One of the most popular routes for tourists is from San Jose to La Fortuna. Many visitors go to La Fortuna as their first destination in their Costa Rica itinerary. If you plan to rent a car and drive to La Fortuna from San Jose, here is our guide to help you have a fun and safe drive and to make the most out of this road trip.
Haven’t booked your rental car yet? Check out our Costa Rica car rental discount to save some $$ and get our freebies.
This post has affiliate links which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Any prices listed may not reflect current pricing. It is the readers responsibility to research current pricing. Prices are quoted in USD. More info: Disclosure
How Far is La Fortuna from San Jose?
The distance between San Jose and La Fortuna is about 130 kilometers or 80 miles. The distance between San Jose International Airport and La Fortuna is about 115 kilometers or 72 miles.
The drive time from San Jose to La Fortuna is about 3 hours. The drive from San Jose International Airport to La Fortuna is about 2.5 hours.
These are times without any traffic or stops. We always recommend to estimate at least 1 hour more, to account for traffic, stops and delays.
Is a 4×4 Required?
No, a 4×4 is not required for La Fortuna. However, we recommend a high clearance SUV for the most comfort, as there may be some big pot holes and poor sections in the remote part of the drive.
Furthermore, if you take the routes to stop at Poas Volcano National Park , Catarata del Toro and/or La Paz Waterfall Gardens, it is extremely curvy and steep.
You will need to have a stronger engine, in case you are traveling with a fully loaded car with lots of luggage. In the rainy season, a 4wd will be the best option.
Even if you are only two or three adults, a high clearance SUV will be much better in case each person is bringing a full 50 lb check in, backpacks, purses and carry ons. If you are only one or two adults traveling light with just carry on, a sedan can work, in the drier months like February and March.
First time driving in Costa Rica? Click the link to get our tips for driving in Costa Rica to stay safe! Haven’t booked your rental car yet? Check our tips for renting a car in Costa Rica to make it easy!
San Jose to La Fortuna Routes
There are a few routes from San Jose to La Fortuna and there are many different places to stop at. Below are some of the most popular routes and stops.
Please click here to go to our map of the routes mentioned in this blog post, as well as places of interest, food, gas and more.
Most Common Direct Route: Route 1 and Route 702
This is the most common route that Google Maps and Waze will show you. Route 1 and Route 702 is the direct route from San Jose to La Fortuna.
If you do not want to make any long stops or detours and just want to get to La Fortuna right away, you should take this route. This route takes around 2.5 hours or 2 hours and 40 minutes, without traffic and stops.
**Sometimes Waze and Google Map will take you via Route 1, Route 702 and Route 141 through Santa Clara, depending on your final destination in La Fortuna, which you should enter as your hotel. This is pretty much the same as Route 1 and Route 702 as it takes the same time, give or take a few minutes. The road is in good condition and you will arrive La Fortuna from the east, as opposed to the south.**
There are a couple of toll booths you need to go through as you leave San Jose/San Jose International Airport. They are small amounts, like 200-800 Costa Rican colones (20 cents to $1.50 USD). You can pay in Costa Rican colones, credit card or small bills USD.
Road Conditions
The Route 1 and Route 702 San Jose to La Fortuna road conditions are in good shape. You’ll start off on the highway and then it goes through San Ramon and several small towns up in the cloud forest.
It is paved nearly the entire way, save for some pot holes here and there and a section up in the cloud forest that is in poor condition.
IMPORTANT. There is a section of this route after you exit San Ramon that is up the mountains, through cloud forest and goes through some tiny rural towns.
This is from around Angeles Sur to Bajo Rodriguez. It can get VERY foggy up here so please drive slowly, carefully and cautiously with low beam lights.
Along this section, there are some road side restaurants and mini markets. The views are beautiful here, and many of the restaurants have a nice view.
If you see a sign that says MIRADOR, that means there is a nice view and that establishment has a sort of lookout point.
This route has a lot of these small, one lane bridges. When you approach this, if you see the triangular sign that says CEDA el Paso on it, then that means yield. You are required to yield to oncoming traffic.
This drive is very beautiful and is not terribly difficult. It takes around 2 hours and 40 minutes, but if you include a couple of stops and run into a bit of traffic, plan for at least 3.5 hours, especially if you are driving during the day on a long weekend or holiday.
La Fortuna to San Jose Route Video
Here is a video of us driving from Arenal to San Jose on this route.
See what the road is like and some places we stopped.
Can I Drive to La Fortuna at Night?
Yes, but we say this with lots of caution. Even though the roads are paved, it is recommended not to drive from San Jose to La Fortuna late at night due to lack of street lights, no side walks, the curviness of the road and extreme fog in the section up by the cloud forest.
Furthermore, many restaurants on this route close by around 8-9 PM. Additionally, if you are arriving late at night, many hotels in La Fortuna do not have reception open that late. Sometimes reception is only open until 10 PM. You will have to contact your hotel to see if late check in is possible.
It gets dark at 6 PM every day in Costa Rica so if your flight gets in late, I recommend staying the night in San Jose and leaving early the next morning. You can make it a longer road trip and take your time to enjoy.
Check our post for recommended hotels near SJO Airport. We have a 10% discount for Adventure Inn which includes a free airport shuttle and hot breakfast.
It is much nicer and easier to drive in the day light, especially if you are visiting during the rainy season (May through December).
Typical rainy season weather are clear and dry mornings, and then it will start raining in the early afternoon.
Learn more about driving to La Fortuna after landing and read our recommendations for all different scenarios (time of visit, flight arrival time, etc.).
If you are landing in the morning, before noon or early afternoon, you can drive to La Fortuna right after landing.
Alternative Route to Stop at Poas Volcano National Park
If you leave the next morning, you have a full day to make this drive from San Jose to La Fortuna. You are able to stop at some places along the way if you wish. One popular stop is Poas Volcano National Park.
This national park is home to one of the world’s largest crater lakes. The park has an easy and a couple moderate hiking trails to view points of the crater lake, an inactive lake and through the cloud forest.
If you visit this national park, I would plan for at least 1 hour to the view point below. If you want to continue to Lake Botos, that would add another 45 minutes at least.
IMPORTANT. You must purchase park tickets on the SINAC website beforehand to visit Poas Volcano National Park. They do NOT sell tickets at the door. Each park ticket is valid for an allotted time slot. If you miss your entry time, they usually do not let you go in.
The extra time if you stop at Poas Volcano National Park brings the total drive time to around 3 hours and 15 minutes. If you stay around 1.5 hours at the park, your entire drive will take at least 4.5 hours depending on if you leave from downtown San Jose or the airport area.
Enter your route in Google Maps as “Poas Volcano Parking Lot” for the national park destination. The national park has a secure parking lot with a guard.
We still recommend to bring your valuables with you (passport/wallet/etc) and try to hide/cover as much of your stuff as possible in the car. Do not leave any valuables visible in the car.
Alternative Route to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park
If you don’t want to stop at Poas Volcano National Park, another popular stop is the La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. This nature park has a large animal sanctuary and five waterfalls with a 3 kilometer trail and view points.
It is a gorgeous park with beautiful views of the forest. The waterfalls are absolutely spectacular to see!
The park has their own restaurant so you can get lunch there. If you stop at the park, we recommend at least 3 hours for the park if you get lunch included. Your entire drive with the visit to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park can take you around 6 hours.
We offer a small discount for La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park tickets. Click the link to get your entrance ticket with or without lunch included.
The park has their own parking lot and many tourism vans and tours stop here. Take your valuables with you and do not leave any valuables visible in the car.
On a budget? Then skip the park and stop by the free view point of La Paz Waterfall! It is called “La Paz Waterfall” on Google Maps. There is a pull out spot by the bridge and you can walk down to take photos and see this waterfall.
Poas Volcano National Park and La Paz in One Day?
