The Wayro route from Cartago, Costa Rica to Parismina is 96 miles (154 km), about 2 h 54 min of driving without 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: “Do not drive through water if you can't see its depth.”
| Total distance | 96 mi (154 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 2 h 54 min |
| Provinces on the route | Cartago, San José, Heredia, Limón |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Cartago to Parismina drive plays out
It runs through 4 provinces: Cartago, San José, Heredia, Limón. Of the 5 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cartago to Parismina, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Cartago, San José |
| connecting roads | 12–14 | 2 | San José |
| local roads | 14–73 | 59 | San José, Heredia, Limón |
| connecting roads | 73–74 | 1 | Limón |
| local roads | 74–96 | 22 | Limón |
- Mile 9 of this route: Cartago → San José (province line)
- Mile 16 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 22 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 41 of this route: San José → Limón (province line)
What to see on the way from Cartago to Parismina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar (mile 14), Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 14), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 35), Las Mercedes (mile 65)
- Nature and outdoors: Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 14), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 35), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 53)
- Museums and history: Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 14), Las Mercedes (mile 65)
- With kids: Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar (mile 14)
Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar
Located in downtown San José, Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar is an urban park of about 35 acres that serves as Costa Rica's oldest botanical garden and zoo.
Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden
In San José's Barrio Amón area, Spirogyra Butterfly Farm keeps 50 to 60 species of live Costa Rican butterflies in a glass-enclosed garden with flowering plants and waterfalls.
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.
Turrialba Volcano National Park
Turrialba Volcano National Park covers the area around Turrialba Volcano in Cartago Province, within Costa Rica's Central Conservation Area. Major eruptions took place between 1864 and 1868.
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
- Puntarenas to Parismina
- San Isidro to Parismina
- Dominical to Parismina
From Cartago to other places in Costa Rica
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Finca Sonador
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Santa Elena
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Pochote
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Tortuguero
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cartago, Costa Rica to Parismina?
About 2 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 96 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cartago, Costa Rica to Parismina?
About 96 miles (154 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 Cartago 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 Cartago to Parismina?
Closest to the road: Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (butterfly house, mile 14, 0.7 mi from the route); Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 35, 0.6 mi from the route); Las Mercedes (archaeological site, mile 65, 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.