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Visa Information:
All visitors to Costa Rica require a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and most European countries do not require visas to enter Costa Rica, and may remain for 90 days. Travelers from Australia and New Zealand may enter without a visa for a 30-day stay. The list of nationals who may enter visa free is extensive, but it is always good to check with the nearest Costa Rican consulate to confirm your status before traveling.
The Costa Rican embassy in the United States (www.costarica-embassy.org) has a complete list of visa requirements for all nations.
Location and Directions:
Our office is located on the south central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, one kilometer south of Playa Dominical, on the beach side of the main highway.
By Car
It's easiest to rent a car in San José, although several companies have branches in Quepos. For an extra charge, some rental firms will deliver a car to Dominical or Palmar Sur. A four-wheel-drive is generally not necessary, but does expand the areas which you can explore.
Dominical is a three-and-a-half-hour drive southwest (162 km) from San José. The Pan-American Highway (Highway 2) south of Cartago takes you through the country's largest cloud forest and one of the world's last sustainable habitats for the endangered quetzal. Note that the city of Cartago is the last place to purchase gasoline until San Isidro.
The highway between San José and San Isidro is best traveled during daylight hours, as fog and rain can make driving difficult during evening hours. The road is in generally good condition. Due to the climb, the temperature at higher elevations is surprisingly low. As you arrive in San Isidro, approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes after departing San José, make a right turn at McDonalds. This road then continues southwest toward Dominical - approximately 45 minutes away from this point. Generally speaking, the road between San Isidro and Dominical is in satisfactory condition.
An alternate route from San José (224 km, 4.5 hours) takes you first west on the Pan-American Highway (Highway 2) to the Atenas exit, where you join Route 34 heading south, which is paved all the way to Quepos. As you head down the coast, you'll pass over the Tárcoles bridge and its famous crocodiles, and skirt the surfing hub of Jacó before arriving in Quepos. The 40-kilometer gravel coastal route (still on Route 34) south from Quepos to Dominical takes approximately 90 minutes; 4x4 recommended. The road south of Dominical is one of the best in the country.
By Bus
Musoc buses (222-2422) run on the half hour from San José to San Isidro, the hub for service to the coastal communities of Dominical, Quepos (Manuel Antonio), Matapalo, and Uvita, just under 3 hours (134 km) south of San José along the Pan-American Highway (Highway 2). Travelers leaving San José at 9:30 a.m. can catch the 1:30 p.m. bus to Dominical; take the 12:30 p.m. bus from San José to San Isidro to make the 4 p.m. departure to Dominical.
To arrive through Quepos, a route which skirts Jacó, take the 6 a.m. direct bus from San José (223-5567); this leg of the trip takes approximately 3 hours (192 km). Transportes Blanco buses (771-4744) travel the unpaved road (Route 34, 40 km) from Quepos to Dominical twice a day (7 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., 2 hours).
More expensive but proportionately more comfortable are the shuttles that run from San José to Dominical, such as EasyRide (www.easyride.com).
By Plane
Local airlines Nature Air (www.natureair.com) and SANSA (www.flysansa.com) serve nearby airports in Quepos (90 minutes from Dominical on an unpaved section of the Pacific Coast Highway) and Palmar Sur (1 hour on a paved road). Rental cars can be arranged for pick up in either town (see By Car).
The government has recently selected a site (between Palmar Sur and Sierpe) for a proposed international airport, which is now in the study phase.
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