Arriving at SJO at noon then driving to Puerto Viejo

What would you guys do?

I'm catching a red eye flight from San Francisco with a 3 hour layover in Houston and arriving at SJO at noon. My original plan was to get my rental car and then hightail it to Puerto Viejo but now I'm wondering if that isn't such a great idea after being on minimal sleep.

Should I plan on staying in Alajuela and then heading to PV early in the morning?

Relax and enjoy your drive in the morning.

I think you will be fine. Its is a easy route once out of the San Jose area on RT#32. There are plenty of places to stop and stretch and a cold one. As long as your in Limon at the turn off south by 5pm, which is 2.5 hours ish from SJO, its juts a easy no traffic route, if your pooped, stop in Cahuita and eat, spicy Caribe cuisine, and hit the hey there, or get to PV before dark. Stay south of PV for peacefull setting and no riff raff...beaches are gorgeous from Chequita>Cocles to Punta Uva...

There are radar traps once your out of the mountains and headed down to the coast...so keep the speed in check, I think 80KP max....

As usual, I'll disagree with Ticotim. Living here, everyone knows 3 things. 1) Traffic fatalities are the one of the number one killers in Costa Rica. 2) The highway between San Jose and Limon is the most dangerous stretch of highway in CR for accidents. 3) It's the rainy season, and you'll be driving in the afternoon, so it will be pouring and visibility will be low.

I would at least stay in San Jose or Heredia, that way you don't have to deal with traffic between Alejuela and San Jose while you're trying to get out of town.

Whats the difference if you leave at 11 or 1?

Yes its a dangerous route, so is the Pan Am from Liberia to SJ amd SJ to Panama.

The #1 cause of death in CR is traffic accidents, but you can easily make this trip at 1pm.

Plus, I think he is going at Xmas, so weather will be a low risk factor, other than than fog and mist around the 1st 45 minutes...

Stay one night somewhere near San Jose and leave early the next day. It is then rainy season and you won't see much when you drive in the afternoon, in the morning you will have a better view and travel much saver.

Why take the chance, after you clear customs and get in your car it's going to be later than you think it will be. And he dumbest thing would be to stop in Cahuita, it's like 30 minutes from PV.

Just to confuse youi more:), i agree with Ticotim, its not a difficult drive and during the day should be no problem.
Be careful on CR roads at all times!!!!

Puerto Viejo

Sean420: I agree with Tim, and would just go for it. But I am fine on red-eye flights (actually prefer them...).

Are you the type of person that requires a lot of sleep in order to be alert? Are you able to sleep on red-eyes?

Will you be travelling alone or with company?

Hi, take it easy, you are on vacations don't you? take your time, sleep well, rent the car, have a lot or information and then enjoy your trip.
cheers
Cinthya
www.jardintropicalbanb.com

I wonder if jardin tropical B&B is in Alajuela by any lucky chance?.....

Thanks for everybody's opinions - I think I'm going to just go for it and do the drive. I plan on getting lots of sleep before we leave and a nap while on the plane. I'm pretty experienced driving in CR and I'll be doing the drive with my wife. If I get tired, we can always stop somewhere along the way. The car doesnt have to be turned into Hone Creek until the next day.

hey sean it,s not like you havn,t been there before just go for it . don

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<hr>As usual, I'll disagree with Ticotim. Living here, everyone knows 3 things. 1) Traffic fatalities are the one of the number one killers in Costa Rica. 2) The highway between San Jose and Limon is the most dangerous stretch of highway in CR for accidents. 3) It's the rainy season, and you'll be driving in the afternoon, so it will be pouring and visibility will be low.<hr></blockquote>

Who is this guy? Travel Junkie? And lives in this much fear? Not sure where he gets his statistics or is this just yet another myth-half truth about the Caribbean? Ok... people drown at Cocles beach. Should I tell everyone not to go to Cocles?

Anyway, I disagree with Travel Junkie and I live in the Caribbean and drive the highway all the time (and am still living last time I had a check up).

1) the whole mountain stretch has been redone and is very good. It has been widened and clear lines are painted on most of the highway.
2) I drive it all the time and see no more accidents on that stretch then I do anywhere else.
3) Yeah, it can be raining but big deal.... In 3 years of driving it was only once I feared for my life because of fog (Yes I am still in therapy. My therapist says I am close to a break through)
4) That time of the year is not rainy season for the Caribbean and is quite dry. As for whether it will be raining on the highway at that perticular time at that time of the day, who the hell knows?

Is this one of those hostel/guesthouse owners that gets bitter because not many people want to spend a valuable day of their vacation listening to all the noise and breathing all the smog of San Jose? .... Just putting it out there....