Getting to and away

BUS:

Expect to pay about $5 to get to Quepos from San José.

Buses leave daily from the Coca Cola terminal in San Jose (otherwise known as the MUSOC Bus station) at 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. The return times are 5 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. It is necessary to get tickets in advance from the station. Contact Morales bus company on 2777-0318 or 2223-5567.

Buses leave Cortes for Dominical at 8 a.m., 5 p.m., 4.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. The duration of the journey is approximately 1 ½ - 2 hours. There is a back & forth bus service that runs between Uvita, Dominical and San Isidro. It leaves Uvita for Dominical at 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. It leaves Dominical for San Isidro at 6.45 a.m. and 2.45 p.m. It leaves San Isidro for Dominical at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. It leave Dominical for Uvita at 10.20 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. The journey from San Isidro to Dominical takes about 1 ½ hours.

Buses leaving from Quepos depart at 6.30 a.m., 9.30 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 3.30 p.m., 5.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Prices and schedules are subject to change. Durations are approximations depending on road conditions. Helpful websites include

www.thebusschedule.com

www.southerncostarica.biz/Transport/Southern-Costa-Rica-Bus-Schedule.html

TAXI

The cost of a taxi from San Isidro to Dominical is about $40. This price is not exact and can change so check with the driver and make an arrangement before you get in.

PRIVATE TRANSFER

Extreme Costa Rica Tours (www.extremecrtours.com) offer transfers from San José for $30. A minimum of 3 people are required and they can pick you up from wherever you want. Choose from 7 a.m. or 3 p.m. From Dominical back to San José again, the times are 6.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. For private transfers for 1-5 people it’s $160 plus $20 for every extra person.

Contact transportes@extremecrtours.com or call 2787-4004 (Dominical) or 2442-2838 (San José).

A shuttle bus runs to Dominical from Quepos every day, departing at 7.30 a.m. The cost is $25 per person. They book up quickly in high season so you need to book at least a week in advance. Returns to Quepos leave Dominical at approximately 11 a.m. Private transfers for up to 4 people cost $120 plus $10 for every extra person. Contact 2777-1170 or www.lynchtravel.com

CAR

From San Jose, there are two routes that lead to Dominical.

Cartago-San Isidro-Dominical, travel time 4-5 hours. This section of the Pan-American Highway is scenic but can be windy and dangerous. It crosses the mountain range Cerro del Muerte.

Jaco-Quepos-Dominical, travel time 4-5 hours. The road between Quepos and Dominical is not paved.

You enter Dominical off the Costanera highway, just past the Río Barú bridge. It’s about a 1 ½ hour drive from Quepos and 3 ½ hours from San Jose. It’s best to drive during the day so you can see where you’re going. A 4x4 is also a good idea because you don’t always know what conditions the roads will be in.

FLIGHTS

From San Jose, you’ll either have to fly into Quepos (two flights daily) or Palmar Sur (one flight daily). The road from Palmar Sur to Dominical is 40 miles or so (paved); the road from Quepos to Dominical is about 25 miles (gravel).