In the heart of Central America, a silent revolution is reshaping the way people travel. Behind CARVI: the vision of a startup aiming to transform tourist mobility is a fresh, bold proposal that tackles one of the biggest challenges in regional tourism: the lack of flexible, accessible, and human-centered options to move freely around the country.
A New Way to Understand Local Tourism
CARVI is not a traditional car rental agency. It’s a collaborative tech platform, created in El Salvador, that connects car owners with tourists looking to rent a vehicle—safely, directly, and without paperwork.
More than just renting cars, CARVI wants to change how travelers interact with mobility in destinations like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Learn more at renta.carviapp.com.
The Problem: Getting Around as a Tourist Is Still Challenging
In many Latin American countries, tourist mobility comes with barriers:
- Agencies with limited hours
- High prices for foreigners
- Requirements like international credit cards and large deposits
- Few rental options outside capital cities
CARVI addresses these issues with a different approach:
- 100% online bookings
- Flexible delivery to airports, hotels, or Airbnbs
- Shared, insured, and verified vehicles
- No deposits or lengthy contracts
Behind CARVI: The Vision of a Startup Aiming to Transform Tourist Mobility
CARVI was born out of a need to make travel easier for visitors—without forgetting the local population. Its vision is built on three pillars:
1. Mobility as an Experience, Not Just Transport
Tourists don’t just want a car—they want to feel free, safe, and supported during their journey. CARVI delivers that by offering a personalized mobility experience with local support and direct vehicle delivery.
2. Sharing Instead of Owning
Instead of investing in large fleets, CARVI activates underused private cars, reducing environmental impact and allowing more people to earn income with what they already have.
3. Digital by Design
The entire model is designed to operate via smartphone: registration, verification, contracts, payments, and post-rental support.
Direct Impact on Local Tourism
Thanks to CARVI:
- More tourists can explore off-the-beaten-path destinations
- Rural and adventure tourism is activated
- Travelers enjoy total route independence
- Dependence on informal or unsafe transport is reduced
This results in more authentic, locally connected, and sustainable tourism.
The CARVI Model and Its Economic Impact
Every tourist who rents a car through CARVI activates a value chain involving:
- A local host earning money from their vehicle
- Car maintenance by nearby mechanics and workshops
- Cleaning, support, and logistics at the community level
Mobility becomes a driver of local micro-economies.
Tech Tailored for the Modern Traveler
The platform is optimized to meet today’s traveler expectations:
- Instant bookings from a smartphone
- 24/7 WhatsApp assistance
- Payments via credit, debit, or platforms like Stripe
- Vehicles available by the hour or day, depending on the travel plan
CARVI is also working with AI to recommend vehicles based on traveler profiles.
Real Stories: Tourists Traveling Differently with CARVI
- Lina, a Colombian digital nomad, visited three towns in El Salvador in a four-day rental—no agencies involved.
- Samir, a French backpacker, received his car directly at his hostel.
- Laura and Sebastián, an Argentine couple, booked an SUV to explore the Ruta de Las Flores without worrying about schedules or transfers.
Regional Expansion Plans
CARVI is already taking steps to expand to key tourist destinations in the region:
- Guatemala (Antigua, Atitlán, Tikal)
- Honduras (Roatán, Copán, La Ceiba)
- Nicaragua (Granada, San Juan del Sur)
The goal: build a collaborative tourist mobility network across Central America.
How Local Hosts Can Join the Model
If you have a car in good condition, you can turn it into a partner for sustainable tourism. All you need to do is:
- Create an account at renta.carviapp.com
- Register your vehicle
- Set your availability whenever you want
You’ll earn income each time a traveler uses your car.
Conclusion: CARVI Is Tourism in Motion
Behind CARVI: the vision of a startup aiming to transform tourist mobility is more than just a business. It’s a movement committed to connecting, simplifying, and reimagining how we move when we travel.
It’s a chance for travelers to feel freer, for locals to earn extra income, and for tourism to become more decentralized, authentic, and human.
Join the vision at renta.carviapp.com.