It is possible to visit both places on your way to La Fortuna but you will need to leave early. We recommend to get to Poas Volcano National Park at 8 AM and arrive at La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park by 11 AM.
That way, if you leave La Paz Waterfall Gardens around 2-3 PM, you can still make it to La Fortuna before it gets dark.
Alternative Route to Catarata del Toro
The third alternative route in this post will be a stop at Catarata del Toro in Bajos del Toro. This is one of the tallest waterfalls in Costa Rica, inside an extinct volcano crater. You can just stay by the view point or you can walk down a trail and some steps to the bottom of the waterfall. No swimming.
This is one of our favorite places in Costa Rica, this waterfall is truly impressive!
If you stop here, the entire drive will be around 3 hours. We recommend at least 1 hour at Catarata del Toro because the walk down is SO worth it!
You should rent a 4wd if you plan to visit Catarata del Toro, due to the roads in and around Bajos del Toro.
Driving from Guanacaste (Guanacaste Airport)
Driving from Guanacaste? (Liberia, Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, Flamingo, Brasilito) Check out our guide to driving to Arenal from Guanacaste!
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Kelly Gilligan says
Hello, We land in San Jose at 7pm Friday 8/22 and plan on staying the night before driving to La Fortuna on Saturday morning. Do you have a recommendation for a hotel in the direction closest to La Fortuna rather than staying in San Jose. Trying to save some time for our drive in the morning. Thanks! Kelly
Sammi says
Hi Kelly, if you take the route via San Ramon, you can find a hotel in San Ramon, that’s about 1 hour from SJO Airport.
Mark says
Hello,
Thank you for all of your help. We land in SJO at 1:05 then plan to clear immigration get bags then head over to adobe for the car rental. We are then heading to La Fortuna. By my calculations the last 30 min of the drive will be in the dark. How is the last 30 min of that leg? Any specific details about the final portion of that route?
We arrive 4/30/25
Sammi says
Hi Mark, you can watch the video to see what the route and roads are like if you take the same route. You will probably drive the last bit in the dark and the last stretch is through some rural areas, but it’s doable. Just make sure you do have your Waze/Google Maps set, and download Google Maps to use offline just in case. I’d also stop to get some snacks and drinks in San Ramon or when you leave the airport, because the last stretch before Fortuna doesn’t have very much, until you reach El Tanque which is only about ten minutes outside Fortuna.
Mike Wright says
Hi Sammi,
We are arriving int Liberia in May at 6:30 am headed to La Fortuna. Can you recommend any stops along the way since we will be too early to check into hotel in La Fortuna. BTW….love your site, we have used it MANY times and I always recommend it to people when they ask about Costa Rica.
Sammi says
Hi Mike, sure! We have a post all about this drive: Driving to Arenal from Guanacaste
Kerry Cowley says
I’ve enjoyed reading your blogs. After picking up our rental car next week at 9 am at SJO we’re stopping to see the La Paz waterfall from the road, eating an early lunch at Soda y Mirador Cinchona (or another one with better reviews if you have suggestions) before going to hike a few of Blue Falls and Catarata del Toro. You said you should rent a 4wd if you plan to visit Catarata del Toro, due to the roads in and around Bajos del Toro. We’ll only have a high clearance SUV and going via Rio Cuatro because I heard the road was a lot better than the other 2 alternatives. Are we going to have problems without a 4wd? Will our luggage be safe in the back of our car at the above stops if there’s nothing showing? Is Las Gemelas, La Posa Azul and La Celestial all doable with a 4-year-old? What order should we do them in and about how long would it take and what would the total mileage be? How far do we drive down the road after paying to start the hike? Is the water really cold this time of year to get in? We’ll have a life jacket for my granddaughter. I thought we’d do Blue Falls before Catarata del Toro when we’re not all worn out. Is that a good idea?
Have you been to Mariposario Alas del Destino which is 30 min north of Catarata del Toro? The butterfly farm has really good reviews and I’d love to stop there for a tour but have no idea how many hours the above stops will take. If we were to arrive in La Fortuna a bit after dark, how bad is the road north of Rio Cuatro? Thanks for your reply.
Sammi says
If you are staying a few nights in Bajos del Toro to do the Del Toro, Blue Falls, celestial, etc. etc. hike, I would check with them to see if they’re doable with a 4 year old. Catarata del Toro Waterfall is, I am not sure about Blue Falls of Costa Rica because you have to cross several rivers holding onto a rope and depending on when you go, the river may be very full and fast flowing which would not be safe. I have not been to La Celestial but I have heard that hike is more difficult and challenging and last year I believe they had a terrible landslide so I’m not sure if that one is suitable with a 4 year old.
If you are trying to do ALL of those plus La Paz and Chinchona in one day, it’s impossible. Blue Falls is by reservation only, and that one and Del Toro (Same park) close at 5 PM.
Amy Heyer says
Hi! After a few days in Arenal, I’m driving to Belen/San Jose to stay for 1 night where my son lives before heading to Manuel Antonio. Is it worth stopping to see Poas Volcano on the way or not really on the way? How much extra time will this take? Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Amy, I’d say it’s worth if i you want to see a volcano crater, make sure to purchase your park tickets online as they don’t sell tickets at the door. You can check our Poas Volcano National Park post for more information. You can map out your route on Google Maps to see the time from your origin destination to your final destination
Laura says
Thank you for very helpful blogs. We are driving from Manual Antonio and wanting to stay 2 days in central area before continuing on to La Fortuna. Where should we stay at Alajuela or San Ramon or where else is better ? One day we would like to visit Poaz and La Paz waterfall gardens and another day the Catarata Del Toro. Which visit would be best to continue on to La Fortuna to arrive before dark? And do we need a 4×4? Thank you very much for any advise.
Sammi says
Hi Laura, we’ve sent you an email to assist you.
Val says
I have the same questions as Laura (above) and was wondering what your answer was. Thank you.
Sammi says
If you want to stay somewhere before heading to La Fortuna after Manuel Antonio to see Poas/La Paz, we highly recommend the Peace Lodge. They have the La Paz Waterfall Gardens and it’s close to Poas Volcano National Park and you can even stop by Catarata del Toro Waterfall. Depending on your party size, a SUV will be the most comfortable but if you’re just two people traveling light and visiting during the peak of dry season, a sedan can work as the road to Peace Lodge, Poas Volcano and Del Toro are paved. However, the road to Bajos del Toro is quite hilly and steep so a stronger engine will be required in case you are coming loaded with lots of luggage and a bigger party. If you’re visiting during the rainy season, we recommend a 4×4 for better traction and stronger engine.
You can check our Important Tips for Renting a Car in Costa Rica and get our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount
Maria salmeron says
We are driving from Heredia to La Fortuna but want to stop at Volcan Poas in June and do that route. Do we need a 4×4 if it is in June- rainy season or a Geely GX 3 will do? We are three in our family
Sammi says
Hello Maria, we’ve sent you an email with more information
Roshni says
Hi,
A friend and I are traveling to costa rica for the first time end of May. We are thinking of renting a car and driving from San Jose airport to La Fortuna and later, La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio. Since it’s the beginning of rainy season would you say the road conditions during the day for these routes will be okay?
Thanks for all the info!
Sammi says
Hi Roshni, we have sent you an email with more information, please check your junk/spam folder in case you don’t see it
Michael says
Hi-
Thanks for all your information!
We are doing this drive and considering stopping for the Doka coffee tour….but will be coming from the airport with all our luggage.
Do you happen to know if the parking lot there is okay to leave our bags in the car, or should we give this a pass.
Thank you.
Sammi says
They do have a large parking lot with lots of tour buses going in and out. Nothing is guaranteed to be 100% secure but with so many tourists coming in and out and they are a large, well known coffee plantation and tourist attraction, I am sure there have been other clients who visit with belongings in their car. If you go, just make sure to put away your things so they’re not visible as much as possible (trunk/luggage cover) and bring your valuables with you. Roll up windows, lock doors.
