for lunch. And our volcanic mountain range is just a short distance from the coast, giving you the chance to quickly flit between backdrops. This makes Costa Rica so interesting to ride through as there’s so many different conditions, roads and climates.
There are countless rivers to cross, gravel and dirt roads to ride and mountains to explore all amongst the peaceful and friendly rural communities that welcome sustainable travellers.
You’ll find volcanoes, Caribbean and Pacific beaches, rain forests and jungles, dry areas and waterfalls with so much wildlife – all packed into one gorgeous country.
Paperwork for motorcycle travellers in Costa Rica
Arranging your paperwork to enter Costa Rica is simple for overlanders. There are no fees for immigration or temporary imports, but you do need to pay for mandatory insurance and an exit tax.
To enter the country, you need your passport, driver’s licence and vehicle registration document. Here’s what you need to arrange for your immigration and motorcycle paperwork at the border.
Visas
95 countries are visa exempt and will be able to get a 180, 90 or 30 day visa-free stay. For the remaining countries, you will need to apply for a visa. Check here to see your country’s requirements. If you belong to one of the 95 countries listed then you can simply get stamped in at border immigration. You may be asked what hotel you’re staying at. Here you only need to provide one hotel’s name and address.
Driver’s license
You need a valid motorcycle license to ride a bike in Costa Rica.
International Driver’s License
An IDP is required only if your license is in a different alphabet (example Mandarin or Arabic).
Temporary Import Permit
Once you completed immigration, you will need to find the Aduana (customs office). At some borders (like the main Penas Blancas border), there is an initial aduana office right next to immigration. Here you fill out a form and get a slip of paper. Further up the road you will find the main aduana office.
You need to provide them with your registration document and passport. There is no fee for the temporary import. The TIP typically lasts 90 days, but check what you are given before leaving the office. Before you can arrange your TIP, you will need to have purchased Costa Rica motorcycle insurance, this is done in the same building.
Motorcycle insurance
Motorcycle insurance is mandatory for Costa Rica. It will cost around 56USD for a few months. You can purchase it at the border in the same building as where you get your TIP.
If you are not overlanding and flying into Costa Rica to rent a motorcycle or join a tour, then will need to contact the rental company. More often than not, insurance is included in the fee.
Exit tax
Note that Costa Rica does charge an exit tax to leave. It’s around 8USD and can be done online. It is automatic and will be linked to your passport. If not, you can pay at the border but it will cost a few dollars more.
More on paperwork
If you’re planning a motorcycle trip and aren’t used to the different types of paperwork requirements, or are just trying to get your head around motorcycle paperwork in general, have a read of our packed paperwork for bikers guide too.
READ MORE:
Where to ride in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is brimming with incredible riding routes and roads – but it’s particularly good for adventure bike riders. There are so many awesome trails and tracks winding through mountains and forests and leading to beautiful beaches.
Instead of listing them all here, check out the dedicated guide below for our selection of awesome biking routes in Costa Rica.
READ MORE: The Best Motorcycle Routes in Costa Rica
Getting in and out of Costa Rica with a motorcycle
Land borders
For overland motorcycle travellers, the main border entrances and exits are:
- Nicaragua – Peñas Blancas border
- Panamá – either Paso Canoas or Sixaola border
Flights
If you’re flying in to rent a bike or join a motorcycle tour, SJO Airport is recommended. Bear in mind that rental bikes can be dropped off and picked up from the Liberia Airport for an extra cost.
There are many flights connections from Europe, making it easy for Europeans to catch a direct flight. If not, there are loads of connections via the USA or Panama.
Motorcycle storage
It is possible to store your motorcycle in Costa Rica and leave the country. But, you must be very careful to not let your temporary import permit expire. If you think there’s a chance it might while you’re away, then it’s far safer to find a bonded warehouse specialising in long-term storage of foreign vehicles so you can pause or cancel your TIP and renew it when you get back. You’ll find these places by searching for storage on the iOverlander app.
When to go
The best time of year to motorcycle in Costa Rica is between November and May. This range of months is most likely to be dry. But, every year is different with a slight variation of the seasons. Bear in mind that Costa Rica is a tropical country filled with rain forests, volcanoes and beaches that only survive (and look great) because of the rainfall.
So, you can expect it to rain at any time of the year. All throughout the year, the weather during the first half of the day will be great with sunny weather.
Accommodation and costs in Costa Rica
Hotels
There’s plenty of accommodation options in Costa Rica. However, during the busy holiday seasons like New Year, Easter week etc. it’s worth booking in advance.
