From San Jose:

The drive from the San Jose airport (Juan Santamaria International Airport) to the Golfo De Papagayo Area will be about 4 hours and is fully paved with the new highway in place. We suggest exchanging at least $5 US dollars into Costa Rican colones for the tolls on the highway. Ask the rental car agent to send you off in the right direction, which should be west on Route 1, past the airport. Drive defensively and be aware when two lanes become one, “CEDA” means “Yield.

Note: The first 13 km uses the same “old” route to Manuel Antonio. GPS devices might not be updated and will likely still have the “old” route so do not rely on them to follow the complete recommended route.

• Once on Route 1 – follow signs to San Ramon, and continue straight ahead for about 10 km. After the second bridge crossing, get in the right lane and take the next exit (Route 3) for Jaco / Quepos / Manuel Antonio. There is also a sign here for Punta Leona and Atenas. Turn left at the stop sign, crossing back over Route 1.
• Follow Route 3 for about 3 km. Look for a large Christian church on the left and then a soccer field and make a left on the road immediately after it. You are on the road to Turrucares. There are no signs and it’s a secondary road, so don’t think you’ve made a mistake. It’s currently the best connection to the toll highway from the airport.
• Drive for another 3 km through this somewhat winding road. Once you arrive at the highway intersection turn left BEFORE the highway. Again, there are no signs here yet. Be careful as it’s a narrow two-way gravel access road. After some 300 meters you will arrive at a roundabout. Make a right following the highway signs to Orotina / Atenas.
• Stay on this highway and you will be passing a few toll booths so make sure you have some colones. You will pass signs for Jaco/Quepos and shortly after you will see the Pacific Ocean in front of you. Continue a couple more minutes with the ocean along the left of you and you will see an exit sign to the right for Puntarenas. Continue and you will pass the Puntarenas turn off on your right hand side. Continue on the Pan-American highway towards Liberia.
• Once you reach Liberia you will see a main intersection with a Shell gas station (on left), Burger King (on left), and McDonalds (on right) on all three corners of this traffic light. Here you make a left and this puts you on the road heading towards Liberia airport.
• You will be on Rt. 21 and will pass the airport on your right hand side. Continue about 3 miles down the road you will cross a small steel bridge. Just past the bridge you will see a large building on your right (Do-It-Center). There is a road on the right and you will make this right turn. Now, Do-It will be on your left. Go less than a Kilometer and there is a New Road on your left. Small sign Playa Panama. Turn left. Road is about 4 miles through fruit farms and sugar cane. This road takes you to Hermosa and Panama beaches. At the end of the road you will come to a crossroad. You have reached the Golfo De Papagayo area.

From Liberia:

Upon leaving the Liberia airport (Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport) you will make a right turn onto the main road. About 3 miles down the road you will cross a small steel bridge. Just past the bridge you will see a large building on your right (Do-It-Center). There is a road on the right and you will make this right turn. Now, Do-It will be on your left. Go less than a Kilometer and there is a New Road on your left. Small sign Playa Panama. Turn left. Road is about 4 miles through fruit farms and sugar cane. This road takes you to Hermosa and Panama beaches. At the end of the road you will come to a crossroad. You have reached the Golfo De Papagayo area.