DRIVING DIRECTIONS

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Driving from San Jose to Iguana Lodge, near Puerto Jimenez on the Osa Peninsula

There are two ways to drive from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. The first and shortest is to head down the Pan American Highway through San Isidro. See directions below.

The second is to head west toward the coast, and drive down the coast. It's a bit longer drive, and the road from Quepos to Dominical is often terrible. If you drive choose to drive this way, head west from San Jose toward Jaco, then south toward Quepos, continuing onward to Dominical, and then follow the directions below from Dominical.

Driving from San Jose via San Isidro to Iguana Lodge

From San Jose head toward Cartago, hop on the Inter-American (Pan Am) Highway (Ruta 2) to San Isidro de General (4 hours). A great rest stop for refreshments is at Ojo de Agua (Km # 76). There is also a great place to view quetzals near there as well. It is marked with some fairly crude signs, and will be on your left as you head south to San Isidro.

Once in San Isidro you have two options:

Option 1 through Buenos Aires:
Continue toward Buenos Aires, to Palmar Norte, and then thirty-three kilometers past Palmar Norte take a right turn at Chacarita (2 hours). At Chacarita you will see a service station by the name of " Corcovado". The right turn to Puerto Jiménez is directly after the service station. On this paved (but very holey) road you will drive 44 km to Rincon where the pavement ends. 33 more kms will take you through La Palma and eventually on to Puerto Jiménez (2 hrs).

When you arrive in Puerto Jimenez, don't head toward Matapalo. Head east along the waterfront, or wend your way through town passing the airport. From there, go around the airport, head past Crocodile Bay and continue for 4 km to the end of the road. Turn left which is your only option and follow the signs to Iguana Lodge.

Option 2 through Dominical:
Head west from San Isidro to Dominical ( 3/4 - 1 hr.) and follow the coast road south through Cortés to Palmar Norte. From there head south on the Pan American (follow the directions above from Palmar Norte to Puerto Jimenez).

Driving from Golfito is not possible, as the ferry is not a car ferry.  It only ferries foot passengers.  Hence, if you have a car and are coming north from Panama or in or around Golfito, you need to drive north to Chacarrita, and then follow the directions above once on the Osa Peninsula.