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Once you
arrive in San Jose, you
have multiple transportation options. It depends entirely on your available time
and the amount of money you wish to spend. The following options should help you
decide which form of transport is best for you.
With all flights, advanced reservations are definitely recommended.
Flight directly to Puerto Jimenez:
There are two airline
companies which service Puerto Jimenez on a daily basis.
Sansa Airlines 506-233-3258 - 1 hour and approximately $142.00 round
trip and Nature Air
506-220-3054 - 1 hour and approximately $168.00 round trip . Any of your local
travel agencies can book these tickets for you when they book your flight into
San Jose.
Flight from Puerto Jimenez to Carate: If you find yourself in Puerto Jimenez and
would like a quick 10-minute flight to the Lookout Inn, Alfa Romeo Air Taxi,
locally owned by Alvaro Ramirez Jimenez (Alvaro
with his Cessna), can take up to four people directly to Carate for $100.00.
They can be reached by phone at 506-735-5178 or fax at 506-735-5112.
The collectivo
is about $8.00pp, leaves in front of the Mini-Tigre twice a day
6am & 1:30pm, everyday including Sundays.
Private Taxi
is $60.00 one way (for whole taxi,not pp) These are pickup trucks
with tarps & padded seats in the back.
Rent a car and drive
to Puerto Jimenez and then on to Carate. There are too many
rent-a-car places to mention here; suffice it to say that your local travel
agent can book it for you (and they should in the high season December to April)
or you can upon your arrival. However, we will recommend one over all others.
It's called Poas Rent-a-Car and is conveniently located two minutes from the
airport behind the Hampton Inn. They also do airport pickup if you wish. They
all speak good English. Please let them know that you saw this ad on Lookout
Inn's webpage. The toll free USA telephone number is 1-888-607-POAS. If you rent
from somewhere else be prepared to pay about $65.00 US per day for a small four
wheel drive and we highly recommend the little Suzuki Samurai for this journey
or any other four wheel drive truck or utility vehicle. Do not rent a four wheel
drive car such as an Audi to do this journey. You will regret it.
Driving to Puerto Jimenez:
There are two main roads, the first being the Costanera (coast road), and the second is 'Route 2' which winds it's way through
the central valley and passes through the mountains that surround it. Both roads
meet up in Palmar Norte at Route 2 and from there go south to Chacarita where
there is a gas station. Turn right and you are on the "Peninsula de Osa" follow
it until you come to Puerto Jimenez and stop for a much needed rest. The entire
ride should take you approximately 8 hours.
Driving from Puerto Jimenez
to the Lookout Inn: Once in Puerto Jimenez, you can
get to the Lookout Inn by continuing south to the gas station and turning right.
Follow the road for 1 hour and 45 minutes and you will come to a beautiful
stretch of road with the ocean on your left fronted by beautiful almond trees
and the jungle on the right. There you will find local signs advising you to the
whereabouts of the Inn. Keep your eyes open for the immaculately landscaped
gardens. The Inn sits on the side of the hill and all who pass by wonder how it
ever got built.
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