How to get here from there? We recommend taking the inland/southern Interamerican Highway route from San José because the road currently is in better shape than some portions of the coast route (it's still pretty rough along the coast road between Dominical and Jacó). Also, the inland route provides a more scenic and dynamic trip—in fact, during your 3 ½ - 4 hour drive from San José, you will exchange nearly 17,000 feet (5,182 m) in altitude!

Some of the views along the way are simply breathtaking. One of them—a special favorite of ours—is to take a break at Restaurante Mirador Vista del Valle, located at the 119 km marker, a little past the halfway mark on your trip from San José. (See Area Attractions) This wonderful little restaurant, owned and operated by our friends Róger and Flor Calderón, offers more than just good food and a terrific view of San Isidro and the magnificient valley below—the birding here is excellent! (Lovely Flor sometimes has to refill the restaurant's four hummingbird feeders three times a day!) It's a very refreshing, friendly place to stop by. Please say "hi" to them for us.

Here's the Inland Route from San José through San Isidro de El General...

Travel from San José past Cartago and on to San Isidro de El General, Pérez Zeledón.

From San Isidro take the road to Dominical, located on the Pacific coast (you'll see a road sign for Dominical shortly after you enter San Isidro; take a right there). You'll drive straight through town, past the town square and through some traffic lights. The trip from San Isidro to the Pacific Coast is about 22 miles, 45 km (about a 40-minute drive).

The road from San Isidro ends at a T-bone intersection at the Costanera Highway; take a left there. You'll immediately cross a concrete bridge and pass by the little hamlet of Dominical on your right. Continue on the highway, down the coast toward Uvita. From this Costanera T-bone intersection to the gravel road turn-off up to Oro Verde is about 10 miles, 16 km (about a 17-minute drive).

Look for the Oro Verde sign on your left; you'll leave the highway there and drive up the graveled road, preferably in 4WD, for about 3.2 km, 2 miles (about a 15-minute drive). You will ascend nearly 900 feet (274 m) on this last leg of your journey. Look for the Oro Verde welcome sign near the top of the mountain. ¡Bienvenidos!

¡Hasta pronto! We hope to see you here very soon!