Kristen says
Hello! We are planning to drive from the San Jose airport area on a Sunday in January to La Fortuna. We’d like to stop at Poas and Sarchi (for the oxcarts) on our way. I’m also debating visiting La Paz waterfalls but don’t think we’ll have enough time for it all so that we arrive in La Fortuna before nightfall. What do you think? Also, it would be cool to stop at one of the coffee farms on our way up to Poas since it seems that they’re right on the route, but not sure we would have time for a full tour, is it still worth it to stop?
Thanks!
Sammi says
I would do one or the other (either La Paz or Sarchi/Poas) due to time and driving distances. But if you leave really early and plan your day out well to arrive at the first stop right at 8 AM, you could do Poas + La Paz (just walk to main observation point at Poas and then quick La Paz stroll, no more than 3 hours with lunch there) to get to La Fortuna before nightfall.
Kitty says
We will be driving a rented vehicle from San José to La Fortuna in late December. We would like to be able to stop at ta couple of places en route, but have been warned not to ever leave the car unattended, as anything left in the car is likely to be stolen within minutes of us turning our backs. Is this true, or are there certain places with secure parking lots where we could stop for lunch (& more) along the way?
Sammi says
Hi Kitty, rule of thumb while driving with luggage here is to never leave your car with belongings inside unattended…there are some places that have a parking lot with guards but this is not very common, this is at like supermarkets like Walmart or Pequeno Mundo and very few restaurants. For stopping for lunch, it’s best to park your car right in front where you can see it from the restaurant if you can and do not ever leave like your phone/purse/backpack/ipad visible just sitting on the dashboard/backseat/floor/passenger seats, always take those valuables with you and try to cover as much of your luggage and other stuff in the car (roll up windows and lock doors). Don’t go to empty places, dark unlit places, etc.
Basma says
We land in SJO at 11:15am, we want to drive to La Fortuna and stay a few days and return the car there. Is it possible to return a car there, I didn’t see La Fortuna as an option on Adobe.
Sammi says
Hello Basma, the closest office is Ciudad Quesada and we can help you arrange your car return with Adobe in La Fortuna, just leave a note in the comment section of the reservation
Sydney Shaw says
We will be travelling from San Jose to La Fortuna on a Saturday, with our flight landing at noon. I think going through immigration and customs, plus the rental car will put us at 1pm leaving the airport. What is your estimated drive time once we leave the airport?
Sammi says
SJO Airport to La Fortuna is approximately 3.5 hours.
Sammi says
Hi Art, we have sent you an email with more information
Lisa says
Hello! Thanks so much for all the great info on this blog. We will be arriving early morning in SJO in July and driving to La Fortuna. I would love to stop for breakfast at one the restaurants you recommended in San Ramon but I was just wondering how we can do that if we have all of our luggage in the car? Do we bring the luggage in with us? Or can we see our car from the restaurant? Thanks so much!
Sammi says
Make sure you take your valuables with you (passport/CC etc.) and try to cover as much of the luggage you can (get a luggage cover if renting a SUV), park as close to the entrance of the restaurant and choose places that are well lit with lots of other people going in and out – some restaurants may also have a “parking guard” who will watch the cars
Tammy says
Hi, I want to catch a bus to LaFortuna. I will arrive March 1 at 12;45. I have read, to get taxi to 7-10, take a bus from there. Does that sound right, thank you!!
Sammi says
Yes the bus station that goes from San Jose to la Fortuna is the 710 terminal.
Isabelle says
Hi! My husband and I will be flying into San Jose Tuesday, Feb 21st around 2:30 pm. We planned on picking up our rental car around 4 pm after going through immigration and customs and heading to our Airbnb in La Fortuna. I figured we would be okay driving since we would only be in the dark for about an hour but after reading online, I am getting nervous about even doing that. I wanted to get to La Fortuna that night since we’ve already booked our Airbnb and a tour at 8 am the following day. Do you think we would be alright flying in at 2:30 pm, hopefully getting our car at 4:30 pm, and driving to La Fortuna the same day? Or do you think we should stop somewhere for the night and finish the drive early in the morning the next day? I messaged our Airbnb host and they told us we would be fine making the drive but I’m not sure since this is my first time in Costa Rica.
Sammi says
Hi Isabelle, you can make the drive but just be aware that part of the route is curvy with no street lights and can get very foggy. You’re going to be leaving SJO right at rush hour and you’re landing at a very busy time so I’d add at 2-3 hours more just in case because there could be a crazy long line at immigration and then tons of traffic getting out of SJO. Download google maps offline as a backup, make sure to save your route on GPS and go very slow.
If you don’t feel comfortable driving in the dark because by the time it gets dark around 6 PM, you’re going to be around the section that doesn’t have street lights and is more rural, I’d stay somewhere halfway but if you aren’t coming from a super long flight and feel comfortable driving abroad or in kind of remote areas, it is doable, especially as February is dry season so you won’t have to worry about driving in downpours or storms. Just go very slow and make sure you have a GPS and follow it on paved roads only – do not follow it if it wants to detour you to off main roads.
Charlie says
Hi Sammi.,
I’m landing in SJO at 5pm and was planning on driving straight to La Fortuna but am having second thoughts now so thanks for the info.
Our return flight leaves at 6pm and I’m planning on driving up from Manuel Antonio that day, leaving around 10am. Should I have second thoughts on this too?
Thanks
Charlie
Sammi says
I would personally stay a night in SJO the day you land. Better to drive in daylight because by the time you finish immigration/customs and get your car, it’s dark since it gets dark by 6 PM.
For your flight out, earlier is always better if you’re driving long routes for the day you’re flying out since you never know what may happen so if you want to drive that day, I’d leave earlier in the morning in case there is an accident, strikes, road closures, etc.
JoAnn says
Thanks for all the tips! We will be driving from Andaz Guanacaste to SJO airport on a Thursday 2/23 and have a 5:15pm flight. What time should we leave Andaz? Also I assume we should fill up the car before getting to the airport, are there places to do that near the airport?
Thanks
Sammi says
I would leave very very early because the route from Guanacaste to SJO can sometimes take 4 hours, can sometimes take 10 hours if there is an accident, a strike or anything going on…and you just never know. We have driven that route hundreds of times and on average it is now taking around 5-6 hours due to congestion but we have had been stuck before due to accidents and other unexpected occurrences and it took us 10 hours. I would personally leave the day before to stay near the airport.
Jenn says
Hi Sammy,
I am scheduled to arrive at San Jose airport at 12:48pm next Wednesday. We are picking up a car and driving straight to La Fortuna. Do you think we will have time to make it before dark?
What would you say is the cutoff time we would need to leave by to make it to La Fortuna before dark in late November?
Sammi says
Yes most likely, it’s about 3 hours from the airport and it gets dark by 6 PM.
Sammi says
IT get darks by 6 PM everyday in Costa Rica
The last section of the route, about half of it is extremely curvy and we are now in rainy season so that road is a bit harder to drive at night if its raining since there are no street lights and its very curvy and it can get extremely foggy
You can stay somewhere halfway like San Ramon
Darcie says
We need to drive from La Fortuna to Jaco. Should we break up the drive and stay a night in San Ramon or somewhere else? Or just drive through the whole way? Thanks!
Sammi says
You can drive the whole way, the road is paved
nichole says
Hi – I see your comments about night driving from Airport to La Fortuna.
We will be traveling with our two teenaged daughters…. we arrive at 2pm. Do you think we are pushing it by trying to get to La Fortuna that same day? We are traveling at the end of June.
Thanks
If you do think we are pushing it – where would you recommend we stay that night – is there a nice place in between?
