where to stop????
 

We are thinking of going to San Gerardo de Dota.. driving from SJO. When we leave San Gerardo de Dota we want to go to Norsara, It is a long drive by Costa Rican road standards..any suggestions of a good place to stop along the way for one night?

Quite possibly one of the most difficult places to get from/to! haha

I think you have a couple of choices. You can drive back to San Jose and pick up the Pan American Highway (Rt 1) from there and go north to Limonal and turn left and go across the Friendship Bridge to Nicoya and on to Nosara.

You can take the "beach" road - head to Dominical and then north from there, making your way to the Pan American Highway near Puntarenas.

For a place to break up your trip, Punta Leona would be a good spot if you take the beach way.

For the other route, there aren't too many choices, depending on how far you would like to drive the first day.

You could stay somewhere north of Alajuela - La Rosa de America or Airpot B&B are both on the north side. Or you could stay in San Ramon (not really a tourist place but there is decent lodging there.) A little further, you could head for La Ensenada Lodge, 13 km off the highway just south of the turnoff to Nicoya and an excellent place for birding.

Thanks for the input! Will consider all suggestions. I really want to check out that part of CR... but heading back to Guanacaste is tough!

The easiest way is to continue to San Isidro de General and then Dominical (about 1 hour) from there head North on the coastal highway. Going back to San Jose will delay your trip further as you will need to cross all of San Jose and its traffic and possibly even get lost. You can brake up your trip staying anywere on the coast. Possibly Playa Heradura (Villas Caletas) or Jaco (not my favorit at all), or Punta leona area as mentioned.

From San Geraldo de Dota to Dominical will be about one and a half hours. From there about 6 hours to Nosara.

Good to know.. I hate driving in and around San Jose.. will if I have to, but I am not crazy about it.