From San José to Guápiles
From San Jose take highway 32 toward Limon (see San Jose Map).  After you cross the mountains you will come to Guáplies. 

From Guápiles to Cariari
When you get to Guapiles turn left (north) at the Santa Clara gasoline station just a few hundred meters east of the Burger King. At a point approximately 8.1 kilometers north of the Santa Clara Gasoline station you will reach a cross road. Turn left so you do not cross the rail road tracks yet. Follow the train tracks west for approx. 0.7 kilometers and then turn right on the main highway (crossing the tracks) and continue north towards Cariari. Click here to see hotels available in Cariari

From Cariari to la Pavona
Follow the directions on the map below to get to Pavona.  Set your odometer to zero at the only gas station in Cariari (200 meters past the single lane bridge coming into town). Drive straight for 7 kilometers and turn right onto the newly paved highway. There is a sign here indicating Campo Dos. There is also a sign saying 'Solidaritario'. Follow this paved road until you get to Cuatro Esquinas (approximately 14.5 km after the gas station). Continue straight on though Cuatro Esquinas. Here the pavement ends.  Follow the gravel road (Do not make any turns at road junctions!) until you reach the general store ("Abast Palacio") in the tiny village of Palacios on the right (23.4 km after the gas station). You can buy cold drinks and snacks here. 50 meters after the general store is a road going off to the left. There are signs directing you to Tortuguero. Follow this road for 5.7 km (29.1 km after the gas station) when you reach La Pavona. La Pavona is a small farm on your left. There is safe parking here for a fee ($10 per night, or $50 per week) which includes 24 hour security.

At la Pavona
Both Coopetraca and Clic Clic's boats will be awaiting (they leave for Tortuguero from Pavona at around 7:30am, 1:30pm and 4:30pm). You should arrive at least a half an hour early just in case the boats leave early. (They leave as soon as the public bus arrives.)

Approximate driving time from San Jose to Cariari: 2 hours.
Approximate driving time from Cariari to La Pavona: 1 hour.

NOTE: To reach the 1:30 pm boat you should need to leave San Jose by 10:00 am at the absolute latest.

NOTE: There have been recent occasions when the boats of COOPETRACA have not fulfilled their requirements to travelers leaving them stranded. We recommend that you never buy return tickets (they are not needed since you pay passage on the boat), and that you travel with the boat company, CLIC CLIC. Clic Clic is a local company who has always looked out for the town and have donated services with public projects. We have never received any complaints from those traveling with Clic Clic boats.