Sara says
Hi Nichole,
Did you end up driving to La Fortuna the same day? Did you get there in time before dark? We are going next week and have a similar situation. Our flight lands at 1:30pm and were going to try to drive all the way to La Fortuna. All these posts about the roads are making me nervous. Thanks in advance!
Sammi says
I would recommend to stay somewhere halfway, we are now in the heart of rainy season and it gets dark by 6 PM everyday and there is a part of that road that can be tough to drive if its pouring rain since it’s very curvy with no streetlights or lanes
Stephanie says
Hi sammi!
Well I just found this post and now I’m having some anxiety!
We leave for Costa Rica next Wednesday. Arriving at SJO at 630pm and picking up our rental car to head to La Fortuna that night. First time we’ve been there and now extremely nervous about driving at night. Any tips? I’m thinking this close to leaving any changes to hotel or rental car are impossible.
Sammi says
Honestly I would recommend to stay the night in San Jose and leave the next morning for La Fortuna. Several flights usually land in the evening so immigration can take longer than expected, and then there is a part of the route that is more of a rural mountain road and we don’t recommend to drive long routes at night. It gets dark by 6 PM everyday. For first time visitors, I highly highly recommend changing your schedule to leave the next morning to drive in the daylight.
Sammi says
Either one of those places are nice, Poas Volcano is not really a hike though it’s a 20 minute walk from the entrance to the volcano and make sure to purchase park tickets online (40 minutes allowed in the park only).
Lauren Elisabeth Truax says
Hi! Are there any shorter hikes or cool nature things to see on the drive from San Jose to La Fortuna? I was looking at maybe the Poas volcano or Bajos del Toro. My boyfriend and I are going to hit the road early in the morning after flying in the afternoon prior and would love to stretch our legs but not sure if there’s any good hikes on the way that are short and sweet. Thanks!
Sharon says
Hello—quick question……..I am a 62 yr old adult lady arriving at SJO around 3:30, Sunday 12. I have 7 college students with me also. Is it ok for me to keep my reservation for the night in Lafortuna or should I stay near the airport? Or at the very least drive half way to Lafortuna. Our trip is only 5 nights.
Thank you, Sharon
Sammi says
I would personally stay a night near the airport or half way, keep in mind that immigration and customs have been taking a lot longer at SJO Airport lately too and it gets dark by 6 PM.
Jen P says
Hello – we arrive in San Jose on Christmas Eve and plan to make this drive to Arenal on Christmas Day.
Will it be possible to visit any of the sites (waterfalls, etc.) on Christmas, or is everything likely to be closed?
Sammi says
Hello Jen, yes things will be open on Christmas (as long as the closed day doesn’t fall on the holiday. For example, some national parks are closed on Monday so they will be open on Dec 25 as long as Dec 25 doesn’t fall on a Monday).
Laurel Kayusa says
Hi there!
We are planning a trip to Amor Arenal/La Fortuna in early January. After reading your posts, I see it is their rainy season. You would not suggest trying to tackle driving from SJO to the hotel on our own? Our flight lands at 1pm on a Friday, but now I am contemplating arriving later on Thursday and staying near SJO for a night to not waste all of Friday driving (if customs does take that long).
Sammi says
Early January is the beginning of our dry season actually but the La Fortuna area is the rainforest (Northern Lowlands) so it may still have some on and off rains and San Ramon (one of the towns you’ll drive through) is higher in elevation and tends to get foggy at night (it gets dark by 6 PM everyday too) so if it’s one of the days where there is some on and off rain it may be a bit foggy.
Landing midday on Friday-Monday is super busy since January is right in our high season, it’s hard to say exactly how long immigration and customs will take but it won’t be like 5 or 10 minutes since many flights land at that same time. Just keep in mind it gets dark by 6 PM.
Simone Bernard says
Any good spots to stop just for coffee? We are leaving SJO and headed to La Fortuna at around 7am.
Sammi says
San Ramon is a cute town where you can find some local restaurants for food and coffee/drinks.
Amy says
We are coming into CR on Saturday night and staying near SJO that night. The next morning we are heading to La Fortuna. I was reading your route info and it sounded like you could stop at La Paz on the way but it looks like it is on a different route than Sarchi, San Ramon etc, that you also mentioned…am I misunderstanding. We would love to stop and see some waterfalls (not picky which) get some local food, and probably pick up some souveniers. Bonus if we could do a coffee tour but not needed….do you have a route recommendation that could make those things happen?
Sammi says
You could stop by Doka (Coffee) and La Paz waterfall gardens on your way to La Fortuna from San Jose. And I recommend to go as early as possible because we’re in rainy season
Sammi says
Hello Morena, thousands of tourists rent a car and drive in Costa Rica every year, the only things would be to definitely get a GPS or international data/Wifi Router/prepaid SIM card to use Google Maps or Waze, plan out your drives beforehand (download them offline on Google Maps and check out routes before you leave) and make sure to drive long routes during the day, not at night. Drive slowly and check with your hosts if you need a 4×4. You can read more tips for driving in Costa Rica and our Costa Rica car rental tips.
Morena says
Cont… How safe are the places and the roads for the following and what are the best/safest routes:
While at Arenal we want to hit Monteverde and Tabacon.
From Arenal we will drive out to playa del coco and we’re thinking of driving back and forth from playa del coco to el Rincon de la vieja and from playa del coco to tamarindo.
From Playa del coco we will be driving to Jaco and will drive to Manuel Antonio national park.
From Jaco we’ll be driving to San Jose to take flight from there. How early would you suggest we leave Jaco to get to San Jose by 11am? Keeping in mind we have to get a covid test, return the car rental, and check-in on time.
Thank you in advance and sorry for the many questions.
Sammi says
If your flight is at 11 AM and you need to take a COVID test at the airport with Lab Echandi, they require you to be at the airport 4 hours before your flight so you’d need to be there by 7 AM. I’d leave no later than 4 AM from Jaco to have time to return the car and get to the testing site because there is a TON of traffic in San Jose and around the airport.
Morena says
Thank you for your prompt response and all the info! Is it safe to drive from Jaco to San Jose airport at 4am? Given that we’ve heard the street lighting isn’t so great in Costa Rica?
Sammi says
This route goes to the highway for pretty much most of it so put on your GPS and it should be fine (drive carefully of course).
Morena says
Cont….. We’re flying into San Jose and then going to Arenal from there. Do you think the road to Arenal is doable for “newbies” or would you recommend getting a taxi/tour company to take us there?
Sammi says
Hi Morena, this is a super common route, you can read this post to see what it’s like.
Morena says
Hello,
Thank you for sharing so much great info! This will be our first time visiting Costa Rica and we’re really excited! We’re renting a car but would like to know how dangerous you would say it is to drive out there?We’ve heard mixed reviews but we want to hit a lot of places so we figured it’d be easiest to rent a car. Though they do say it can be a hassle to rent one.
Benny Marcel says
Hi, We are traveling to Costa Rica in late May. our 1st full morning starts early at the Tucan rescue ranch. from there we are driving with 4×4 to La Fortuna. Are there any interesting “quick” stops along 126 on the way up besides La Paz? we will not have the time to visit the park unfortunately. Also we will have a car full of belongings for 4 and do not feel comfortable leaving it for long. Any recommendations are appreciated.
love your web site. extremely helpful.
Benny
Sammi says
Along the way to La Paz, there are some cute souvenir stores and stands on the side of the road in the small towns of Poasito.
Robert says
Thanks for this very helpful post Sammi. I love your website in general. We are heading to La Fortuna from Tambor in the Southern Nicoya Peninsula. What route would you say is the easiest? I assume it’s best to take the ferry from Paquera to Puntarenas instead of driving around? From there what would you suggest? We are driving with young kids and have had our fill of bad roads here near Montezuma and Santa Teresa so really just looking for the quickest/easiest route. Thanks in advance!
Sammi says
I would take the ferry since it’s more fun!
