Finca Amanecer Eco-Lodge-Hostel is located on a rural dirt road with scenery so fantastic, local ATV tours charge $95 to experience this “adventure”. You can appreciate the same scenic beauty during the 40-minute bus ride from Quepos for only a dollar. (My Daddy always said: Sell the sizzle.) Charles McKenna, enjoyed the experience while biking from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego. He says: "You can relax and enjoy 7 acres listening to the sounds of nature while those tourists return to noisy overcrowded hotels in smelly Quepos".  In our  Eco-Village  gardens you'll enjoy nature's own aromatherapy; nightly Ylang Ylang known as the Chanel #5 tree; and if you are lucky you'll be intoxicated by the fragrance of Night Blooming Jasmine. Que Rico!

Driving from Quepos (map): At PALI, go east, about 4 km, towards the Airport,  do NOT turn on to the newly paved highway.    Go straight on the dirt road, 10.5 Km. thru Naranjito, keep right at the fork in the road, cross the London Bridge and go 150 meters, we are the first entrance on the right. Look for the holiday lights at night and our sign during the day.

BUSES From Quepos:   Londres Buses leave the Mercado at; 07:00*; 09:00; Noon; 2:30; 4:00 & 6:00* and NEW 10:15PM*.  *except Sunday,   for under 60 cents (US) or a 20-25 minute taxi ride for around $15.00.  Plan to que up at least 15 minutes for any of the Londres buses.  Be sure to ask the bus driver  LONDRES  ABAJO? as 3 buses will have “Londres-Villa Nueva” painted on the front windows.  NEW DIRECT SERVICE  Quepos-Londres-Sabalo leaves the mercado at 2:30pm, cost 500 colones., and returns at 06:05.  This bus and the 4:00 or 6:00 PM are RECOMMENDED as they are only 40 minutes.  The earlier ones go to Villa Nueva first and can take up to 70 minutes to arrive here.

The official stops are right after the bridge, (150 meters before the finca) and in "el centro", (150 meters after the finca) If you ask the driver, they will generally let you off right at our gate if you simply tell them Finca Amanecer.  From the road, follow our ginger lined path another 150 meters to the house and if you walk around the right side it will bring you to the patio.

RETURNING TO QUEPOS: first bus is at  05:35 then  06:05; around 8:00; 10:15, 1:15 and 5:00PM
Note:  there is NO SERVICE on Good Friday, in most of the country.

Driving from SJO: There is no west exit from SJO. (great planning) You have to exit to the EAST (right), keep right and turn right at the first intersection (known as the Hampton Inn intersection) and follow the traffic, keeping right when it turns around the airport, then a big left (away from the airport) and following the signs for Santana and Ciudad Colon, all the traffic will turn right, then you need to get in the left turn lane. On your left, you will see the Panasonic plant, follow the traffic to the left and this road (should) have an entrance to the new expressway. (near the Multi-plaza) there will be several toll booths, and then exit in OROTINA.

Follow the signs to Jaco and Quepos and Hotel Si Como No.  Be alert for a cloverleaf, because one road will go to Puntarenas, and the other to Jaco. You want Jaco and Quepos. Tico Tico is a great place to eat in Tarcoles if you want to take a break. At the bridge if it is still day light you can look for the crocodiles. Be sure to LOCK your car!!!

From JACO is about an hour south to Quepos. you will have the ocean on your right One half hour after Jaco, you will drive through Parrita, and then you’ll see a gas station on the right, You’ll cross the Rio Paquita, the second NEW bridge, (you'll know it is a "new bridge" because they are more than 2 lanes wide) and then there is a fork in the road with nice new cement islands and it's recently paved, as the road forks. Right heads to Quepos.

(A) KEEP LEFT (to avoid Quepos) and go ab out 4K, until you see a new GREEN sign saying LONDRES

Turn left at this 4 point intersection, take the dirt road (if you pass the Hospital, you went too far, turn around) and take the dirt road
exactly 10.5 Km. Go straight on the dirt road, 10.5 Km. thru Naranjito, (about 6 Km) keep right at the fork in the road, (go about 4 km) cross the London Bridge and go 150 meters, we are the first entrance on the right. Look for the sign.

