ESCAPE TO THE WILD
How to get to Golfo Dulce
Golfo Dulce Retreat, in the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is located in one of the least explored areas of this beautiful country, sitting on the shores of Golfo Dulce opposite the Osa Peninsula and surrounded by the rainforest of Piedras National Park. With no roads leading to us we are truly off-grid yet reaching us is remarkably simple.
Our meeting point will be either the small town of Golfito, the historic headquarters of the United Fruit Company, or the quaint village of Puerto Jimenez, one of Corcovado National Park's entry points. Whether you decide to get to the south by air or by land, our boat will meet you in either of these towns. From there, you will cross the pristine waters of Golfo Dulce in our boat to get to our ecolodge: this 25-minute boat ride will be just the start of your adventure with us. The pick up from Golfito or Puerto Jimenez is normally after lunch at around 2:00pm but no later than 4:30pm. We can collect you earlier than this for a small charge however please note that we will not be able to pick you up from town before 9:30am.
BY AIR
The easiest way to get to Golfo Dulce Retreat is by taking a scenic 45-minute flight from San Jose to either Golfito or Puerto Jimenez.
Sansa Airlines has several flights a day departing from San Jose, Costa Rica. In San Jose, Sansa Airlines uses the domestic terminal which is walking distance to the International one (Juan Santa Maria). Sansa is the largest operator of light aircrafts in Costa Rica and it's also good to know that it operates a young fleet of aircrafts: 3 years on average. Please note that all domestic airlines in Cost Rica have strict weight restrictions so please make sure you check the specific luggage allowance.
Whether you arrive in Golfito or Puerto Jimenez, we will arrange for a complimentary taxi to pick you up at the landing strip and take you to our boat. Both car journeys to where the boat departs from are just a few minutes long and the twenty-five minute boat transfer to our beach is... stunning.
BY COACH BUS
As an alternative to flying or driving yourself, there are comfortable coaches that run from San Jose to Golfito and back. This is by far the cheapest option only costing around US$13. Buses leave from the Tracopa bus station in central San Jose (click here for a map) at 6:30am and take approximately 7 hours to arrive in Golfito (through the shorter route called ‘Costanera’). Make sure you are at the bus stop 20 to 30 minutes before departure and ideally try and buy tickets the day before. The buses do not have toilets but do stop several times at roadside services where you can also purchase souvenirs and food. There is often wifi on the bus. In Golfito, we will come and collect you at the bus stop and take you to our boat for the transfer to our Retreat. This is a great and cheap way of viewing a large amount of the Costa Rican landscape with the road surrounded by banana and palm plantations with a rainforested hilly backdrop.
BY CAR
A cheaper alternative to flying is to rent a car and drive from the capital San Jose to Golfito or Puerto Jimenez. We always recommend driving to Golfito which is much easier to get to unless you are already on the Osa Peninsula, in which case Puerto Jimenez could be more convenient. We will help you find a secure parking spot in either towns.
Although prices vary, we often find that renting a car becomes the cheaper alternative when more than two passengers travel together. In terms of rental services we recommend using Alamo, National or Enterprise which have offices in both San Jose's International Airport as well as the new Marina in Golfito. Depending on how long you are staying it might make sense renting a car in San Jose and returning it in Golfito and viceversa for the return journey. If you instead wish to keep the car and park it in Golfito or Puerto Jimenez we will be happy to help you find a suitable secure parking space in either town.
There are two ways to reach the South from San Jose: either via the scenic coastal road ('Costanera' or Route 34) passing by Jaco, Quepos and all the way south to Dominical and Uvita, or through the Pan-American Highway (Route 2) through the Cerro de la Muerte - its highest point at 11,500 feet. The roads all the way to Golfito are remarkably good and the drive will take less than 5 hours using the costal route or 7 hours if you drive through the mountains. If instead you chose to drive to Puerto Jimenez, the last stretch of road through the Osa Peninsula is a bit rougher and you will be adding around 30 minutes to the journey.
We recommend you always drive in daylight as there are no road lights away from villages and towns. Also make sure you stop at one of the many road-side ‘sodas’ (small restaurants) for a refreshment and a bite to eat.