Jen says
Hi Sammi
We are arriving in San Jose at 12:30 pm and heading up to La Fortuna. I was thinking of stopping at Parque Francisco Alvarado and taking 141. What are your thoughts about that route?
Thank you!
Sammi says
You can do that, Zarcero is beautiful.
Melanie says
Great post! We like the idea of stopping at Blue Falls befor egoing to La Fortuna. Where do you suggest we stop for lunch? We are arriving at SJO at 11:00 am and would probably be hungry driving to La Fortuna and before going on the hikes to Blue Falls.
Sammi says
You can find a place by the airport, there are a lot of options there. Or you can have lunch in Zarcero, the town about 30 minutes before Bajos and they have lots of local restaurants there.
Magz says
Amazing information Sammy! We (2 adults, 1 kid (7YR)) will be flying into SJO @1PM on Dec 24 and flying back from LIR on Dec 29. We wanted to cover the adventures offered at Arenal Volcano park & stay in a nice resort offering natural springs for 2 days and then head to the beaches near LIR. You’ve any recommendation on where to stay nearby all the adventures and the hot springs? We are debating whether to stay in SJO for a day or head straight to lake Arenal? Is there any nearby SJO thats worth staying a night? we’ve nature, beaches, adventure in mind – not a fan of museums.
Sammi says
Hi Magz, you can check our La Fortuna post for hotel recommendations and if you want more luxury, we have a La Fortuna and Arenal luxury hotels with recommendations too. I’d skip San Jose and go straight to La Fortuna especially since you don’t have many days here.
Sara says
Sammi your blog is VERY helpful! We have not been to Costa Rica in 16 years but what we remember vividly is the roads! Our flight lands at 2:30pm. Do you think that is too late to head for La Fortuna hotel? Only have a week there and are traveling with teens so would love to get to La Fortuna area for the full day after the travel day but do not want to get stuck on those roads
Sammi says
Depending on when you are visiting. If you are visiting during the high season months (December through April) and landing Friday through Monday, immigration and customs have been taking a really long time (up to 3 hours) and it’ll already be dark by the time you get done so just keep that in mind. If you’re visiting soon like October and November, October is our rainiest month and it tends to rain quite hard in the Central Valley and Lowland areas.
Jenna says
Hola!
Thank you for your blog, it’s been so helpful. I hope you can share your advice: we will be driving from Finca Rosa to Arenal on November 30. Because of a coffee tour, we won’t be likely leaving FR until 1:00 pm or later. We would love to stop by La Paz on the way and spend a couple of hours, but I’m very concerned about that extra stop off causing us to drive in the dark to Arenal (Amor Arenal, specifically). Would you caution against this? Should we just scrap the pit stop at La Paz? Would hate to miss it, it’s literally right on the way…but don’t want to fall off a cliff, either. Lol.
Also Google Maps is routing us on Route 126 > 142 to get to Arenal, I’m hoping that makes a difference and puts us on a different road other than the windy mountain one that everyone is warning about. Thanks so much for your help:)
Sammi says
Hi Jenna it’s about 1 hour from Finca Rosa Blanca to La Paz so you’ll be there around 2 PM if not too bad of traffic. Then you have a couple hours to spend at the park… if you want to drive at least part of the drive in daylight, you should leave the park by around 4 PM or so but it does tend to rain a lot up in the La Paz area so keep that in mind and the road up to that area is really curvy and narrow and not recommended for tourists to drive in the dark and rain. You’ll be a bit rushed at the park but you could see the whole thing in a couple of hours. I would just recommend to use a GPS for sure as signage is not good and Waze (GPS app) is very good.
If it is raining a lot that day or you end up leaving Finca Rosa Blanca later than expected, I’d skip La Paz and go to Arenal right away because it can get stressful to drive and plan if it’s raining a lot and you only have limited time.
Jenna says
Thank you so much. I appreciate your feedback and on the day of, we will just play it by ear depending on our timing. Pura Vida! xx
Ramesh Maddipoti says
HI Sammi, We are traveling in December 2019 with two 2 boys. We are landing in SJO airport around 2:30 PM. The plan is to go to LaFotuna the same day. But based on the immigration and rental car checkout, it could be 5 PM or so before we leave San Jose. Do you think it is safe to drive to LaFortuna on the same day or would you recommend to stay somewhere in the middle and continue our trip to LaFortuna/Arenal area? Please suggest.
Sammi says
For immigration time, it’ll depend on what date you arrive in December because mid December until end is super busy, but beginning of Dec like first week is not that busy so you could leave earlier if you are visiting beginning of December. If it’s during the Christmas and New Years holiday, it will be very busy. You can leave around 5 PM but that is rush hour time so prepare to be in traffic. Use a GPS like the app Waze and know you will arrive at night, probably around 9 PM or so due to traffic.
If you don’t want to deal with driving in traffic (driving in San Jose is a bit crazy), then you can stay a night in San Jose to take it easier.
Emily says
Hi! My family is flying into San Jose at 4pm and going to rent a car through your site with Adobe. We have 2 small children (an infant and a 3 yr old) and with it getting dark at 6pm we didn’t want to drive all the way for safety in terms of night driving in Costa Rica. We want to drive 1/2 way to the Arenal volcano the 1st night. What would be a good city to stop in for an overnight stay on the main route to the Arenal volcano? Also, once at the Arenal volcano, do you recommend a guide or just adventure on our own? We will have the kids in carriers for hiking and usually travel off the beaten path on our own but wanted to see if it would be worth a guide there. Once there we want to see the volcano first and then spend a few hours at one of the luxury hot springs. Is there one more recommended to visit with children? Lastly, what time do you recommend we leave to travel to Jaco after our morning/afternoon at the volcano/hot springs? We have a tight schedule and this is the only time we can squeeze in for the Arenal volcano.
Sammi says
Hi Emily, I’d recommend to check out Tilaran or Nuevo Arenal as a nice half way point to stay.
At Arenal, you can get a guide or go on your own, it really is up to you. If you do the national park, it would be really interesting to get a guide so you can learn more about the volcano and the area because the national park doesn’t give you any detailed informational brochures and there isn’t an information center to learn more. But it’s not absolutely necessary if you want to do it on your own (they give you a map) but a guide will make the experience much more interesting and informative.
As for hot springs, if you’re looking for luxury, then Tabacon or the Springs are your best choices. You can read more about htem in this post here: Best Arenal hot springs
Depending on when you are visiting Costa Rica, I’d leave around noon to get to Jaco so you can get there before dark.
Kunal says
We are traveling in Dec 2019 with two young kids. We plan to stay in La Fortuna for 3 nights. Would that be enough ? We contemplated to stay 2 nights. Our plan was to do La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano National Park & Lake Arenal at minimum
Sammi says
3 nights would be optimal in my opinion so you don’t have to rush everything in one day.
Ginger Moates says
Oh wow!! It’s getting really real… Leaving on Friday June 21 heading to La Fortuna!! We fly into San Jose and getting a rental car with Adobe! I debated and debated whether to do this and i think I’m ok with it!! Surely i can find my way. It will be adventurous for sure. I’m wondering though… Adobe picks us up and takes us to their office to do paperwork i guess and my question is, Where is their office? I hope not far and not in the middle of San Jose. Do you know the answer to that? Also, I have a reservation with Adobe, but do i just pay when i get there? Thank you in advance.
Sammi says
Hi Ginger, we just sent you an email earlier today! Let me know if you didn’t get it.
Brittany says
We are driving from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio next week any recommendation? As far as routes or things to avoid
Sammi says
A lot of people like to stop at the Crocodile bridge in Tarcoles and you can drive through Jaco or stop for lunch, Jaco has a lot of great restaurants.
Raquel says
HI there! Thank you for your post! I am planning a surprise birthday trip to Nuevo Arenal in late September. I land Friday around 12pm and plan to drive to the AirBnb place which is South of Nuevo Arenal. I will stay there Saturday and Sunday and my flight leaves Monday at 12pm.
