December has some of the best sunsets of the year in Costa Rica. Taken at Villa Esmeralda, 22-Dec-2008. ¡Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo!

Milage starts at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. All distances are approximate but should help give you an idea of where you are and what's coming up next. Plan for about 4.5 or 5 hours when driving from San Jose, or possibly a little more as there are occasionally delays due to construction or other factors.
If you are flying to Quepos, see the notes below.

From San Jose Airport (Juan Santamaria)
• 0 km Juan Santamaria International Airport, San Jose

  Update: The new highway from San Jose to Caldera is complete, and the first part of these directions have changed. However, due to continued construction, this road may or may not be open. Here is a link to a Google Map of these roads.

  If the new Caldara Highway #27 is open, that is a direct and faster route to Orotina. The car rental companies will have the latest information and directions to the new highway. This will cut about 1 hour from the driving time.

  Otherwise, to take the scenic route, Highway #3, immediately west of the airport, follow the sign to San Ramon.

• 11 km La Garita exit - follow signs to Atanas watch for signs to Jacó, Quepos, Manuel Antonio Park
• 24 km Atanas Landmark: Ox Cart Statue at Y in road
• 45 km Great Fruit stand on left - wonderful mangos
  Between Atanas and Orotina fruit stands have some of the best mangos in Costa Rica.
  
• 47 km San Mateo town square - left turn

  Orotina - just past Orotina turn off the main highway to Quepos / Jacó

• Very soon there will be another turnoff to Jacó / Quepos

• At the Tarcoles bridge - before Jacó - there is good crocodile watching
• The Auto Mercado - near Jacó - is great for groceries

  Auto Mercado is probably the best grocery store you will find in the area.

• Parrita - the new bridge is open, and there are no longer any delay
• Paquita - the gas station here is good to remember
• You will see a large"Y" in the road - follow sign to left: Playa Dominical, or to right: Quepos / Manuel Antonio Park
  To the left, it will be 3 or 4 kilometers to Quepos Airport.
  To the right, it will be 2 or 3 kilometers to downtown Quepos.

At this point you can follow the signs left and continue on to Villa Esmeralda or, if you go to the right, you can find good stores in downtown Quepos. If you didn't stop at Auto Mercado earlier, you might want to make a stop in Quepos. Either way, you will soon arrive at Quepos Airport, where the milage clock begins again.

From Quepos Airport

If you are flying from San Jose to Quepos the flight is only about 25 minutes. There is a very handy shuttle bus to the auto rental offices and grocery stores in Quepos. Then drive back past the airport and continue with the following set of directions. With the recent paving of the main highway, the drive from the airport should only take about 15 or 20 minutes. (If you get to Matapalo, you've gone too far.

• 0 km Quepos Airport
• 2.1 km Naranjita bridge - new bridge is open, so no more delays
• 12.5 km Maritima - don't blink or you'll miss it!
• 15 km Savegre bridge
• 17.7 km Pasito - you might miss this even if you don't blink

• 20.5 km Hills of Portalon turnoff - be careful turning off highway
• 21.9 km Red gate on left - start of a short but steep part - use 4-wheel drive
• 22.7 km Hills of Portalon rancho and horse corals
• 24 km Villa Esmeralda You have arrived.

Approximate Latitude and Longitude for those with GPS devices

• North     9.3771 degrees   (9N 22' 37.5")
• West   -83.9970 degrees (83W 59' 49.2")

You are getting close! After passing through Maritima (don't blink or you'll miss it), the main road makes a large "S" turn. Just before the bridge at the Savegre River will be your first view of Emerald Valley where Villa Esmeralda is waiting for you.

Due to extensive highway construction, there is a new, temporary entrance to Hills of Portalon, shown above. Please use care when turing off the main highway as it can be difficult to see the edges, especially at night.

Oops! If you get to the Portalon Bridge, above, you've gone just a little bit too far. Turn around, and take your very first right-hand turn off the main road.