Outside of holiday times, there’s plenty of availability in hotels, cabins, guest houses, hostels throughout the location.
There’s a range of different accommodations too, from luxury hotels and lodges to simple jungle cabins, or mid-range hotels to suit any budget.
We recommend checking with Booking.com as you’ll find plenty of decently priced accommodation options on there. To get an idea of current prices throughout the country, check out this link to the main Costa Rica page on booking.com.
Camping in Costa Rica
We have a wide network of very cool campsites that we work with (100+ campsites) throughout the country. We know them and have used most of them before. So you’ll find plenty of official campsites, but it is also legal to wild camp in Costa Rica.
I would recommend checking first before pitching your tent to make sure you’re finding a good and safe spot. And I also recommend camping far away from touristy areas and local towns.
We do run our own campsite on a coffee plantation and motorcycle travellers are welcome. It’s called Finca Las Mercedes.
READ MORE: Camping Guides
Food and fuel
A Costa Rican lunch at a local restaurant locally known as ‘’sodas’’ cost between $6 and $8. Prices increase at more fancy or touristy restaurants.
Fuel costs approx. $1 per litre. A full tank on a bike will be between $13-$20 depending on the bike’s capacity and that will get you between 250-350 kms.
Finding fuel is easy. Gas stations are common, even in the country and you won’t go far without finding a fuel supply.
Motorcycle riding conditions
The entire country is rideable, although the best areas for adventure motorcycling are in the mountain range that crosses the country and the Pacific Coast. There’s a lot of variations in scenery, volcanoes, waterfalls, rivers and wildlife in this region.
All our volcanic regions, mountain ranges and the Pacific Coast from North to South all have interesting rides. And these routes are filled with fascinating authentic communities that are always willing to welcome international travellers.
The best roads and routes are off the beaten path, not paved and connect smaller towns – these routes will eventually take you to the country’s hotspots and fun touristy towns.
Going off the beaten track
When venturing into remote areas, only take it as far as your skills and motorcycle are prepared for. Getting into technical terrain without the necessary support and skills can quickly result in a rescue situation.
Road conditions change unexpectedly, so you have to always be ready for changes in the terrain. You’ve got to be ready for anything as after a couple of hours in the saddle you’ll be in a completely different climate with new scenery. The landscape changes quickly and gives you a great feeling of freedom.
Riding off-road
You’ll find main access roads throughout the country which are in reasonable condition. But riding a motorcycle allows you to connect these areas using backroads and by visiting rural communities. These are normally along gravel and dirt roads between towns. If you’re looking for easy ways to get to your destinations, you may also find a variety of natural attractions and a few gravel roads along the main roads. And there are paved routes throughout the country so you can avoid gravel if you prefer.
There’s loads of off-roading for those looking to travel off the beaten path. We specialise in dual sport and off-road tours and love guiding and suggesting routes for adventure riders, so get in touch if you’d like some help planning an off-road trip.
Safety and security in Costa Rica
Safety is not usually a concern in Costa Rica. We are known for being a friendly, peaceful and tourist-friendly country. But, as with anywhere in the world, you will still need to take precautions such as not leaving your belongings unattended. Motorcycle robbery is not a usual concern for adventure rental bikes.
Police are usually honest and tend not to stop travellers and tourists for money. However, a bribe may be offered instead of writing a ticket out if you’re caught speeding etc. These bribes aren’t cheap and would be around $50+.
You’ll find police on the roads patrolling as per usual. They occasionally stop vehicles and motorcycles, but it’s not frequent. Just obey the traffic laws and you’ll be fine.
READ MORE:
Health and safety
Vaccines
When travelling abroad, it’s important to read up on the vaccine recommendations and requirements of the countries you are travelling through.
The best website we have found, that clearly explains what is needed and required is travelhealthpro.org.uk. Simply click on each country you plan on travelling through and read through the vaccine recommendations.
Yellow Fever
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission throughout parts of Central and South America. And some countries in the Americas will require you to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate. So, we recommend getting the vaccine before travelling. You can find info on the travelhealthpro website, and the fitfortravel.nhs.uk website has additional info with a map of areas at risk of yellow fever.
READ MORE: How to Stay Healthy on the Road
Travel insurance
We highly recommend getting decent personal travel insurance before you leave on your trip. It’s incredibly important that you’re covered in case of an accident and your medical bills will be taken care off.
If you are planning on heading into very remote regions and off-roading, then we also recommend carrying an emergency satellite GPS device so you can call for help if you have a medical emergency.
