Driving - Monteverde to Tamarindo
 

My wife and I will be driving from Monteverde to Tamarindo. Can anyone suggest the best route and advise how long a drive we should expect?

It's about 4 1/2 hours depending on traffic (ha-Ha) not much coming down. You can either come through Tilaran, or take the other side which has better roads (I think) and once you get to Pan Am hgwy. head for the new Taiwanese Bridge. Go thru Santa Cruz (don't take first left to Tamarindo ater S.C.as it turns into a dirt road)on to Belin and onto Tamarindo from there. I find this to be the fastest way. f you come back thru Tilaron then head north to Liberia at Cannes and follow to Tamarindo.

We took the same route that Marilynn described and it was pretty easy. I think it took a little less than five hours. The road coming down from Monteverde is a little rough and slow going, but after that, its all paved. A fellow traveler at our hotel in Monteverde gave us some written directions from their travel agent. I will copy them in below:

Head out of Monteverde heading toward Santa Elena and then onto the small town of Cabaceras. Just after the town of Cabaceras, look signs to Juntas and you will be taking a left hand turn. This road will take you all the way out to Highway 1 where you will take a right hand turn heading north. Continue on this road until you reach the new Shell station and you will see signs for the Nicoya Peninsula Taiwanese Friendship Bridge.

Just past the Shell Gasoline Station make a left turn and remain on this road crossing over the bridge. Follow the signs for Nicoya and Santa Cruz. Continue north our of Santa Cruz, until just before the village of Belen, where you will find the turnoff for Tamarindo.

In another 20km (12 miles), take the left fork for Playa Tamarindo at Hucas, and contune on until the village of Villareal, where you make your final turn into Tamarindo.

As Marilynn said, there is a shorter, but rougher route: Turn left just after passing the main intersection for Santa Cruz at the turnoff for Playa Junquillal and Ostional. The road is paved until the village of Veintesiete de Abril. From here is about 20km on a rough dirt road until the village of Villareal, where you make the final turn into Tamarindo.

Thanks, Marilynn & Katie. I really appreciate the directions.