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how to get to monteverde
Liberia / Rincon de La Vieja / Papagayo Gulf
Nosara / Samara / Carillo
Tamarindo / Conchal / Flamingo
how to get to la fortuna
There are 4 different routes to reach Arenal from San Jose. All of them are beautiful and each one is different.
1- San Jose-Heredia-Varablanca-San Miguel-Aguas Zarcas-Muelle-La Fortuna (Blue Route)
Take
the Panamerican Highway # 1 north towards the airport. Get off the
highway before the 1st bridge on your right and follow the signs to
Heredia downtown. Once you reach Heredia downtown follow the signs to
Barva de Heredia. (See map of downtown Heredia #26 and follow the green
route) Once in Barva, you will see a soccer field at your left and the
church at your right. Keep straight and this road will lead you to the
town of Birri-Roble and then to Varablanca. Once at Varablanca turn
right at the gas station, and that road will lead you to Cariblanco and
San Miguel. Almost reaching San Miguel follow the signs to Aguas
Zarcas, Muelle, Tanque and La Fortuna.
*Attention: The accesses
and roads to Varablanca and San Miguel may have been detoured or even
closed. Due to the last January earth quake several roads were severely
damaged in that area. Please inform yourself before travelling there.
2- San Jose-Alajuela-Poas Volcano-Varablanca-Cariblanco-San Miguel-Aguas Zarcas-Muelle-La Fortuna.
Take
the Panamerican Highway # 1 north towards the airport. Once you have
passed the Toll booth and the first street light take the exit to
Alajuela just in front of the Airport and continue that road through
Alajuela downtown. (See map of Alajuela Downtown #24 and follow the
green route). Once passing the town of Alajuela you will start to climb
the mountains and see the coffee plantations that will lead you to the
Poas Volcano. Before you reach the Volcano you will find a sign to
Varablanca. Turn right and continue straight ahead until the next stop
sign where you turn left to Cariblanco and San Miguel. Before reaching
San Miguel follow the sign to Aguas Zarcas, Muelle, Tanque and into La
Fortuna.
3- San Jose-Grecia-Sarchi-Naranjo-Zarcero-Ciudad Quesada-Florencia-Tanque-La Fortuna (Light Blue Route)
Take
the Panamerican Highway #1 north to Alajuela. You will pass the Airport
and continue straight for some kilometers until you see the sign to
Grecia. Turn right and continue to Grecia downtown. Once you reach
downtown you will see a red church on your left. Drive to the back of
the red church by turning left and at the next corner turn left again
(so you will be at the other side of the church), In here you will see
and follow the the signs to Sarchi. Once in Sarchi continue the road to
Naranjo. As you arrive in Naranjo follow the signs to Zarcero and
Ciudad Quesada. Once in Ciudad Quesada. follow the signs to Tanque and
La Fortuna.
4- San Jose-Alajuela- San Ramon- La Tigra-Chachagua-La Fortuna (Green Route)
Take
the Panamerican Highway #1 out of San Jose to Alajuela and keep
straight. You will pass the Airport and continue straight for some
kilometers until you see the sign to San Ramon. Exit there and drive
into the town of San Ramon where you will look for the sign to San
Lorenzo and La Tigra. You might find also the sign of Hotel Villa
Blanca and Valle Escondido, (these hotels are on the way from San Ramon
to La Tigra) Follow the signs and continue the road from La Tigra to
Chachagua and then into La Fortuna.
how to get to Monteverde
Continue
along Route 1 (passing the exits for Naranjo and San Ramon) and look
for signs to Monteverde / Sardinal at Km #135 (road sign marker). Turn
right and follow signs to Monteverde. The paved road ends shortly
after exiting the main road and turns to a gravely, pot-holed road the
last 35km of steep climbing to Monteverde. Four-wheel drive is
recommended, if not mandatory.
To Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula:
Continue
north along Route 1. To go to the Nicoya Peninsula, follow signs for
the Tempisque River Bridge, Nicoya and Route 18. There is a
well-marked intersection guiding drivers to the left to go to Nicoya.
To Liberia:
Pass
turn for Tempisque River Bridge and continue north along Route 1.
