You can rent a car in San Jose (there are many car rentals at the airport or in town) and drive down to Mal Pais in about 6-7 hours. (Direction Puntarenas, Ferry to Paquera road to Cobano and then to Mal Pais .

Puntarenas: From San José you drive approx. 2 hours to the pacific port town Puntarenas. From there take the ferry to Paquera.

In high tourist season, and especially around Christmas and Easter, be prepared to wait some time in the ferry line-up. Don't leave your car unattended there, as break-ins are not uncommon. Only the driver may remain in the car when entering the ferry. All other passengers must walk on board.

On the Peninsula: The only gasoline stations are in Paquera and Cobano. In Santa Teresa a small gasoline vendor sells fuel out of a barrel.

The Southern Nicoya Peninsula is known for its horrendous roads. Few parts are paved and potholes abound. During rainy season giant mud holes may occasionally make roads impassable, while in dry season you and your car will be shaken on rutted and dusty tracks. A four-wheel drive is advisable for this region.

There is no complete road network connecting all villages. Going from one beach to another often involves backtracking to Cobano, the inland hub.

Drive slowly. Car accidents are frequent due to the bad road conditions with unexpected hazards.

BUS

From San Jose you must take the bus to Puntarenas. The terminal is in Avenida 12, Calle 16 and the busses depart hourly from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. During the 3 hour ride, watch your luggage carefully. Many thefts have been reported especially in the bus.

By Public Transportation: From San José: direct bus to Puntarenas (2.5 hours), Ferry to Paquera (1 hour), Bus to Cobano (1.5 Hour). From Cobano, it is a 12 km drive to Mal Pais.

By Private Minibus: Pick up at San Jose Airport, transfer in air conditioned minibus to Malpais in 6 hours. Combination with Hotel for night arrivals also available.

FLIGHTS

The nearest aiport is Tambor, (25 minutes flight from San José, the capital of Costa Rica). Mal Pais is less than an hour drive from the Tambor airport, riding through jungle and cattle farms. You can book your flight from San José to Tambor directly at