Welcome to your 4x4 camping adventure in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is still an up-and-coming camper country. Camping was hardly known here for a long time, but during the Covid period it experienced a boom with the open borders, especially with AWD campers and motorhomes. Today we are in the early years of the camping boom and there is still plenty of space and relaxed regulations. Instead of large, overcrowded campsites with wardens and last-row parking bays, you can camp along the roads in green areas and parking bays. There are smaller private pitches with basic infrastructure throughout the country. Especially during the Costa Rican summer from December to May, it can get crowded in some areas. Escape the hustle and bustle, slow down your life and avoid advance bookings. Enjoy the total freedom you desire and stay where you like. With its 13 climate zones, Costa Rica offers a wide range of temperatures, so you can easily find your personal feel-good climate. Thanks to almost no restrictions on wild camping, you can tailor your trip to your individual wishes.

Our luxury model for the 4/5 person family TOYOTA HILUX with 2 tents, floor area 2 x 2.10 x 1.60 m (83 x 63 inch)

Our economical model for the 3/4 person family TOYOTA RAV4 with IKamper 3.0 tent, floor area 2.10 x 2.10 m

Our model with plenty of space for 2 people TOYOTA RAV4 with IKamper 3.0 tent, floor area 2.10 x 2.10 m

Our model with the cool Jimny 4 door with roof tent, floor area 1.55 x 2.10 m (61x83 inch)

Our economical model with the Jimny 2 door with roof tent, floor area 1.25 x 2.10 m (50x83 inch)

Experience 4x4 camping in an outstanding location directly under palm and almond trees in Costa Rica. There's nothing better than seeking adventure while enjoying the freedom of camping in a paradise of tropical beaches and endless surfing opportunities. With our 4x4 rental campers, you can camp in a new, exciting location every day and experience the sunset right on the beach. If you love the outdoors, this vacation offers you the perfect and affordable way to discover Costa Rica. Our affordable 4x4 campervan / motorhome rental adventures in Costa Rica's paradise are an ideal choice for travelers who want to explore the country off the beaten track. Whether you're traveling in a 4x4 camper with a rooftop tent or using a 4x4 motorhome to discover the remote corners of the country, every adventure will be unforgettable.

For occasional campers who want to spend a few nights under the stars, we offer an inexpensive entry-level version with a Teepee-style ground tent and simple equipment. It's the perfect way to camp in Costa Rica without a lot of effort - according to your personal ideas and wishes.

Why has camping become so popular now?

A longing for nature and wild romance drives many city dwellers from developed cities in Europe and the USA. However, these unique places are not available in tourist hotspots; instead, they are away from these points of mass tourism and the "everything must be reserved and planned" philosophy.

A vacation trip in the high season with multiple hotel reservations requires precise accommodation planning months in advance, leaving no room for improvisation.

The old saying that the journey is the destination no longer exists in the age of online bookings and Google Maps.

Traveling in a camping vehicle is the only way to avoid this planning madness. You can spend your nights and days at places most tourists never see.

Is Costa Rica the perfect camping land?

Yes, it is. Size-wise and topography-wise, it is the perfect camping land. It is not too big, but not too small either.

Within a day's journey, you can choose between several climate and vegetation zones. If it is too warm for you, drive your vehicle to the highland zones and spend the night in the fresh cloud forest. If it is too cold for you there, drive your car back towards the beach or stay between. There is always a temperature difference of 10 degrees Celsius between sea level and high mountain zones so that you can find your comfort zone within a 50-mile driving range.

Can we save money with the camping vehicle?

Costa Rica is the most expensive travel destination in Central America. Driven by the demand from Europeans and North Americans ready for vacation, the prices for hotels and restaurant visits have become outrageous in the high season. Bars, restaurants, and hotels on the beach are often ridiculously overpriced. Don't pay these outrageous prices; use your independence with all your camping equipment.

Buy fresh groceries at the street market or the transport hubs and visit the cheaper supermarket chain PALI.

Spend the night as often as possible in wild campsites. You can find hundreds on IOverlander.com, Pitchup.com, Camping.cr or https://quebuenlugar.com/es/listas/lugares-para-ir-a-acampar.

Treat yourself and your family to a hotel with amenities now and then. You can find these much cheaper at the transport hubs than near the beach. (let's say 50% more affordable for the same quality)

If you prefer to avoid cooking, skip the restaurants and visit the SODAS along the street. These small family businesses are much cheaper than the fancy restaurants on the beach and offer you a good breakfast, delicious snacks, and lunch.

