Visitor Information: Puerto Jiménez is an interesting town on the southeast coast of the Osa Peninsula where raucous scarlet macaws are so numerous they’re practically pests. The public pier is over a bridge past the north end of the soccer field, and the bus stop is a block west of the center of town.

City Layout: Puerto Jiménez is a dirt-lane town. The public dock is over a bridge past the north end of the soccer field; the bus stop is 2 blocks east of the center of town.

Fast Facts: Four-wheel-drive taxis are plentiful in Puerto Jiménez. You’ll find them cruising or parked along the main street of town, or have your hotel call one. You can rent a car here from Solid Car Rental (www.solidcarrental.com; tel. 800/390-7065 in U.S. and Canada, or 2442-6000 in Costa Rica), or from Alamo (www.alamocostarica.com; tel. 2735-5175 in Costa Rica).

Getting There

By Plane: Sansa (www.flysansa.com; tel. 877/767-2672 in the U.S. and Canada, or 2290-4100 in Costa Rica) has daily direct flights to Puerto Jiménez from San José. The flight duration is around 55 minutes, although this flight often includes brief stops in Golfito or Drake Bay. Fares are $127, one-way. Because of the remoteness of this area and the unpredictable flux of traffic, Nature Air sometimes improvise on scheduling, so it’s always best to confirm.

Taxis are generally waiting to meet all incoming flights. A ride into downtown Puerto Jiménez should cost around C2,000. If you’re staying at a hotel outside of town, it’s best to have them arrange for a taxi to meet you. Otherwise you can hire one at the airstrip. Depending on how far away you are staying, it could cost up to $80 for a four-wheel-drive vehicle to Carate or Los Patos, or $140 to Drake.

By Car: Take the San José–Caldera Highway (CR27) to the first exit past the fourth toll booth and follow the signs to Jacó, where you will pick up the Southern Highway, or Costanera Sur (CR34). Take this south through Jacó, Quepos, Dominical, and Uvita, and turn right onto the Inter-American Highway (CR2) at Palmar Norte. Head south to the junction at Chacarita, turn right and follow signs to Puerto Jiménez and Corcovado.

By Bus: Transportes Blanco-Lobo express buses (tel. 2257-4121 in San José, or 2771-4744 in Puerto Jiménez) leave San José daily at 8am and noon from Calle 12, between avenidas 7 and 9. The trip takes 7 to 8 hours; the fare is C7,500. Buses depart Puerto Jiménez for San José daily at 5am and 9am.

By Boat: A passenger ferry that seats about 20 makes several runs a day between Golfito and Puerto Jiménez. The fare is C3,500, and the ride takes a half-hour. The ferry operates between the muellecito (little dock) in Golfito and the muelle (public dock) in Puerto Jiménez. You can also charter a boat taxi between the two places.

Keep Exploring