San José (SJO) to Manuel Antonio & Quepos

This is the easiest long drive in Costa Rica: a modern toll highway down to the coast, then the flat, fast Costanera Sur along palm plantations and beaches. A regular sedan is perfectly fine — don’t let anyone upsell you a 4×4 for Manuel Antonio.

Real-world time is 2h 45m to 3h 30m. The unknown factor is Route 27 traffic: Friday afternoons leaving San José and Sunday afternoons coming back can add an hour. Leave the airport before 11 am or after 7 pm on weekends if you can (and remember we don’t recommend driving after dark on rural roads — Route 27 itself is lit in parts but the Costanera is not).

Step-by-step directions

1. 1

   Route 27 west toward Caldera

   Follow Route 27 from the airport area through Ciudad Colón and Atenas to Orotina. Expect the toll plazas and a long, steep descent near San Mateo.

2. 2

   Exit onto Route 34 (Costanera Sur)

   Before Caldera, follow signs for Jacó / Quepos onto Route 34. You'll cross the Tárcoles River bridge about 15 minutes later.

3. 3

   Coast past Jacó and Parrita

   The Costanera is flat and fast, with a 60–80 km/h limit and occasional speed cameras. Watch for cyclists and bus stops.

4. 4

   Turn into Quepos and climb to Manuel Antonio

   After the palm plantations, turn right into Quepos. The 7 km road from Quepos up to Manuel Antonio is narrow, hilly and busy — go slow.

Tolls, fuel & road facts

Hazards to know before you go

• Weekend traffic jams on Route 27, especially Sunday afternoon toward San José.
• Car break-ins at the Tárcoles crocodile bridge — never leave the car alone with bags inside.
• The Manuel Antonio hill road is narrow with pedestrians, buses and parked cars.
• Unofficial 'parking attendants' at Manuel Antonio beach wave cars into paid lots — you don't have to stop there.

Stops worth making

• Tárcoles crocodile bridge

  Dozens of huge crocodiles sun themselves below the bridge on Route 34. Walk the pedestrian path; park at the restaurants on the south side and keep someone with the car.

• Jacó

  Good halfway point for lunch or a coffee. Easy to get in and out from the Costanera.

• Playa Hermosa / Esterillos

  Quick beach stops just south of Jacó, less crowded than Jacó itself.

Local tips

• The national park is closed on Tuesdays and entry tickets must be bought online in advance.
• Park at your hotel and take the bus or a taxi to the park entrance — parking near the gate is limited and pricey.
• Fuel prices are identical at every station in Costa Rica, so fill up whenever it's convenient.
• Plan to arrive before dark (about 5:45–6:15 pm year-round). Rural roads have no lighting, few shoulders, and pedestrians, cyclists and animals on the road.