Plan on about 4 h 15 min of driving for the 162-mile (261 km) trip from Cartago, Costa Rica to Sixaola, 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.”
| Distance | 162 mi (261 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 15 min |
| Provinces on the route | Cartago, San José, Heredia, Limón |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Cartago to Sixaola drive plays out
It runs through 4 provinces: Cartago, San José, Heredia, Limón. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cartago to Sixaola
| 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 | 14–162 | 148 | San José, Heredia, 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 Sixaola
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 14), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 35), Las Mercedes (mile 65), Cahuita National Park (mile 138)
- Nature and outdoors: Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 14), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 35), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 53), Barbilla National Park (mile 87), Cahuita National Park (mile 138), Volio Waterfall (mile 147)
- Museums and history: Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 14), Metropolitan Cathedral of San José (mile 14), Las Mercedes (mile 65)
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.
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.
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.
Barbilla National Park
On the eastern slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Barbilla National Park belongs to the Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area; it became a biological preserve in 1982 and a national park in 1998.
Cahuita National Park
On Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast next to the town of Cahuita, Cahuita National Park protects beaches, lowlands and coral reefs. Visitors can snorkel in the marine area, and sea turtles nest here.
Volio Waterfall
Near the town of Bribri in Limón Province, Volio Waterfall lies within the Bribri Indigenous reservation.
More drives to Sixaola
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 Parismina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cartago, Costa Rica to Sixaola?
About 4 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 162 miles.
How far is Sixaola from Cartago, Costa Rica by car?
About 162 miles (261 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.
Is it safe to drive from Cartago, Costa Rica to Sixaola?
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 Sixaola?
Closest to the road: 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); Cahuita National Park (national park, mile 138, 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.