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.
Bob Q. says
Hi, Guys!
Thanks for the great video driving from San José to La Fortuna on Hwy 702 (La Tigra Road, as I have heard it called). We have driven that road a couple of times as we have some friends who have a wonderful youth camp (La Montaña Christian Camp) on that road.
The other route which we have taken which was not highlighted on your map was Hwy 1 to Hwy 141 through Naranjo, Zarcero (a nice little town), and Ciudad Quesada up to Hwy 4 and then west into La Fortuna. The scenery was wonderful, and we stopped at a nice restaurant with a great view along the way. I was just wondering what your thoughts were on this route. Thanks so much, and love your website!
Sammi says
Hi Bob, glad you enjoyed the drive and thanks for your comments
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.