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I will be spending several days in Orosi/Cartago during my upcoming trip. from there I will head down to the Osa. I've been to Osa before but leaving from San Jose. In those cases I simply took the new toll road towards Jaco and then continued south past Quepos, Dominical and into the Osa. The landlord of the property in Cartago where I'm staying indicated that from his location I could take a road south from Cartago to San Isidro and then from San Isidro to Dominical and pick up the Costanera towards OSA. I've never taken that route from Cartago --->San Isidro--->Dominical and am wonder what that drive might be like and is here anything I should be aware of. Any guesses how many hours that drive might take all the way to OSA? also--I'm traveling during Late January so weather should be OK (baring any surprises of course). I'll also be using a 4 wheel drive SUV. Tips and comments appreciated. Thank You.

I've made the drive from SJ to San Isidro General... and from San Isidro to Paso Canoas on the Panama border. If you don't want to return to San Jose, in Cartago, you pick up the Interamerican Hwy (CR-2), and on a good day, it should take you about 2 1/2 hours to San Isidro. When crossing the mountains, you will reach 10,000 feet... the Interamerican at this point is narrow and winding. If there are trucks, it will be difficult to pass. On the downslope, you may encounter foggy conditions. Once in San Isidro, look for the road that goes west, and through the center of town, to Dominical (Hwy 243). That is another 30 - 40 minute ride down the mountains to the ocean. At Dominical, you will intersect with Hwy 34 (Costanera Sur). Head south (make a left) on the costanera. Hwy 34 is a beautiful road (the last time I drove it 5 years ago). It is a modern dual land highway where you can make excellent time. After an hour, you will reach Palmar Sur. At Palmar Sur, you pick up the Interamerican Hwy again and head south. (If you are going to Sierpe, you can take Hwy 223 in Palmar Sur, but the road dead ends in Sierpe about an hour away.) When heading south on Hwy 2, look for Hwy-245 (about an hour and a half from Palmar Sur). Make a right on Hwy 245 which follows the shoreline of the bay to Puerto Jiminez before turning northwest along the Pacific Ocean. I've never traveled very far on Hwy-245, so I can't comment on the road conditions. From the Interamerican, Puerto Jiminez appears to be several hours away. When driving on the Interamerican in the south, look out for overloaded lumber trucks which tend to hog the narrow roadway. 8 years ago, I almost got clobbered by a log that rolled off the trailer bed and bounced right in front, and over, my car. It sounds like you are taking a roadtrip that I would enjoy. Have fun.

It sounds like it could either way as far as better timing. Sounds like the risk on Cartago --> San Isidro is greater chance of delays because of trucks, winding and narrow roads. If "timing" were the chief concern, meaning you wanted to try and arrive at OSA as soon as possible would you go through San Isidro or take the other option which is to simply go back from Cartago to San Jose and then the toll road to Jaco and head south from there. Which would you choose if your primary objective was to arrive at OSA as early as possible?

I drove the new highway for the first time last year. It is fast and a pleasure to drive. Cartago is not that far from SJ. If time was my main consideration, I would opt to take the new highway, pick up Hwy 34 on the coast, and head south. Just make sure you avoid the rush hours in SJ.

After writing the above, I had some second thoughts. So, I went to Google Earth and looked up the travel distances. Even through the western route includes mostly driver-friendly roads, it is about 100 kms longer than driving south on the Interamerican to San Isidro and Dominical. Backtracking through San Jose, the distance to Dominical is about 235 kms. Driving south on Hwy 2, the distance to Dominical is only 140 kms. So, I would most likely opt to take the southern route, and deal with the winding roads on Cerro de la Muerte.

For driving times and directions I would use http://www.yourtravelmap.com/costarica/travelmap/

From Cartago to Dominical it should take around 3.5 hours. And from there to Puerto Jimenez around 4 hours.

Three years ago I drove the San Jose – Puerto Jiménez trip. I went through San Isidro going down and came back on the coast road through Jaco and the new road into San Jose.

What has been mentioned about the pass through the mountains to San Isidro is definitely true. You will get behind trucks going slow up the hills and there are limited places to pass. Absolutely no way would I drive this pass at night.

You will average a lot faster on the coast road but given the extra distance and having to go through San Jose, I personally would go through San Isidro from Cartago.

In San Isidro the intersection with 243 was not marked – of course this is not uncommon in CR. Without GPS telling me I would have never found the turn.

245 to Puerto Jiménez is a very rough road. It might look like a highway on a map but… There will be stretches that have been washed out and repaired with some gravel. Potholes can be huge. There are stretches you will be going 5 mph. Take this into consideration as you consider time and distance. As you get close to PJ it turns into a nice road. –but you mentioned you have done this before.

We drove all the way out to Carate and spent 4 days in Corcovado NP. Great Park, I have been back twice (next time I took Nature Air to PJ). 245 to Carate is even worse, I would not attempt without 4WD. There are not bridges you ford many of the rivers.

Osa is a great place to get away. I always include a trip there if I can work it into my itinerary.

I have never driven Cerro de la Muerto but what I've read suggests that it can be an "experience". My hobby is photography. If I decide to try that route will there be places where I can safely pull over and take great pictures? Thx. If I did take that route I would plan on leaving Cartago around 7:00 in the morning, possibly a bit earlier.

Mornings are usually clear, and then a marine layer rolls in during the early afternoon. There are several points along the way where you can safely stop, get out of the car, and enjoy the vista. If you have a standard shift, you will get a good work out upshifting and downshifting while you negotiate turns on the Interamerican. It's actually a fun ride unless you get stuck behind a bunch of trucks.

My plan is to rent a top of the line 4 x 4 SUV with automatic. i'd rather spend the few extra $$ for a top quality 4 wheel drive than take chances on something more flimsy to cut costs.

Download WAZ a great little phone app, many user have here, gives you traffic updates, construction, ETA.
alternate routes.