Leave room in your schedule to add activities that interest you that you'll only find out about when you arrive. WISnterest you that you'll only find out about when you arrive. Costa Rica is small, about the size of West Virginia. Yet it is rugged and the roads are poor. Nothing can be more disappointing in Costa Rica than trying to hurry because it just doesn't work.
Roads are poor.
Landslides occur often, sometimes blocking the roads for hours. Most travel involves crossing mountain ranges on small 2 lane winding roads and steep grades. San Jose to Puerto Viejo on the east coast - 4.0 hours. San Jose to Puntarenas on the west coast - 2.0 hours. Browse the street vendor's wares in the square there.