Renting a car in Costa Rica only requires a driver’s license and credit card. There is only one car rental agency in Puerto Jimenez, National renta car. You can also rent a car in San Jose and drive it down. There is a drop-off service that some of the rental car companies now offer; it costs between $100-$150 for drop-off or pick-up, and a driver will bring the car down to the Osa (or pick it up from the Osa and drive it up to San Jose) for you. If you are using Solid Rent-a-car check the chart below. You will need a good 4-wheel drive vehicle in the Osa Peninsula. Expect to pay between $370-$1100 U.S. dollars per week for a car. Car rates listed here are subject to change without notice. Please contact Bosque del Cabo for assistance with reservations.

The main driving route that people use to get down to the Osa Peninsula and Puerto Jimenez is via InterCoastal Highway Route 27 to 34 (driving time is approximately 5.5 hours); this route goes west from San Jose through Jaco, then south down the coast until it meets the Pan-American Highway in Palmar Norte, then onto the Osa Peninsula. The coastal route is the faster route and very scenic. Approximately 30 kilometers past Palmar Norte is the turn off for the Osa Peninsula, at Chacarita. There is a second option to get to the Osa along the InterAmerican Highway through Cartago/Cerro de la Muerte Route 2 to San Isidro and down to Palmar Norte (driving time is approximately 7.5 hours); this route involves driving on many sections of 2 lane mountainous roads. Via either route, once you get to Palmar Norte, the rest of the directions will be the same. You will turn at Chacarita (route 245), there is a large gas station on the right hand side of the road at the turn, where you will find a sign that gives the mileage to Puerto Jimenez (77 kilometers). After this turn off, it will probably take 1 hour to reach Puerto Jimenez. Once in Puerto Jimenez, you will want to fill your car up with gas (the gas station in Puerto Jimenez is the only one in town, called Bomba Osa). Bosque del Cabo is 22 kilometers from Jimenez, and it will take you approximately 45 minutes to reach (of course this can vary depending on the conditions of the road- our office can update you on conditions). 2 kilometers after you start to climb some very steep hills and the road flattens back out again, you will find the Bosque driveway on the left-hand side. It’s the third left after the entrance sign for Lapa Rios. There is an entrance sign (reading “Bosque del Cabo 1.5 km”) inside a planter shaped like a large triangle. The driveway is 1 ½ kilometers long. We strongly suggest that you arrive before dark, as these roads can be difficult to negotiate in the dark.

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Daily bus service leaves from San Jose (Barrio Mexico) at 12.00 noon to go down to Puerto Jimenez. The bus ride will be approximately 9 hours, and costs around $20 per person each way.

Daily bus service leaves from Puerto Jimenez at 5.00 AM to go to San Jose. The bus ride will be approximately 9 hours, and costs around $20 per person each way.

This is a long, tiring bus ride, and while it is not necessarily dangerous, it is best done by the adventurous. Be aware that often times the roads down to the Osa Peninsula are in really bad shape.

There is always an option to get a taxi ride from San Jose down to the Osa Peninsula. This is an expensive option, probably around $550-$600 one way. We can set up the taxi ride for you with a reliable taxi driver that we regularly use. The ride will be around 7-8 hours. Please inquire with us if you would like more information about this option.