Center Traffic Post, Downtown Mastatal

o en Espanol

Rancho Mastatal is about 2 ½ hours by car from Costa Rica's capital, San José, and approximately 1 hour by car from the Central Pacific Coast. You can easily come from or continue on to San José, Jacó, Quepos, Dominical or other destinations along the Pacific Coast. Please confirm your arrival with us before heading out to the Ranch.

Direct Shuttle from the Airport or Central Valley to Mastatal
With enough advance notice, you can arrange a private shuttle to the Ranch from the airport, San José, or just about anywhere else in and around the Central Valley of Costa Rica. The cost for a private shuttle from the Juan Santamaría International Airport is approximately $120, though prices can and do change. Night trips are $5 more expensive. If your flight arrives at night or late, Fernando and his wonderful family will put you up in their house in Puriscal for the night and feed you breakfast before bringing you out to the Ranch the following day. If you exercise this option, we suggest leaving them a little tip for their generosity. Fernando and his family are some of the kindest people we have ever met in Costa Rica. Please contact Fernando directly to confirm current shuttle prices and other details.

If you decide to arrange a shuttle, contact Fernando with as much advance notice as possible and if coming to Mastatal directly from the airport please provide him with your name and flight information. Upon your arrival Fernando will be waiting for you, sign in hand, as you exit the airport. Once he has confirmed your shuttle, you are responsible for the cost even if you experience a change in your arrival time/date unless of course you/we are able to notify him in time. In the case of changes or problems call Fernando immediately. You can also try reaching us at the Ranch at 2410-6263. If calling from the States, dial 011 (506) before the listed phone number.

Fernando can also shuttle you from the Central Pacific Coast to the Ranch

Driving from San José
Take the highway out of the capital going towards Ciudad Colón and Puriscal (sometimes referred to as Santiago). We recommend you drive during the day. To get to the highway from downtown San José, take Paseo Colón west, until you hit Sabana Park, then take a left, and follow the signs to Escazú/Ciudad Colón. If you are coming from Alajuela or the airport, you will have to head towards San José before picking up the highway to Ciudad Colón. A local map will be very helpful. On the way to Ciudad Colón, you will pass the town of Santa Ana. In Ciudad Colón follow the one-way streets and signs towards Puriscal. You will then climb up and out of the Central Valley, and pass through the Quítirrisi Indian Reserve. From Ciudad Colón, it's about 40 minutes to Puriscal. Once in Puriscal, follow signs to Parrita/Quepos. Once outside of Puriscal, continue on the main road through the towns of Santa Marta, La Palma, Salitrales, and other small communities. The paved road ends about 15 kilometers outside of Puriscal. About 1 hour and 15 minutes after leaving Puriscal and soon after passing by the entrance to the administrative offices of La Cangreja National Park, you will arrive to an intersection. A small run-down bus stop and a few signs, one announcing "Mastatal", mark the junction. Make this left hand turn, and continue for 6 kilometers until you arrive to the town of Mastatal. There is one intersection along this road. Stay left and continue down the road. As you enter Mastatal, we are the house on the left with the red roof. There is a black gate that marks the entrance to the Ranch.

A rare salamander photo by Claudio Pinzauti

Bus from San Jose
You will take two buses — one from San José to Puriscal (cost is a little more than US$1), and the other from Puriscal to Mastatal (cost is under US$2). If you are coming direct from the airport, you will have to take either a bus or cab to get to San José before continuing on to Puriscal. Once in San José, take one of the frequent buses (every 30-60 minutes) from the Comtrasuli (phone in San José, 2256-0105, phone in Puriscal 2416-8036) bus terminal located on Avenida 1 between Calle 16 and Calle 18 in downtown San Jose. The buses are mostly modern and painted green, orange & white. Take an express bus if possible. The trip from San José to Puriscal takes about 1 hour. Get off at the last stop in Puriscal, the Comtrasuli bus terminal. The bus to Mastatal leaves from in front of a "carnicería" and near the Dona Tona restaurant across from the Super Mora supermarket parking lot, one and a half blocks from the Comtrasuli bus terminal towards the center of town, at 3 p.m. (except on Sundays when it leaves at 4 p.m.) There are 2 Super Mora grocery stores in town. Please make sure that you are near the larger one. You will want to arrive at least 20 minutes before the bus departs to assure a seat. There is sometimes a sign on the bus that reads "Zapatón" though you should ask the driver where he is going to be sure. The trip to Mastatal takes about 2 hours. Make sure that the driver knows that you are going to Mastatal, or he might charge you the maximum price, as the bus continues on to other stops after passing through Mastatal. The bus will drop you off almost directly in front of our house (red roof and black gate).

