Ultimate Guide To Driving From San Jose To La Fortuna
Are you planning to drive to La Fortuna from San Jose? You’ve come to the right article.
La Fortuna is around a 2.5-3 hour drive from San Jose, and one of the most popular places to stay as a first stop in Costa Rica. I made the mistake of taking a wrong detour on this drive, so I spent most of my first full vacation day in traffic on the way over!
To help you get to La Fortuna with ease, this article will cover the best routes, and a few interesting stops along the way.
Here’s everything you need to know when driving from San Jose to La Fortuna.
San Jose to La Fortuna Road Trip Overview
- Driving time: 2.5-3.5 hours
- Fastest route: Route 1 to Route 702 through San Ramon
- Scenic route: Route 126 to Route 4
- Toll booths: 200-800 colones (~$0.40-$1.60)
The Drive From San Jose To La Fortuna
The fastest and most direct route to get to La Fortuna is taking Route 1 onto Route 702. This is a relatively easy drive that takes around 2.5 hours, where you’ll pass by small villages and the countryside.
It’s very straightforward, and you can stop in San Ramon to refuel, which has great restaurants and grocery stores.
If you want to stop by the La Paz waterfalls or a coffee farm in Alajuela, you can take Route 126 and Route 4. This route takes 3-4 hours, and winds through the rainforest on narrow roads.
The second half of the drive on Route 4 is flat, on well-paved roads with restaurants and gas stations.
If you plan on taking this route, it’s best to drive early in the morning, when you have plenty of daylight to reach La Fortuna.
You can view these two routes pinned on the map below.
How To Prepare For The Drive
For the drive to Fortuna, make sure to keep a few dollars on hand for toll booths, which only ask for around 200-800 colones (~$0.40-$1.60). Here are some more important tips.
- Download the offline maps on WAZE or Google Maps
- Stop to refuel in San Ramon (if taking Route 702)
- Keep a few dollars on hand for toll booths
- Watch out for common gas scams when refueling
- Bring an extra phone charger for the car
My Experience Driving To La Fortuna
On my trip, I made the mistake of taking Route 32 in an attempt to visit Braulio Carrillo National Park. Not only was the park closed when I arrived, but I ended up stuck in traffic behind huge semi trucks in the mountains!
Route 32 runs through the cloud forest, and is a popular highway for commuters. I highly discourage taking this route on the drive to La Fortuna, as it can take around 3.5-4 hours, and there’s little to no cell coverage.
Things To See Between San Jose And La Fortuna
There are a few interesting places to visit on the way to La Fortuna if you have time for a detour. If you take the scenic Route 126, you can visit coffee farms, the La Paz waterfall gardens, or Poas Volcano national park.
Another detour is the gorgeous waterfalls of the Bajos del Toro region, which you can reach by taking Route 708 to Sarchi. Keep in mind that you’ll need a 4×4 vehicle for this detour, as the roads are rugged, steep, and narrow in this area.
Expect for these detours to add an extra 2-3 hours to the drive, so it will take around 4-5 hours to reach La Fortuna.
Here’s an overview of the best detours.
Alajuela Coffee Farms
If you want to get energized for your first day in Costa Rica, you can stop by a coffee farm in Alajuela, just north of San Jose.
Alajuela’s home to the Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia and Doka Estate Farm, both of which offer tours. They’re accessible by taking Route 130 into Alajuela, and then you’ll switch onto Route 126 to reach La Fortuna.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
One of the best detours on the way to La Fortuna is the La Paz Waterfall & Gardens. This is a private nature park with waterfalls, a butterfly observatory, an animal sanctuary, and an onsite restaurant that offers a buffet lunch.
It’s located midway between San Jose and La Fortuna, so it’s the perfect place to refuel off of Route 126.
Poás Volcano National Park
Another unique place to stop along Route 126 is the Poás Volcano, an active stratovolcano with multiple crater lakes. It’s a short 1.0 mile hike to reach the main caldera, where you’ll see the bright blue, steaming caldera.
This is a relatively short detour, so it will only add around 1-2 hours to your drive. To visit this park, you’ll need to purchase entrance tickets online beforehand at SINAC.
Bajos del Toro Waterfalls
If you want to chase waterfalls, take Route 708 through Sarchi into the Bajos del Toro region.
This is a beautiful rainforest region that’s home to Catarata del Toro, the Blue Falls of Costa Rica, and Tesoro Escondido Waterfall. For this detour, you’ll need a 4×4 vehicle, as this area’s rugged and has steep cliffs.
All of these waterfalls are nestled in private nature reserves and accessible by a hike.
Catarata del Toro and the Blue Falls share the same ticketing office, while the Tesoro Escondido waterfall has a separate entrance. Here’s an overview of each.
- Catarata del Toro: 2 miles/1 hour, 300 ft waterfall with a viewpoint (no swimming)
- Blue Falls: 2-6 miles/2-3 hours, Six waterfalls, cascades, and natural swimming holes
- Tesoro Escondido Waterfall: 2.1 miles/1 hour, 70 ft waterfall with natural swimming holes
I visited Catarata del Toro on a day trip from Fortuna. This is a gorgeous 300 ft waterfall that flows into a volcanic crater, and has multiple viewpoints, depending on how far down you want to hike.
It took me around an hour for this hike, and it was moderately challenging, but the views made it well worth it!
The Blue Falls are seven blue waterfalls and natural swimming holes that are accessible by a longer 2-3 hour hike.
You can visit both in a day, but keep in mind that it will take around 3-4 hours. If you want to hike to all seven of the Blue Falls, I recommend going on a day trip from La Fortuna instead.
San Jose to La Fortuna FAQs
Do you need a 4×4 vehicle to drive to La Fortuna?
No, you do not need a 4×4 vehicle to drive to La Fortuna on either route (Route 26 or 702). The roads are well-paved, as long as you stay on the main highways.
If you plan on doing a detour off of the scenic Route 126, keep in mind some of the roads may not be in the best condition.
If you’re visiting during the rainy season, I highly recommend sticking to Route 702 on the way to La Fortuna.
Should you drive to La Fortuna in the dark?
No, it’s not a good idea to drive anywhere in Costa Rica in the dark. Costa Rica lacks streetlights, and some of the roads are very narrow.
It’s best to only drive during the day so you avoid potholes, and easily find your accommodation.
If you’re landing at the San Jose airport late in the afternoon, I recommend spending the first night in San Jose. Then, you’ll have a full day to drive to Fortuna, and settle into your hotel.
Is it worth making a detour on the way to La Fortuna?
If you have a full day ahead of you, it may be worth it to stop at a coffee farm or waterfall on the way to La Fortuna.
But if you want to be more relaxed, I recommend taking the direct Route 702, and making a quick stop or two for food.
There are dozens of things to do in La Fortuna, and I wish I spent more time there on my trip.
Additionally, you can do a day trip from La Fortuna to visit the Rio Celeste waterfall, or the waterfalls in the Bajos del Toro region if you end up having time.
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