Driving times? Thanks to all
 

Our first trip to CR was delayed a week by the hurricane. We're roughing out an itinerary 12-day itinerary. Much depends on driving times. Will spend a day and a half in San Jose to see all it has. On Day 3, we're thinking we can head east to see the ruins (we like ruins) and do some exploring in that area, then turn back toward Poas and Arenal. Should we plan on spending the night east of town and heading back west on Day 4? (Maybe adding a raft trip while we're in the area.)

Could anyone estimate driving times between:

Turrialba and Poas
Monteverde and Tamarindo
Tamarindo and San Jose

Thanks again!

Hello, from Monteverde to Tamarindo you´ll need aprox. 4.5 to 5 hours, from Tamarindo to San Jose depends on traffic up to 6 hours.
Saludos and much fun in Costa Rica
costaklaus - www.costaricaweb.de

I wouyld recomend spanding anytime in San Jose as the rtest of the country has a lot more to offer. What ruins are you refering to that are east of San Jose?

Guayabo is what we are interested in, although the guidebooks don't rate them too highly. We just dig old rocks. We were thinking of a day trip there from SJ on Day 2. Return to SJ to lodge that night and then on to points west (Poas, Arenal, Monteverde, Nicoya) bright and early Day 3.

If you've never been to San Jose, it does have (just my opinion) enough to offer to warrant a day there. Do your daytrip to Guayabo (we've been there and thought it was pretty cool), but start very early and make a stop at Irazu if possible! Might as well. . .it is very different from Poas and Arenal. You'll need something warm to wear. . .

San Jose to Turrialba will take you 2.5 hours, or thereabouts, depending on time of day (traffic). Try to leave by 6:30 or 7:00 and return by 3:00 or 4:00 to avoid rush hour. On up to Poas from San Jose is another hour. So Turrialba to Poas about 3.5 hours, approximately. You could easily get bogged down in San Jose traffic. There is a road that bypasses town on the south (we managed to do it correctly, but it was by the grace of God). If you get really good directions, this could save you some time! We drove Turrialba to SJO in July, but I can't remember the exact time. We stopped in Turrialba for a while.

Rather than spend the night in San Jose again, drive an extra 20 minutes west to Alajuela (where the airport is). Stay there, and you are right at the road to Poas first thing the next morning. You can see Poas on your way to Arenal. Hopefully you are planning a couple of night each at Arenal and Monteverde? Then on to Tamarindo, correct? You're going to have a great time!