Costa Rica?

About how long does it take to drive from Liberia airport to Montezuma?
Best route?
Pura Vida,
G&G, Atlanta

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:04:01 +0000, Gary Webster wrote:

> About how long does it take to drive from Liberia airport to Montezuma?
> Best route?
> Pura Vida,
> G&G, Atlanta

Driving in Costa Rica is a unique experience if it is your first time.
Although it may not look far on the map, it will take much longer than you
expect. I have never driven directly from Liberia to Montezuma but the
roads have many twists and hills. Depending on your route, sometimes you
have wide streams to cross. Sometimes sections of road are missing. A few
years ago we flew to San Jose, rented a susuki 4x4 and drove from Panama
to the Nicaraguan border, including the detour to Montezuma. The only
problems we encountered was the lack of ATM machines which would accept
our cards. We could only get cash in San Jose and Liberia with them.

but its a wonderful country and nice scenery, so just relax and enjoy the
trip (however long it takes).

Good advice.... get some cash before you show up (Thomas Cook rip-off
stand or something else) if you're not going to be in one of the major
towns.

As mentioned previously, keep in mind that what LOOKS like a one hour
drive on a USA map will probably take you at least 3 - 4 hours since
the roads are not paved, have potholes, you'll take an unmarked/poorly
marked exit, etc, etc. The adventures of international travel!!

If that scares you, beware of the adventure. Actually - embrace it,
live life on the edge, and take "the road less traveled"!!!!




"bob" <bobstory@digitalweb.net> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.01.27.15.57.03.48523@digitalweb.net >...
> On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:04:01 +0000, Gary Webster wrote:
>
> > About how long does it take to drive from Liberia airport to Montezuma?
> > Best route?
> > Pura Vida,
> > G&G, Atlanta
>
> Driving in Costa Rica is a unique experience if it is your first time.
> Although it may not look far on the map, it will take much longer than you
> expect. I have never driven directly from Liberia to Montezuma but the
> roads have many twists and hills. Depending on your route, sometimes you
> have wide streams to cross. Sometimes sections of road are missing. A few
> years ago we flew to San Jose, rented a susuki 4x4 and drove from Panama
> to the Nicaraguan border, including the detour to Montezuma. The only
> problems we encountered was the lack of ATM machines which would accept
> our cards. We could only get cash in San Jose and Liberia with them.
>
> but its a wonderful country and nice scenery, so just relax and enjoy the
> trip (however long it takes).

Watch out for pot-holes the size of swimming holes, and on-coming
crazy drivers passing against on-coming traffic (you!) around blind
curves, even buses! I don't say that to scare you away from driving,
but just as a warning about something that does happen! And driving at
night might be dangerous due to potholes you might not see; I would
not recommend that. But then, I refuse to drive in Costa Rica for the
above reasons; call me a coward!

As for getting to Montezuma from Liberia, it looks on the map that you
can take a good road (relatively) about 2/3 of the way, then you have
to take smaller roads, some of which are probably dirt, the rest of
the way to Montezuma. I'm guessing (just a guess - I haven't done it)
that it's going to take about 5-6 hours to drive there, due to the
last leg where it is all small - probably dirt, probably bad - roads.

You could take Hwy 1 to Puntarenas and then take the ferry to Paquera
- this would be much easier, but would probably add a couple hours to
your trip due to waiting for the ferry and the hour and a half on the
ferry. However, the ferry is a very nice ride, especially if you get
there early enough to get a nice seat in the shade on the lower deck.
The 2nd deck has an air conditioned room that is as cold as a meat
locker, and the upper deck has no shade. You can always sit in your
car, though. We just took the ferry on our trip by bus to and from San
Jose, and I enjoy the ferry part of the trip.

If you're going in the wet season, then I would take the ferry,
because you might not get through some of the back roads, coming the
other way when it's been raining. Again, I haven't done it, but I've
heard a lot about how bad the roads are in that area in the wet
season.

If someone's done it, please correct me if I'm wrong!