Plan on about 3 h 26 min of driving for the 97-mile (156 km) trip from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Santa Elena, 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 | 97 mi (156 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 26 min |
| Provinces on the route | Guanacaste, Puntarenas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
How the Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Santa Elena drive plays out
It runs through 2 provinces: Guanacaste, Puntarenas. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Las Catalinas, Costa Rica and Santa Elena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–60 | 60 | Guanacaste |
| connecting roads | 60–62 | 2 | Guanacaste |
| local roads | 62–83 | 21 | Guanacaste |
| connecting roads | 83–91 | 8 | Guanacaste |
| local roads | 91–97 | 6 | Guanacaste, Puntarenas |
- Mile 96 of this route: Guanacaste → Puntarenas (province line)
Stops between Las Catalinas, Costa Rica and Santa Elena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Sabanero (mile 32), Africa Safari Adventure Park (mile 37)
- Nature and outdoors: Africa Safari Adventure Park (mile 37), Palo Verde National Park (mile 51), Tenorio Volcano National Park (mile 69)
- Museums and history: Museo de Sabanero (mile 32)
Museo de Sabanero
Founded in 1990 in Liberia, the Museo de Sabanero focuses on the cowboy culture of northwest Costa Rica, a region where Liberia was long known for raising livestock.
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.
Tenorio Volcano National Park
Part of the Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area in northern Costa Rica, Tenorio Volcano National Park takes its name from Tenorio Volcano, the park's centerpiece.
When you get to Santa Elena
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Founded in 1972 and named after the nearby town of Monteverde, this reserve protects more than 25,946 acres of cloud forest along the Cordillera de Tilarán.
Monteverde Theme Park
Once a frog pond, the Monteverde Theme Park in Santa Elena houses a butterfly farm with about 30 species, plus more than 25 species of frogs and other amphibians.
Selvatura Park
Near the village of Santa Elena in Monteverde, in the Tilarán mountains, Selvatura is a nature center with a sloth habitat and butterfly gardens.
More drives to Santa Elena
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Santa Elena
- Tortuguero to Santa Elena
- Parismina to Santa Elena
- Limón to Santa Elena
- Sixaola to Santa Elena
- Panama City to Santa Elena, Costa Rica
From Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to other places in Costa Rica
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Manuel Antonio
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Finca Sonador
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Parismina
- 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 Santa Elena?
About 3 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 97 miles.
How far is Santa Elena from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica by car?
About 97 miles (156 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 Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena?
Closest to the road: Museo de Sabanero (museum, mile 32, 0.4 mi from the route); Africa Safari Adventure Park (park, mile 37, 0.6 mi from the route); Palo Verde National Park (national park, mile 51, 9 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.