Directions
How to Get Here
Please make sure to arrive before 6.00pm!!
Rancho Mastatal (not Villas Mastatal!) is about 2 ½ hours by car from Costa Rica's capital, San José, and approximately 1 hour by car from the Central Pacific Coast. You can easily come from or continue on to San José, Jacó, Quepos, Dominical or other destinations along the Pacific Coast. Please confirm your arrival with us before heading out to the Ranch.
The approximate GPS coordinates of Rancho Mastatal are latitude +9.67331, longitude -84.37373. If you decide to use a GPS, Waze or Google Maps to assist with your arrival, please be aware that it's possible that you may be directed by your device to use some extremely rough roads that we would not recommend driving on. Only use your GPS, Waze or Google Maps in conjunction with the below directions.
Direct Shuttle from the Airport or Central Valley to Mastatal
With enough advance notice, you can arrange a private shuttle to the Ranch from the airport, San José, or just about anywhere else in and around the Central Valley of Costa Rica with our friends Oscar and Fernando Arias. The cost for a private shuttle from the Juan Santamaría International Airport is approximately $150, though prices can and do change. If your flight arrives at night or late, Fernando and his wonderful family may be able to put you up in their house in Puriscal for the night. If you exercise this option, we suggest leaving them a tip for their generosity. Fernando and his family are some of the kindest people we have ever met in Costa Rica. Please contact Oscar and Fernando directly to confirm current shuttle prices and other details.
Oscar and Fernando Arias
+506 8693-8429
Email: gomastatal@gmail.com
If you decide to arrange a shuttle, contact Oscar and Fernando with as much advance notice as possible and if coming to Mastatal directly from the airport please provide him with your name and flight information. Upon your arrival Fernando will be waiting for you, sign in hand, as you exit the airport. Once he has confirmed your shuttle, you are responsible for the cost even if you experience a change in your arrival time/date unless of course you/we are able to notify him in time. In the case of changes or problems call Oscar and Fernando immediately. You can also try reaching us at the Ranch at +506 2200-0920.
Direct Shuttle from the pacific coast
For reasonably and fair-priced shuttles from the Pacific Coast, you can contact:
Randall +506 8820-0901
Let us know if you need any assistance.
Driving from San José
Take the highway out of the capital going towards Ciudad Colón and Puriscal (sometimes referred to as Santiago). We recommend you drive during the day. To get to the highway from downtown San José, take Paseo Colón west, until you hit Sabana Park, then take a left, and follow the signs to Escazú/Ciudad Colón. If you are coming from Alajuela or the airport, you will have to head towards San José before picking up the highway to Ciudad Colón. A local map will be very helpful. On the way to Ciudad Colón, you will pass the town of Santa Ana. The highway can get a little confusing just before getting to Ciudad Colón. Make sure that you follow the correct signs. DO NOT HEAD TOWARDS CALDERA. In Ciudad Colón follow the one-way streets and signs towards Puriscal. You will then climb up and out of the Central Valley, and pass through the Quítirrisi Indian Reserve. From Ciudad Colón, it's about 40 minutes to Puriscal. Once in Puriscal, follow signs to Parrita/Quepos. Once outside of Puriscal, continue on the main road through the towns of Santa Marta, La Palma, Salitrales, and other small communities. The paved road ends about 15 kilometers outside of Puriscal. About 1 hour and 15 minutes after leaving Puriscal and soon after passing by the entrance to the administrative offices of La Cangreja National Park, you will arrive to an intersection. A small run-down bus stop and a few signs, one announcing "Mastatal", mark the junction. Make this left hand turn, and continue for 6 kilometers until you arrive to the town of Mastatal. There is one intersection along this road. Stay left and continue down the road. As you enter Mastatal, we are the house on the left of the main intersection with the red roof. There is a black gate that marks the entrance to the Ranch. We do not have a sign. Make sure not to confuse us with Villas Mastatal, another project in our community with a similar name.
Bus from San Jose
You can take a bus from San José to Puriscal and then from there a cab or shuttle. If you are coming direct from the airport, you will have to take either a bus or cab to get to San José before continuing on to Puriscal. Once in San José, take one of the frequent buses (every 30-60 minutes) from the Comtrasuli (phones in San José, +506 2258-3873 or +506 2256-0105, phone in Puriscal +506 2416-8036) bus terminal located on Avenida 1 between Calle 16 and Calle 18 in downtown San José. The buses are mostly modern. Take an express bus if possible. The trip from San José to Puriscal takes about 1 hour. Get off at the last stop in Puriscal, the Comtrasuli bus terminal. From Puriscal you’ll have to take a cab or shuttle.
