|
DRIVING BY CAR
Driving from San Jose: The drive from San Jose is spectacular in
terms of natural beauty, but very tiresome. Try to leave early and
make frequent stops on the way. Approximate travel time is 7-10 hours
depending on stops, sightseeing, weather and road conditions.
By
road from San José take the Inter-American (Pan Am ) Highway ( Ruta 2 )
to San Isidro de General ( 2 - 3.5 hrs ) . An interesting rest stop for
refreshments is at Ojo de Agua ( Km # 76 , 1 -1.5 hrs ) Continue through
Buenos Aires ( 1 - 1.5 Hrs ) to Palmar Norte ( 1 - 1.5 hrs ).
Thirty-three kilometers past Palmar Norte take a right turn at
Chacarita. 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 road you will drive 44 km to
Rincón where the pavement ends. 33 more kms will take you through La
Palma and eventually on to Puerto Jiménez ( 1 - 2 hrs ). Arriving in
Puerto Jimenez follow the signs for Parrot Bay Village, we are located
on the beach between the airstrip and the public pier. We look forward
to seeing you. Have a good trip.
Driving
from Quepos or Dominical: Drive South along the coast road (on route 34)
until Ciudad Cortés. You will turn left before actually getting into
the center of town and follow the road to Palmar Norte. At Palmar Norte
turn right (South) on
the Carretera Interamericana. Thirty-three kilometers past Palmar Norte
take a right turn at Chacarita. 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 road you
will drive 44 km to Rincón where the pavement ends. 33 more kms will
take you through La Palma and eventually on to Puerto Jiménez ( 1 - 2
hrs ). Arriving in Puerto Jimenez follow the signs for Parrot Bay
Village, we are located on the beach between the airstrip and the public
pier.
CAR
RENTAL
The best companies to rent from are the same nationally known
companies in the USA: Hertz, Budget, National, Avis, etc. They
will ask you to go with them to personally check the car when you pick
it up. This is a seemingly pointless exercise for North Americans but
bear with them and pay attention. They will note every little scratch,
nick and dent in the car, bumper, windows and mirrors with painful
detail. Check for dents in the tire rims and make sure there are a spare
tire, jack and tools. You may be charged for any surface defect that is
not marked when you return the car or anything that is missing. They
will charge you at USA body shop prices. Even the very best companies do
this in Costa Rica.
Advice:
You will be lost or uncertain frequently. Ask for road information or
directions only from persons who are driving. Not
pedestrians or people on horseback. They will seemingly be very helpful
and friendly (as are all Ticos) smile and give you terrible advice. 4x4
drivers and truck drivers are best. People who work at gas stations are
not good sources of road information. Have a good trip and watch out for
the potholes!
TRANSFERS
IN SAN JOSE
We can arrange for Syracuse Tours, our designated tour guide operator
in San Jose, to meet you at the international airport and transfer you
to your hotel. He has mini vans and a microbus. The cost is the normal
taxi charge of $25 for all of you. You have the benefit of a completely
honest and dependable English speaking person. Somebody from Syracuse
Tours can meet you at the passenger exit gate with a sign with your name
on it. Also they can do transfers or tours to different places in Costa
Rica or San Jose. They are also available for Monteverde, Arenal,
Turrialba, Quepos, Peninsula de Osa, Tamarindo, Liberia and any other
place accessible by car. Please give us your international flight
arrival information so that we can advise Syracuse Tours when to meet
you at the airport.
WE
CAN ARRANGE IN-COUNTRY FLIGHTS FOR YOU
We prefer to make your in-country flights arrangements for you. We
can guarantee the reservation easier and more securely from here and can
access space on the in-country airlines when no one else can do it. Also
if we make the reservation we can manage any problems that might occur.
There are two domestic airlines with Service to Puerto Jimenez. Nature
Air departing from the Pavas Airport and Sansa leaving from the
International Airport. Nature Air will need the first and last names of
all passengers. Please provide those to us if you would us to arrange
the domestic flights for you.
NATURE
AIR 2004-2005:
We can arrange the round-trip flights leaving San Jose at 6:00 AM,
8:30 AM, 11:00 AM or 2:30 PM on NATURE AIR from San Jose - Pto Jiménez
- San Jose. The cost for NATURE AIR is $89 one-way or $179 round trip
per person.
The return flight on NATURE AIR departs Puerto Jiménez at 7:00 AM,
9:40 AM, 12:15 PM, or 3:30 PM and arrives in San Jose (Pavas airport)
at 8:30 AM, 10:40 AM, 1:30 or 4:20 PM respectively.
NATURE
AIR AND INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ON THE SAME DAY:
No problem about your flights. You can take Nature Air that arrives
in San Jose at 11:00 AM and make a connection with your international
flight that leaves at 2:00 PM. There have been many people that have
made this connection with Nature Air and international flights. Nature
Air, however does NOT RECOMMEND that people who fly with them schedule
their international flights for the same day. The reason for this
advisory is that they do not want to be faced with the additional
pressure of people demanding a solution or a refund IF SOMETHING goes
wrong with their schedule.
PRIVATE
CHARTER FLIGHTS
We can arrange a charter flight for you from San Jose to Puerto
Jimenez on Alfa Romeo Aero Taxi. This flight can originate at the time
of your choice and from either the international airport or Pavas
airport. The flight to Puerto Jimenez is approximately 50 min. and can
carry a maximum of 5 passengers. Alfa Romeo could meet you at the
passenger exit gate of the international airport as you arrive in
Costa Rica. They would take you to the hanger for your flight to
Puerto Jimenez. They will have a sign with your name on it to help you
identify them. The cost is $646 one way for the plane. The plane is a
Piper Aztec, 5-passenger, twin engine - 1400 lbs capacity incl.
luggage.
|
