Osa Peninsula

• We are located in the Southern part of the Osa Peninsula and our closest main town is Puerto Jimenez.
• In order to get to Puerto Jimenez, you can fly, you can drive or you can be driven. No matter which option you prefer, we’re more than happy to make the arrangements for you with no extra reservation fee!
• If you prefer to fly – a few airlines fly from San Jose and we can easily help you with any arrangements at no extra cost. Flights take 50 minutes from San Jose.

To arrive at Puerto Jimenez on the same day you arrive in Costa Rica, we suggest you match your international itinerary with your domestic flights in the following way:

From December 1st to April 30th: try to purchase an international flight that lands in San José airport no later than 1.30 pm, and make it so that your return ticket leaves from San José after 10.30 am.

From May 1st to August 31st & all of November: try to purchase an international flight that lands in San José airport no later than 12 pm, and make it so that your return ticket leaves from San José after 10.30 am.

From September 1st to October 31st: try to purchase an international flight that lands in San José airport no later than 10.30 am, and make it so that your return ticket leaves from San José after 10.30 am.

Planning your trip with a different schedule would imply staying one night in San José before you come to us, and potentially on your way back as well before you take your international flight.

• If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car and drive yourselves or hire a private ground transfer. We can also help with these arrangements from all over the country.
• If you drive yourselves, please read below about driving directions and advice.
• If you drive to us from a different location, please let us know and we will help you directly with directions from your specific departure location.

Please inquire at reservations@elremanso.com for any help.

Once in Puerto Jimenez, we can easily provide you with transfer service to the lodge, which can be arranged through our reservations department as well. Transfers from the Puerto Jiménez land strip to El Remanso consist of a 45-minute drive on a gravel and dirt road through the scenery of absolutely stunning low lands and forest which requires going up and down unpaved hills (4×4 needed). The cost of the round trip transfer is included in your stay (once per stay).

Driving Directions

San José to El Remanso by car

On an average day, it will take approximately 6 hours to reach El Remanso from San José, though there are many factors that can increase that time including traffic, road maintenance, and of course, speed and stops along the way, so it is highly advisable to plan for an early start so that you can reach us with plenty of daylight to spare.

Before you decide to drive from San José to El Remanso, we recommend that you reach out to your rental car company and inquire about the condition of the roads you’d have to drive through. Some of them may be temporarily closed, for example. Also, let them know that you need a 4×4 vehicle.

Either way, there is a handy app that you can download for free that works wonders in Costa Rica. It’s called WAZE and since everyone here uses it, it’s constantly being fed new and useful information, which allows for smoother traffic flow and warnings on events like roadblocks, crashes, potholes, and such.

Since signage is deficient in many areas of the country, this app is very helpful.

Either way here is an explanation on how to reach us from San José, so you can have a general idea.

To drive from San José to El Remanso, start by taking the freeway towards Jacó. It will take you around one hour and a half to drive from San José to Jacó.

Once in Jacó, take the coastal freeway (called “Pacifica Fernández”, a.k.a. “Costanera”) until you reach Palmar Sur, which should take you two and a half hours. On the way from Jacó to Palmar Sur, you will pass Quepos, Dominical and Uvita. As you pass these towns, ensure you stay on the coastal freeway until you reach Palmar Sur.

From Palmar Sur, you will take the “Interamericana” freeway to Chacarita.

In Chacarita, you will see a big gasoline service station on your right. There will be a sign indicating Puerto Jiménez. Take that right turn after the gas station and you will reach Puerto Jiménez in approximately one and a half hours.

Once you reach Puerto Jiménez, you are almost here! Take the dirt road that is between the local supermarket called “BM” and the gas station (the road goes towards Carate) and drive for around 45 minutes to 1 hour. The entrance to El Remanso will be on your left side!

This last section is only 22 km but it takes a while because it’s not paved. You will go over a couple of small, narrow bridges. At one point around km 18, after crossing a bridge. you will see a school on your right-hand side (Carbonera Primary School) and Martina’s Bar & Restaurant a bit further on the left. About 100 m later, you will cross the last bridge and you will notice the road becomes steep uphill, so make sure your 4×4 is on and take your time to do that last 4 km stretch, which should only take about 10 minutes before you find El Remanso’s entrance on the left, marked by a large sign.

We strongly advise you to arrive in El Remanso before dark as the drive is much nicer and easier in daylight. From December to April, we recommend that you get to El Remanso by 5:00 pm at the latest, and the rest of the year, by 4:00 pm.

Please let us know approximately what time you are planning to arrive at El Remanso! You can reach us at (+506) 4000 2442, send us a Whatsapp message to (+506) 8814 5775 or at reservations@elremanso.com

Drive safely and enjoy the ride!