Road from San Jose to Dominical
Driving from San Jose to Dominical via the new highway 27
This route is the quickest with duration of 3¼ hours without stops. The International airport is located on the west side of the outskirts of San Jose, which is convenient for the highway 27 and avoids city traffic.
From the airport take the new highway 27, which is approximately 90-minute picturesque drive in a slowing descending drive through the mountains and down to the coastal highway (highway 34).
On highway 27 when you see the signs for the turn off to Jaco & Quepos take the exit ramp off of highway 27, it is about 300 yards after the toll. This right exit ramp will lead you to a rotary or roundabout, drive around this and continue straight through onto the other side. You will know you are on the correct road when you see a sign “104 km to Quepos”. You are now on the coastal highway 34.
Driving south on highway 34 at 67.7 km, you will arrive at Restaurant Eco Crocodrilo just before a bridge over the Tarcoles River. This is easily spotted, as you will see colored fabrics and beach towels hanging on display. You can park here and walk out onto the bridge where you will see plenty of Crocodiles in the river below. This is a pleasant short break and then you can have a refreshing drink at the bridge side restaurant. Back on the road a few kilometers later you will get your first view of the Pacific Ocean on the right.
When you reach Playa Herradura you will see an AutoMercado supermarket on the right near Playa Herradura on the way to Los Suenos Marriott Resort. This is your last chance to shop at a good-sized US style supermarket and this store stocks a wide variety of products, sells good meats and has a good delicatessen section.
You can buy some supplies here if you want however there are four smaller supermarkets in Dominical & Uvita.
Continuing on coastal highway 34 you will pass through downtown Parrita (this is approximately 2 hours from San Jose airport without stops). At 157.6 km, you will come to a “Y” in the road. You will see a sign with Quepos & Manuel Antonio on it bearing off to the right and with Dominical off to the left or straight and go towards Dominical. This is a bypass of Quepos, You will pass a hospital on your left. Stay in the right lane, you will also see the Quepos airport on your left. This is the newly paved stretch of road that has added to the speed and comfort to this journey. From here you are approximately 30 minutes drive from Dominical.
As you are approaching Dominical you will notice Hacienda Baru on your right and then a gas station (5km from Dominical). Continuing on highway 34 you will see a police check point on your left just before you cross over the bridge over the Baru River. Go over the bridge and then turn right on the first main track with a large arching tree on the corner. This is the entrance road to Dominical and only a few minutes from the beach.