Plan on about 4 h 18 min of driving for the 144-mile (231 km) trip from Puntarenas to Parismina, 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: “Do not drive through water if you can't see its depth.”
| Total distance | 144 mi (231 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 18 min |
| Provinces on the route | Puntarenas, Alajuela, San José, Heredia, Limón |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Puntarenas–Parismina drive in a few lines
It runs through 5 provinces: Puntarenas, Alajuela, San José, Heredia, Limón. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Puntarenas to Parismina: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Puntarenas |
| connecting roads | 5–7 | 2 | Puntarenas |
| local roads | 7–57 | 50 | Puntarenas, Alajuela, San José |
| connecting roads | 57–58 | 1 | San José |
| local roads | 58–121 | 63 | San José, Heredia, Limón |
| connecting roads | 121–122 | 1 | Limón |
| local roads | 122–144 | 22 | Limón |
- Mile 16 of this route: Puntarenas → Alajuela (province line)
- Mile 50 of this route: Alajuela → San José (province line)
- Mile 63 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 70 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 88 of this route: San José → Limón (province line)
Places worth a stop between Puntarenas and Parismina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo La Salle (mile 58), Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (mile 62), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 83), Las Mercedes (mile 112)
- Nature and outdoors: Carara National Park (mile 21), Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 70), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 83), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 100)
- Museums and history: Museo La Salle (mile 58), Metropolitan Cathedral of San José (mile 62), Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (mile 62), Las Mercedes (mile 112)
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.
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.
Metropolitan Cathedral of San José
Located on Calle Central in San José, the Metropolitan Cathedral replaced an original 1802 cathedral that was destroyed by an earthquake.
Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
Founded in 1994, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design in Costa Rica focuses on contemporary Central American art and design and also shows international work.
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
- San Isidro to Parismina
- Dominical to Parismina
From Puntarenas to other places in Costa Rica
- Puntarenas to Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
- Puntarenas to Heredia
- Puntarenas to Finca Sonador
- Puntarenas to Cartago, Costa Rica
- Puntarenas to Tortuguero
- Puntarenas to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Puntarenas to Parismina?
About 4 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 144 miles.
How far is Parismina from Puntarenas by car?
About 144 miles (231 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 Puntarenas to Parismina 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 Puntarenas and Parismina?
Closest to the road: Museo La Salle (museum, mile 58, 0.6 mi from the route); Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 83, 0.4 mi from the route); Las Mercedes (archaeological site, mile 112, 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.