Do you think this itinerary is doable/worth it? What time should I leave on Monday morning to get to SJO on time for my flight?
Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Raquel, it is doable for sure. Just be aware that September is one of our rainiest months so make sure to come prepared for rain. If your flight is at 12 PM, you need to be at the airport by 10 AM so I would no later than 6 AM from Nuevo Arenal.
Ashley says
Thank you for the great post! This definitely makes me feel more comfortable about making this drive for our honeymoon.
Any recommendations for restroom/gas stops along the way (via San Ramon)?
Thank you!
Sammi says
You’re very welcome!
There is a small mall in San Ramon and two gas stations in the town.
mel says
hi!
we want to spend 2 nights at a volcano/springs place before going to Jaco (Parrita, precisely).
I was thinking driving from SJO to La Fortuna, stay 2 nights, then drive from La Fortuna to Parrita. Is it worth it to drive that much ? we will be with 2 young kids. is the drive easy ?
thanks for your help !
Sammi says
You can definitely do it and San Jose to La Fortuna is an easy drive as you can read in the post 🙂
Laura Capolino says
Hi,
I would like to plan an adventure trip for two that includes rafting, hiking, waterfalls, volcanos, hot springs and beach time. We only have 6 days and 5 nights (8/1-8/6) so was thinking of doing some planning ourselves to save time going on long tours. I am lost where to start, where to go from there, and where to end. Can you please help me with a general plan?
Thank you for any help,
Laura
Sammi says
Hi Laura, La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio would be good places for you to go, it will be a tiny bit tight but it is doable since in La Fortuna, you can do several activities in one day and Manuel Antonio has nice beaches and hiking.
Steve says
Hello,
Thanks for all the helpful info. Our family of 4 lands SJO around 6pm on July 30. We would like to visit La Fortuna/Arenal, Tortuguero Nat’l Park, and Manuel Antonio National Park before flying back home on Aug 11 or 12. Thinking 3 nights in La Fortuna, 3 at Tortuguero, and the rest at/near Manuel Antonio NP (looking at the Hotel Villas Lirio). Can you offer any advice on the ideal sequence and also recommend a transportation plan (especially for the portion getting to/from Tortuguero)? We like the idea of taking a boat to Tortu and then a plan out of there (although I haven’t been able to see how much the flight out would cost)… Thanks much.
–Steve
Sammi says
Hello Steve! Just sent you an email
Deana says
We are flying into San Jose in a few days. Staying first night in San Jose the headed to The Treehouse Hotel in San Carlos. From there, we will spend a couple of days near La Fortuna. Is the drove to San Carlos all paved? Should we stop anywhere along the way?
Sammi says
The route from San Jose to La Fortuna is all paved, you an see the route in the video and read more about it in the post 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Cat,
Here are some links that will be helpful:
Customs and immigration in San Jose and Liberia AIrport
SJO Airport – San Jose: Private transfer is most comfortable for group of 7.
Poas Volcano National Park
Peace Lodge and La Paz waterfall gardens park
You can definitely stop by Poas/La Paz on your way from San Jose to La Fortuna.
You can take the boat across Lake Arenal to get to Monteverde but cars are not allowed, someone will have to drive.
Things to do in Arenal and La Fortuna
Cat says
Hi Sammi,
My group of 7 adults are traveling to Costa Rica the middle of March. We are arriving in San Jose about 7:30PM and have gotten a place to stay the first night. We have rented a large 4×4 for the trip and it will be delivered the next morning at 9am. We are staying 2 nights in La Fortuna and 2 nights in Monteverde before heading back to San Jose for the last night. So basically, we have 5 days on the ground. This will be the first trip for all but 1 of us.
My questions are:
a) What is a reasonable amount of time to allow for clearing customs when we arrive?
b) What will be the best/least expensive method for us to get from SJO to where we are spending the first night?
c) A friend from Costa Rica suggested stopping at Poas and La Paz Waterfall on the way north. Is this an advisable route to take in order to see more on our first day? Are there any other places you might suggest along the route?
d) I have heard that driving to Monteverde is quicker and prettier than taking the ferry. Which route do you suggest we take for getting to Monteverde?
e) One person in the group may be limited by recovery from an injury. We were thinking ATV riding for sure, but were also trying to find activities to include him on more. Any suggestions would be MUCH appreciated.
Thanks for ALL the great information and keep it coming!!!
Cat
vikas says
Hi, our flight is reaching at 4:05 PM at San Jose airport in Mid Feb and we have booked the car through your website. We want to drive to Arenal on the same day after renting the car. I understand it gets dark at 6 PM, will you advise us driving to Arenal that day? This is our first time to Costa Rica, We will be traveling from the US but grew up in India so very used to drive in small town and roads? Traveling with my family of 2 adults and 2 kids. Any other advise if we really need to drive to Arenal on that day.
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Vikas, you could but make sure to use a GPS because signage on that route is not the best. Just drive slowly and carefully around the lake because by the time you get to the lake, it’ll be dark and that road is really narrow and windy. You can also get a free cell phone as one of our freebies which I recommend to get in case of emergencies.
Darlene Nolan says
Hi we will be in Costa Rica in April. I was wondering if route #702 is open to drive from San Jose to La Fortuna ? Thanks Darlene
Aliah says
I have a flight leaving SJO at 530pm on a Monday. I was hoping to stay in La Fortuna until the day of my flight, but I’m unsure of a good time to leave? Any advice? Thank you so much! Your blog has really helped me plan my trip to Costa Rica 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Aliah, to get to the airport by 330 PM, I would no leave later than 1030-11 AM. The drive from Fortuna to San Jose is around 3.5 hours but it depends on traffic, how fast you drive and how long it takes for you to return your car rental so I would give yourself more time just in case.
Christine says
Thanks for the tips. Two questions–following your car rental reservation link, does that total on Adobe’s website include all costs? I’ve heard about hidden fees in CR that can really get you. Also, we plan to drive to a BnB up a steep hill and then drive to visit the main sites in La Fortuna. Is a 4WD vehicle really necessary? Seems like that might be more for the rainy season? Thanks so much!
Sammi says
Hi Christine, yes the total on the Adobe reservation includes all taxes, fees and mandatory insurances, exactly what you see on the reservation is what you’ll pay. It’s one of the reasons why we partnered with Adobe is because they are 100% transparent about charges, whereas unfortunately some companies aren’t.
If your bnb is up a steep hill, I would get a 4wd if the road is unpaved and has potholes.
Christine says
Thanks! You guys are awesome. You definitely made the car rental option less intimidating.
Anjali T says
We are trying to come from Fortuna to San Jose and do La Paz waterfalls, Poas and Doka along the way. Is the road good ? (since this is not the San Ramon route)
Sammi says
For sure! This is a common route, the road up in La Paz/Poas is suuuuuper curvy and narrow though so do drive carefully but it is all paved.
Angie says
Hi – is there a bridge out on the 702? I thought that was in 2015. We will be traveling from San Jose to Fortuna.
Any route recommendations for Fortuna to Manuel Antonio?
Thank you!!
Sammi says
I don’t believe so as of now (bridge). For Fortuna to Manuel Antonio, you will need to go back out like you are going to San Jose, get on the highway 27 towards San Jose and exit at the Jaco exit. You can find it on Google maps/waze to use as GPS.
Rach D says
Hello Sammi,
Thank you for all the great information and for also being so responsive to questions! My husband and I along with our 1 yr old plan on flying into SJO mid Feb, and will be renting a 4×4. We arrive at night, and plan on staying for 2-3 days in San Jose before driving to La Fortuna. We will be in Costa Rica for 2.5 weeks in total. Based on the number of days, what is the itinerary that you would suggest? As we have a young child we would not be able to do many high engaging activities! Also To make travel easier I plan on arriving in San Jose a day prior to our departure.
