The Wayro route from Limón to Malpais is 268 miles (432 km), about 8 h 58 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: “Roads can have unclear lane markings, narrow shoulders, and large potholes.”
| Distance | 268 mi (432 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 58 min |
| Provinces on the route | Limón, San José, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas, Guanacaste |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Limón to Malpais drive plays out
It runs through 6 provinces: Limón, San José, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas, Guanacaste. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Limón to Malpais, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–96 | 96 | Limón, San José, Heredia |
| connecting roads | 96–97 | 1 | San José |
| local roads | 97–100 | 3 | San José |
| connecting roads | 100–101 | 1 | San José |
| local roads | 101–132 | 31 | San José, Alajuela |
| connecting roads | 132–134 | 2 | Alajuela |
| local roads | 134–268 | 134 | Alajuela, Puntarenas, Guanacaste |
- Mile 71 of this route: Limón → San José (province line)
- Mile 89 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 96 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 109 of this route: San José → Alajuela (province line)
- Mile 142 of this route: Alajuela → Puntarenas (province line)
- Mile 171 of this route: Puntarenas → Guanacaste (province line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Guanacaste → Puntarenas (province line)
- Mile 237 of this route: Puntarenas → Guanacaste (province line)
- Mile 252 of this route: Guanacaste → Puntarenas (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Malpais
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Las Mercedes (mile 46), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 76), Museo La Salle (mile 101)
- Nature and outdoors: Barbilla National Park (mile 24), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 58), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 76), Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 88), Barra Honda National Park (mile 208)
- Museums and history: Las Mercedes (mile 46), Museo Nacional de Costa Rica (mile 96), Museo La Salle (mile 101)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Museo Nacional de Costa Rica
Costa Rica's national museum stands in San José on Calle 17 between Central and Second Avenues, in the Cuesta de Moras area.
Museo La Salle
San José's La Salle natural history museum has three main halls with exhibits on insects, fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds, mammals and anthropology.
Barra Honda National Park
Created in 1974 to protect its cave systems beneath Barra Honda Peak, Barra Honda National Park sits about 12 km from the Tempisque River in western Costa Rica.
More drives to Malpais
From Limón to other places in Costa Rica
- Limón to Cartago, Costa Rica
- Limón to Tortuguero
- Limón to Alajuela
- Limón to San Isidro
- Limón to Puntarenas
- Limón to Manuel Antonio
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Limón to Malpais?
About 8 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 268 miles.
How far is Malpais from Limón by car?
About 268 miles (432 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 Limón to Malpais?
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 Limón and Malpais?
Closest to the road: Las Mercedes (archaeological site, mile 46, 0.6 mi from the route); Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 76, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo La Salle (museum, mile 101, 0.7 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.