Driving from the Central Pacific Coast
There are two possible routes from Parrita (located ~30 kms west of Quepos, and 40 kms east of Jacó along the Central Pacific Coast) to Mastatal. The first route, shorter but rougher, takes you through the towns of La Vasconia, La Fila de Aguacate and San Miguel. During the rainy season a 4x4 vehicle is recommended and even in the dry season a high clearance vehicle can be helpful. About 2km west of Parrita, turn north on a road that starts in the midst of the African Oil Palms near where the peach palm transport trucks congregate. There is also a large sign that reads "Sky Mountain". This road comes up quickly, so keep a close eye for it. Follow the road, through the palms, and then through the towns of Playón Sur, Playón San Isidro and La Vasconia. After passing through La Vasconia, you will come to a 'fork' in the road in front of the La Vasconia church (you have to look closely to recognize that it's a church). Stay left at the fork (there may be a small sign pointing towards San Miguel), and continue up the hill, sometimes steeply. You will pass through some very small villages and will come to the town of San Miguel 35 minutes after leaving La Vasconia. Mastatal is about 4 kms past San Miguel. Our house has a red roof and black gate, and is at the only intersection in Mastatal, the road to the right taking you to the Zapatón Indian Reserve, and the road going straight to Puriscal.

The other route from the Central Pacific Coast is longer but less demanding on your vehicle and can be traveled most of the year in a two-wheel drive car. This road takes you through the towns of Vista del Mar, La Gloria and Guarumal. The road begins about 5 kms west of Parrita, and is marked by a sign pointing to Puriscal. After a few kilometers on this road, you will come to a 'fork'. Stay straight (do not go left). If you are not sure, stop and ask somebody. Continue straight passing through small villages. If you need to do any shopping, La Gloria is the last town of any significant size. After passing through La Gloria, continue straight for about 30 minutes until you come to an intersection. There are a number of signs here, which you will see the back of, and a small bus stop. One of the signs announces Mastatal. Take this right hand turn, and continue for 6 km to the town of Mastatal. There is one intersection along this road. Stay left and continue down the road. We are on your left as you enter town. The house has a red roof and the gate is black.

The Sign to Zapatón photo by Delfino Cornali

Como Llegar a Rancho Mastatal

Rancho Mastatal queda aproximadamente 2 horas y media en carro de la capital de Costa Rica, San José, y alrededor de 1 hora en carro de la Costa Pacífica Central. Puede fácilmente llegar desde ó ir hacia San José, Jacó, Quepos u otros destinos por la Costa Pacífica. Recomendamos que llegue del día si es posible.

De San José en Carro
Siga la carretera de la capital hacia Ciudad Colón y después a Santiago de Puriscal. De Puriscal, siga los rótulos a Parrita y Quepos. Después de salir de Puriscal, continua por aproximadamente 1 hora y 15 minutos hasta que llegue a un cruce en el pequeño “pueblo” (solo hay unas casas antes el cruce) de Santa Rosa. Aquí encontrará una parada de buses y varios rótulos, uno que dice "Mastatal".  No coge el camino hacia los edificios del "Parque Nacional La Cangreja". Al cruce, coge a la izquierda y siga por 6 kilómetros, siempre siguiendo los rótulos a Mastatal (no vaya a San Vicente), hasta que llegue al pueblo de Mastatal. Estamos en la casa en la pura esquina, lado izquierdo, del cruce de Mastatal.  Hay un portón negro.  

De San José en Bus
Es necesario tomar 2 buses para llegar a Mastatal de San José, uno de San José a Santiago de Puriscal, y otro de Puriscal a Mastatal. En San José, tome uno de los buses frecuentes a Puriscal de la terminal de Comtrasuli (teléfono 2256-0105) ubicado en la Avenida 1 entre las calles 18 y 16. De Puriscal, tome el bus que sale a las 3 de la tarde (excepto el día domingo cuando sale a las 4 de la tarde) de enfrente de una carnicería ubicada enfrente del parqueo del grande supermercado Super Mora. Llegue por lo menos 30 minutos antes que salga el bus. El bus llegará a Mastatal a las 5 de la tarde (excepto los domingos cuando llega a las 6 de la tarde) y le dejará enfrente de la casa de Rancho Mastatal.

De La Costa Pacífica en Carro
De Parrita, hay dos opciones. Un carro de doble tracción es recomendable, especialmente durante la época de lluvias.

1. Esta ruta es más rápida y corta, pero con más pendiente y más difícil de pasar en los últimos meses de la época lluviosa. Aproximadamente 1.5 kilómetros después de salir de Parrita yendo para Jacó, coge a la derecha donde vea un rótulo grande que dice "Sky Mountain - Creando Naturaleza". Siga el camino por Playón hasta que llegue al pueblo de La Vasconia. Después de pasar por La Vasconia, coge a la izquierda al cruce donde está ubicada la iglesia. Va subiendo y de vez en cuando pasando por un pueblo pequeño. Eventualmente llegará al pueblo de San Miguel. De aquí, sigue 4 kilómetros a Mastatal. La casa de Rancho Mastatal, que tiene un portón negro, está ubicada en la pura esquina del cruce del pueblo.
2. Esta ruta es más lerda y larga, pero con menos pendiente y más fácil pasar en el invierno. Aproximadamente 5 kilómetros después de salir de Parrita yendo para Jacó, coge a la derecha donde vea un rótulo que dice "Puriscal". Siga el camino por aproximadamente 1 hora y media pasando por varios pueblos hasta que llegue al cruce de Santa Rosa, 1 kilómetro después de pasar por el pueblo de Guarumal. Al cruce, coge a la derecha y siga por 6 kilómetros, siempre siguiendo los rótulos a Mastatal, hasta que llegue al pueblo de Mastatal. Estamos en la casa en la pura esquina al lado izquierdo, del cruce de Mastatal.  Hay un porton negro.