Getting to Osa from Quepos without backtracking
 

My family and I are going to Rafiki near Quepos in February and would like to go next to the Osa penisula for the remainder of our trip. Since our overall time is relatively short, I am wondering if there is practical way to get to Puerto Jimenez without backtracking to San Jose (i.e. get a one-way rental car in Quepos, fly, hire a driver, etc.)?

If we drove, how long might it take and which route would be the best?

Thanks in advance, RPR

I think you could drive it in 5 hours or so. Perhaps less, but I doubt it. You would drive from Quepos to Dominical. From Dominical south to Palmar Sur the highway is very nice--new and wide. Amazing! From Palmar Sur, on to Puerto Jimenez. If you've looked at a map you know that from Palmar Sur to PJ, you'll travel around the upper tip of the Golfo Dulce toward the west, then south.

Quepos-Dominical, about 1.5 hour
Dominical-Palmar Sur, about 1 hour
Palmar Sur-PV, about 2.5 or 3 hours.

I did that last leg by bus which stopped every 10 seconds (or so it seemed) so it is hard for me to guess-timate an exact travel time from PS-PV. I think 2-3 hours might be a decent guess.

I'd recommend you buy the Berndston & Berndston map from Barnes & Noble (or order online).

You could arrange for a flight directly from Quepos to Osa. We did that a couple of years ago on NatureAir (then TravelAir). Upon request, they will have their regularly scheduled flight from SJ to Puerto Jimenez stop in Quepos to pick up additional passengers. We had one of our hotels in CR make those arrangements directly with NatureAir (it seems to work better if someone local arranges that instead of trying to do it from here).

I agree with Iza to fly. We flew from Osa to Quepos on Sansa, so chec with both airlines. We made our reservations through Lynch Travel, located in Quepos. They have a web site.

Oh, I hadn't thought of this (flying) and this would really work out much better than driving or flying back and forth.

In fact, I figured that if 4 of us flew back to San Jose, then to Puerto Jimenez, and the to Carate, it would cost around $700 -- which is probably what it would cost to charter.

Thanks so much.

The flights from/to Quepos and Puerto Jimenez are not posted and it is just a little more expensive if I remember correctly. They do not run all year. Most of the lodges down on that part of the Osa can make the flight arrangements for you. I prefer to do it this way because then you have someone who can confirm your flights and let you know of any flight changes-they do happen. Difficult to do yourself from down there.