Alissa had a serious crash in Nepal years ago and we wish we had an SOS device back then. Luckily we had excellent travel insurance though, which took care of the £20,000 hospital bill. Do not risk it, make sure you are covered.
READ MORE:
Riding gear
We recommend hot weather riding gear similar to enduro and motocross kit. Most riders use adventure jackets and pants, but the more lightweight the better. However, you have to feel comfortable in your kit and that’s the most important thing.
There are colder areas in Costa Rica, but a wind breaker or waterproof layer is normally enough to fight off the cold.
Consider the type of riding and travelling you’ll be doing. If you’re going hard off-road, then MX boots are a great idea. If you’re stopping off in National Parks, hiking etc, then go for more flexible adventure styled boots.
READ MORE: Adventure Riding Gear Guides
Renting or joining a motorcycle tour in Costa Rica
Both are fantastic ways to explore our country and each have their own benefits, but which you go for completely depends on what you want from your trip and travels.
Renting
Renting a bike and going off on your own offers complete freedom. But you must be independent and plan your own trip. You’ll need time to prepare and research where you want to go and what you want to do, find your own hotels and routes and it’s unlikely you’ll get to experience very off the path locations or technical sections as you will be alone without backup.
But, Costa Rica is safe and full of beauty, if you’d rather not travel in a tour group and like doing things at your own pace and in your own time, you can very easily rent a bike and just go for it.
Joining an organised tour
Everything is taken care off on a tour. All the logistics of booking hotels, support vehicles, guides etc are all arranged in advance so you just have to turn up and enjoy the ride with an expert route and every detail already planned out.
GoRide Moto
I run Go Ride Moto in Costa Rica and take clients on tours, expeditions, rent out motorcycles and even arrange self-guided tours. We’re recommended by Mad or Nomad and have our own workshop where we maintain our own bikes (the fleet includes Honda CRFs, Kawasaki KLRs, BMW GSs, Royal Enfield Himalayans, KTM Enduros and so on). Our bikes are meticulously checked, maintained, inspected and kitted out with excellent tyres and equipment such as protection, phone holders, USB chargers etc. so you can tackle anything.
If you’re interested in renting a motorcycle or joining a tour in Costa Rica, we can help you have the best adventure possible. Get in touch at goridemoto.com for more info.
READ MORE: How to Rent a Motorcycle in Costa Rica
Mad or Nomad’s motorcycle ride in Costa Rica
We (Mad or Nomad) rode through Costa Rica in 2024 as part of our round the world trip. And we reckon it’s the pearl of Central America! We met up with Luis and had an awesome time hanging out. Have a read of our travel blog on Costa Rica to see what we got up to.
READ MORE: Motorcycle Travel Blog Costa Rica
Top tips
Remember, you will be riding in a friendly and safe country. Don’t worry, you will absolutely love it and getting lost in Costa Rica is never a problem.
Bear in mind that 200 kms can take 3-5 hours on a motorcycle in Costa Rica. So even though it is a small country, it will still take 2-3 weeks to explore most of the country, which is a good amount of time for a traveller.
The smaller the motorcycle, the more enjoyable the trip will be. Most of our clients are used to their big 700s, 890s, 1200Gs and all those fancy bikes. People have the idea that renting a 250cc will be too small and can’t do the trip. But, most of the time our clients on the 250s are the happiest. And they’re also the ones who get to explore further and ride more technical terrain without difficulties. So consider going for a smaller bike.
Fly in, grab a motorcycle and get out of the city. Our city doesn’t have much to offer for adventure bike travellers. All our nicer areas are around the central valley, where you can immediately start exploring after picking up your bike.
About the author
Luis Rojas is a Costa Rican adventure motorcyclist and runs GoRide Moto Costa Rica.
Luis has a background in agricultural engineering and business administration and has worked in both agriculture and tourism in Central America and the Caribbean. GoRide Moto Costa Rica combines his passion and knowledge of the countryside and rural areas of Costa Rica by being able to offer the best motorcycles and equipment for international travellers to explore this beautiful country.
To get in touch with Luis and book a bike, check out his links below.
- Web: goridemoto.com
- Instagram: @goridemoto
- Facebook: @GoRide Moto
- YouTube: Go Ride Moto
Read more on motorcycle travel in Costa Rica
Thanks for checking out the Motorcycle Travel Guide for Costa Rica. We hope you enjoyed it! Here’s a few more articles on adventure motorcycle travel in Costa Rica and Central America that we recommend you read next.
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Are you planning a motorcycle trip to Costa Rica? Do you have any questions, tips or suggestions? Let us know in the comments below.