You will swear I have you on the road from Hell to nowhere, but have faith and you will come to several signs PUENTE, (bridge). What they fail to tell you is you have to make a 90 degree right turn to enter the bridge, and at night, be aware of the suspension cable in the middle of the road. Just after the bridge you will see my all the tall trees on the right. I am the first driveway on the right. There is a sign and I am back off the road. Keep to the left to park in the lighted field. Do NOT drive beyond the trees, as I have water lines in the path.

Good luck. Let’s hear big bravo for the adventurous travelers!!!!!

Joyfully, Elena 2779 1123 askelena at gmail.com
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PLEASE NOTE: THE "SJO" AIRPORT is actually in Alajuela, let me know if you'd like Hostel recommendations in Alajuela. Buses from the airport to San Jose or Alajuela are 75 cents.  From the SJO airport, (near Hampton Inn) I can arrange a shuttle bus a to Quepos for $39.00 pp.

BUSES From San Jose:

NEWS FLASH: THE QUEPOS BUS NOW LEAVES FROM TRACOPA, Calle 5 between Avenida 16 and 18, “cerca del tren del Pacifico. The DIRECTO leave every day, at 06:00; 09:00am ( Mon-Sat); Noon; 2:30 ; 6:00; 7:30 PM. Get off in Quepos at the "Mercado", the terminal. From SJO airport, In order to get on the direct you will have to take a bus for < $1 to San Jose and then a cab to TRACOPA ($2-3) . the new route passes through Santana and does NOT service SJO. About 3 hours +/-.

The other SJO option is the collectivo: The COLLECTIVO (4 to4.5 hours) from San Jose to Quepos is supposed to stop about 15 (to 30) minutes after leaving SJ on the Highway just outside the airport. GET a taxi to take you to “la parada del Puente Villa Bonita”. (look for a big gas station, it is a safer stop) . Collectivos leave San Jose at 5:30 (for Uvita) 06:00; 07:00; 10:00; 2:00; 3:00 (for UVITA) and 4:00 and 5:00 ONLY Mon-Fri. Uvita passes through Quepos.

San Jose TO Quepos/Manuel Antonio

05:30  C para Uvita  you can not buy a ticket in advance.
06:00  Directo
07:00  C
09:00  Directo  Mon-Sat
10:00  C
Noon   Directo
2:00   C
2:30   Directo
3:00   C para Uvita you can not buy a ticket in advance.
4:00   C
5:00   C ONLY Mon-Fri
6:00   Directo
7:30   Directo  

Flights: The other option is a 20 minute flight on Sansa http://www.tacaregional.com The 30 minute flight costs $85.00 and $1 a POUND for luggage over 25 POUNDS!!!!

From Puntarenas: South bound buses leave at 5:00am; 8:00; 11:00 am; 12:30; 2:30pm; and 4:30pm.
Quepos to Puntarenas: 04:30; 07:30; 10:30; 12:30; 3:00; 5:30.

From Jaco: The Puntarenas bus will pass about an hour to an hour and a half after the above times. Or the San Jose collectivo will stop in jaco.

From Uvita: North bound buses leave at: 04:30, 05:00 & 11:00 am; 1:00 & 4:00 pm.

From Dominical: North bound buses leave at 5:45 am; 8:00 am; 1:00pm, 2:30pm.

From Matapalo: North Bound 6:15am; 9:00am; 12:15 pm; 2:00pm; 3:30pm.

From Uvita, Matapalo, or Domical:if the buses are running late and you want to make the Londres connection ask the driver to let you off at “el hospital”, and wait for a bus. You can also walk to the intersection and generally catch a ride for about 500 colones from any car heading this way. Last resort call me from a pay phone at the hospital. Taxi $10.00 - $15.00.

From Quepos- SJO Airport:   YOU MUST TAKE THE COLLECTIVO, the Directo may run the new road and does not service SJO, anymore. The Collectivo leaves the terminal at the announced time. Figure at LEAST 3.5 hours to the airport from Quepos.  The DIRECTO leaves from Manuel Antonio and will be about 15 minutes to Quepos terminal.

04:00   D Mon-Sat
05:00   C
06:00   Directo
07:15   C  de UVITA arrives around 07:15 and you can not buy a ticket in advance.
09:30   Directo
10:00   C
NOON   Directo
2:00    C
2:30    Directo
3:15    C de Uvita you can not buy a ticket in advance.
4:45    C
5:00    Directo

If you wish to see if there are new or additional buses call: 2777-0263.

For buses around the country, download this PDF: Click here.
This Quepos map is courtesy of Quepolandia. with a few editorial comments.