How to get here

In the following the trip from San José to La Leona Eco Lodge has been split in two parts:

Trip from San José to Puerto Jimenez:

By air

The two national airlines offer daily flights to Puerto Jimenez – the flight takes about 45 minutes.

You can contact SANSA airlines directly via this website - just click on the link below for checking flights and buying tickets online. Sansa airline flies directly from the international airport in San Jose to Puerto Jimenez.

Purchase your ticket now!

SANSA AIRLINES 

When the website opens just insert AGSJO5002 in the cell "user-ID" and SJO6710 in the cell "Password". In the 3^rd field "Zone" select:  SALES

You can also contact us for assistance with reservations. The other national airline is Nature Air which you can contact at www.natureair.com.

By bus
A public bus from Blanco-Lobo Transport runs between San José and Puerto Jimenez leaving San José daily at 8 am and 12 pm. The trip takes about 8 to 9 hours. For information please call (+ 506) 2735-5189 / 2257-4121
Another option is taking a public bus from Tracopa Comany to Golfito (on the east side of the Golfo Dulce). The bus leaves San José at 5:00 am in the morning. From Golfito to Puerto Jimenez run water taxis several times per day between 5:15 am and 3:00 pm (schedules subject to changes).

Private shuttle
You can also chose a private shuttle service from San José to Puerto Jimenez with an air-conditioned minibus. During the high season the shuttle runs every day, during the low season every other day. Please contact us for further information.

Rental car
The ride from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez with a rental car it is a drive of about eight hours. We recommend taking time for this trip. One option is driving down the scenery coastal road south of Dominical and may be spreading the trip in two days.
Please be very careful driving in Costa Rica as the roads conditions differ considerably. Avoid driving at night because there are not sufficient road signs. We also recommend not leaving personal things unattended in the car.
You have two options for driving from San José to Puerto Jimenez:

1. From San José take the Pan American Highway. Follow the road until you get to San Isidro Del General, continue south through pineapple plantations until you arrive and get through Palmar Norte. About 40 km after Palmar Norte you get to ´Corcovado´ gas station at Chacarita. At this gas station turn to the right and keep driving on this route for about 75 km until you get to Puerto Jimenez.
    
2. As described above drive along the Pan American Highway from San José to San Isidro del General. In San Isidro turn to the right on the road number 243 until you get to the coast line. Turn to the left, south, and keep straight on until Palmar Norte. After approx. 40 km you will get to ´Corcovado´ gas station in Chacarita, turn to the right and after 75 km you arrive in Puerto Jimenez.

    

Trip from Puerto Jimenez to Carate and La Leona Eco Lodge:

At 6 am and at 1.30 pm leaves the colectivo, the public bus, from Puerto Jimenez to Carate. This is an approx. 2 hours bus ride and costs approx. US$ 8 per person one way.

You can also take a private taxi to Carate. This trip takes about 1.5 hrs and costs about US$ 80,-- one way for a maximum of 4 people with reasonable luggage. 
 

We can assist you arranging transfers with a taxi, flights, rental car or mini shuttle. Just let us know.

If you are travelling with a private car you can leave your car in Carate at the local pulpería, a little store. The owners will bring the car to a parking area at their private house. This service costs approx. US$ 8 per day.

In Carate we offer you the free service of a horse-shuttle for helping you with the transport of your luggage to La Leona Eco Lodge. You walk approx. 30 min on the beach to the lodge. For reducing the weight for the horse we kindly ask you to travel ´light´ and to carry just the equipment you need for the stay at La Leona Eco Lodge. You can leave luggage in the office of La Leona Eco Lodge in Puerto Jimenez. Please see the time table for the horse kart as follows

During the day the horse shuttle runs irregularly. If you arrive between the horse-shuttles, leave your luggage at the pulpería, take your valuables and start walking to the lodge; the next horse shuttle takes your luggage to the lodge.

Close to the airstrip and the pulpería in Carate there is a little path to the beach, when you get to the beach turn right and walk until you get to La Leona Eco Lodge. You can’t miss it – it is right on the beachfront and there is also a sign on the beach.

Roughly from May to November it is green season in Costa Rica. It can happen that it rains during the high tide and the rivers are high. Please contact us in advance about the road conditions to Carate.

We invite you coming to La Leona and welcome you with open arms! Please contact us in advance for any information you might require for travelling to the Osa Peninsula and La Leona Eco Lodge.