Location & Travel

Statement by the Costa Rican Tourism Board on Covid-19  Requirements to enter Costa Rica

Costa Rica Location:

La Ponderosa is located in Pavones de Golfito. We are approximately a 7-hour drive from San Jose, 6-hour drive from Jaco, 4-hour drive from Dominical.  The trip can be made shorter by flying into Golfito (1.5-hour drive). Pavones is on the PacIfic Coast in the Golfo Dulce (sweet gulf), the pristine southern most corner of Costa Rica.

See travel options below. Contact us if you have questions or require assistance with your travel arrangements.

Pavones Location: La Ponderosa is located where the jungle meets the beach about 1.5 mile south of the Pavones town center or 2.5 miles north of the Punta Banco town center.  Guests enjoy beachfront accommodations and have full access to amenities such as, onsite dining, game room, pool and gardens.


Travel Options from San Jose or other locations to Pavones:

Rental car –  Most popular option. A rental can be arranged for just about any location inside the country. A SUV is recommended for the roads in beach areas of Costa Rica – there are compact, mid-size, standard, full-size and premium SUVs available.

CLICK here to reserve your RENTAL CAR and get a 5% discount.

Popular Navigation App – Link for WAZE

Van Service – Personal driver, no size limits or extra fees for surfboards/ baggage. Email or call La Ponderosa to arrange a trip. 2018/2019 price San Jose to Pavones is around $400USD one way.

Regional Flights – GOLFITO just got a new domestic airport facility!  Be aware of the baggage weight & surfboard size limits and fees for these small planes. For flight times check SANSA airline 

Bus TRACOPA – This option is great for a small budget but is for adventurous travelers preferably with some use of Spanish language or experience traveling in Central America.


Travel Options from Golfito to Pavones:

Rental Car – Most popular option.  Cars are limited in Golfito, be sure to arrange with advance notice. 

SUV Taxi – When you make a reservation at La Ponderosa we can arrange GLF airport pick-up. 2018/2019 price Golfito to Pavones is $80USD one way.

Public Bus – This option is great for a small budget but is for adventurous travelers preferably with some use of Spanish language or experience traveling in Central America.


Options for getting around the Pavones area:

  • RENTAL CAR.
  • Enjoy a slower paced life and take a walk.
  • Just plan to hang around the resort and relax.
  • We have beach cruiser style bicycles for rent to guests.
  • With some notice, a local taxi – shuttle can be arranged.
  • A few all terrain vehicles (ATV or “quad”) are available for rent locally.

Driving Instructions San Jose to Pavones

Pavones is a 7-hour drive from San Jose. We recommend renting a SUV.

This is the “Beach Route” more than one route exists.

Leave San Jose on the highway heading to Jaco.  Before entering Jaco, take the coastal road south.

Travel south passing turns for Playa Hermosa, Quepos & Dominical.

In Palmar you will meet with the Pan-Am Highway go right. Fill up on fuel here. Here or in Rio Claro are the last gas real gas stations and ATMs. You can get fuel in Pavones but only from a drum at the hardware store and you can not get cash in Pavones.

Then, in Rio Claro go right.

There will be a sign for Pavones around 4 to 5 miles on the right side of the road but be aware and pay attention.  You will need to take a hard switch back left turn at this sign. The Rodeo Bar is on this corner. If you get to Golfito you have gone too far and missed the turn – go back and watch for the Rodeo Bar.

From here it will be approximately 1 hr to Pavones.

Note: There is no longer a river ferry – it has been replaced with a long narrow bridge. After this bridge to road becomes a gravel, road no longer paved.

Make a right in Pueblo Nuevo, a farming community not a big town, look for small Pavones signs on the corner by a small store.

Make another right in Conte, there is a supermarket and bar here shortly after the High School. 

You will be on the road to Pavones (30-45 min. from this point).

Stay left at the two forks in the road after Conte. The other roads go to Zancudo.

Upon arrival to Pavones you’ll pass the grocery store, Rio Claro Bridge & Pavones Point Break. Stay on the beach road about one mile all the way to La Ponderosa.

Look for our sign and gate. Buen Viaje (have a good trip)


Driving Instructions Golfito to Pavones

Driving time from Golfito to Pavones varies depending road conditions/ driver/ vehicle (1-2 hours). We recommend renting a SUV.

Fill up on gas/ diesel before leaving Golfito. You can get fuel in Pavones but only from a drum at the hardware store.

Leave Gofito on the road to Rio Claro. Well before Rio Claro, just outside of Golfito (in La Mona) you take a right turn at the Rodeo Bar.

The river ferry has been replaced with a long narrow bridge. You will not ride a ferry.

At Pueblo Nuevo you take another right (there is a small La Ponderosa sign and a small corner store).

Then at Conte you turn right again, there is a bar and a grocery store.

Then you are on the road to Pavones, there are couple a rights to Zancudo (don’t go that way) stay left to Pavones.

Upon arrival to Pavones you’ll pass the grocery store, Rio Claro Bridge & Pavones Point Break. Stay on the beach road about one mile all the way to La Ponderosa.

Look for our sign and gate. Buen Viaje (have a good trip)

Driving Instructions Paso Canoas to Pavones

Driving time from Border of Panama (Paso Canoas) to Pavones varies depending road conditions/ driver/ vehicle (1-2 hours). We recommend renting a SUV. Fill up on gas/ diesel before leaving Paso Canoas. You can get fuel in Pavones but only from a drum at the hardware store.
Leave Paso Canoas on the way to Pavones you pass several small towns La Cuesta, Laurel, Naranjo, Conte.
At Conte you turn left, there is a bar and a grocery store.
Then you are on the road to Pavones, there are couple rights to Zancudo (don’t go that way) stay left to Pavones.
Upon arrival to Pavones you’ll pass the grocery store, Rio Claro Bridge & Pavones Point Break. Stay on the beach road about one mile all the way to La Ponderosa.
Look for our sign and gate. Buen Viaje (have a good trip)