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Trip odometer - set to 0 when you leave it or pass it

San José International Airport

There are few rental cars at the airport. Almost all rental agencies will take you to their physical location away from the airport. If you do get a car from the airport: take the first exit to Alejuela (exit to the right-this road doubles back) then stay in left lane to San Ramon. Don't take the second exit to the right that says Alejuela.

Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Rental car agencies

Get on the Panamerican Highway (Highway 1) going towards the airport (North, NorthWest.) Stay in the center lane (sign says San Ramon.)

11.5

Exit to Atenas (Highway 3 - exit ramp right then turn left on Highway 3.)

This starts your drive up the mountain. There are many curves and one lane bridges along this road. "Puente angosto Adelante" means Narrow Bridge Ahead. If you have a sign that says: "Ceda el Paso", then you need to yield to oncoming traffic (this may be a long line of cars and trucks) before you cross the bridge.

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Sign for "Vista Panorama" pointing to the left.

Take the time to go left and then left onto the gravel parking area. Stop and take pictures. (Of course if the mountain is cloudy and you're in the fog, keep driving.) This is the closest to the top that there is any place to stop and enjoy the view. You'll see coffee plantations on the sides of the hills, you'll even see the Pacific if it's a clear day.

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Sign that says Manuel Antonio 111km

Soon after that sign the road will turn right (if you look straight ahead you'll see a sign that says "No Hay Paso" that means it's a one way road the other way.) Follow the curve to the right for 1 block and turn left at the next block; there is a blue church at this corner. If you miss that turn you'll pass a city park with trees. Do a U-turn and go back turn right on the road that goes past the front entrance to the blue church. Once you get to the end of town (San Mateo) you'll see another sign that says 115km to Manuel Antonio. We don't know how you did it, but you just added 4km! It's a Costa Rican mystery.

50.9

First of two stoplights on trip

It's at a railroad track in Orotina. 200 meters after the stoplight, there is a gas station on the left and on the right is Pollo a la Leña Yami. If you're hungry and want some of the best chicken you'll ever have, stop and eat at Pollo a la Leña Yami. They don't speak a lot of English, but you can get your idea across by pointing. They take only cash - colónes or dollars.

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Toll Road -take ramp to right

500 meters past the stoplight is a turn off to the right. Follow the sign to Quepos/Manuel Antonio/Jacó. You will need 440 colónes to pay this toll. (a bit less than US$1)

58.4

Exit Right after you pay toll

100 yards or so after you pay your toll, take the ramp to the right that says Jacó (It's the first ramp after the toll booth.

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Speed Trap Speed Trap Speed Trap

There are at least 3 speed traps in this 16 km stretch. Watch your speed. When the speed limit drops to 60km/h, step on the brake to slow down, don't wait to coast to a slower speed. It appears all speed traps are in the 60 km/h zones. Sometimes the speed limit changes for no apparent reason (to encourage traffic tickets, maybe.. :-)

Courtesy flash of lights: if on coming traffice flashes their headlights at you, there's probably a speed-trap ahead, slow down. Then, when you pass the speed trap, please be courteous in return and warn oncoming traffic of the speed trap waiting for them.

If you do get pulled over, accept the ticket - you can pay at your car rental agency when you leave (remember to give them the ticket and pay when you turn the car in or you'll be assessed an even higher fee on your credit card months later.) Do NOT offer the police a bribe (don't encourage this practice)

Someone said: "in Costa Rica you can drive like a bat out of hell in all speed zones 40, 25, 80, but if it changes to 60 km/h, slow down!"

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Crocodile Bridge

A long two-lane bridge is called puente cocodrilo - crocodile bridge . Stop at either end of the bridge (don't stop on this bridge!), lock your car, and walk to the center. It's a good idea to have someone stay by your car even though there is a Police station there. You're guaranteed to see some huge (15 foot long) crocodiles below you.

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Jacó - 2nd Stoplight

This is your last stoplight you'll see on the trip. It's there for the school crosswalk so unless there are children in school, it'll be green (or completely off)

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Perfect Tree

We like to call this tree "our" tree (and we've even heard some of our neighbors call it their tree too. - Maybe you'll call it your tree once you see it in person.) It's a Higuerón tree. We think it is photo perfect.

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Quepos

When you enter the town of Quepos, cross the one-lane bridge and drive slightly left and down the small incline to the main road (the road that goes straight and at the same height of the road is a foot/bike path.) Pass the Hotel Kamuk on the left. On the right is a sign for Manuel Antonio Parque 7 km with an arrow pointing left. Take this road. Look at your odometer (or reset it to 0.)

+4.3

Turn Hard Right "Pacific Canyon Drive"

Exactly 4.3 km from Quepos is El Byblos hotel on the left (big yellow sign) On your right is a road that turns almost 180 degrees. Take this sharp right and go 300 meters (past the Spa Uno on your left) to the first driveway left. Take this driveway down (yes, it's probably steeper than any of the roads you've traveled so far.) Casa Mono Tití is down the stairs from the parking lot: the lower house. Take the stairs from the bottomof the driveway down to the house. Casa Mono Congo is at the end of this parking lot with the garage.

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