I'm heading to CR in November and we have our itinerary pretty much planned out, but I'm getting nervous about driving times...how busy does the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera get? We'll be travelling on weekdays, do we really need to plan on waiting an hour? Also, does anyone have a good reliable road map of the Nicoya Peninsula? I've seen several different maps all with different roads...

Arrival at the ferry 30 min ahead of departure should be fine. We couldn't do without our Berndston & Berndston map--Barnes & Noble.

Have you looked at the website
www.nicoyapeninsula.com

It has a wealth of info for those traveling in that area.

Thanks so much for the help.

I have another question as well - I'll be going from Malpais to Arenal area one day and was curious if it's faster to just drive up and around the Gulf instead of taking the ferry, has anyone tried the drive?

2 years ago that drive was tortuous. I've no reason to believe that stretch would have been a high priority for road repair/maintenance since then.

There won't be much time difference, so you might as well let the ferry move you along for 1.5 hours! The road up to Nicoya from Paquera isn't particularly scenic. Figure about 7 hours either way.

1.5 Malpais to Paquera
0.5 early arrive to buy ferry tickets
1.5 on ferry
1.5 Puntarenas to San Ramon (by the time you get out of Puntarenas)
2.0 San Ramon to Arenal

Figure that you'll want to eat somewhere and have a bathroom break or two. You can do both on the ferry, perhaps, thus saving a little time?

Taking the ferry seems to indicate a continuation through San Ramon, whereas driving up the coast it would probably be best to continue up through Liberia, rather than crossing the Friendship Bridge and backtracking down to Puntarenas and over to San Ramon. Not sure.

I hope you are looking at a map right about now?

The coastal route, you can figure
1.5 hr. Malpais to Paquera
2.0 Nicoya (?)--I've forgotten
exact time--could be more.
2.0 Nicoya to Liberia
2-3 Liberia to Arenal, depending
on condition of lake road?

So you see, not much difference.

Perhaps someone else might see it differently. It always takes a little longer than you think it will. I think the above times are pretty accurate estimates. Good luck whichever you do!

I agree with the above poster - TAKE THE FERRY

The stretch of road between Naranjo and Paquera is REALLY BAD, one of the worst I've driven on in Costa Rica

Thanks! Ferry it is! I had heard the roads can get pretty bad, so we'll just stick to our initial plan.

Have a great trip! Right around the corner. . .let us hear all about it when you return!