Driving Directions

From San Jose

Option #1:  From the airport you will follow the road straight heading towards San Jose. If you are renting a car, ask them to direct you towards San Jose and Escazu when you leave the lot. Follow the signs to San Jose and Escazu for about 15 minutes.  You will soon approach  the  Nissan dealership and the large LaSabana Park on your right hand side and then a large intersection with a traffic light,  (McDonalds on the far left corner and a Universal store on the right) you will take a right hand turn there. This is the new toll highway, Autopista del Sol Caldera Highway (Highway #27). Stay on this highway, following signs for Caldera and Puntarenas.  When you reach downtown Puntarenas, continue straight to the end of the road (you will know it is the end of the road because you will see the Gulf of Nicoya), take a right and you will reach the car line for the ferry.

You will want to take the ferry to Paquera. As ferry times are constantly changing, it is always a good idea to check a day or two ahead of time by emailing us or checking  navieratambor.com/horarios-y-tarifas. The “Tambor I” is the smaller 30-40-car ferry and the “Tambor II” is the larger 160-car ferry. If possible, aim for the Tambor II. Not only is it bigger, so it is unlikely to be full except during peak travel dates, but it is much more comfortable.

After the 1-hour scenic ferry ride, you arrive in the port in Paquera. Continue on this road towards downtown Paquera, Tambor, and finally Cobano. You will pass through Tambor and Cobano. In Cobano, you will come to a 4-way stop with Banco Nacional de Costa Rica on your left,  continue straight and follow the signs to Mal Pais and Santa Teresa.  When you reach the crossroads separating Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, you will take a right, drive about ¼ mile and after you cross a small bridge, we will be your very next right hand turn.  You will see our sign as well as a small restaurant called Soda La Amistad on the corner of our street.  We will be up the road about 50 meters on the left hand side.

This will be about a 5 hour trip,  not including your wait time for the ferry.  We recommend to buy your ticket online ahead of time on https://www.quickpaycr.com/ . If not you should get to the ferry early, especially if you are planning to take the Tambor I because space is limited and in this case it is on a first come, first serve basis.

Option #2: This is the original drive through the mountains and will take about an hour longer than taking the new toll highway. You will get on the Panamerican Highway # 1 via Palmares, San Ramon, Esparza, towards Puntarenas. You have to get into downtown Puntarenas and follow the map signs to reach the Paquera Ferry Boat. (See map of Downtown Puntarenas #27 and follow the green route).
The ferry ride takes about one and a half hours. Once in Paquera drive towards Tambor and then Cobano. In Cobano, you will come to a 4-way stop with Banco Nacional de Costa Rica on your left,  continue straight and follow the signs to Mal Pais and Santa Teresa.  When you reach the crossroads separating Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, you will take a right, drive about ¼ mile and after you cross a small bridge, we will be your very next right hand turn.  You will see our sign as well as a small restaurant called Soda La Amistad on the corner of our street.  We will be up the road about 50 meters on the left hand side.

From Liberia

You will drive south towards Filadefia, then continue to Santa Cruz on Highway 21. You will then reach Nicoya and continue towards Carmona, then Jicaral, Lepanto and Playa Naranjo.

Continue on this same road towards Paquera, Tambor, and finally Cobano. You will pass through Tambor and Cobano. In Cobano, you will come to a 4-way stop with Banco Nacional de Costa Rica on your left,  continue straight and follow the signs to Mal Pais and Santa Teresa.  When you reach the crossroads separating Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, you will take a right, drive about ¼ mile and after you cross a small bridge, we will be your very next right hand turn.  You will see our sign as well as a small restaurant called Soda La Amistad on the corner of our street.  We will be up the road about 50 meters on the left hand side. This will be approximately a 5 hour trip.

For maps and further directions:

From Nosara

From Nosara your best option is to head to Nicoya. From there you will get Route 21 towards Jicaral. Then continue towards Paquera. In Paquera turn right and follow the signs to Cobano. From there to Malpais and Santa Teresa. When you get to the crossroads in Santa Teresa where the bank and pharmacy are located take a right. Once you pass a bridge you will need to take your next right just before Super Ronny #1 (the supermarket), head up that road and take a left at the Casa MarBella sign. Head up the driveway and you are here 

There is also an option of driving to a coastal roads but it has river crossings and the potential to not be passable if you arrive there on the wrong tide.