The Wayro route from Parismina to Santa Elena is 167 miles (269 km), about 5 h 45 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: “Do not drive through water if you can't see its depth.”
| Distance | 167 mi (269 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 45 min |
| Provinces on the route | Limón, San José, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Parismina–Santa Elena drive in a few lines
It runs through 5 provinces: Limón, San José, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Parismina to Santa Elena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–21 | 21 | Limón |
| connecting roads | 21–22 | 1 | Limón |
| local roads | 22–115 | 93 | Limón, San José, Heredia, Alajuela |
| connecting roads | 115–117 | 2 | Alajuela |
| local roads | 117–144 | 27 | Alajuela, Puntarenas |
| connecting roads | 144–146 | 2 | Puntarenas |
| local roads | 146–167 | 21 | Puntarenas |
- Mile 54 of this route: Limón → San José (province line)
- Mile 72 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 80 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 92 of this route: San José → Alajuela (province line)
- Mile 125 of this route: Alajuela → Puntarenas (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Santa Elena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Las Mercedes (mile 29), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 59), Museo La Salle (mile 84)
- Nature and outdoors: Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 41), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 59), Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 71)
- Museums and history: Las Mercedes (mile 29), National Theatre of Costa Rica (mile 80), Museo La Salle (mile 84)
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.
National Theatre of Costa Rica
Costa Rica's national theater sits in the central part of San José. It opened to the public on October 21, 1897, with a performance of Goethe's Faust.
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.
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.
Centro de Rescate Las Pumas
On the old Hacienda La Pacifica farmland in southern Cañas, Guanacaste, Centro de Rescate Las Pumas is a rescue center set on about 35 acres.
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.
More drives to Santa Elena
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Santa Elena
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Santa Elena
- Tortuguero to Santa Elena
- Limón to Santa Elena
- Sixaola to Santa Elena
- Panama City to Santa Elena, Costa Rica
From Parismina to other places in Costa Rica
- Parismina to Manuel Antonio
- Parismina to Finca Sonador
- Parismina to Uvita
- Parismina to Brasilito
- Parismina to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
- Parismina to Playa Grande
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Parismina to Santa Elena?
About 5 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 167 miles.
How far is Santa Elena from Parismina by car?
About 167 miles (269 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 Parismina to Santa Elena drive?
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 Parismina to Santa Elena?
Closest to the road: Las Mercedes (archaeological site, mile 29, 0.6 mi from the route); Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 59, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo La Salle (museum, mile 84, 0.5 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.