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Ojochal, Costa Rica: Getting There
Once you fly into, San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, you can either drive to Ojochal (through Quepos or San Isidro de el General, a 3 1/2 – 4 1/2 hour drive, depending on traffic), or you can take a secondary 45-minute flight to Palmar Sur (a twenty minute drive from Ojochal). There are many major airlines that fly in to San Jose. If you choose to fly in to Palmar Sur, there are daily flights, and the cost is around $75 each way.
Driving: From San José you take the Interamericana to the south, passing Cartago. In San Isidro (also known as Perez Zeledon) turn to the right to Dominical (at Mc Donald's, there is a sign). At Dominical to the left, following the coastal road (Costanera). You'll see the Ojochal sign when you arrive.
Car Rental
All the major car rental companies are located in San Jose, along with some smaller, Costa Rican companies. If you choose to fly in to Palmar Sur, you can arrange to have a rental car delivered there.
This option is recommended for seasoned travelers only, familiar with South American roads.
You can also find your way to Ojochal, driving from the Airport to the City of Atenas, then Orotina, and travel along the Pacific Coast. However, unless you drive a 4x4, we cannot recommend such a route because of the terrible road between Quepos, Manuel Antonio and Dominical.
We recommend visitors rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle (like a Toyota Rav-4 or something larger, depending on your taste and desire for comfort), especially if you plan to do any sightseeing. Many of the roads in Costa Rica are unpaved or full of potholes, and in the rainy season, they can get quite muddy. The roads from San Jose to Ojochal, via the mountain pass, are paved and mostly quite good, with dirt roads only in the town of Ojochal, making this trip fine for a front-wheel drive vehicle in the dry season.
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