SouthernCostaRica.comThese three routes link the whale coast, the Osa Peninsula, the Golfo Dulce and the mountains at a steady pace. Each one starts and ends at San José airport (SJO) and keeps long drives to one per stop. They suit couples, families and independent travelers with a rental car, though the shorter routes also work with transfers and local tours.
All drive times below are approximate and without stops. They come from our OpenStreetMap routing estimates (October 2026), except where ICT gives its own range. See the drive-time map for the full table, and add time for rain, roadworks and meals.
Before you start
- Book Corcovado and Caño Island trips, and Chirripó entry, before you fix your dates. They need reservations and registered guides.
- Plan around tides for the Marino Ballena sandbar and around the weather for boats.
- Read about road conditions and packing for the rainy months.
If you'd rather not drive the first leg, a private transfer can take you from the airport to the coast or the mountains:
- Private transfer from San José airport: a one-way private transfer for your group, with options to Dominical and Uvita or to Pérez Zeledón (San Isidro). View on Viator Partner link
One week: whale coast and Corcovado
Days 1–3: Uvita. Drive from SJO to Uvita, about 4 to 5 hours by ICT's estimate. Walk the whale's tail at low tide, take a whale or dolphin boat in season and visit a waterfall. Stop in Uvita for three nights, or split them with Dominical, about 20 minutes north.
Days 4–6: Puerto Jiménez. Drive from the Uvita area to Puerto Jiménez, about 2 hours 10 minutes from Ojochal. Spend one day on a guided Corcovado trip and one on the Golfo Dulce. Base yourself on the Osa Peninsula.
Day 7: back to San José. Fly from Puerto Jiménez with SANSA, or drive back, which is a long day.
Ten days: coast, Drake Bay and the Osa
Days 1–3: Dominical and Uvita. Start in Dominical for forest trails, then move to Uvita for the park and whales.
Days 4–6: Drake Bay. Drive to Sierpe, about 40 minutes from Ojochal, and take the boat to Drake Bay. Spend one day at Caño Island and one in Corcovado with a registered guide. Keep a spare half day in case the sea delays a boat.
Days 7–9: Puerto Jiménez. Return to Sierpe by boat and drive to Puerto Jiménez, or fly via San José. Use the days for the Golfo Dulce and Cabo Matapalo.
Day 10: back to San José. Fly from Puerto Jiménez or drive north.
Two weeks: coast, Osa, gulf and mountains
This longer route adds the Golfo Dulce and the highlands. It works well as a wildlife-focused trip, with whales, rainforest and highland birds.
Days 1–3: Uvita and Ojochal. Whale season, the sandbar and waterfalls.
Days 4–6: Drake Bay. Boat in from Sierpe, then Caño Island and Corcovado.
Days 7–9: Puerto Jiménez. The Osa's gulf side, with a second Corcovado option.
Days 10–11: the Golfo Dulce. Drive around the gulf to Golfito, about 104 km, or stay at a lodge reached by boat.
Days 12–13: San Isidro and Chirripó. Drive north to San Isidro de El General. Use the time for highland birding near San Gerardo de Rivas. A full Chirripó climb needs more time, a SINAC reservation and a night at Base Crestones, so swap these days for the climb if hiking is your main goal.
Day 14: back to San José. The drive from San Isidro to SJO is about 4 hours on Route 2.
Pacing tips
- One long drive per stop. Use the rest of that day to settle in, shop and rest.
- Arrive before dark. Hill roads, river crossings and wildlife on the road are harder to judge at night.
- Book boats early in each stay. If the sea or weather cancels a whale or Caño Island trip, you still have a backup day.
- Register for Chirripó in person. ICT's park sheet says you must register at the park office in San Gerardo de Rivas the day before your hike.
- Keep one flexible night. A spare night on the Osa or in Drake Bay absorbs a late boat or a closed road.
If you'd rather not drive
SANSA, a domestic airline, says it flies from San José to Drake Bay, Puerto Jiménez and Golfito. You can combine flights with boat trips and local tours, but you'll spend more time waiting for connections through San José. Getting around the south has more on flights and boats.
Choosing stays
Pick stays that cut down on daily driving: town stays near the boats in Drake Bay and Puerto Jiménez, and quieter hill or forest stays on the coast. Read about choosing a lodge for each stop.
A quick-dry towel helps on beach days and boat trips.
- Quick-dry travel towelView on Amazon Partner link
Rivers rise quickly after heavy rain. Check current conditions with your next stay before each long drive.