Directions

 

By Car
First it is quite a task to get out of San José, because traffic is probably a little more hectic than you are used to. Get a good map of Costa Rica and then it still is a kind of maze. Go down the Avenida Central direction San Pedro and then follow the signs Cartago. Before you reach Cartago switch to the signs saying San Isidro and if all goes well you are driving into the mountains (don't forget to get enough gas). The road through the mountains has some risky sections, don't overtake too many cars here, because this road is called the 'Cerro de la muerte' or the 'Road of death'. After climbing to about 3400 m (11000 feet), where it does get cold and rainy, it is now time to go down. Don't drive too fast and watch out for fallen rocks, because we have had some slippery experiences here! Once in San Isidro, just go straight ahead to the next town, Palmar Norte. You will pass the chemical pineapple fields of Del Monte, where they grow a full pineapple in just 1 or 2 months, while it takes about 6 months in our own garden. We don't have to explain that our pineapples taste about 3 times better. After Palmar Norte you will arrive in Rio Claro, where you can fill up your car for the last time, because it is time to leave the inhabited world… Take the turn towards Golfito and after about 10 kilometers (6 miles) go left at a badly paved junction, towards Pavones. There is a sign, but hardly visible. After about 15 minutes you will reach a river with a ferry, which runs until 20h00). Don't go in the water, because you will share it with some crocodiles. After another 15 minutes, you come to Conte, after which it starts to get good! The road becomes unpaved and goes up, follow the signs Pavones. From here it is just a matter of staying on the road, cross the bridges carefully and start to get used to The Middle of Nowhere! In Pavones follow the signs Tiskita Jungle Lodge, continue on to the village of Punta Banco and drive on to the end of the road (before the road goes into the hills), where our small paradise is waiting. If you left San José after 10 o'clock in the morning, you will probably have to use your lights for the last part. Okay, the drivers have arrived, now the others, starting with the bus passengers.
   
By Bus

In San José you can buy a ticket at the Tracopa Terminal (every taxi drivers knows where it is). It is best to buy one a day in advance, because especially in the weekends it can get crowded. Take the 07h00 bus to Golfito, which arrives there around 14h30. From Golfito take the bus to Pavones at 15h00. It leaves near the supermarket across the street from the hospital. In case of lack of time, you can jump off the bus at t-junction kilometre 14 (described above) and get on the Pavones bus there. Whatever you do, make sure you are on that bus, because it only goes once a day to the Rancho Burica! The last stop of the bus is at the Rancho near Punta Banco, where you will be welcomed at around 18h00. If you need to do some shopping or just want to travel a little more relaxed, take the 05h00 bus in San José and buy a ticket to Rio Claro. Get out in Rio Claro, do your shopping and get on a local bus to Golfito (takes about 30 minutes) or take a taxi. You will arrive in Golfito well before 15h00. Ok, the bus people have arrived, it took quite a while, but they managed it in one day. What if you don't want to sit in a bus the whole day? Vamos en avion!

From Panama take the bus to the border, Paso Canoas, via David. Arrange all the necessary stamps in your passport and get on the bus to Laurel, which leaves at 15h00 (NOTE: Costa Rica is one hour behind Panama, so 16h00 Panama time). In Laurel change busses and take the one to Conte. In Conte you have to get on the bus to Pavones (see above), which leaves around 16h30. If you missed your bus in Paso Canoas, take a taxi to Conte. The taxi is much faster than the bus, so you'll be in Conte on time for the bus to Pavones.
   
By Plane

There are three flights from San José to Golfito daily for about US$ 78 (one-way). You can book from your own country or in Costa Rica at SANSA +506-221.94.14 (www.flysansa.com). Because you fly along the coast, the view is great. The flight takes about an hour, so you leave a little later than the bus boys. From Golfito you can of course take the bus, but while you are travelling in style, why not taxi a 4x4 taxi. It costs about US$ 50 and one and a half hours later you are at the Rancho Burica! Pura Vida, right?