Route Pura Vida

Uvita to Tamarindo

358 km (222 miles)

Beach scene at Uvita, Costa Rica
From

Uvita

Gateway to Marino Ballena National Park and the iconic Whale's Tail sandbar at low tide.

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Beach scene at Tamarindo, Costa Rica
To

Tamarindo

A lively Pacific beach town with reliable surf, sunset bars, and easy access to quiet coves nearby.

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Transportation Options

Rental Car

Distance: 358 km (222 mi)
Duration: ~7 hours

From Uvita, take Costanera Sur (Route 34) for 161 km, Caldera Highway (Route 27) for 29 km, Pan-American Highway (Route 1) for 49 km, Tempisque Bridge (Route 18) for 49 km, Nicoya Peninsula Highway (Route 21) for 34 km, then Ruta del Sol (Route 160) for the final 30 km into Tamarindo.

Highways used

  • Rt 34 Costanera Sur 161 km · 2 hours 43 min
  • Rt 27 Caldera Highway 29 km · 30 min
  • Rt 1 Pan-American Highway 49 km · 1 hour 6 min
  • Rt 18 Tempisque Bridge 49 km · 47 min
  • Rt 21 Nicoya Peninsula Highway 34 km · 39 min
  • Rt 160 Ruta del Sol 30 km · 38 min

Note: Costa Rica traffic, weather and road conditions can greatly increase your drive time. It's always best to check with Waze before heading out. Read more on how to drive in Costa Rica.

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Shuttle

Duration: ~7.5 hours

Full-day journey. Consider flying or making intermediate stops.

Note: Shuttles come in shared and private flavors with different costs and trade-offs. Read more on taking a shuttle in Costa Rica.

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Flight

Route: XQP (Quepos) → TNO (Tamarindo)
Duration: 50 minutes

Note: Domestic flights in Costa Rica are short hops on small turboprops, with strict baggage limits and early check-in. Read more on flying in Costa Rica.

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