The Wayro route from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Parismina is 244 miles (393 km), about 7 h 18 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: “Try not to drive outside of urban areas at night.”
| Total distance | 244 mi (393 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 18 min |
| Provinces on the route | Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela, San José, Heredia, Limón |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Parismina drive plays out
It runs through 6 provinces: Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela, San José, Heredia, Limón. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Parismina
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–162 | 162 | Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela, San José |
| connecting roads | 162–163 | 1 | San José |
| local roads | 163–244 | 81 | San José, Heredia, Limón |
- Mile 86 of this route: Guanacaste → Puntarenas (province line)
- Mile 117 of this route: Puntarenas → Alajuela (province line)
- Mile 151 of this route: Alajuela → San José (province line)
- Mile 164 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 171 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 189 of this route: San José → Limón (province line)
Places worth a stop between Las Catalinas, Costa Rica and Parismina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Africa Safari Adventure Park (mile 37), Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 163), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 183), Las Mercedes (mile 213)
- Nature and outdoors: Africa Safari Adventure Park (mile 37), Palo Verde National Park (mile 51), Carara National Park (mile 122), Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 163), Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 171), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 183), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 201)
- Museums and history: Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 163), Las Mercedes (mile 213)
Africa Safari Adventure Park
South of Liberia in El Salto, Africa Safari Adventure Park is a private wildlife park of about 247 acres with zebras, warthogs, and giraffes in safari-style enclosures.
Palo Verde National Park
Palo Verde National Park covers 18,400 hectares of the Tempisque River valley in Guanacaste, about 30 km west of Cañas, as part of the Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area.
Carara National Park
Near Costa Rica's Pacific coast, Carara National Park belongs to the Central Pacific Conservation Area; it began as a biological reserve in 1978 and became a national park in 1998.
Melico Salazar Theatre
Concerts, recitals and plays fill the schedule at the Melico Salazar Theatre, a performance venue in San José, Costa Rica.
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.
Irazú Volcano National Park
Established in 1955 in Cartago Province, Irazú Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú) encompasses Irazú Volcano and the Prusia Forest Reserve.
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
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Parismina
- Puntarenas to Parismina
- San Isidro to Parismina
From Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to other places in Costa Rica
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Santa Elena
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Manuel Antonio
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Finca Sonador
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Parismina?
About 7 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 244 miles.
How far is Parismina from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica by car?
About 244 miles (393 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 Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Parismina?
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Las Catalinas, Costa Rica and Parismina?
Closest to the road: Africa Safari Adventure Park (park, mile 37, 0.6 mi from the route); Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 183, 0.4 mi from the route); Las Mercedes (archaeological site, mile 213, 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.