There is also a Tracopa bus that runs from San Jose to Santa Rosa, 6 kilometers from Mastatal. The bus leaves San Jose at noon and gets to Santa Rosa at about 2.30 pm. For more information see the Tracopa website at https://www.tracopacr.com/Rutas_Horarios.
Driving from the Central Pacific Coast
There are two possible routes from Parrita (located ~30 kms west of Quepos, and 40 kms east of Jacó along the Central Pacific Coast) to Mastatal. The first route (609/318), shorter but steeper, takes you through the towns of La Vasconia, La Fila de Aguacate and San Miguel. During the rainy season a 4x4 vehicle is sometimes recommended. About 2 kms west of Parrita, turn north on a road that starts in the midst of the African Oil Palms near where the palm transport trucks congregate. Look for a green sign that points towards "Playon".This road comes up quickly, so keep a close eye for it. Follow the road, through the palms, and then through the towns of Playón Sur, Playón San Isidro and La Vasconia. After passing through La Vasconia, you will come to a 'fork' in the road in front of the La Vasconia church (you have to look closely to recognize that it's a church). Stay left at the fork (there may be a small sign pointing towards San Miguel), and continue up the hill, sometimes steeply. You will pass through some very small villages and will come to the town of San Miguel 35 minutes after leaving La Vasconia. Mastatal is about 4 kms past San Miguel. Our house has a red roof and black gate, and is at the only intersection in Mastatal, the road to the right taking you to the Zapatón Indian Reserve, and the road going straight to Puriscal.
The other route from the Central Pacific Coast (239) is longer but less steep and can be traveled year-round in a two-wheel drive car. This road takes you through the towns of Vista del Mar, La Gloria and Guarumal. The road begins about 5 kms west of Parrita, and is marked by a sign pointing to Puriscal. After a few kilometers on this road, you will come to a 'fork'. Stay straight (do not go left). If you are not sure, stop and ask somebody. Continue straight passing through small villages. If you need to do any shopping, La Gloria is the last town of any significant size. After passing through La Gloria, continue straight for about 30 minutes until you come to an intersection. There are a number of signs here, which you will see the back of, and a small bus stop. One of the signs announces Mastatal. Take this right hand turn, and continue for 6 km to the town of Mastatal. There is one intersection along this road. Stay left and continue down the road. We are on your left as you enter town. The house has a red roof and the gate is black We do not have a sign. Make sure not to confuse us with Villas Mastatal, another project in our community with a similar name. .
Bus from the Central Pacific Coast
First you must get to Quepos or Parrita. From Quepos, take the bus each day that goes to San José via Puriscal. The bus leaves from the Quepos bus station at 4:30 a.m. (Always check with the bus company for possible changes in schedule). The stop is called Santa Rosa de Puriscal and passes through Parrita at approximately 5:15 a.m. There are other buses that go from Quepos to San José, but not via Puriscal, so you will have to be sure that you are on a bus that goes via Puriscal. Once you are sure that you are on the right bus, tell the bus driver that you are going to El Cruce de Santa Rosa. From Quepos, the bus heads northwest and passes through the town of Parrita, and then turns north headed for Puriscal. After about 1 hour and 15 minutes from this turnoff, you will come to the small town of Guarumal. There is a restaurant there named La Union. The bus out of Quepos arrives to La Union around 6:30 a.m. After leaving/passing through Guarumal, get ready to disembark from the bus. You want to get off at El Cruce de Santa Rosa, about 1.5 km after Guarumal. There is a simple bus stop and a number of signs that mark the intersection. From here, you will either have to walk the 6 km to Mastatal, hitchhike, or arrange a ride. Traffic on the road from El Cruce to Mastatal can be sparse. Our house is on the left as you enter into the town of Mastatal. Make sure not to confuse us with Villas Mastatal, another project in our community with a similar name.
For reasonably and fair-priced shuttles from the Pacific Coast, you can contact
Randall +506 8820-0901
He’s reliable and trustworthy.
Let us know if you need any assistance.
