2006 October
Roads are fine from SJO to the Taiwan bridge. And from there to Nicoya is average. From Nicoya to Samara is a bit pothole adventure, not as bad as the south but do slow down in that part, curves and potholes are a deadly mix.
Once you reach Samara , and on, the main roads are almost perfect.
BTW there's that puta club at Carillo called Fendango or something like that, the tico said there are Dominicanas there, sucky sucky total

Didn't partake, but just so you know. The club is more inland, away but not far from the beach Carillo, up the hill.