www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I drove the new Autopista del Sol twice last week. Once each direction.

From the SJ end you pick up the highway as you drive west from SJ to Escazu/Santa Ana/Ciudad Colon. At that end the road is several lanes wide and has a speed limit of 90kph. As you leave civilization the road narrows to 4 lanes and 80kph and then to 2 lanes with truck lanes on the hills. More lanes are still under construction so expect future improvement.

Once out of town there are no services at any of the highway interchanges. If you need something you will have to exit and drive to a nearby town.

There are 4 toll booths in about 45 minutes. Kind of a PITA. Keep plenty of change handy.

The new road is a great improvement. It is very smooth, safer, faster and has much less traffic than the old highway,

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

Jaco is quiet during the day. Fiesta really doesn't start until noche.

Totally different than San Jose.

anyone aware if the interbus system is using the new road?

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Will be taking the road tomorrow and will report back

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

I took the new road the day it opened (unknowlingly). As others have said it is much faster. But having traveled the old road, I must say I enjoy that route much better, as half of the fun for me was the winding roads thru the coffee plantations, the fantastic views, the narrow bridges over the rushing rivers and the several stops on the way down for beer, restroom breaks and that awesome fire roosted chicken sold at so many of the road side stands. I always found that a memorable part of my trips to Jaco. Especially when we brought a few roadies for championship from the Del Rey. It’s amazing how much fun you can have in a mini bus.
The new road does have some nice vistas, But many of them are of the new cuts that created the road way. As time goes on I am sure they will green up but now they are just rough cuts thru a mountain. The important thing to remember is, as one other poster said there is NO place to stop along the way. You have to leave the highway if you need anything. My advice to someone going there is if you have never been before take the old road on the way down, as you usually seem to have time to get there. Leave in the morning and take your time. We all know the party in Jaco doesn’t start until the lights go out. On your return when you are rushing to the airport, and the post trip depression is beginning to set in, take the highway.
One point about the safety of each route is, although I was and always we be nothing more than a passenger in the back of a taxi/mini bus. It was very obvious to me that the vast majority of the people traveling on this new road have never driven this fast. I have a sinking feeling that there will be many people injured on this new road simply from the lack of experience of driving so fast. Be very careful. I hope I am wrong. Not that the old route was much safer. I can remember more than once having a white knuckled ride due to rain or fog.
When we returned on the new road the Sunday after it had opened the traffic going to Jaco made San Jose traffic look like a drive in the park. The back up had to go for 20 miles. The taxi driver thought it was due to the people taking a Sunday drive on the new road? I don’t know about that but it was very backed up. The drive going to San Jose was a breeze. Never slowed down with the exception of the tolls.
All in all and as with must things here there is good and bad in each. Pick your own poison.

That sounds like some great advice!

Does anyone know where to find a map that shows the new road? I tried but no luck.

Try this link. It should give you a decent map.
http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynew ... aldera.jpg

I am sitting in my suite at Canciones Del Mar waiting for the happy hour sunset party on the roof! I took the new road to Jaco.....me encanta!!!! We turned the corner at Sabana Park on the Escazu highway about noon and arrived at the hotel at 1:23!!! It was pretty empty and I was able to cruise pretty much at 90 kph all the way. Only the 4 toll boths slowed us down. The road reminded me of some of the mountain interstates through the Rockys.... an absolute pleasure compared to the old road. While I agree some of the charm and views of the old route will be missed by some, I think it is destined to go the way of route 66. And with the ease and speed of this new route you won't give it a second thought. The views here are decent as well. Plenty of other options to experience the old time Costa Rica

Did not see any turismo vans I guess these have not changed their route.

That old route is a hard drive and takes its toll on your psyche and often you arrive exhausted. The lack of "road burn" when i arrived via the new route was remarkable and made the Bubba's Fish Taco and first beer of the day all that more enjoyable at El Bohio.

Just hope they don't put up Waffle Houses and Cracker Barrels up at every exit!

PR

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

Thanks for the info PR

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Take a walk on the wild side.

If you're heading to the beach this weekend, check out this article in today's Inside Costa Rica:

Traffic On San José - Caldera Expected To Be Heavy This Weekend Due To The Puntarenas Festival

Traffic congestion on the new San José - Caldera highway is expected to be heavy this weekend and next, heavier perhaps than the first weekend two weeks ago, when the new road opened to the public, as tens of thousands will head to the port town of Puntarenas for the annual festival.
But alas, Autopistas del Sol, the manager of the new road, has a plan to avoid the massive congestion at the toll stations and at various points along the route, as occurred last month.

The concessionaire said it will have a hotline available for drivers to report accidents and roadblocks, as well as learn of any problems ahead by calling 2588 4040. Autopistas del Sol also says it will be updating reports on IQ Radio (93.9). "We hope that with the measures if there is a problem on the route the congestion will not be as great like that of the first weekend", said Cristian Sandoval, general manager of Autopistas. In addition, Autopistas and the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) officials will be working together to control any situation that may come up between today (Friday) and Sunday.

Sandoval added that Tránsitos (traffic officials) will be on hand at strategic locations to move traffic along and to warn motorists and the control centre of any problems or bottlenecks.
The new road was built with a traffic capacity of some 10.000 vehicles daily. However, during the first weekend of operation, traffic volume was more than double that, causing massive traffic congestion along the route and especially at the Guacima and Atenas toll centres. Traffic to and from Puntarenas starting today is expected to increase with congestion to in the morning and from in evenings. Since there are no pit stops (gasoline, stores or public bathrooms) along the 50 kilometre stretch between Piedades and Orotina, it recommended to have a full tank of gas and void the bladder before setting off on your trip.

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Extracted from Brother MG's reportage:
Got a problem? Want to hear of problems?>>call 2258-4040
On the radio>>IQ Radio 93.9

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED