CR--Driving to and from Montezuma (need help)
 

Hi everyone.

This February, we'll be driving from Monteverde to Montezuma, and then from Montezuma back to the airport on a Monday for a 6:00 pm flight.

From Monteverde, should we take the Puntarenas ferry or just take the Pan-Am highway to 18 into Nicoya and then drive south?


From Montezuma, at what time should we plan to leave so we can drop off our car and make our flight? Are there any interesting places to stop along the way?

My preference would be the ferry. It's quite enjoyable to let someone else do the driving for awhile! Also, the road south of Highway 18 is incredibly rough with deep ruts much of the way. At least last time I was on it. I'd be very surprised if it has improved much.

Returning will take you at least 5 hours. 3.5 of it getting to Puntarenas, including a 30 min. wait for the ferry. It usually takes us 2 hours Puntarenas to the airport, but the Ticos tell me they can do it in 1.5! Depends on the traffic. . .Monday would be lighter traffic, I would think. Still, you need to be at the airport by 3:30 or so and return your car around 2:30 so as not to have to rush in case you have to wait a bit. You can do the math.

My choice would be to have a leisurely breakfast before leaving, but try to be on the road by 9:00. If something should happen to block a road, you'd be in a pickle! Sounds like lots of time, but not for that distance! In fact, we'd probably be out of there by 8:00--just to be on the safe side.

Have fun and good luck!

Thanks shillmac!

I was thinking that if we returned the car at 3:30 we'd be okay. Do we really need to return the car 3.5 hours before our flight (we're using Tricolor--many, many, many thanks for recommending them--we saved $200 over the next closest company for our little Ignis)? This is our first experience with SJO airport.

I guess we'll have to consult the ferry schedule to see when we need to leave for Paqueras. I was hoping to leave about 8:30-8:45.

Although I'm sure that you've probably already been told this - be sure to leave yourself extra, extra time when getting to and from montezuma. The roads on that side of the country are pretty awful - which isn't to say that it's not an enjoyable ride, but it can take much longer than you anticipate.

No, RAC, I'd show up at Tricolor about 2:30--or PLAN for that, realizing that most long distances will run over rather than under the planned arrival time. It COULD take an hour to get yourself checked in with Tricolor, depending on how many others are there (it will at LEAST take 30 min for check in and a drop off at the airport).

There is a suggested 3 hour airport time. We've always found 2.5 hours to be sufficient, but am sure there are times when 3 hours would be much safer.

Let's split the difference! No later than 3:00! Sounds like I'm giving you curfew. . . LOL

And travelbug18 is right. Particularly between Cobano and Montezuma, the roads are bad. You should allow 1.5 hours to Paquera, another 30 min wait before departure time, 1.5 hour ferry ride, another 2 hours Puntarenas to Tricolor office. Adding a little cushion to ANY of these segments would be wise, and it would be even wiser to cushion them all with a few more minutes!

Of course, you have to plan your departure time (from Montezuma) around the ferry schedule, so that will affect all your planned times. . . .