Plan on about 9 h 12 min of driving for the 287-mile (462 km) trip from Cabo Matapalo to Parismina, before any stops.
Full advisory: Costa Rica. Advisory issued: Costa Rica April 02, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Costa Rica: “Try not to drive outside of urban areas at night.”
| Total distance | 287 mi (462 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 12 min |
| Provinces on the route | Puntarenas, San José, Heredia, Limón |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Cabo Matapalo to Parismina
It runs through 4 provinces: Puntarenas, San José, Heredia, Limón. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Cabo Matapalo to Parismina
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–203 | 203 | Puntarenas, San José |
| connecting roads | 203–204 | 1 | San José |
| local roads | 204–287 | 83 | San José, Heredia, Limón |
- Mile 167 of this route: Puntarenas → San José (province line)
- Mile 206 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 213 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 231 of this route: San José → Limón (province line)
What to see on the way from Cabo Matapalo to Parismina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Metropolitan Cathedral of San José (mile 204), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 226), Las Mercedes (mile 255)
- Nature and outdoors: Corcovado National Park (mile 25), Piedras Blancas National Park (mile 54), Ballena Marine National Park (mile 103), Manuel Antonio National Park (mile 139), La Cangreja National Park (mile 169), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 226)
- Museums and history: Metropolitan Cathedral of San José (mile 204), Las Mercedes (mile 255)
Corcovado National Park
Established in 1975, Corcovado National Park covers 424 square kilometers of the Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica, within the Osa Conservation Area.
Piedras Blancas National Park
Part of the Osa Conservation Area, Piedras Blancas National Park lies in Puntarenas Province in southern Costa Rica, near the town of La Gamba.
Ballena Marine National Park
Ballena Marine National Park protects a safe area for migrating humpback whales in Costa Rica's Osa Conservation Area, covering 5,160 hectares of sea and 171 of land.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Just south of Quepos on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio National Park was established in 1972 after the local community pushed to protect the area from development.
La Cangreja National Park
A protected zone until 2002, La Cangreja National Park lies in Puriscal Canton, San José Province, and belongs to the Central Pacific Conservation Area near Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
Metropolitan Cathedral of San José
Located on Calle Central in San José, the Metropolitan Cathedral replaced an original 1802 cathedral that was destroyed by an earthquake.
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Braulio Carrillo National Park spreads across parts of Heredia, Cartago, Limón and San José provinces in central Costa Rica and forms part of the Central Conservation Area.
Las Mercedes
On Costa Rica's Caribbean slope, between the foothills of Turrialba Volcano and the alluvial plain, Las Mercedes is an archaeological site with platforms, plazas, terraces, ramps, funerary areas and paved roads.
More drives to Parismina
- Heredia to Parismina
- Tortuguero to Parismina
- Alajuela to Parismina
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Parismina
- Puntarenas to Parismina
- San Isidro to Parismina
From Cabo Matapalo to other places in Costa Rica
- Cabo Matapalo to Dominical
- Cabo Matapalo to Tortuguero
- Cabo Matapalo to Playas del Coco
- Cabo Matapalo to Coronado, Panama
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cabo Matapalo to Parismina?
About 9 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 287 miles.
How far is Parismina from Cabo Matapalo by car?
About 287 miles (462 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Cabo Matapalo to Parismina drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Cabo Matapalo to Parismina?
Closest to the road: Metropolitan Cathedral of San José (cathedral, mile 204, 0.2 mi from the route); Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 226, 0.4 mi from the route); Las Mercedes (archaeological site, mile 255, 0.6 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.