Motorhome or rooftop 4x4 for camping?

If you feel comfortable visiting places with an asphalt road and a flat park side in a village, the Motorhome or Campervan is your choice.

But if you want to expand beyond these places, you should opt for a 4x4 Camping vehicle with a roof tent, massive ground clearance, and off-road tires.

Renting a 4x4 camper gives you flexibility, complete freedom, and the feeling of going deeper into nature.

Some of the most fascinating locations are only accessible on dirt roads. If you want the nearest spot on the ocean, directly in the sand under the beach vegetation, you need double traction and Off-road tires.

Wild or paid campgrounds?

We recommend a mix of your two options. If you spend only 1 or 2 nights, look for the wild. If you want to spend a couple of days, search the Internet for your best choice.

There are now some hundred possibilities, not only on the beach. You find them everywhere now. If you want it to be a little fresher, look for something inland. 3000 -4000 feet (1200 - 1400 Meters) above sea level brings the best micro-climate in your tent

WIFI, electricity, light, sweet Water, toilets, a bathroom, a kitchen area, a soda, or a small kiosk will make your days much more luxurious. Paid campgrounds charge you between 5 and 12 $ per night and per person ( it is common the owners charge you 50% for children.)

Wild campgrounds are free and legal. But you have to respect the National Park rules and the 60 yards ( 50 meters) of the hightide coastline (some of the NP offer campgrounds and basic infrastructure)

Although not cheap for a whole family, the paid facilities offer more safety and comfort. Surrounded by fences and gates, you can leave your gear outside of the vehicle.

What are the Cons?

Sleeping in a tent offers less comfort and space than a hotel room. Even when all three windows (in our hardshell tents) are open, the tent does not feel spacious like a hotel room.

Temperatures, even in the night, can be high.

The sounds of nature can seriously disturb your sleep at night.. Hoyler monkeys, insects, rain, or waves can make much of noise. Make sure to bring good earplugs!

Mosquitoes and sandflies can be around from the moment the sun goes down. A good mosquito repellent (the most effective Product is "OFF-rainforest scent" ) and an anti-mosquito smoker under the awning will control the beasts.

All our hardshell tents have mosquito nets on the windows.

Camping with the family?

It is a lifetime experience for your kids. You can’t imagine how much the returning kids were overwhelmed by their travel experiences. Do you remember your last Campfire? You will have unforgettable days and nights. If you need privacy, opt for our Pickup truck with two roof tents or give your kids the tipi-style tent.

A campervan offers more space than a 4x4 rooftop camper, but it still needs to be improved in terms of living space and destinations.

Camping basics in Costa Rica with our 4x4 Campers

Let’s face it—you must downgrade your comfort zone. No Latte Macchiato coffee maker, ice crushers, temperature control, or white and fluffy towels. No matter where you are camping, it can be tedious to do even the most basic tasks. If you are not a routine camper, your daily routine can be challenging.

With careful planning and consideration, you can handle many of the difficulties and make your trip as comfortable as possible. We try to help you with our knowledge and well-selected equipment.

Finding and storing Water

Water is a scarce commodity when camping. People need Water for different things, and their methods of finding, storing, and using it vary accordingly.

Pure, fresh water is needed for drinking and cooking. Two half Gallons (10 liters) a day should be enough for two people.

In addition, water is needed when wild camping; you also need water to wash dishes and shower. 5 1/2 Gallons (20 liters) a day should be enough. This Water does not need to be so pure. The Wild Rider vehicles have a pressure tank on the roof or in the car's rear. This tank is connected with a water hose and a spray head.

Depending on how many days you want to camp in the wilderness, you can carry some of our additional Collapsible Water Containers

The easiest way to refill your water supplies is during a tank stop at the gas station. This service is free of charge.

Electricity

Light for nighttime and charge for electronic devices are the main things to consider when it comes to electricity.

You need electricity in the wild. Nobody uses kerosene lanterns anymore. It starts with some USB-chargeable multi-use flashlights and lanterns and LED lighting on the awning or the tent.

You can recharge these energy-efficient devices while driving by connecting them to the 12 V multi-outlet in your car.

A more giant power bank will do the job if you consume less electricity.

