Getting Here:
Option 1: Rent a car- driving directions are below. It is best to rent a 4x4. You can rent a GPS from the rental car agency. Our guest feedback indicates they work pretty well, especially when used with a map. To find our town, Monterrey also known as Santa Domingo, TRY: Santa Domingo. San Carlos or try Banco de Costa Rica, Monterrey. Our GPS coordinates are: 10.31.921 N and 84.39.695 W. Elevation is: 419 meters. We are in the San Carlos region.
Check out Wild Rider for great rates on rental cars. They offer personal service and no hidden fees. From the San Jose area.
Option 2: Public Bus-buses leave from Downtown San Jose to Cuidad Quasada to Monterrey (Least expensive takes 5 hours) Public Bus Schedule
Option 3: Tourist Buses. GrayLine or Interbus. They do not drop off at our place you will need to pay around $25 for a taxi fare from Fortuna. Interbus.
Option 4: Private Taxi transport (about $150 for a group of 8 or less - one way from the airport in San Jose, $170 from Libera) We can make these arrangements for you.
Option 5: By Airplane: Nature Air or Sansa has flights to Fortuna/El Tanque and we can arrange for a taxi pick up or you can then rent a car in Fortuna. Only Alamo and Mapache have offices in Fortuna. You can drop the car off at any location in Costa Rica. Be aware that only Sansa flies into the main airport in San Jose (SJO). If you fly on Nature Air you will have a $25 cab fare to the main airport.
Driving Directions from the San Jose Airport
Scenic and Cultural
Option 1: San Jose-Grecia-Sarchi-Naranjo-Zarcero-Ciudad Quesada-Florencia-Mulle-Tanque-Monterrey(Light Blue Route)
Take the Pan-American Highway #1 north from the Airport and continue for about 20 kilometers until you see the sign to Grecia. Turn right and continue to Grecia downtown. Once you reach downtown you will see a red church on your left. Drive to the back of the red church by turning left and at the next corner turn left again (so you will be at the other side of the church) here you will see and follow the signs to Sarchi. Once in Sarchi continue the road to Naranjo. As you arrive in Naranjo follow the signs to Zarcero and Ciudad Quesada. Once in Ciudad Quesada follow the signs to Tanque and La Fortuna. At the one intersection in El Tanque there is a large hardware store called Colono, turn right towards Monterrey. Allow 4 hours on a perfect driving day with no stops.
Most Direct and Fastest
Option 2: The Green Route through San Ramon--Tigra--Chacagua--Fortuna--El Tanque--Monterrey.
This route has less truck traffic and is faster. Head towards San Ramon on HWY 1. Travel through San Ramon city following the volcano signs. Stop along the way and try some of the freshly made cheese made in the surrounding villages. Allow 3 hours-with no stops on a perfect driving day.
Exploring En Route Option 1:
Grecia: This community was founded in 1838 it's most interesting structure is the church. The church is made of iron, and was prefabricated in Belgium in the 1890's, shipped to Costa Rica and then transported to Grecia from Alajuela by oxcart.
Sarchi: This town is spreads though the rolling hills, notice coffee growing on the hills as you drive through this area. Sarchi is known for furniture craftmanship, but it is most famous for its fancy brightly painted oxcarts.
Zarcero: The central park in this town looks like it was designed by Dr. Seuss. Evangelisto Blanco, a local landscape artist carefully shaped cypress topiaries in fanciful shapes. The artwork in the church was done by late local artist Misael Solis.
Ciudad Quesada/San Carlos: This large city is the center of activity for the Zona Norte (Northern Zone). It is the only town, that we know of, in the Zona Norte with any US type fast food chains. A Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken can be found in this busy town.
Driving here from Liberia
Head South on HWY 1 (yes the Pacific Coast Highway that goes all the way up the West coast!) to (Las Canas) Canas to Tilaran, to (Neuvo) Arenal around the lake to La Fortuna then see the map below.
Interesting sights along the way: Wind generators on the hills around the North end of the Lake, Nuevo Arenal is a cute little town-a good place to stop for lunch is the Lucky Bug or the Macadamia Nut Cafe both located a few minutes before getting into Nuevo Arenal.
When driving in Costa Rica, there are few road signs, the best advice is to always know which town you are headed to next, and follow the signs to that town and if you get lost people are eager to help you find your way. Just say"Donde (where) Monterrey (place which ever town in the sentence is the next town on your route)?" And if you have a map in your hand pointing all the better.
