If you’re looking to rent a car at Guanacaste Airport, Costa Rica, then this guide will tell you everything you need to know. Also make sure to read our “renting a car in Costa Rica” post for more detailed information and get our Costa Rica car rental discount!
Car Rental Guanacaste Airport
There are many car rentals in Liberia Airport, international and local.
You will see car rental counters inside the airport and those companies have stationed agents for tourists who want to rent a car upon arrival. A few companies that have an airport counter are the international ones like Budget, Enterprise and Alamo. Find the company you’re interested in and you can talk to their agent to check availability and prices.
If you decide to book the car, they’ll tell you where to meet the agent to take you to their airport office location to collect your car.
Travel tip: It’s best to reserve a rental car beforehand. This is mandatory in high and peak season, December to April as availability is extremely limited (to none during peak times). You generally get the best price online as well rather than when you are in person.
However, not all Guanacaste Airport car rentals have a counter. In that case, you will need to find your car rental agent after customs and immigration. The agent will then take you to their shuttle to bring you to their airport office to collect your car or help you with a reservation.
In our particular case, we have a partnership with Adobe Rent a Car, a Costa Rican car rental agency to offer discounts and freebies to our readers. Below you will read more about how to find the Adobe Rent a Car agent at Guanacaste airport.
Car Rental Guanacaste Airport Pick Up
In Costa Rica, many car rental companies offer a meet and greet and have an airport office for clients to collect their car as the international airports are too small and there isn’t a dedicated parking garage just for car rentals.
Once you exit customs (through the double doors where you cannot go back), you will be inside the airport check in area. Right through the glass doors straight ahead, you will see a group of people holding up signs. Go through the glass doors and look for the sign of the car rental company you booked with.
The car rental company will then shuttle you to their airport office to pick up the car and complete paperwork. Some companies charge for this shuttle, some offer is complimentary. With our partnership with Adobe, this meet and greet is complimentary.
Companies like Alamo offer a host service who will assist you in the pick up process.
Car Rental Guanacaste Airport Pick Up Video With Adobe Rent a Car
To help you feel more comfortable and secure about this process, here is a video we made of this pick up process with Adobe Rent a Car. This is ONLY for Adobe Rent a Car, no other car rental agency.
Don’t forget to get our Costa Rica car rental discount and extra freebies!
What to Know About This Pick Up Process
You will get a lot of people coming up to you asking if you want a taxi or car rental
Make sure you tell them no if you already booked a car beforehand. Some people may try to offer you a cheaper car if you tell them you already reserved a car. Some taxi drivers may tell you that you’re being ripped off and it’s cheaper to take taxis your whole trip. Or even offer to book it for you because they can get a cheaper price (You can read about other scams in Costa Rica to stay safe).
Ignore them and look for the agent wearing the company shirt and holding a sign with the company logo and your name on it.
If you booked a car at the baggage claim counters, then look for the car rental agent to get to the shuttle.
What happens if you don’t see your car rental agent
1. Find the airport help desk: If you checked out the whole group of people waiting outside and don’t see your company, go inside the airport and find the help desk. It’s near the arrivals area where you exit. Ask the staff they all speak English) if they can help you find them or get their phone number.
2. Call them: If you already have the phone number, you can ask the help desk if they can call the agency for you or to borrow their phone if you don’t have a working phone.
Car rental companies usually have just 1 agent holding the sign so they may have slipped out to use the bathroom or are with other clients taking them to the shuttle. Make sure to go outside and look around the crowd.
Don’t ask the other car rental agents as they may try to mislead you. Some agents have been known to steal clients even if they already made a reservation.
Returning Your Rental Car at Guanacaste Airport
For returning a rental car at Guanacaste Airport, it is the same process as pick up for nearly all car rental agencies. You’ll drive to their Guanacaste Airport office, drop off the car and the company will shuttle you to the airport.
If you have an early morning flight, Adobe Rent a Car and most car rental companies start receiving cars around 5 AM. If you need an earlier return, the best option is to return your car the day before and arrange a taxi or shuttle to the airport. You can watch a video and get more information on this early morning return at Liberia Airport here.
Renting a Car at Liberia Airport Upon Arrival
First, we do not recommend renting a car at Liberia Airport upon arrival during high season (December – end of April). This is because there is no guarantee you can get a car and rates are generally more expensive. You need to make a reservation beforehand to secure a car.
This is especially true during the peak and high season times which are Christmas and New Years, Easter week (Semana Santa), June July and August. Even people who try to book a car 2 weeks before these periods of time have a very difficult time finding one as cars go so fast!
If you are visiting in low tourism months such as May, September or October, you can rent upon arrival if you want to play it by ear. We still don’t recommend to do so because then you can’t comparison shop or read about car rental insurances but it is not as risky as high season when it comes to availability.
Adobe Rent a Car
With our partner Adobe Rent a Car, you can still get the Mytanfeet discount if you rent the day of. However, you must call them (18558611250 toll free or local at 506 2542-4800) and ask for the Mytanfeet rate when you are speaking with their agent.
You can also find the agent at the airport to go to their airport office. Again, make sure to ask them for the Mytanfeet discounted rate and extra benefits when you arrive at the office.
Save On Your Car Rental!
