DRIVING THE INTER-AMERICAN HIGHWAY ROUTE.

The route is approximately 170 kilometers and takes about 4 hours. The mountain passes are often rainy and foggy in the afternoons, so it is best to start your journey from San Jose in the morning.

San Jose - Cartago.

Travel south from San Jose, following the "Route 2" signs toward Cartago. After the toll station (60 colones); follow the sign "Tres Rios-Cartago-Panama" through a multiple highway intersection. As you near the town of Cartago, watch for a modern 24-hour Shell gas station on your right. Keep to the right after you pass the gas station. (If you bear left, you will end up in the city of Cartago and have to backtrack.)

Cartago - San Isidro.

You will then pass through pastureland dotted with pinewoods and the Centro Industrial-Cartago. After a few miles you begin to climb into the mountains. The climate, flora and fauna are diverse and the views stunning. The highway climbs to an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet, before descending into the town of San Isidro de El General (about 3 hours). As you enter San Isidro de El General, watch for the sign to Dominical. Turn right at the sign and continue through the town.

San Isidro de El General - Dominical.

The paved road becomes a beautiful rural road that winds up through the coastal mountain range and then down toward the Pacific Ocean and Dominical (about 1 hour).

The coast highway.

The San Isidro road ends at the Costaneros Sur or coast highway. At that intersection, check the reading on your odometer and turn left (south), onto the coast highway. You will immediately cross a concrete bridge over the Rio Baru, continuing past the side road to Dominical (about .4 kilometers on the right), then the Plaza Pacifica shopping center (on the left).

The San Martin Road.

After traveling 8 kilometers from the San Isidro Road/coast highway intersection, you will see a "Villa Escaleras" sign on the right side of the road directing you to turn left and proceed up the San Martin Road for the final 2 kilometers to the Villa. At this point you need to engage your 4-wheel drive (low gear). After approximately 2 kilometers, the San Martin Road reaches a crossroads. Follow the "Villa Escaleras" sign and turn right at the crossroads and continue about ½ a kilometer to the Villa Helena driveway. Follow drive down and over the stream and you have arrived. (driveway intersects from right).