Pat L. Says:
Do you have any advice on driving to Costa Rica from the States?
IL Costa Rica Correspondent Bekah Bottone Says:
Hi Pat,
While I haven’t made the drive myself (I don’t really like to drive so it wouldn’t be for me), I know somebody who has.
I reached out to Amy Demick, owner of Green Papaya in Playa Tamarindo, who drove down here from the U.S. Her family left Colorado on July 19, 2022, and arrived in Costa Rica on August 13, 2022.
Amy’s family includes her husband, their two boys, and two dogs. Together, they passed through Mexico and Central America in their sprinter van, hitting six countries on their 26-day trip.
Amy shares, “We had zero issues and felt safe the entire time. We camped; we did a couple of campsites and some RV parks. We stayed in a few Airbnbs and hotels along the way to do laundry and have a proper shower, which was a good idea. And of course, we met lots of people along the way.”
Throughout the trip, they used an app called iOverlander to connect with people who have done the drive and share the best places to park, places to stay away from, and where to get gas.
“Everyone has an opinion, and it was interesting to see how people who never even did the trip were advising against it, sharing how dangerous it is,” Amy says. “But the reality we discovered was quite different. The people that had just recently done it or were currently doing it told us it would be the time of our lives.”
Do thorough research and connect with people who have actual experience. Make decisions that feel comfortable for you. We are all different and tolerate different things, yet moving out of our comfort zone is a way to grow, so don’t be scared of doing something new if you feel called to do it.
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