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Directions
to Casa Margarita
Lot
# 11, Pura Jungla eco-community
Paraiso,
Guanacaste
,
Costa Rica
The
road to Casa Margarita is paved… except for the last 13 km which is being
paved this year (2008). The last section of
road can be rough, and in the green season you’ll have to cross small rivers
in the beach area. We recommend a
SUV like the Hyundai Tucson from Economy rentacar – they have agencies in
San Jose
,
Liberia
, and Tamarindo amongst others.
From
San Jose
: The shortest route to Casa
Margarita is across the bridge over the
Tempisque
River
, where the ferry used to be (Costa Rican directions always mention some
landmark that no longer exists).
The
trip will last about 4½ hours. From
San Jose
airport follow directions towards San Ramon, Puntarenas and
Liberia
. After about 120 km (73 miles) on the way to Liberia, turn left at the Shell
gas station, following the signs to "Puente de la amistad de Taiwan"
(Friendship Bridge of Taiwan), route 18
After
crossing the bridge and heading towards Nicoya, turn RIGHT on route 21 and
follow signs to
Santa Cruz
, where you should stop at a gas station to fill up, since there won't be any
other gas stations on the coast. You
can also find a supermarket and ATM in
Santa Cruz
to stock up on cash and food.
Just
after exiting
Santa Cruz
towards
Liberia
, you will cross a bridge. Immediately
past the bridge turn LEFT on the first road following the signs to Playa
Junquillal, Paraiso and other beach towns.
After
17 km on a paved road, you will cross a small bridge come to a junction. At the junction turn LEFT
toward 27 de Abril and Junquillal (NOT towards Tamarindo).
In just about 500m you will turn RIGHT following signs to Playa
Junquillal, Paraiso, Playa Negra, etc.
After
about 13 km on this road it will end at the soccer
field of Paraiso. Turn RIGHT and go
about 700 meters - you'll see a small dirt road on the
right. Turn RIGHT down that dirt
road. You'll drive across a small
river (dry stream bed in dry season). Continue
past the teak trees and past Rio Sequito estates.
You'll come to the wooden gate for Pura Jungla, our community.
Go
through the gate. Take your first
left turn (not the blocked road) and go around the lake (lake will be a crater
during the dry season). At the fork
by the lake go LEFT. When the road
ends turn RIGHT. Casa Margarita is
less than 1km up the hill on the right.
From
Liberia
Turn
right out of the airport and head down route 21 towards
Santa Cruz
. You will pass through the towns of
Filadelfia and Belen. In
about 44 km, as you near
Santa Cruz
you will see a turnoff on the RIGHT for the beach cities and see signs for
Playa Junquillal and Paraiso. If
you proceed directly to the beach MAKE SURE you have a full tank of gas; there
are NO gas stations on the coast.
This
is a great opportunity to fill your gas tank and buy groceries in
Santa Cruz
. If you’d like to do so continue
to the first traffic light and make a right turn into town.
There’s an ATM right on that corner.
You’ll see a “Supermercado” and a liquor store a few blocks up on
the right side. Then turn LEFT back
onto route 21, you’ll see a TOTAL gas station on the right.
Fill up there as there are no gas stations at the beach.
Continue
back towards
Liberia
– in about 100m you’ll cross a small bridge and return to the turnoff for
the beach cities. Turn LEFT on that
road.
After
17 km on a paved road, you will cross a small bridge and start driving on a dirt
road. At the junction turn LEFT
toward 27 de Abril and Junquillal (NOT towards Tamarindo).
In just about 500m you will turn RIGHT following signs to Playa
Junquillal, Paraiso, Playa Negra, etc.
After
about 13 km on this road (being paved in 2008) it will end at the soccer field
of Paraiso. Turn RIGHT and go about
700 meters - you'll see a small sign saying "Gasolina".
Turn right down that dirt road. You'll
drive across a small river (dry stream bed in dry season).
Continue past the teak trees and past Rio Sequito estates.
You'll come to the gate for Pura Jungla, our community.
Go
through the gate. Take your first
left turn (not the blocked road) and go around the lake (lake will be a crater
during the dry season). At the fork
by the lake go LEFT. When the road
ends turn RIGHT. Casa Margarita is
less than 1km up the hill on the right. It
is the only house on the hill.
Getting
around the “neighborhood”
TO
Junquillal
Beach
(restaurants, hotels, swimming beach
Exit
Pura Jungla. Cross the riverbed, at
end of road turn LEFT. Cross the
bridge and stay RIGHT past Paraiso soccer field.
Continue across another small bridge, bear right on coast road.
In about 2 km you will see the Hotel Iguanazul.
We recommend the bar and restaurant there and you can access a nice beach
“Playa Blanca” from there. Further
up the coast road another 2km are several restaurants.
Visit Adriana’s Playa Junquillal Rest on the beach (formerly known as
Bernardo’s). Rudy’s has great
tacos and a nice menu. The Guacamaya
has great northern European food.
TO
Playa Negra
Exit
Pura Jungla. Corss the riverbed, at
end of road turn RIGHT.
Stay
on the beach road and follow signs about 2km to Playa Negra.
There are MANY restaurants and hotels to choose from.
Surfboard rentals are available at the beach for this amazing surf break.
TO
Playa Avellana
Follow
directions to Playa Negra, but keep going past Negra.
Next beach is Avellana. You
will come right up to the ocean – on your left will be a parking lot for
Lola’s restaurant. Park and eat
there – and visit with Lola, the pig for whom the restaurant is named.
You can have a table right on the beach, and the beach is great for
swimming & surfing.
To
Tamarindo:
Although
only about 10 miles away as the crow flies, the beach road to Tamarindo is very
rough and can take 40 minutes or more. Ask
the locals if it’s OK – you’d continue past Playa Avellana, past Hacienda
Pinilla (great golf course) and on to Tamarindo.
Alternate
route to Tamarindo:
At
the Paraiso soccer field turn LEFT back on the road towards
Santa Cruz
. After 13 km where the road ends
turn LEFT. Go about 500 km and turn
LEFT again on the road to Tamarindo. Follow
the signs to Tamarindo
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