If you’re renting a car at Guanacaste Airport, make sure to get our Costa Rican car rental discount with Adobe Rent a Car. Mytanfeet readers get a car rental discount and extra benefits like 2 free drivers, free baby/booster seats, free prepaid SIM card, free cooler and much more.
Sammi says
Hi Lorrie (Sorry I just saw you left the comment on LIR Airport). If you are planning to pick up your rental car when you land at LIR Airport, at least our partners Adobe REnt a Car will wait for you at the airport so you can pick up your car when you land.
Lorrie says
Hello! We’re having difficulty getting answers about a car rental. We arrive at 8pm if we’re on time and worried that they will be closed. We’re driving to Tamarindo so can’t take ground service, too far. Are all of the rental options open until pick up?
Thanks!
Lorrie
Nikki Stovall says
We arrive at 258pm on Sunday. Rented a regular car to drive to Arenal Observatory Lodge. Others are now saying we should stay elsewhere first night vs drive last part in the early dark but we’ve only got two nights at AOL so that would be a big wrinkle. Husband is great driver and we can take it slow. We only have carry ons and are sitting closer to front of the plane and will hustle through airport, rented from Dollar and will bring snacks so we don’t have to stop on the drive. Seasoned travelers familiar with defensive driving in other countries. Are we totally insane or are the concerns of TA posters exaggerated in this scenario?
Sammi says
Depending on what time of year you are visiting, the drive is doable at that time. Just make sure to use a GPS and go slow because the section around the Lake Arenal is very curvy and windy so you need to go slow. If you’re landing in SJO, it may be better to stay a night in San Jose because there is always a lot of traffic in that area and you need to give yourself at least 1 hour more for stops, traffic, etc. You can leave early the next morning, especially if you have a long flight. If you land in Liberia, the drive is much easier without traffic. Just remember it does get dark here by 6 PM everyday.
Also the immigration lines during this time of year are taking a lot longer because many planes are arriving at once so depending on which airport you’re flying into, give yourself around 1 hour to go through immigration/customs.
It is a long drive so even if you’re a seasoned traveler with driving experience, the time may be the deciding factor because it is going to be around a 3.5-4 hour drive (maybe even more going from SJO Airport because of traffic).
Dharmender singh says
I see most of the rental companies with open time of 5:00AM to 6PM, some are open till 10:30pm. My flight will reach LIR at 10PM, and customs etc will take another 1 hours.
So the questions are below:
1. Can I get a rental car at 11:30PM or so from LIR? otherwise what you suggest?
yeison says
Hi!
Most car rentals will stay until the last client shows up, with our partner Adobe we have had clients arriving after midnight and no problem they always stay.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Ryan says
How do you get your credit card company to write this magic letter that rental car companies need to see? I’ve rented cars in Costa Rica maybe 5x so far and I can’t get them to waive this fee despite having the same card that you reference above.
When I call Chase they tell me that they don’t write letters and all I have to do is show the rental car company a printout of their policy. I’ve done this and showed them the coverage with relevant parts highlighted and they’ve told me that isn’t enough.
So what gives? How can someone decline this coverage?
Thanks!
Ryan
Sammi says
Hi Ryan, I have a Chase Sapphire credit card and I called the number on the back of my credit card to get the letter. They sent it to me to my email and it has my name, last 4 digits of my CC and it states that their cc car rental insurance will cover this and so on. Car rental companies in CR do need the actual letter and not just the policy. Hope this helps!
Erica Davis says
Hi i am a woman traveling alone to Liberia and may drive into playa conchal and Tamarindo, do you think driving conditions are safe for me alone? I have driven in countries like Mexico, Egypt and Panama for example with no issues I dont think I have problems with crazy drivers, but I have never driven in a rough terrain truly unpaved roads
Sammi says
Hi Erica, that route from Liberia to Conchal/Tamarindo are actually all on paved roads and it is a very popular route for tourists so I don’t think you’ll have a problem. I actually drive alone from Liberia – Tamarindo quite often and it’s like 4 turns and easy.
Jody says
Hello! First timer here too, coming with daughter next weekend, landing in San Jose, getting rental car and staying overnight and driving first thing in morning to my Airbnb in UvitA and one in Dominican. Any info or scoops with the drive there to be concerned about? Exchange $ at airport, etc, thank you !
Sammi says
Check with your AIrbnb and Dominical if you need a 4wd/4×4, many rentals are up in the mountains and it is absolutely necessary to have one. You need to pay some toll roads from San Jose to Uvita, so bring either a few small USD bills like $5 or $1, or exchange $5 at the airport. Have a great time!
Rhea Olson says
We are flying into Liberia on March 20 2020. We have the first two nights booked at Blue River Resort. Do you think we need a 4×4 to drive there? Thanks
yeison says
Hello Rhea,
Last time we drove close to the Blue River Resort a 4×4 was not required, however, I would recommend you to get in contact with the hotel one month before arrival just in case and be 100% sure 🙂
James says
Is there a mileage limit or charge for mileage on the rental cars from Adobe?
Sammi says
Yes! Unlimited kilometers except for rentals over 1 month.
Carl DeAbreu says
Hi,
Need a small SUV (Suzuki Jimny or similar) Sep 3rd to 15th 2019. Can I pick up/Drop off at Riu Palace/Guanacaste?
Sammi says
Hello Carl, yes our partner can drop off and pick up the car at Riu with no extra cost. We’ll be emailing you some options soon