Location
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 Pacfic Coast in the Golfo Dulce (sweet gulf), the southern most corner of Costa Rica.
See below travel options from San Jose and Golfito.
Contact us if you have questions or require assistance with your travel arrangements.
Travel Options from San Jose to Pavones:
Van Service – Personal driver, no size limits or extra fees for surfboards/ baggage. Email or call La Ponderosa to arrange a trip.
Regional Flights – There are two regional airlines (SANSA & Nature Air) offering several daily flights to Golfito from San Jose. Be aware of the baggage weight & surfboard size limits/ fees. For up to date information about baggage and flight schedules check the airlines’ sites. We can reserve flights to Golfito and other destinations.
Rent a Car – We can reserve a car for you and arrange pick-up/ drop-off at just about anywhere in the country.
Bus TRACOPA
Travel Options from Golfito to Pavones:
SUV Taxi- Taxies are readily available in Costa Rica. When you make a reservation at La Ponderosa we can arrange a pick-up at a local airport.
Rental Car- Rentals are now available in Golfito. Email or call La Ponderosa to make a reservation and arrange an airport pick-up.
Public Bus
Options for getting around the Pavones area:
- All terrain vehicles (ATV) are available for rent locally.
- Enjoy a slower paced life and take a walk.
- Rental car. Cars can be delivered to Pavones.
- We have beach cruiser style bicycles for rent to guests.
- Just plan to hang around the resort and relax.
Driving Instructions San Jose to Pavones
Pavones is a 7-hour drive from San Jose.
This is the “Beach Route” more than one route exists.
Leave San Jose on the new 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 gas/ diesel here. This is the last gas real gas station, unless you are going into Golfito. You can get fuel in Pavones but only from a drum at the hardware store.
Then, in Rio Claro go right again.
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.
The rest of the way will be marked with new signs and will take around 1.5 hrs.
Note: There is no longer a river ferry – it has been replaced with a long narrow bridge.
Make a right in Pueblo Nuevo (we have a small sign on the corner).
Make another right in Conte, there is a supermarket and bar here.
You will be on the road to Pavones (45 min. from this point).
Stay left at the two forks in the road after Conte. The other roads go to Zancudo.
When reaching Pavones, pass the bridge and take the beach road (Punta Banco Road) one mile.
Look for our hotel 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. It will take 95 minutes – 2.5 hours.
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 (45 min. from this point), 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 & Bridge at the point – stay on the beach road all the way to La Ponderosa. Look for our sign and gate.
Buen Viaje (have a good trip)‘
