From San José (SJO airport) 19 routes
San José (SJO) to La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano
A 3-hour mountain drive on fully paved roads via San Ramón. Any rental car can do it — but fog,…
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San José (SJO) to Monteverde Cloud Forest
The classic climb to the cloud forest: 3.5 hours via Route 27 and the Guacimal road. Mostly paved now, but…
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San José (SJO) to Manuel Antonio & Quepos
An easy, fully paved 3-hour drive on Route 27 and the Costanera coastal highway, with a crocodile-bridge stop on the…
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San José (SJO) to Jacó
The shortest beach drive from the capital: about 1.5–2 hours on Route 27 and the Costanera. Fully paved, any car…
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San José (SJO) to Tamarindo
Route 27 + Route 1 over the Tempisque bridge: about 4.5–5.5 hours, fully paved. Google says 4 hours — here's…
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San José (SJO) to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Through Braulio Carrillo National Park and down the Caribbean coast: 4–5 hours, paved all the way, but Route 32 is…
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San José (SJO) to Cahuita
About 4 hours to the laid-back Caribbean village next to Cahuita National Park. Paved all the way via Braulio Carrillo…
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San José (SJO) to Tortuguero (via La Pavona)
You can't drive into Tortuguero — you drive to La Pavona dock, park, and take a boat. 3 hours of…
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San José (SJO) to Uvita & Marino Ballena
Down the Costanera to the whale-tail beach: about 3.5 hours on smooth, paved roads. One of the most scenic drives…
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San José (SJO) to Dominical
The surfer's run to the South Pacific: about 3–3.5 hours, fully paved via Route 27 and the Costanera.
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San José (SJO) to Santa Teresa & Mal País (via the Paquera ferry)
Drive to Puntarenas, take the ferry to Paquera, then 1.5 hours to Santa Teresa. Budget 5–6.5 hours door to door;…
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San José (SJO) to Montezuma (via the Paquera ferry)
Route 27 to Puntarenas, the ferry to Paquera, and a hilly drive through Cóbano. About 4.5–6 hours including the crossing.
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San José (SJO) to Nosara
A long day: 5–6 hours via the Tempisque bridge and Nicoya, with the last stretch on rough, dusty gravel. Rent…
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San José (SJO) to Sámara
The easiest Nicoya Peninsula beach to reach: about 4–5 hours, paved all the way via the Tempisque bridge and Nicoya.
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San José (SJO) to Rincón de la Vieja National Park
Route 1 north past Liberia, then the Curubandé road to the Las Pailas entrance: about 4.5 hours, with a gravel…
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San José (SJO) to Río Celeste (Tenorio Volcano NP)
To the sky-blue river via Route 1, Cañas and Bijagua: about 4 hours, paved almost to the park entrance.
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San José (SJO) to Drake Bay (drive to Sierpe + boat)
The gateway to Corcovado: about 5 hours on paved roads to Sierpe, then a spectacular boat ride down the mangroves…
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San José (SJO) to Playas del Coco
About 4.5 hours via Route 27, Route 1 and Liberia. Paved all the way — but if Coco is your…
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San José (SJO) to Poás Volcano
A steep, paved 1-hour climb through coffee and strawberry farms to one of the world's largest active craters. Tickets must…
Route guide →From Liberia (LIR airport) 9 routes
Liberia Airport (LIR) to Tamarindo
The easiest airport transfer in the country: about 1–1.5 hours on paved roads through Guanacaste ranch land.
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Liberia Airport (LIR) to La Fortuna & Arenal
The scenic way to Arenal: through Cañas and Tilarán and around Lake Arenal. About 3–3.5 hours on paved but winding,…
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Liberia Airport (LIR) to Monteverde
South on Route 1 and up the Guacimal road: about 3 hours. The climb is mostly paved but steep and…
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Liberia Airport (LIR) to Nosara
About 2–2.5 hours: paved to Nicoya, then rough gravel into Nosara. SUV minimum; 4x4 in rainy season.
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Liberia Airport (LIR) to Santa Teresa
The long way down the Nicoya Peninsula: about 4–4.5 hours via Nicoya and Paquera, with a rough final stretch.
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Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playas del Coco
A 25–35 minute hop on paved roads — the shortest beach transfer in Costa Rica.
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Liberia Airport (LIR) to Rincón de la Vieja
About an hour to the Las Pailas entrance via Curubandé — paved at first, gravel at the end. SUV recommended.
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Liberia Airport (LIR) to Río Celeste
About 2 hours via Route 1 and Route 6 through Bijagua to the Tenorio Volcano park entrance. Mostly paved.
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Liberia Airport (LIR) to Sámara
An easy 2–2.5 hour drive on paved roads via Santa Cruz and Nicoya.
Route guide →Between destinations 11 routes
La Fortuna (Arenal) to Monteverde
Only 60 km as the crow flies, but 3–4 hours by car around Lake Arenal — ending with a rough…
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Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
Down from the cloud forest to the beach: about 4–5 hours via Route 606, Route 27 and the Costanera. All…
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La Fortuna (Arenal) to Tamarindo
Around Lake Arenal and across Guanacaste: 4–5 hours on paved roads. Leave early — it's a full travel day.
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La Fortuna (Arenal) to Río Celeste
A popular day trip: about 1.5–2 hours via Guatuso, with a gravel final approach. SUV recommended.
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Jacó to Manuel Antonio
A flat, easy hour south on the Costanera through palm plantations.
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Manuel Antonio to Uvita
One hour south on the Costanera, with the prettiest coastal views after Dominical.
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Uvita to Sierpe (boats to Drake Bay)
Under an hour south to Palmar Norte and Sierpe, where the boats to Drake Bay depart.
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Tamarindo to Santa Teresa
Only 100 km apart on the map, but the safe inland route takes 4–4.5 hours. The coastal shortcut has river…
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Tamarindo to Nosara
About 1.5–2 hours along the coast on gravel, with river crossings in rainy season. 4x4 required; there's an inland alternative.
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La Fortuna (Arenal) to Puerto Viejo
From the volcano to the Caribbean: 5–6 hours via Sarapiquí, Guápiles and Limón. Paved all the way.
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Uvita to Puerto Jiménez (Osa Peninsula)
Into the wild Osa Peninsula: 2.5–3 hours, now paved to Puerto Jiménez. Watch for wildlife and one-lane bridges.
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