Sammi says
Hi Rach, you can read this post for best places for 1st timers in CR: Best places in Costa Rica and we have some sample itineraries here: Costa Rica itinerary ideas that you can adapt to the number of days and things you’d like to do. I recommend not to stick too many destinations though, because most of the places are far apart and require a long drive so give yourself at least 3-4 nights in each place so you don’t get burnt out from driving.
Semere says
Hi Sammi,
I have been using your site to do all our Costa Rica travel plans which starts tomorrow, and can’t thank you enough for it.
We will be arriving in SJO at 1PM, and had planned to drive straight to La Fortuna via this route (Ruta 702). I just pulled up Waze, and it seems that a bridge collapse or something has caused a road closure here. Am I correct in understanding this?
What’s the alternative? Go to La Fortuna via route 141 (by way of Naranjo and Ciudad Quesada). I had pretty much studied the San Ramon route, so anything special I need to know about this route? This last minute change isn’t the greatest thing, but out of our control so just have to plan around it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Sammi says
Hi Semere, you can go via Naranjo and Ciudad Quesada too, those are main cities so the roads are fine.
Igor says
Hi there! I love your blog and videos! We are coming to CR for 2 weeks in end of June. The plan is to drive from San Jose to La Fortuna the day after we land.
I have a few questions:
1) Would you recommend taking the shorter way via San Ramon or should be take the longer route and stop at Doka Coffee, La Paz waterfall and the Parc Volcan?
2) We wanted to go to the beach as well for 3 days so from La Fortuna is it best to go to Papagayo and then back to Monteverde? Or should we do Monteverde first?
3) And from Monteverde we need to make a decision about Manuel Antonio or Osa – the drive is about 6-7 hours to Osa – would you recommend it? What would be a good stop in between? I have heard Manuel Antonio is very crowded and that would not be a good experience for my family.
4) Is Osa worth the extra drive to get there?
I’m a bit worried about the driving because it is the “green season” and I don’t know how these roads are in the rains.
Sammi says
The best route to drive from SJO to La Fortuna is through San Ramon – this is a direct drive. If you want to go to see Doka/La Paz/Poas, then you need to take another route
You should do Fortuna – Monteverde – Papagayo
I don’t recommend going to MA or Osa afterwards if you don’t have a lot of days to dedicate to those places since it is extremely far
Bonnie D says
Hello Sammi!
Planning a trip in January, with grandchildren. staying at San Rafael area, wanted to take grandchildren on horseback ride at la Fortuna, to see the waterfalls, and hoping for Hot Springs and a suspension bridge hike ,and at some point hoping to see the ocean. Any suggestions for taxi services,or travel tips You would be willing to give up so we can manage to fit some of this in? We will be staying 7 days
Sammi says
Hi Bonnnie, from San Rafael the best way is to rent a car since San Rafael is not a very touristy area there are no shared shuttles and private will be very expensive. It’ll be best to rent a car, drive to La Fortuna, stay a night or two. In La Fortuna, luckily you can do a lot of activities in one day since they’re very close to each other so you can easily do a hanging bridges in the morning, horseback ride to La Fortuna waterfall in the afternoon and hot springs at night.
Tiffany says
We are arriving to San Jose on Friday and will be driving with 18 other people in 3 SUVs. We arrive at 4:30pm Costa Rica time and were planning on getting to La Fortuna the same night. If we get into La Fortuna at around 9pm on a Friday, are there still places to eat that are open?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Tiffany, you can read in this post: La Fortuna as I included a couple of 24 hours restaurants. La Fortuna Pub and Lava Lounge are usually open until late as well.
Tiffany says
Thanks so much!
Sammi says
Hi Belen, I’m glad the blog has been helpful! Regarding your itinerary, that is way too many places for 5 days as all those destinations are very spread out and you won’t be able to enjoy them in only 5 days due to travel times. By driving, San Jose to La Fortuna is around 3.5 hours, La Fortuna to Guanacaste (depending on where in Guanacaste) is around 4 hours, and Guanacaste to Manuel Antonio is at least 5-6 hours so you’ll be spending a ton of time on the road. You can save time by flying but you will still not be able to enjoy the places as much.
For 5 days, I would choose just 2 places. If you’re flying in and out of San Jose, La Fortuna + Manuel Antonio are good options if you want beach. I recommend checking out our destinations map so you can exactly how far everything is.
Belen says
Hi Sammi,
We are seniors travelling for the first time to Costa Rica. Reading your blog has been most helpful! Thank you for sharing your ideas and suggestions for visiting beautiful Pura Vida Costa Rica. We arrive at 9:30 on Dec 5 and will check into a hotel and leave the next day for La Fortuna. We are great hikers, so we plan to take the canopy/aerial tram in Arenal. Is Cartago a good stop to visit? We plan to rent a car from Adobe for the 5 days we are in Costa Rica. Where is the best place to for hot springs? The route we are contemplating is San Jose, to La Fortuna, to The springs Resort, Guanacaste, manuel Antonio. Is there enough time in 5 full days?
Herb says
Dear Sammi,
We are planning a trip for mid-February, with a flight that arrives at 2:30 PM. There is no flight to La Fortuna available. I know you do not advise driving after dark, but I’d like to get to La Fortuna the first day. It would involve starting late afternoon, with perhaps a hour of darkness.
Sammi says
Hi Herb, by that time in February it’s the middle of dry season so you won’t have to worry about rain. If you land at 2:30 PM, you’ll probably get out and pick up your car by around 4 PM. You’ll have traffic getting out of San Jose so hopefully you’ll be able to get out of San Jose before it gets too bad but if you use Waze for GPS, you can do the drive since it gets dark at 6 PM so you will have about 1 hour of darkness. The last stretch of is in a rural area with no lights or signs but if you use Waze for GPS, you will be fine since it’s a pretty straightforward route once you get past San Ramon, not a ton of turns.
Linda says
Hi Sammi. We are flying into San Jose at 9.30 pm and staying for the night then we have an Airbnb booked for Puerto Viejo. I’d love to stay the first night in La Fortuna and then to the coast. How would that drive be? We’d like to rent a car.
Sammi says
Hi Linda, since you’re arriving quite late, I don’t recommend going to La Fortuna that night. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive from San Jose to La Fortuna so you’ll arrive there by around 1230-1 AM and the road is not easy to drive in the dark because signage is not good and after San Ramon, it’s on rural roads. Then from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo, it’s like a 4-5 hour drive so you’ll just be driving a ton of hours for just like, a morning in La Fortuna. I’d stay the first night in San Jose and then go to Puerto Viejo, it’s not worth driving all the way to La Fortuna for just that short amount of time to be honest. If you can, stay the first night in San Jose, go to La Fortuna early in the morning, stay a couple days and then go to Puerto Viejo.
For renting a car, we have a discount and extra benefits with Adobe Rent a Car, a Costa Rican car rental company. You can check rates here: Costa Rica car rental discount
Alex says
HI, Thank you for so much valuable info. We are arriving in September to SJO and traveling to La Fortuna. We will be taking a large SUV (for 6 people); are the roads okay for this size vehicle? Thank you again!
Sammi says
Hi Alex, yes the road from San Jose to La Fortuna is all on well paved roads going through San Ramon. You can see in the video what the route is like.
Matt says
HI, thank you for so much valuable info. I am arriving in June to SJO at 1:45pm and traveling to our hotel in La Fortuna. Do you think that will be to late to embark and arrive in La Fortuna by nightfall? Should I try to rearrange and stay elsewhere? This was an oversight on my part not realizing that sunset was so early. Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Matt! I personally would recommend staying a night in San Jose and leaving the next day. June is our rainy season and there’s a good chance it will be raining when you get done with immigration and customs and the route to La Fortuna isn’t the most well lit. I would stay a night in San Jose and leave early the next morning in La Fortuna.
