By road, Tortuguero and Uvita are about 176 miles (283 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 60 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: “Do not drive through water if you can't see its depth.”
| Distance by road | 176 mi (283 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 60 min |
| Provinces on the route | Limón, San José, Heredia, Puntarenas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Tortuguero to Uvita
It runs through 4 provinces: Limón, San José, Heredia, Puntarenas. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Tortuguero to Uvita: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–78 | 78 | Limón, San José, Heredia |
| connecting roads | 78–86 | 8 | San José |
| local roads | 86–176 | 90 | San José, Puntarenas |
- Mile 52 of this route: Limón → San José (province line)
- Mile 70 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 77 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 117 of this route: San José → Puntarenas (province line)
What to see on the way from Tortuguero to Uvita
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 57), Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar (mile 78), Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 78)
- Nature and outdoors: Tortuguero National Park (mile 7), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 40), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 57), Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 78), La Cangreja National Park (mile 114), Manuel Antonio National Park (mile 145)
- Museums and history: Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (mile 78)
- With kids: Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar (mile 78)
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park lies in Costa Rica's Limón Province, within the Tortuguero Conservation Area in the northeast of the country.
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.
Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar
Located in downtown San José, Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar is an urban park of about 35 acres that serves as Costa Rica's oldest botanical garden and zoo.
Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden
In San José's Barrio Amón area, Spirogyra Butterfly Farm keeps 50 to 60 species of live Costa Rican butterflies in a glass-enclosed garden with flowering plants and waterfalls.
La Cangreja National Park
A protected zone until 2002, La Cangreja National Park lies in Puriscal Canton, San José Province, and belongs to the Central Pacific Conservation Area near Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Just south of Quepos on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio National Park was established in 1972 after the local community pushed to protect the area from development.
More drives to Uvita
From Tortuguero to other places in Costa Rica
- Tortuguero to Manuel Antonio
- Tortuguero to Santa Elena
- Tortuguero to Finca Sonador
- Tortuguero to Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
- Tortuguero to Parismina
- Tortuguero to Playas del Coco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tortuguero to Uvita?
About 6 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 176 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tortuguero to Uvita?
About 176 miles (283 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 Tortuguero to Uvita?
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 Tortuguero to Uvita?
Closest to the road: Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 57, 0.5 mi from the route); Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden (butterfly house, mile 78, 0.3 mi from the route); Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar (zoo, mile 78, 0.4 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.