Between SJ and Cahuita

If everything goes perfect for you guy's, plane lands on time, customs and get your car it will be around 5pm, you'll have 30-45mins. of daylight left at best.

Recommend staying in Alajuela, very nice little town, cool to walk around, 10mins. out of the airport. Lots of lodging options.

Yes, Why start a long drive in the dark after a long fight? Wouldn't it be much better to have a nice dinner, get some sleep and start the drive in the morning?

Yeah best to spend the night in Alajuela and just depart the next morning for Cahuita.

I spent some time in Guapiles, there are more interesting places in Costa Rica.

You don't have time to go anywhere. Its will be after 5 before you set out, and then cross the city in rush hour traffic to Rt #32, it gets dark at 6pm.

Stay in Alajuela, for one, its much safer than being on the road, and a lot less stress too. Roads are not marked well in CR and they are not lighted either. Get a fresh start in the morning, and then you will not miss the outstanding scenery the first 45 minutes out of the city to Guapiles, which is huge rainforest and mountains in all directions, large rivers and even waterfalls.

Guapiles is just a hub town of nothing, for agri cargo trucks going towards Sarapiqui area.

Thanks everyone!
I really didn't want to miss out on Braulio Carrillo anyway, so I'll take the advice and stay in Alajuela.
I also hadn't realized how far west the airport was in SJ. I'm sure rush hour will be brutal.
Much better to relax and start fresh in the morning!
:)

Yes if you have time, you can go from SJO to direction of Paos (nice morning hike before clouds move in) and then down Sarapiqui over gorgeous desolate mountain roads and down to Sarapiqui, then a night there, boat ride in early morning to see wildlife, then check out and head to Guapiles and down RT #32 to Limon.

Leaving SJ to Guapiles you basically drive thru Braulio which is stunning. There is only two entrances to the park, and no matter which one, you can drive anywhere in the park, but you can hike in, be prepared for heavy rains though, this is the rainiest area of the entire country, sand, Rainforest..but as raw and green and thick jungle as it best, lots of birds...

Have fun no matter how you slice it. You don't really need a car on the caribe coast though, you get a bus or shuttle to Cahuita, and onwards south, rent bikes, and raft the Rio Pacuare back to SJ, not to be missed IMO.

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