The Wayro route from Sixaola to Santa Elena is 235 miles (378 km), about 7 h 40 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 | 235 mi (378 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 40 min |
| Provinces on the route | Limón, San José, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Sixaola to Santa Elena
It runs through 5 provinces: Limón, San José, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Sixaola to Santa Elena, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–147 | 147 | Limón, San José, Heredia |
| connecting roads | 147–148 | 1 | San José |
| local roads | 148–183 | 35 | San José, Alajuela |
| connecting roads | 183–185 | 2 | Alajuela |
| local roads | 185–212 | 27 | Alajuela, Puntarenas |
| connecting roads | 212–214 | 2 | Puntarenas |
| local roads | 214–235 | 21 | Puntarenas |
- Mile 122 of this route: Limón → San José (province line)
- Mile 140 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 147 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 160 of this route: San José → Alajuela (province line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Alajuela → Puntarenas (province line)
What to see on the way from Sixaola to Santa Elena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cahuita National Park (mile 24), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 127), Museo La Salle (mile 152)
- Nature and outdoors: Volio Waterfall (mile 15), Cahuita National Park (mile 24), Barbilla National Park (mile 75), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 109), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 127), Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 139)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional de Costa Rica (mile 148), Metropolitan Cathedral of San José (mile 148), Museo La Salle (mile 152)
Volio Waterfall
Near the town of Bribri in Limón Province, Volio Waterfall lies within the Bribri Indigenous reservation.
Cahuita National Park
On Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast next to the town of Cahuita, Cahuita National Park protects beaches, lowlands and coral reefs. Visitors can snorkel in the marine area, and sea turtles nest here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In Santa Elena itself
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.
Selvatura Park
Near the village of Santa Elena in Monteverde, in the Tilarán mountains, Selvatura is a nature center with a sloth habitat and butterfly gardens.
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.
More drives to Santa Elena
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Santa Elena
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Santa Elena
- Tortuguero to Santa Elena
- Parismina to Santa Elena
- Limón to Santa Elena
- Panama City to Santa Elena, Costa Rica
From Sixaola to other places in Costa Rica
- Sixaola to Parismina
- Sixaola to Tortuguero
- Sixaola to Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
- Sixaola to Pochote
- Sixaola to Playas del Coco
- Sixaola to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Sixaola to Santa Elena?
About 7 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 235 miles.
What is the driving distance from Sixaola to Santa Elena?
About 235 miles (378 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 Sixaola to Santa Elena?
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 Sixaola to Santa Elena?
Closest to the road: Cahuita National Park (national park, mile 24, 0.6 mi from the route); Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 127, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo La Salle (museum, mile 152, 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.