Hi, can someone please give me travel times for the following:

San Jose airport to Peace Lodge
Peace Lodge to Tabacon
Tabacon to Paradisus
Paradisus to Liberia airport

Instead of typing the destinations again, you can just type the travel times in order.

We will be travelling in November using Costa Rica Transfers, who by the way have been very professional and prompt in replying to all of my questions.

Can you also provide information on things to see or do on the way to these destinations? Most interested in breaking up ride between the Peace Lodge and Tabacon, as well as Tabacon to Paradisus, which I believe is very long. And any recommendations on where we can stop to eat lunch?

One last question, are the rides long due to the roads or actual distances.

Thanks for your help.

Hey Wolfiesmom,
we estimate the times to be:
SJ - PL: 70-90 minutes.
PL - Tabacon: 3.5 hours.
Tabacon - Paradisus: 3.5 hours (I heard the road around Lake Arenal is now better, so it may be a little less).
Paradisus - Liberia: 1.5 hours.

Wolfiesmom, I hope I am not wrong, because a lot of roads have improved lately, although I haven't personally taken them. In any case, it is in the ball park. It is not that the roads are so bad in CR, it is just that in many parts you have only one lane for each direction, so the average speed is about 50KM/hour, and that means that even a short drive, takes a few hours.
By the way, I have been using CR transfers service a lot lately and I am very happy with them (haven't had even one problem).
Pura Vida,
Neta Talmor

Hi Neta,
Do you have any recommendations on places to stop in between for sights and lunch?
Thanks for your help

The road around Arenal Lake in March was improved, but still slow. We traveled 40kph or less most of the way. Took us a couple of hours to get to Liberia. If you want to stop for lunch in Liberia, I would suggest a restaurant called Paso Real. It is upstairs above some shops overlooking the town square and the church. You can sit out along two sides (it is on a corner). Good food, reasonable prices. There is also a new mall outside Liberia (on the road toward Canas). You might enjoy checking it out. Very trendy!

We were with a very slow driver from Peace Lodge to the airport and it was about 1 hr.
You could think about stopping in Liberia for lunch on your way to Paradisus. There is a decent little restaurant right on the main plaza opposite the church.

Hello, Suzie, I think we've eaten at the same restaurant!

I have also eaten at the one you mentioned. Had dinner there and lunch a couple of times at the one I mentioned. Had ice cream after both at the little place on the corner .

Paradisus to the Liberia airport was more like an hour if not less in April 2003.
Lisa S

IMHO one of the nicest things about visiting CR is being able to ignore (travel) time.
M

You are so right! Our time here in the U.S. moves forward from one appointment, plan, goal, whatever, to the next. In Costa Rica, I have had to be reminded more than once that I am now on "manana time"! Took some getting used to, but now, when we arrive there, it is a little easier to slip into that different frame of mind! Very enjoyable once you learn how to relax into it! Of course, there is always that coming home and back to reality thing! It's okay to plan and arrange ahead of time as long as you remember to build in a little flexibility!

Thank you to those who helped answer the question.

TTT: I am topping this to try and get some ideas for things to see or do on the way to my destinations- Peace Lodge to Tabacon to Paradisus. Interested in breaking up ride between these sites.

Also any ideas on nice places to stop for lunch?

Oh, and one other thing- If I asked the driver if he wanted to join us for lunch or snacks, etc. would that be ok or not. I have done this in the past and they have welcomed the offer.

Topping for some responses to my last question. Also can someone confirm the travel times. I will be with my husband and parents and would like to forewarn my mom of the travel times, especially from Tabacon to Paradisus. I realize that traffic and unforeseen circumstances change things, but a general idea would be great.

Wolfiesmom -

I know you read my trip report, but here are some specifics to your questions...
SJ - Peace Lodge - about 1 hour maybe 1 1/2 max. You can stop at the little coffee stop I mentioned on the left hand side - great views, clean bathrooms & yummy snacks! Not a lot of choices (mainly pastries, etc) but a good place to stop.
Peace Lodge - Tabacon - we went to Pozo Azul as I mentioned - but I think if you went straight Peace Lodge to Tabacon it would only take 2 1/2 hours max. These roads were pretty good. Not sure of anywhere to stop here unless you just stop in Fortuna on the way.
Tabacon to Paradisus - definitely stop at Toad Hall along Lake Arenal. Great food & smoothies & awesome views! And, the roads here were absolutely terrible in my opinion - not that it bothered us - but we definitely weren't going anywhere near 40kms. There are potholes EVERYWHERE & we were all over the road. This part takes about 2 hours but once you get near Tilaran the roads clear up a bit. Toad Hall is at the start of the trip, but still a worthwhile place to stop. Just laugh at the roads & enjoy yourselves. This entire drive should take about 4 1/2 - 5 hours.

Not sure about your last leg but I am guessing 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Have fun!

Thanks- Wow, I didn't realize that the trip from Tabacon to Paradisus was so long. Definitely will like to break up this trip if anyone has any ideas.
It sounds like it is a long time because of the roads and the speeds that you can actually travel. Is this correct? (Not really distance)

I guess we should leave Tabacon by 10 am then so we can get to Paradisus by 3pm or so. Any sites in between that are worth a stop???

Thanks again sclubb for your help.

By the way, by sites in my last post, I mean places to shop, road side stands for fruit or souvenirs, photo ops, etc.

Thanks alot everyone

There are a ton of great photo ops around Lake Arenal. Again, I highly recommend Toad Hall - even if you just stop to browse as we were there for a good 1 1/2 hours as the food service is slow so factor that into your travel time. From there it took us a little less than 4 hours to get to Tamarindo & I expect it would be about the same to Playa Conchal. There is a German Bakery along the way - you'll see signs. Other than that, we only passed through 2-3 "towns" - Arenal which is where the German Bakery is on the other side of the lake, Tilaran & Canas. Of course, once you are on the highway there is plenty to stop & eat lunch, etc. The drive around the lake is gorgeous, but it is slow going.