Most roads do not have a number. When asking for directions, you will be told how to get to the next town along your route. If a road does have a number most Costa Ricans will not know it and you may or may not see a sign.
A good map, a compass and a current Costa Rica guidebook will make your travel more interesting and enjoyable.
Do not plan to drive at night. Plan to get to your destination by dark. It is dark by 6pm all year round.
Road conditions change quickly-and can contain surprising hazards-people in the road, cattle, herds of cattle, VW sized pot holes, disabled vehicles and washouts. Please be careful and drive defensively at all times.However, overall the roads are pretty good and well maintained.
Plan for extra time, to stop and explore.
On paved roads you can figure it will take about 3 hours to travel 100 miles.
Even if a road is on a map, it may not be passable by car, but only by horse or tractor. It is better to ask a local before considering a 'shortcut' along the route.(Spoken from experience!)
Most bridges are only one lane, be prepared to yield to oncoming traffic. The Spanish word for yield is 'ceda' and the yield signs are upside down triangles.
Give way to oncoming Semi-trucks and buses.
Assign one person in your party to be the road hazard watcher and navigator. It is very difficult to drive and navigate.
Do not leave expensive electronics out in the open in your car, even if it is locked. Take your backpack with your camera, passport, money and any other valuable items with you, do not leave them in the car.
Local restaurants are called 'Sodas' they are simple little cafes with typical Costa Rican foods.
- There is a new force of "Tourist Police" their specific duty is to assit tourists. They are located in all major tourist locations.
- A note about the police, if you need help they are there to help you and protect you; however, if you get pulled over by the traffic police and they want to give you a ticket. Take the ticket, do not give them the bribe they are fishing for. They may call an English speaking person, who will tell you a long story about how expensive the ticket will be and how difficult it will be to pay the ticket. It is all hogwash, they just want you to give them cash. I have gotten speeding tickets. My ticket was $12 and you can pay it at any bank in about 5 minutes. This is not something to be afraid of, just practical information, so if it happens to you won't have to stress about it.
- Keep in mind the Journey is part of the Adventure!
Road Signs in Spanish Be sure to learn Danger, Caution, Curves, Right, Left, Road, Bridge, Stop, Yeild, One Way and Slow.
In addition to the information on the link above, keep in mind most bridges are narrow and only one lane. Be careful and watch for the yeild sign. The sign you will see is: (an orange diamond) Puente Angosto (narrow bridge) and take note of.........Adalante ( something is up ahead).
Right click on this map for a larger view and to print full size.
Directions from El Tanque: In Tanque at the main intersection there is a grocery store on one corner and a large hardware store on one corner called Colono.
Head towards Monterrey (Right if coming from Ciudad Quasada, Left if coming from Fortuna).
Drive about 20 minutes to Monterrey (aka: Santa Domingo).
The road splits into a 'Y' at Monterrey, keep to the left to go into town. (The other branch of the 'Y' leading to the right heads towards San Rafael de Guatuso) (aka: Guatuso).
Drive through Monterrey past the round rodeo building on the right, past the Bank of Costa Rica.
The road comes to a 'T', with a restaurant on the left corner and a small grocery store on the right.
Turn left onto the gravel road.
Follow the gravel road for about 15 minutes (3 km), we are 500 meters South-headed towards the volcano-of the Super Kike-small grocery store. When you see the Super Kike keep to the left. Our logo is painted on the store.
Look for our entrance sign and red barn on the right side of the road on top of the last hill, before the road heads down to the Rio Arenal.
If you have any trouble, just ask someone and show them this map and our local address.
Our cell phone number is 8333-6863 Land line is 2478-0023.
Our address is: 500 meters Sur de Super Kike, Alto Monterrey, Monterrey, San Carlos, Alejuela, Costa Rica
We are located in the mountains above Fortuna. It is a 30-40 minute drive to get to Fortuna from Leaves and Lizards.
Directions from Fortuna:
Head out of town-away from the volcano. Be careful, at the Alamo rental office the main street turns into a one way. Go around the downtown area, to get you headed back in the direction of El Tanque. You will be heading Southeast towards El Tanque.
This is a photo map to help you find your way to Leaves and Lizards.
Right Click on this image to enlarge and print a readable version.