Matt says
Thanks again! I have a car from the airport and hotel booked already so I have some rearranging to do.( P.S. in case it makes a difference: my hotel is actually east of La Fortuna near where 35 and 4 intersect)
Jesse says
Have been reading your blog. Great info! We are first timers… Wife and I are flying into SJO in 30 days, heading to La Fortuna for a couple nights and then up to Papagayo for remainder of our stay. I would like to rent through Adobe but can’t figure out if I should get GPS or Wifi in car. I figured with Wifi I can use my phone (Waze) and apps like Viber, etc. to make calls. Thoughts?
Sammi says
The Wi-Fi hot spot is great because you will always have Internet. GPS is just GPS and to be honest, the Waze app works much better for GPS so I would go with the hotspot. It’s very nice to always have Internet on your phone.
Toladette Kem says
Hi,
My group and I are planning to drive from SJ to La Fortuna area and then La Fortuna to Jaco. I see information on driving from SJ to Fortuna, but I don’t see anything for La Fortuna to Jaco (unless I missed it). Can you tell me what the road/driving condition is like for that route?
Thank you,
TK
Sammi says
Hi, it is the same route except exit at the Jaco/Orotina exit from the highway and then go straight down south on the Costanera Sur highway for about 30 minutes until Jaco.
Sammi says
Hi Wade, so when you arrive at SJO Airport, an Adobe agent will be waiting for you outside the airport when you finish immigration and customs. They are wearing a blue shirt and will be holding a sign with your name on it so look for him. He will bring you to the Adobe shuttles where they will bring your group to their airport office to pick up the cars and finish paperwork. And then from there, you can head to La Fortuna right after so your whole group will go to the Adobe office and you can leave directly to La Fortuna when you get the cars.
Their airport office is only a mile or so down the street from the airport so it’s very close. Then for return, it will be the same process. You’ll return the car to their airport office and they will shuttle you to the airport via their complimentary shuttle.
Wade says
Thank you for all your help
Sammi says
Hi Wade! You can actually get the car delivered to your hotel in San Jose if you are staying a night in the city, this is free for Mytanfeet readers so that way, your group doesn’t have to go back to Adobe office. If you are staying in San Jose, can you please let us know what hotel you are at and we can modify your reservation. I do have your flight information already from Nick and normally, Adobe picks up their clients from the airport and takes them to their airport office to get the car. But if you’re staying a night in San Jose and don’t want to drive or have the car in the city, you can taxi/shuttle to your hotel and have Adobe deliver the car to your hotel the next morning. Adobe can deliver the car between 8 30 AM and 430 PM.
For customs, you have to put all your luggage and bags through the scanners so backpacks, purses, carry ons, check ins, everything.
Wade says
Hi Sammi. We are going to drive to La Fortuna as soon as we arrive. We just didn’t know if the whole groups goes in San Jose or just Nick & Wade to pick up the cars?
Wade says
I am sorry Sammi but I just reread your last response and it looks like we don’t have to travel into San Jose? Our cars will be at the their office at the airport?
Wade Merrett says
Hi Sammi. We are travelling to La Fortuna from SJO and our flight arrives at 11:15am. Should we arrive in La Fortuna before dark? Your website has been very helpful and we can’t wait to visit Costa Rica.
Sammi says
Hi Wade, it gets dark at 6 PM in Costa Rica and it’s about a 3.5 hour drive depending on how long it takes for you to get out of San Jose so you should make it there by night. I recommend getting out of San Jose asap and then stopping in San Ramon (another local town about 45 minutes from San Jose) for lunch/break because there isn’t as bad traffic there. I also recommend using Waze, the GPS app to help you get out of San Jose to La Fortuna because the traffic in San Jose is awful and driving is not nice there. Glad you like the site and thanks for reading!
Wade says
Hi Sammi. Thank you for the reply. We are renting our cars through you with Adobe and was wondering if the whole group should go to San Jose or just the drivers of the rental cars? We thought it may save some time if we didn’t have to go back to the airport after we got the cars? Also when arriving in Costa Rica if we only have carry ins do we still have to go through customs for checked bags?
Kirsten Borrink says
Hi Sammi,
Great info and video! Would you recommend taking dramamine for the drive? We have two kids ages 10 and 16 and will be renting an SUV. I just don’t want them to feel nauseous through the winding roads.
TIA,
Kirsten
Sammi says
Hi Kirsten, I would if they get really carsick. The views are really nice and you can drive with the windows down to help. There is just one section through San Ramon that is a bit curvy and then it straightens out but if you are driving from La Fortuna to Liberia/Guanacaste, it is very curvy around the lake.
Sammi says
Hi Vicky, I’m glad you like the site and it’s been helpful! If you are going into the La Paz waterfall park, you will probably spend a good couple hours there so that’ll be an all day from San Jose to Arenal. Poas used to be a good stop combined with La Paz but unfortunately it is closed. On the way to La PAz, I recommend driving through the small town of Poasito and stopping at the little stands on the side of the road, you can try local treats and candies there and it’s a good place to buy souvenirs.
If you had more time (like not going inside the gardens, just the free entrance), I would recommend stopping at Catarata del Toro instead. This waterfall is supposedly the tallest in CR and it is amazing, you can stop there on the way from San Jose to Arenal. It does require a bit of a detour but you drive through some gorgeous country side and small towns and the waterfall is about a 15-20 minute walk down and it is stunning.
Vicky says
Hi Sammi, you have an AMAZING site! I’m planning our trip to Costa Rica this March and getting so much info from your site! THANKS!!!
We are planning to arrive at 8pm and I booked a hotel Chalet Tirol at San Rafael de Heredia (which is supposed to be about 40min drive from the airport). We want to see La Paz Waterfall before we get to La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal area. Are there any other places that you can recommend to see on the way from Chalet Tirol to Arenal, La Fortuna?
Delilah says
Thank you so much for the information. We are arriving in San Jose at 3:00 PM and have reservations in La Fortuna already but now are wondering if we should stay in San Jose with the driving. Going through customs and picking up rental car. We are hoping to be out of San Jose by 4:30 if all goes well.
Sammi says
Hi Delilah, 4:30 PM is right at the worst time of traffic in San Jose and it could take you anywhere from 1 -2 hours just to get out of the city so I recommend staying a night in San Jose and leave early in the morning to La Fortuna because without traffic, it’s about a 3.5-4 hour drive but with traffic, it could easily turn into 5 hours or more and that’d be suuuuuper tiring after a flight. I also recommend using Waze, the GPS app as that will help you navigate through San Jose much better than Google Maps. The airport isn’t in San Jose center luckily so you can pick a hotel close to the airport, that way you don’t need to drive all the way to downtown San Jose. There are hotels just 5 -10 minutes from the airport.
Aaron says
Hi Sammi, thank you so much for providing so much free information. I have learned a great deal from what you’ve provided through your site and emails! This will be our first time visiting Costa Rica, and we have decided to rent a car due to exploring several different places while we’re there. We will have Google maps and waze while we’re there, but do you suggest we rent a GPS as well? We will be coming in through SJO, traveling to La Fortuna, then Jaco, then Manuel Antonio, then back to SJO for departure. Thanks for your help in advance!
Sammi says
Hi Aaron! Waze will be just fine, it works great in Costa Rica! And all the routes you are going are on well paved roads with plenty of signs. Thank you for reading our blog and glad that is has been helpful with your trip! One tip, when you are going from Fortuna to Jaco, go back through San Ramon. We have gone this route a few times and our Waze took us via a different route which was not on as nice of a road as the main route so just check that before hitting go on Waze. Have a great time!
Agness of eTramping says
These tips are simply awesome, Sammi! Would you recommend any hiking trails along the way worth hiking?
Sammi says
There’s not too much that’s right on the way, you’ll have to detour and drive to other points of interest.