San Isidro to Parismina is about 160 road miles (257 km): roughly 6 h 2 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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 | 160 mi (257 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 2 min |
| Provinces on the route | San José, Cartago, Heredia, Limón |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from San Isidro to Parismina
It runs through 4 provinces: San José, Cartago, Heredia, Limón. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: San Isidro to Parismina
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–76 | 76 | San José, Cartago |
| connecting roads | 76–78 | 2 | San José |
| local roads | 78–137 | 59 | San José, Heredia, Limón |
| connecting roads | 137–138 | 1 | Limón |
| local roads | 138–160 | 22 | Limón |
- Mile 17 of this route: San José → Cartago (province line)
- Mile 21 of this route: Cartago → San José (province line)
- Mile 27 of this route: San José → Cartago (province line)
- Mile 34 of this route: Cartago → San José (province line)
- Mile 38 of this route: San José → Cartago (province line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Cartago → San José (province line)
- Mile 79 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 86 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 104 of this route: San José → Limón (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Parismina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 99), Las Mercedes (mile 129)
- Nature and outdoors: Los Quetzales National Park (mile 35), Tapantí National Park (mile 39), Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 67), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 99), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 117)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Cartago (mile 66), Museo de Numismática (mile 78), Las Mercedes (mile 129)
Los Quetzales National Park
Created in 2006, Los Quetzales National Park covers 50 square kilometers about 97 km from San Isidro de El General, with a small ranger station and one mountainous main road.
Tapantí National Park
On the edge of the Talamanca Range near Cartago, Tapantí National Park protects forests north of Chirripó National Park and part of the Orosí River.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Cartago
In the city of Cartago, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgen de los Ángeles; it dates to 1639 and was partly destroyed by an earthquake.
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.
Melico Salazar Theatre
Concerts, recitals and plays fill the schedule at the Melico Salazar Theatre, a performance venue in San José, Costa Rica.
Museo de Numismática
Run by the Banco Central de Costa Rica, the Museo de Numismática Jaime Solera Bennett in San José preserves and displays objects tied to the country's monetary history in an underground building beneath the Plaza de la Cultura.
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
- Puntarenas to Parismina
- Dominical to Parismina
From San Isidro to other places in Costa Rica
- San Isidro to Heredia
- San Isidro to Alajuela
- San Isidro to Cartago, Costa Rica
- San Isidro to Tortuguero
- San Isidro to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- San Isidro to Bribri
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Isidro to Parismina?
About 6 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 160 miles.
How far is Parismina from San Isidro by car?
About 160 miles (257 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 San Isidro 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 San Isidro and Parismina?
Closest to the road: Museo de Numismática (museum, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 99, 0.4 mi from the route); Las Mercedes (archaeological site, mile 129, 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.