SouthernCostaRica.comGetting around the south means mixing roads, boats and small planes. Plan around the main driving routes and road conditions, buses, boats to Drake Bay, domestic flights, seasons and packing. It suits first-time visitors and road-trippers who want to plan drive days they can manage.
All drive times on this page are approximate and without stops. They come from our OpenStreetMap routing estimates (October 2026), except where ICT gives its own range. For the full table, see approximate drive times.
Roads
These highways cover the main routes:
- Route 27 and Route 34 (Costanera Sur): from San José airport (SJO), Route 27 takes you toward the coast, and Route 34 follows the Pacific shore south through Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal. SJO to Dominical is about 190 km, about 3 hours 40 minutes.
- Route 2 (Inter-American Highway): the inland road from San José to San Isidro de El General, then south toward Palmar and the Osa. SJO to San Isidro is about 144 km, about 4 hours.
- Route 243: links San Isidro with Dominical, about 34 km.
- Route 245: leaves Route 2 for the Osa Peninsula and Puerto Jiménez. Ojochal to Puerto Jiménez is about 138 km, about 2 hours 10 minutes.
The road to Drake Bay is the hard one. ICT warns that it has river crossings, damaged stretches and closures after floods. Some hillside stays recommend a 4x4 for their access roads, so ask each stay about its access.
Drive in daylight when you can, and keep fuel and cash for remote stretches.
Buses
Public buses connect some southern towns, but services and timetables change. For the mountains, ICT's Chirripó sheet names the MUSOC company for buses from San José to San Isidro and a local company for the bus from San Isidro to San Gerardo de Rivas. Confirm times at the terminal or with your stay, and allow extra days if you travel by bus.
Airport transfers
If you'd rather not drive from the airport, a private transfer is an option:
- 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). Meet and greet at the airport is included. View on Viator Partner link
Boats and Drake Bay
Drake Bay is the stop where boats matter more than roads. ICT names the boat from Sierpe as one way to reach Drake village, alongside the rough road and flights. Sierpe is about 46 km from Ojochal, about 40 minutes by car.
- Boats may land on the beach, so pack a dry bag and wear shoes that can get wet.
- Weather and sea conditions can delay boats, so leave spare time on both ends.
- Around the Golfo Dulce, boat taxis run from downtown Golfito, and some lodges are reached only by their own boat transfers. Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, for example, runs its last transfers by 3 pm from November to April and by 2 pm from May to September.
Flights
SANSA, a domestic airline, says it flies from San José to Drake Bay, Puerto Jiménez and Golfito. It lists daily flights to Puerto Jiménez and Golfito and up to four daily flights to Drake Bay, depending on the season. ICT gives approximate flight times from San José of about 40 minutes to Drake Bay, about 50 minutes to Puerto Jiménez and about 45 minutes to Golfito. Ask SANSA about baggage limits before you pack.
Seasons
Humpback whales visit in two seasons: December to April for the northern population and July to November for the southern one, per ICT. Heavy rain can delay boats, and ICT warns that floods can close the road to Drake Bay. In the mountains, ICT warns that Chirripó can drop below freezing.
Check current conditions with your next stay before every long drive or boat transfer.
Packing
- A rain poncho or light rain jacket, plus quick-dry clothes.
- A dry bag and water shoes for beach landings.
- Insect repellent and reef-safe sunscreen.
- Warm layers, gloves and a hat if you're going up Chirripó.
- Rain ponchoView on Amazon Partner link
- Dry bagView on Amazon Partner link
- Water shoesView on Amazon Partner link
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreenView on Amazon Partner link
Realistic drive days
Plan one long drive per stop and keep the rest of that day for rest. A few sample legs from the drive-time table:
- SJO to Uvita: about 208 km; ICT gives about 4 to 5 hours from San José.
- Uvita to Ojochal: about 17 km, about 20 minutes.
- Ojochal to Golfito: about 90 km, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Golfito to Puerto Jiménez: about 104 km, about 2 hours 5 minutes.
Add time for meals, fuel stops, roadworks and rain. Hill roads and wildlife crossings are harder to judge after dark, so try to arrive in daylight. Ask the rental company whether you need a 4x4 for your stays.
Plan it
Turn these legs into sample routes, then find where to stay along the way. If you're visiting the parks, read the Corcovado access rules first. For other regions, see country-wide Costa Rica planning on EasyCostaRica.