GPS Coordinates: 10.541340, -84.121050
Driving Instructions
La Quinta can be approached from San Jose by two different roads either to the west or the east of the Braulio Carrillo National Park, so the roundtrip can be done without backtracking. Driving time is about two hours for the 96 kilometers.
The Western route goes north from the Airport and passes through the city of Alajuela, Vara Blanca, La Paz Waterfall, and the towns of San Miguel and La Virgen. Continue an additional 5 Km and turn left at our yellow La Quinta signs on either side of the road.
The steep and winding mountain road climbs to over 2000 meters just before the tiny community of VaraBlanca.
About 8 kms. North of VaraBlanca, the Rio La Paz is crossed by a bridge on a
hairpin bend. On the left side of the bridge is an excellent view of the spectacular La Paz Waterfall. Several other waterfalls may be seen, particularly on the right-hand side in the La Paz River Valley, which soon joins with the Sarapiqui River Valley. You will pass the community of Cariblanco and you will get to San Miguel where you will find a road fork. The westbound fork goes towards the Arenal Volcano area while the north fork heads for Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui to the northeast. The road north from San Miguel drops for 14 kms. To the village of La Virgen in the northern lowlands. 5 kms., after La Virgen, in a flat road you will find our sign on the left side. We are 1.2 kms., off the road. From our sign there are 12 km., on to Puerto Viejo.
The Eastern route goes from San Jose towards Limon on route number 32 passing through the Braulio Carrillo National Park. You will need to get a map from the rental car office for directions through San Jose and onto the highway to the city of Limon.
Our yellow La Quinta sign is on the road at the first crossroad that you will find right after the mountains (50 Km from San Jose), where you take a left turn towards Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, 32 km, passing the turn off Rio Frio and Horquetas, on route 4. At the entrance of Puerto Viejo you will find a second crossroad towards La Virgen and we are12 kms away from Puerto Viejo and 5 km., before the town of La Virgen. Our yellow La Quinta sign will be to your right hand. La Quinta is 1.2 km. off the road.
Using public transportation
Taxis
From the Airport you can take an orange cab to come directly to La Quinta Sarapiqui Lodge and it is important to check the rate before you get in the taxi. Rate should be around USDLS 120.00. for the 96 kilometer trip.
You can take the western or eastern route. Normally from the airport they would take the estern one which takes approximately an hour and a half. The scenery is spectacular!
Print the paragraph below to show to the driver!
La Quinta se localiza en Bajos de Chilamate en Sarapiquí. 12 kilómetros después de Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí si se llega por Braulio Carrillo ò 5 kms después de La Virgen de Sarapiquí si se llega por Vara Blanca. Nuestro rotulo está en carretera prácticamente frente al negocio llamado Comisariato Las Brisas. La Quinta está 1 kilómetro y 200 metros fuera de carretera por calle asfaltada, que permite la circulación de cualquier vehículo.
Bus
Using public buses from San Jose is also possible. In this case, you would need to take a taxi from the airport to the bus station for the Caribbean side of the country. The address for the bus station in San Jose is Central Street road to Tibas, next door to Kamakiri. This is the Station Bus to the Caribbean Side. Price is USDLS 3.00 and make sure to get a ticket to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui because at the same station you can get tickets to Puerto Viejo de Limon, which is in a different province.
The directions to the Bus Station in Spanish are :
Estacion de buses al Caribe. TRANSPORTES CARIBENOS. Calle Central, carretera a Tibas. Contiguo a Kamakiri. San José.
Buses to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, the town closest to La Quinta Sarapiqui Country Inn, arrive from San Jose through two different routes; one is through Heredia Province, which is the “Western route”. “Eastern route” goes across the Braulio Carrillo National Park and we call it “directo”,meaning it will go straight and faster to Puerto Viejo.
If you take the one through Braulio Carrillo National Park, get off at the last bus stop in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Right in front of the last stop, you will se the soccer field and the taxis there. The rate from Puerto Viejo to La Quinta is about USD$8.00.
If you take the route through Vara Blanca, ask the bus driver to drop you off at BAJOS DE CHILAMATE EN COMISARIATO LAS BRISAS, which is a small store in front of the entrance to La Quinta and located 1.2 Km from us. There you can call us from the pay phone outside the grocery store. We will be pleased to pick you up!
La Quinta Sarapiquí Lodge 