Liberia is several hours north on Route 1, which goes right into
central Liberia.
Combination Trips to / from Monteverde / Arenal:
One can arrive in Monteverde via a jeep/boat/jeep,
taxi/boat/taxi or by a horse/boat combo journey from the La
Fortuna/Arenal area. Trips to Arenal from Monteverde are also
available. All these trips transport your luggage seperately and are a
great way to experience the Arenal Lake up-close.
| Liberia / Rincon de La Vieja / Papagayo Gulf |
| How to get there? |
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To Rincon de la Vieja National Park:
To Hacienda Guachipelin, Rincon de la Vieja Lodge
From Liberia take the Panamerican highway #1 north. After approximately
5 kilometers you will find the signs to Rincon de la Vieja National
Park. Turn right on a gravel road and continue that road to the town of
Curubande. Continue this road and you will find the signs of the 2
lodges of the area, Hacienda Guachipelin and Rincon de la Vieja Lodge.
On the road you will find a closed gate. Please honk and someone will
come out and charge you U.S.$2 per car for the use of this private
road. You will find first the Hacienda Guachipelin, and then Rincón de
la Vieja Lodge.
To Borinquen Hotel, Buena Vista Lodge
If
you are going to any of these places take the highway from Liberia
north. Pass the entrance to Rincon de la Vieja and continue the highway
north until you find the sign of Cañas Dulces. Turn right and follow
the signs to Borinquen Hotel and Buena Vista Lodge.
**Advice**
In
this area you will find only unpaved roads that are easy to drive
during the dry season (Nov – May). But please note that during the
rainy season (May- November) it is recommend to drive them with extreme
caution and with 4x4 only.
To Papagayo Gulf:
If
you are coming from San Jose on the Panamerican Highway #1 north, you
will reach Liberia. At the main intersection turn left and follow the
signs to Flamingo, Conchal, & Tamarindo beaches. You will pass the
Liberia International airport and after the bridge of Tempisque River
you will find the turn on your right side that takes you to the
Papagayo Gulf. Turn right and follow the signs!
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| Nosara / Samara / Carillo |
| How to get there? |
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From San Jose
You
drive the Panamerican Highway # 1 via Palmares, San Ramon, Esparza,
towards Puntarenas. You pass the exit to Puntarenas and continue until
you see the sign to Tempisque. (You will see a Shell Gas Station on
your left). Here turn right and drive towards Nicoya. You will cross
the new Tempisque Bridge and continue driving following the signs to
Nicoya. Once in Nicoya downtown, find the sign to Samara Beach. On the
road to Samara you will see signs to reach either Nosara or Carrillo.
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| Tamarindo / Conchal / Flamingo |
| How to get there? |
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From San Jose
If
you are coming from San Jose on the Panamerican Highway #1 north, you
will reach Liberia. At the main intersection turn left and follow the
signs to Flamingo, Conchal, & Tamarindo. In this road just to
follow the signs that will lead you to these beautiful beaches. After
passing Filadelfia and Belen look for the road signs to Tamarindo,
Flamingo, Conchal, Sugar Beach, Potrero, Avellanas and Langosta.
From Nosara / Samara / Carrillo & From Tambor / Montezuma / Mal País / Santa Teresa
If
you are coming from all these places take the road to Nicoya and
continue to Santa Cruz. There are two ways to reach Tamarindo / Conchal
/ Flamingo:
1- After Santa Cruz look for the road sign to
Tamarindo Beach. Continue the road which turns into a gravel road and
just follow the signs to Tamarindo.
2- After Santa Cruz follow the main road towards Belen. Once in Belen follow the signs to Tamarindo.
**Advice**
In
these area you will find many unpaved roads that are easy to drive
during the dry season (Nov – May). But please note that during the
rainy season (May- November) it is recommend to drive it with 4x4 only.
If you ever encounter a small river crossing, please be aware that
during the dry season it may be easy to cross it, but not during the
rainy season . We DO NOT encourage our clientele to drive on these 4x4
only roads and cross these rivers at any time of the year. Please use
always your common sense!
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