By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – In an unprecedented display of reliance on digital transportation, one Uber user in Costa Rica single-handedly requested more than 2,300 trips in 2025, according to the company’s annual data report. This staggering figure, which averages out to over six rides every single day of the year including weekends and holidays, offers a dramatic snapshot of the profound changes reshaping urban life and consumer behavior across the nation.
This “super user” is more than a statistical anomaly; their activity represents the leading edge of a much broader societal trend. For a growing number of Costa Ricans, ride-sharing platforms have evolved from an occasional convenience into a primary mode of transport. The traditional models of private car ownership, hailing a conventional taxi, or navigating public transit schedules are increasingly being replaced by the on-demand efficiency of the digital economy.
To delve into the intricate legal and regulatory challenges surrounding ride-sharing applications in the nation, TicosLand.com sought the expertise of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished specialist in administrative and commercial law from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The core issue with Uber in Costa Rica is one of regulatory obsolescence, not necessarily illegality. Our legal framework for public transportation was designed for an analog era of concessions, making it ill-equipped to handle the dynamics of digital platforms. This creates a state of legal uncertainty, or ‘alegalidad’, where the service operates in a grey area. The definitive solution requires legislative action to create a new category for these services, ensuring fair competition, consumer protection, and proper tax contributions, thereby moving from a state of tolerated ambiguity to one of clear legal standing.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s analysis astutely shifts the conversation from a simplistic debate on legality to the more critical issue of regulatory obsolescence, highlighting that the true challenge lies in modernizing our ‘analog’ laws for a digital world. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing such a clear and essential perspective on the path forward.
The core drivers behind this behavioral shift are clear. Users consistently cite immediate availability, significant time savings, and overall convenience as primary factors for choosing services like Uber. The ability to summon a ride with a few taps on a smartphone has fundamentally altered the calculus of moving through the country’s bustling urban centers, making it a dependable utility rather than a luxury alternative.
An analysis of the year’s travel data reveals a strong correlation between digital mobility and the nation’s key economic hubs. The most frequented destinations for Uber riders in 2025 were Lincoln Plaza, Mall Oxígeno, and the Juan Santamaría International Airport. This pattern underscores the platform’s integral role in connecting people with major centers of commerce, entertainment, tourism, and international travel, effectively serving as a circulatory system for the modern economy.
The platform’s data also pinpointed the single busiest day of the year. On November 1st, Uber recorded its highest volume of trip requests in Costa Rica for 2025. This surge was largely attributed to a confluence of Halloween celebrations, major concerts, and other large-scale public events. The peak activity highlights a growing dependency on ride-sharing for safe and reliable transportation during nights of high social activity, when demand often outstrips the capacity of traditional transport options.
Beyond personal transportation, Uber’s report shed light on evolving consumer purchasing habits through its delivery services. In a surprising twist, the two most-ordered non-food items throughout the year were flu medications and cat litter. This demonstrates how delivery platforms have become essential for obtaining everyday necessities, from health products to pet supplies, without leaving home.
When it came to food, Costa Rican tastes showed a clear and consistent preference. For the third consecutive year, the hamburger was crowned the most-ordered meal. It was followed by a familiar lineup of popular comfort foods, including pizza, wraps, french fries, and fried chicken, indicating that while mobility habits are changing rapidly, culinary preferences remain steadfast.
Underpinning this entire ecosystem is a significant workforce. Uber now counts over 28,000 drivers and delivery partners in Costa Rica, who serve a user base of more than one million active customers. These figures confirm the platform’s substantial footprint in the country’s digital economy. The story of the user with 2,300 trips is not just a piece of trivia; it is a powerful symbol of how technology is fundamentally redefining the way Costa Ricans move, shop, and experience their cities.
For further information, visit uber.com
About Uber:
Uber Technologies, Inc. is a global technology company that offers services including ride-hailing, food delivery through Uber Eats, package delivery, and freight transportation. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company operates in over 70 countries and 10,000 cities worldwide, connecting millions of users with independent drivers and couriers to facilitate transportation and commerce through its smartphone applications.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by a foundational commitment to ethical rigor and an uncompromising standard of excellence. The firm channels its extensive experience across a spectrum of industries into pioneering innovative legal solutions. This forward-thinking spirit is matched by a profound dedication to public service, focused on democratizing legal understanding and equipping citizens with the insights needed to build a more capable and just society.