You need a power converter if you want to work with your laptop in the wilderness. Be careful, though, not to discharge your car's starter battery.

If you use an electric refrigerator, you should take a solar panel and a power station with you. It's all a question of space. You can recharge the power station in the sunlight. You can find 12V power outlets, multiple USB sockets, a USB-C socket, and standard power points so you can plug in laptops, phones, cameras, head torches, and lights while

Don’t forget to charge your devices while you’re driving, as your car won’t have any power when it is parked (to protect the battery from draining)

As an extra, Wild Rider offers a Portable Power Station 500W(Peak 1000W), 519Wh Outdoor Solar Generator Backup Battery Pack with 2 110V AC Outlets, 5 USB ports and 12 V Outlets.

Keeping Water, drinks, beers, and food cold. Cooking your coffee and meals.

Charm and challenge are your independence for food and beverages. Whether you want a coffee at dawn or a nightcap just before midnight, the on-board kitchen gives you all the options.

With WILD RIDER, you can travel with minimalist or very comfortable equipment.

You can choose between a small 1-burner stove or a 2-burner grill/cooker.

You also have two options for cooling your food and drinking Water. You take a cool box on the trip, or we give you a mini fridge. Your decision is based on the space you have in your selected vehicle and the space in the trunk. Usually, a cool box is enough, which you will need to fill with ice from the supermarket every 2 to 3 days. We have an Electric Mini refrigerator for rent if you want more comfort. This intelligent machine runs on 12 V of the car battery, with a cable to the power grid or even with a solar panel.

Toilets

It is not the most admirable topic, but you should prepare for it when you are camping in the wild in Costa Rica. If you’re staying at paid campgrounds, you will find one or more toilets on the property.

If you want to camp in the wild, you’ll save money, but you are on your own and have to find a creative solution! If you’re a guy, it is a little easier. Girls, if you’re camping on the beach, the ocean is your go-to for number 1, or a squat behind a tree if you’re desperate at night.

Number 2 is a little more challenging. If you are not in a deserted area, you will find a bar, gas station, or shop with a toilet. Some charge a small fee if you do not buy, drink, or eat anything.

If you stay overnight in a deserted area, it will be easier or more difficult, depending on whether you are relaxed or complicated about it. In principle, a shovel is the right tool (including in our equipment). Burying 1 foot deep is enough. You will not damage the environment; soil-dwelling bacteria turn it into fertilizer for the plants in less than 2 weeks!

We have a hygiene tent in our warehouse for more complicated people. But it is a question of space in your vehicle. We strongly recommend this tent for family camping. The topic was more of an issue for families than for couples.

Showers

Access to showers is less challenging but even more important. At the end of the day, you will be salty, sandy, smelly, sweaty, dirty, or all of them.

Your body is crying out for a shower. Five liters is enough—the more important thing is how you get it. Pouring Water over yourself in a bucket won't get you much out of it. With five liters of Water distributed over a few minutes via an intelligent shower head, you can enjoy this moment and return to life completely refreshed.

Depending on the vehicle, we offer two systems: a plastic tank on the car's roof with an electric pump or an aluminum tank with Water and compressed air.

Now and then, your body demands more fresh Water. Setting up your camp by a river is good, but you must move a few miles upstream. At the river mouth, you have brackish Water.

The smartest thing is to visit a paid campground with good infrastructure or, occasionally, stay overnight in a hotel or a cabin.

Or could you combine your campground with a waterfall visit?

Your Home away from home- is your Tent.

During your camping holiday, your tent is your home. Wild Rider has, therefore, equipped the vehicles with the best tents available on the market. We do not believe installing wobbly and unstable tents (with cords and folding floors) on our cars satisfies our customers. Between 5:30 and 6:30, it suddenly gets dark, so our tents must be ready to move in in 3 minutes. This is only possible with hard-shell tents. These have gas pressure springs and can be opened and closed with little physical strength. They are safe even in thunderstorms and heavy rain.

Our top model is the IKamper 3.0 with a base area of 2.10 m x 2.10 m

But our next smaller model also offers enough space for a couple at 2.10 m x 1.55m.

On our 3-door Jimny, we need driving stability. Therefore, the tent is slightly slimmer. At 2.10 m x 1.30 m, it is OK for non-XL persons.

Look how easy is to open and close the camper on this link on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=did5OY4o8FQ