There is a particular kind of trust that takes years to build and only seconds to lose. Warren León has been building it since 2003 — one key handover at a time, one airport pickup at a time, one carefully washed truck at a time.
I came across Warren through a mutual connection — our pending correspondent in Costa Rica — and the more I read about him, the more I wanted to write about him. Not because Costa Rica Car Storage is a flashy business. It is not. It is a family operation in Escazú, a suburb of San José, built on the most unfashionable virtues imaginable: reliability, honesty, and the kind of personal attention that makes strangers feel like family.
That is exactly why it belongs in Just Gerald.
Escazú at dusk — the hillside suburb where Warren's family has deep roots
A Family from Escazú
Warren, Ana, and their son Noah León are a Costa Rican family from Escazú — one of the most desirable addresses in the Central Valley, perched above San José with views of both the city and the surrounding volcanoes. It is a place that rewards people who know it well, and the León family knows it very well indeed.
Warren is a certified automobile and aviation service technician and consultant — a dual qualification that tells you something about the precision he brings to everything he touches. He is bilingual, which matters enormously in a country where the expat community relies on trusted locals to navigate everything from car inspections to road tax payments.
It Started in the Backyard
In 2003, Warren and Ana began storing cars for expat clients in their own backyard. That is not a metaphor. That is the literal origin of what is now a three-facility operation with a team, a fleet of support vehicles, and a client list that spans North America, Europe, and beyond.
Twenty years of doing the same thing well. No pivots, no rebranding, no venture capital. Just a family that understood what expats and travellers needed — someone they could trust with their vehicle while they were out of the country — and delivered it, every single time.
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San José and the Central Valley — Warren's territory for over two decades
What They Actually Do
The Core Package
- ✓ Secure storage at three facilities
- ✓ Airport and hotel pickup and drop-off
- ✓ Full car wash, inside and outside
- ✓ Engine bay fluid checks and tire pressure
- ✓ Grocery shopping on arrival
Extended Services
- ✓ A/C repairs, oil changes, minor mechanical
- ✓ Costa Rica annual car inspection (RTV)
- ✓ Road tax and registration payment (Marchamo)
- ✓ Off-road Australian accessories and customisations
- ✓ Flatbed towing and emergency assistance
The detail that keeps appearing in every testimonial is the airport experience. Warren meets you when you land. Your truck is there, freshly washed, sometimes with water and snacks on the seat. You load up and go. After a long travel day, that moment — stepping off a plane and finding your vehicle exactly as you left it, or better — is worth more than any parking facility in the world.
Three Facilities, One Standard
What started in a backyard now spans three secure storage locations in the greater San José area. Clients have described the facilities as well-lit, gated, and staffed — the kind of place you can see with your own eyes before you hand over your keys, which Warren actively encourages.
The team has grown too. Ana Matamoros handles reservations, communications, and logistics with the precision of someone who has done this thousands of times. Jimena — mentioned by name in multiple reviews — is the voice on WhatsApp that keeps clients informed throughout their trip. And little Noah, aged five, is the youngest member of the company, ensuring the business never loses sight of what it is really about: family.
A secure, covered facility — the standard Warren holds across all three locations
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The Rider, the Rover Man
Warren is not just a mechanic who stores cars. He is a rider. A KTM 1190 Adventure R man — one of the most capable adventure motorcycles ever built — and a Land Rover devotee whose passion for restoring Defenders and Discoveries is woven into everything the business does.
His championship riding background — earned on the trails and tracks of Costa Rica's Central Valley and beyond — gives him a relationship with machines that goes beyond technical knowledge. He understands what it means to trust a vehicle with your life. That understanding is what he brings to every car in his care.
Multiple clients have had Warren install TJM bumpers, winches, suspension lifts, and off-road accessories on their vehicles while in storage. He does not just keep your truck safe. He makes it better.
The trails of Costa Rica's Central Valley — Warren's home ground
A Defender in its element — the kind of machine Warren understands at a cellular level
What People Say
"Warren greeting me at the airport when I arrive and seeing me off when I leave is like having family that truly cares. They make sure my car is kept, cared for and even maintained both mechanically and legally."
James M.
Long-term client, 3+ years
"Words cannot explain how amazing Warren and Anita are. Their passion for Costa Rica and helping people is so special! Without Warren and Anita, it would have been impossible for my family to own a truck in Costa Rica."
Dan Atkinson
Multi-year client, US-based
"My Dad and I are two motorcycle riders from England. We stored two motorcycles with Warren for two weeks. The service was fantastic. Knowing that the motorcycles would be so well looked after left us feeling relaxed."
Laura Chamberlain
Pan-American Highway traveller
"I have known and been using Warren and Anita's services for some years now. They have helped me purchase 2 cars and a dirtbike. I can't recommend them more. I consider all of them very good friends of mine."
Roman Niazyan
Long-term client and friend
Pura Vida, Literally
Costa Rica's national phrase — Pura Vida, pure life — is often reduced to a tourist slogan. Warren León lives it. His business philosophy is stated plainly on his website: "Respect, Humility, Honesty and Loyalty." Those are not brand values cooked up by a marketing consultant. They are the values of a family that has been doing the same thing, the same way, for over two decades.
For Just Gerald, that is exactly the kind of small business worth celebrating. Not the flashiest, not the biggest, but the most trustworthy. The one that makes your life better in a very specific, very practical way — and does it with warmth.
Small Business of the Month
Costa Rica Car Storage — Escazú, Costa Rica
"Warren León is the kind of person who makes you feel better about the world. He built a business on trust, kept it running on family values, and has spent twenty years proving that the simplest model — do what you say, say what you mean, show up when you're needed — is also the best one. If you have a vehicle in Costa Rica, or plan to, there is only one call to make."
— Gerald
Heading to Costa Rica?
Warren and Ana are your family in the Central Valley. Airport pickup, secure storage, mechanical care, and the kind of personal service you will not find anywhere else.
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