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I am planning another trip back to Costa and really enjoyed having a car. I was thinking about flying inot Liberia and looking at some property in Tamarindo, but also wanted to get back to Jaco. Is this easily drivable. Unfortunatley, there is no mapquest CR. Any idea how long it would take and if it is a scenic drive if it is drivable.

Anyhow, thanks for any help!

The drive from Liberia to Tamarindo....
Is it Scenic ? Yes!
Is it easily drivable ? Yes. But make sure you have a good dental plan, because the roads are so bad, they'll shake the fillings out of your mouth! I only say this, because I have done that trip over a dozen times.

There are a few different rental car agencies outside the Liberia Airport. I've always used "Economy" Rent-A-Car. It's about 3 or 4 kilometers North of the airport. If you reserve a car, they'll send a driver to the airport to pick you up, and bring you to their office. Because I've always used them, they know that I ALWAYS rent their full sized SUV, and they have my personal info in their system. On my last few trips, they have brought my SUV to the airport for me. They're great guys to deal with. I get off the plane, walk through customs, get outside and meet the rental car rep, sign the paperwork, get into my rental car and drive away.

I don't know if this would affect you, but they have a minimum 3 day rental. Often, I only need the car for a couple days, so I call the Liberia Airport office directly, and talk to one of my buddies there. If you call their corporate 800 toll free number, they won't book you a car for only 2 days. Their rates are competitive with the rest of the rental car agencies.
The number for the Liberia office is: (506) 666-2816.

All the people are nice, but there are only two guys that I'll deal with.
Luis Fernando Badilla is the manager. Stalin Murillo is the head Sales Rep.
You can either call the office directly, or you can call Stalin on his cell phone. His cell phone # is (506) 382-9790. Tell him that you're a friend of mine, and he'll take good care of you.

The first half of the trip from Liberia to Tamarindo is not too bad. They've maintained the roads pretty good, all the way down to Belen. But from Belen, down to Tamarindo, the roads are real bad. Depending on the time of day, the total trip will take you about 90 minutes by car. There's only one main road, and there's quite a few signs that'll lead you from Liberia, down to Tamarindo/Flamingo.

From the Liberia airport, drive South on the main road (Hwy 21). You'll drive through the towns of Guardia, Comunidad, Palmira, Paso de Tempisque, through Filadelfia, and into Belen. There's a park in the center of Belen, with many puke-green colored tables and benches. In Belen, you'll make a right turn off of Hwy 21. At this point, you'll be headed West, towards the beach. Just keep following the signs towards Tamarindo/Flamingo Beach. Here's where the fun starts.

The roads have gotten soooo bad over the past couple years. I've been reading articles in the Tico Times, and AM Costa Rica, and Inside Costa Rica, about them (supposedly) starting to fix the roads, but as of yet, it hasn't happened. As you drive West, you'll go through the towns of Santa Ana, Coyolito, Portegolpe, and into Huacas. Once you get to Huacas, you'll come to a fork in the road, but there'll be signs, showing you where to go. If you bear LEFT at the fork, it'll take you through Villa Real, and into Tamarindo. If you bear RIGHT at the fork, it'll take you through Brasilito, and into Flamingo Beach and/or Playa Portrero.

Personally, I enjoy the drive. It is scenic, and you'll be driving on winding roads, up the mountains, and down the other sides of the mountains. Living in Florida, everything is FLAT, so I like the change of pace when driving around Guanacaste.

If you get stopped by the Policia, take the ticket. You can always pay them cash, and drive away, but insist on the ticket. If you do this, they'll usually let you go without writing the ticket, but if they do give you a ticket, it'll only be (maybe) 8,000 - 10,000 colones. Just give it to the rental car people when you return the car. They'll tack on a couple thousand colones for juice money, and pay the ticket for you. If nothing else, you got yourself another CR Souvenir!

One more thing.... If you have a wing-man and chica's with you, don't try to get a BBBJ while driving. Because of the terrible road conditions, she will (undoubtedly) chip her tooth!

Hope this helps. Have fun, and drive careful!

Mucho Gusto

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

WOW, muchas gracias!!!! That was fantastic. I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to write that.

Now, if I want to drive down to Jaco from Tamarindo, am I kidding myself? Or is this doable? I am hoping to make the trip down there later as well.

Do you know how long it will take or if it is even a possibility? And I will definately take you up on your rental recommendations!

I keep hearing mixed reviews about chicas in Tamarindo. It is why I am thinking about a trip down to Jaco. If I thought it was like Jaco, I would probably stay for the entire trip. Any if on that would be appreciated as well.

Anyhow, thanks for your help!
Karl

It's doable, but it'd be a lllllong trip. Figure on a solid 6-7 hours, on a GOOD day. It'd much easier to jump on a Sansa flight from Tamarindo to Quepos, then taking a taxi North to Jaco. But that's also time consuming, and not very 'cost-effective'.

If you're flying to Jaco just for the chica's, that's a lot of extra time and money. You can find a nice chica in Tamarindo (though not as plentiful), or you can drive to Flamingo, and check out Amberes Discoteque. There's P4P chica's there (not like the BM, but you can find a hottie), and it's only a 20-25 minute drive from Tamarindo. The choice is yours.....
MG

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

SO in your professional opinion, while I am looking for real estate in Tamarindo, I can stay anywhere near there. Would you stay there or Flamingo? It really does not matter if I have to drive a half hour or so every day. But I am interested in a good night life. I live in Florida as well (Tampa) and appreciate a good night on the town.

Well, Tamarindo is a bigger town than Flamingo, with more options for "night life", but I am not aware of any full fledged "Monger" bars in Tamarindo. But there are numerous bars & restaurants in town, and a couple casinos. From what I've seen, the Tamarindo scene is a much younger, surfer type crowd.

I'm partial to Flamingo, since I've stayed there over a dozen times. It is a smaller town, with a handful of restaurants, 3 casino's, and only 4 or 5 bars, but I have many friends in that area, and I've gotten to know a lot of the local people, hotel personel, the bar & restaurant owners, charter boats, the local chemist (pharmacist) and, of course, the local chicas. Plus, with the availability of P4P chica's, I don't have to worry about "stepping up my game" and trying to pick up a non-pro.

MG

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

You the man! Maybe the plan sould be to fly into San Jose and then drive up to Tamarindo. I am just not a small plane kind of guy. And then return later in the week to fly out.

Thanks so much for your well written advice!