Plan on about 7 h 11 min of driving for the 195-mile (314 km) trip from Limón to Uvita, 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: “Roads can have unclear lane markings, narrow shoulders, and large potholes.”
| Distance | 195 mi (314 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 11 min |
| Provinces on the route | Limón, San José, Heredia, Puntarenas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Limón–Uvita drive in a few lines
It runs through 4 provinces: Limón, San José, Heredia, Puntarenas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Limón to Uvita
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–97 | 97 | Limón, San José, Heredia |
| connecting roads | 97–106 | 9 | San José |
| local roads | 106–195 | 89 | San José, Puntarenas |
- 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 136 of this route: San José → Puntarenas (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Uvita
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Las Mercedes (mile 46), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 76), Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 97), Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (mile 98)
- Nature and outdoors: Barbilla National Park (mile 24), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 76), Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 88), Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 97), La Cangreja National Park (mile 133), Manuel Antonio National Park (mile 163)
- Museums and history: Las Mercedes (mile 46), Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 97), Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (mile 98)
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.
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.
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.
Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
Set in an underground building beneath the Plaza de la Cultura in San José, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum is owned and curated by Costa Rica's central bank.
La Cangreja National Park
A protected zone until 2002, La Cangreja National Park lies in Puriscal Canton, San José Province, and belongs to the Central Pacific Conservation Area near Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Just south of Quepos on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio National Park was established in 1972 after the local community pushed to protect the area from development.
More drives to Uvita
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 is the drive from Limón to Uvita?
About 7 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 195 miles.
How far is Uvita from Limón by car?
About 195 miles (314 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 Limón to Uvita drive?
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 Uvita?
Closest to the road: Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 76, 0.4 mi from the route); Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (butterfly house, mile 97, 0.4 mi from the route); Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (museum, mile 98, 0.2 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.