Driving from Rio Celeste to Dominical

By The Mantled HowlerCosta Rica, Travel

Are you scratching your head wondering how the roads are and if you should be driving from Rio Celeste to Dominical or not during your trip to Costa Rica?

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With all the negative information online about driving in Costa Rica, it can be intimidating to decide if you should drive or not.

Check out the video below and find out for yourself.

If you are wondering which navigation app is best in Costa Rica, Waze is the most reliable application to find your way.

Driving From Rio Celeste To Dominical

In this episode, we will be driving from Rio Celeste to Dominical, on the Pacific coast. The 300 kilometer drive takes around five hours. Our start off point is Tenorio Volcano National Park, in Costa Rica’s North West.

While in Dominical, we will be going to sleep in a cave behind a waterfall, deep in the Costa Rican jungle. 

The Roads

One of the things you do have to watch out for is the occasional lack of guard rails on smaller roads.

I find it enriching to drive around the countryside in other countries.  For example, here, they are still cutting roadside shrubs with a machete.

I really enjoy driving in Costa Rica. For the most part, beautiful greenery surrounds the primary roads. The roads are in surprisingly good condition but signage would greatly benefit from improvement. Do keep an eye out for the occasional wildlife that may be crossing the roads.

Make sure to remain vigilant. You will often encounter cyclists and pedestrians, even on primary roads.

In Costa Rica, many small bridges are not wide enough to carry two oncoming vehicles. One of the sides of these bridges usually has a “Ceda El Paso”, or yield sign whereas the other side has right of way.

Driving in Costa Rica is slightly different compared to the North American way of driving. For example, the double lines are often not respected when overtaking.

If you get hungry during your drive, there are sodas along most roadways, even in smaller out of the way communities.  Sodas are what the Ticos call small home style cooking restaurants. Depending on the Soda where you stop, many but not all accept credit cards.

There are fuel stations at regular intervals along the primary roadway. Costa Rica regulates fuel prices which are pretty much the same all over the country.

Keep an eye out for speed limit changes. More often than not, the speed limit indications are painted directly on the roadway.

The Adventure

As we turn onto the primary road through the small village of Bijagua, Miravalles volcano reveals itself in the distance.

Driving along these beautiful long and winding countryside roads is such a relaxing experience.

The drive will bring you on the Inter American or Pan-American highway, the longest road in the world. The highway stretches from Prudhoe Bay Alaska to Ushuaia Argentina with only a 106 kilometer rainforest gap known as the Darién Gap separating the road between Panama and Colombia.

Pretty much everywhere you go, there are vendors selling fresh local fruits along the roadways.

The scenery is always beautiful along these long and winding country roads.

As we drive on, the ocean eventually reveals itself after a curve in the road. You’ll know you’re getting close when you first see the Pacific ocean.

Being the main road on the way to popular Jaco beach, there are many vendors selling a variety of items along this roadway including coconuts, ceviche and grilled meats.

Highway 27, also known as the Caldera highway is the main highways between San Jose and Jaco beach. Keep in mind that there are tolls on this roadway.

“Must See” Places Along The Way

Make sure to stop and check out the huge crocodiles at the world famous Tarcoles river bridge. The bridge is better known as crocodile bridge.

Since we are in the area, we decide to stop and check out Jaco beach and the town.

Rio Celeste To Dominical

Finally, we arrive in Dominical, the quaint surf beach town with the chill vibe.

All in all, the drive from Rio Celeste to Dominical is surprisingly fun. I highly recommend that you experience it for yourself.

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