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Nosara Driving Directions
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San Jose to Nosara, Costa Rica
If you are driving from San Jose to Nosara, you will take the main Interamerican
Highway (Carretera Interamericana) north out of San Jose (past the large
international Juan Santamaria airport). This highway travels north and west
toward Guanacaste Province. Make sure you have a couple hundred dollars changed
into colones in San Jose. You will need colones for your road-trip money
- such as gas stations, sodas and restaurants. Once you get to Nosara (or
other tourist/beach areas) dollars are accepted most everywhere.
On the main Inter-American highway, you will wind through the mountains,
rising out of the Central Valley, then down the other side of the mountains,
for several hours. Eventually the highway will flatten out and straighten
into a more northerly course.
You will be on this flat stretch of highway for a couple of hours. You will
keep driving straight until shortly after you notice highway signs for Puntarenas,
then you need to keep a look out for the signs pointing to the Puente de
Amistad (the new bridge over the Tempisque River). This will be a left turn,
but the signs are on the right side out on the main Interamerican Highway.
After you cross the new bridge at the river Tempisque, you will be on the
Nicoya Peninsula. Keep following the paved highway to the City of Nicoya
(large town). When you are almost to Nicoya, you will come to an intersection
with a 4-way red flashing light - there will be signs there that indicate
a left turn into the town of Nicoya.
Drive straight through the town of Nicoya on the "main road", no turns. Drive
slowly, as there are a lot of pedestrians in this bustling town. You will
eventually be out of town on the other side. You will continue southward
on pavement approximately 30km, some twists and turns, but just stay on
the obviously main paved highway.
Eventually you will see a large Gas Station on your left. There is also a
hardware store and little "soda" cafe for snacks and drinks. Stop here and
get gas - last chance on the way to Nosara.
Right after you leave the gas station, the concrete highway makes a sharp
curve to the left. At the apex of that curve, you will notice a small dirt
road turning off to the right, downhill. That is the road to Nosara.
This dirt road is about 25KM, but over 1 1/2 hours driving. There are, once
again, some turns and twists, but stay on the "main" road. There are also
occasional signs that tell you how many kilometers you still have to go....
You will pass through many small towns and villages. There is a T-intersection
at a small village called Barco Quebrada, turn right (there should be signs
there, and the main road should be obvious).
The people along the way are very friendly, so if you aren't positive that
you are still on the main road, just stop and ask someone "Donde es Nosara".
Most people will at least be able to point in the right direction. When
you get to the beach area of Nosara, it will be very obvious that you have
found it. Signs, surf shops, restaurants, hotels...
Continue on through some twists and turns, about another 5 km, and you wil
come to Nosara Centro, the business district, where you will find grocery
stores, medical care, city services and shopping.
Allow AT LEAST 6 hours for your drive from Juan Santamaria airport in San Jose to Nosara, Costa Rica. (see City Map).
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