Coast to Coast

Traveling between the South Caribbean Coast and the Central/South Pacific Coast? You might want to consider taking Ruta 2 on the Pacific side via San Isidro de el General, driving through the mountains via Cartago and taking Ruta 10 via Turrialba to the Caribbean side. 

Ruta 2 is a windy mountain road taking you past Cerro de la Muerte which translates to "The Mountain of Death", a name that was given back in the day when the cold and foggy conditions in these higher mountains could be life-threatening to unprepared travelers, as I was told. Nowadays you can cool down from the tropical heated coastal regions and enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the Pacific.

Driving from one side to the other is a long and exhausting ride; therefore, spending one or two nights halfway is recommended. You can stay in San Gerardo de Dota to visit Los Quetzales National Park or the Turrialba area, where you can explore highlights such as the Irazú volcano, the Guayabo archaeological site, and the Orosi valley.