By road, Sixaola and Tortuguero are about 148 miles (238 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 23 min of driving.
Full advisory: Costa Rica. Advisory issued: Costa Rica April 02, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Costa Rica: “Try not to drive outside of urban areas at night.”
| Total distance | 148 mi (238 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 23 min |
| Provinces on the route | Limón |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving Sixaola to Tortuguero: the shape of the trip
Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Sixaola to Tortuguero
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–148 | 148 | Limón |
Stops between Sixaola and Tortuguero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cahuita National Park (mile 24), Las Mercedes (mile 97)
- Nature and outdoors: Volio Waterfall (mile 15), Cahuita National Park (mile 24), Barbilla National Park (mile 75), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 109), Tortuguero National Park (mile 141)
- Museums and history: Las Mercedes (mile 97)
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.
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.
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park lies in Costa Rica's Limón Province, within the Tortuguero Conservation Area in the northeast of the country.
More drives to Tortuguero
- Heredia to Tortuguero
- Alajuela to Tortuguero
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Tortuguero
- Puntarenas to Tortuguero
- San Isidro to Tortuguero
- Dominical to Tortuguero
From Sixaola to other places in Costa Rica
- Sixaola to Parismina
- Sixaola to Santa Elena
- Sixaola to Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
- Sixaola to Pochote
- Sixaola to Playas del Coco
- Sixaola to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Sixaola to Tortuguero?
About 5 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 148 miles.
What is the driving distance from Sixaola to Tortuguero?
About 148 miles (238 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 Tortuguero?
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 Sixaola and Tortuguero?
Closest to the road: Volio Waterfall (waterfall, mile 15, 3 mi from the route); Cahuita National Park (national park, mile 24, 0.6 mi from the route); Las Mercedes (archaeological site, mile 97, 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.