You can take two routes:

1)Journey along the 'Panamericana' (The Pan-American Highway), through the mountains.

2)Journey along the Costanera. Along the Beach.

1) Journey along the 'Panamericana' (The Pan-American Highway)

The Southern Region of Costa Rica is largely flat due to the erosion of the central volcanic mountain range. However, there is an array of mountains, peaks and slopes, among them the highest peak in Costa Rica (el Cerro Chirripo) located within the Chirripo National Park.

Traveling along the Pan-American Highway from the capital towards the south, the climb to the Cerro de la Muerte (literally Death Peak) begins.

According to tradition, this peak is so-called because when the colonization of Central America began, the first travelers died from exposure to the extremely cold climate. Today it seems ironic because temperatures rarely reach sub-zero. Possibly in the past, the climate was colder.

Today the journey is pleasant due to an abundance of mountain vegetation, and in particular the 'paramo' vegetation (unique to Costa Rica) which is characterized by being short and woody.

Around the 'Cerro de la Muerte', there are several hotels, restaurants, and places where trout fishing, mountain walks and bird-watching (the bird most looked-out for is the 'quetzal') can be enjoyed, and of course other species of mountain animals can also be observed. In this high and cold region, blackberries, apples, strawberries, flowers, garden vegetables, peaches and other fruits/vegetables are produced for export. The temperature during the day is around 15 degrees centigrade and it is frequently cloudy and humid.

The journey continues downwards towards the Zona Sur, reaching the 'Valle del General' or San Isidro del General, also known as Perez Zeledon.

This is an immense valley, and home to the largest city in the region. The area is rich in commerce and agricultural activities, such as the cultivation of coffee and sugar cane. It is a strategic point, only 30 minutes from the pacific coast (the beaches of Dominical, Uvita and others), and an hour from Cerro Chirripo. There are also tourist centers nearby with lakes for tilapia fishing, hot springs, beautiful waterfalls, mountain walks in private reserves, visits to the local zoo, theaters, internet cafes, sports facilities, clean rivers for swimming, swimming pools, etc.

The temperature in San Isidro is some 30 degrees centigrade, the climate is humid, and the dry season lasts from about January to June.

Leaving the city of Perez Zeledon and continuing towards the south, you come to the city of Buenos Aires, where the indigenous reserves of Cabagra and Boruca can be visited. Here you can appreciate the way of life of some of Costa Rica's indigenous people and buy some of their souvenirs and handicrafts. The temperature here is higher (+/- 33 degrees centigrade) and the region is flat. The area is known for the cultivation of pineapples for export.

Continuing on towards the southern region, you will travel alongside the River Terraba, one of the largest rivers in Costa Rica. On this part of the Pan-American Highway you will come to a crossroads. Turning left (eastwards) at this crossroads will take you up into the mountains towards San Vito. San Vito was originally an Italian colony and is now rich in commerce and agricultural activities. The climate is very pleasant, the temperature is around 25 degrees centigrade. One of the most popular of the tourist activities available here is the visit to the Lancaster Gardens. These gardens house the biggest collection of plants in the region, and possibly in the entire country. From here, you can continue your journey to the regional border, or you can return to the Pan-American Highway.

Continuing towards the south at the crossroads, you will reach Palmar Norte, where the road then joins the 'Costanera' (the coastal road).

2) Journey along the Costanera:

 The journey along the Costanera from San Jose to Palmar Norte in the Zona Sur is beautiful and there are many opportunities to buy souvenirs. The temperatures along the coast range between 30 and 38 degrees centigrade. Approximately 2 hours from San Jose,  the first beach you will come to is Jaco. This is a very popular destination with foreigners with a great nightlife and party atmosphere. About an hour further down the coast you reach Quepos. This beach has similar attractions to those of Jaco, with many activities available to foreign tourists. The Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is nearby. The Park has attractive beaches and is rich in wildlife.

Continuing from Quepos, along a  road which is in reasonably good condition but can also be quite 'holey', you will come to several small villages and find entrances to beaches at regular intervals. About an hour and a half from Quepos towards the south you will come to another paved road. If you take this road east, you will reach San Isidro (30 minutes away) and if you continue towards the south (after crossing the River Baru) you will reach the beach of Dominical. This beach has many tourist facilities and is particularly good for surfers.

Some 40 minutes further down the coast from Dominical is Uvita beach. Here you can visit the National Marine Park "Bahia Ballena", a very attractive marine conservation area which you are well advised to visit.

 If you would like more info about beaches, CLICK HERE

Further down the coast towards the south you will come to Ventanas beach. 15 minutes from Uvita, this is a very beautiful beach where the tide has vreated two caves in the rocks. When the tide goes out, it is possible to cross some 25 meters underground and come out at the other side of a mountain. However, be careful. To get to this beach you have to leave your vehicle parked about 200 metres away, and sometimes local delinquents will take the opportunity to break into cars and steal your personal belongings.

From Uvita, passing near Ciudad Cortes, the road joins the Pan-American Highway in Palmar Norte.

2) Journey from Palmar Norte towards the border with Panama

Palmar Norte is where the two access roads to the Zona Sur (the Pan-American Highway - also known as the InterAmericana - and the Costanera) meet. The remainder of the journey is through a primarily flat, humid region, rich in wildlife and natural beauty. Immediately beyond the point where these two roads meet, there is a bridge which crosses the River Terraba (one of the biggest rivers in Costa Rica), and beyond this there are several exits off to the right (towards the west) which take you to places of interest for tourists. These include the mangroves which are found at the mouth of the River Terraba, the most expansive Mangrove area in Costa Rica.

Continuing towards the south, about an hour's drive from Palmar Norte you will come to Chacarita. Turning right at the crossroads (where there is a gas station) you will reach the Parque Nacional de Corcovado. This park is recorded as having the greatest bio-diversity in the world. Rich in animal and plant wildlife, this is an extremely beautiful region where the sea meets mountains and rivers. If you continue straight  at the crossroads in Chacarita, instead of turning right towards Corcovado, you will come to Rio Claro. From here, after a right (west) turn, a 25-minute drive will take you to Golfito. Golfito is a small and pleasant town located within a natural gulf. This is the site of the 'Puerto Libre' (Tax/Duty Free Zone), where you can buy items such as electrical goods at very low prices (due to them being exempt from tax). Normally the prices are from 25% to 50% lower than the normal price. This is a good way of saving money on TVs, refrigerators, electric fans, washing machines and other expensive electrical items.

Around this area there are also many hotels and restaurants offering a wide range of activities for tourists. These include sports fishing, trail walking and boat trips amongst other things. Not far from Golfito is Pavones beach which is another good surfing beach, and boasts the second longest left wave in the world. However, if you decide to continue your drive along the Pan-American Highway instead of turning off to Golfito, your journey will take you through a small town called Ciudad Villa Neilly and, after about 45 minutes from Rio Claro, to the border with Panama. This is a favorite shopping-spot with many people because prices on the Panamanian side are lower, but on the Costa Rican side bags are usually checked to make sure people are not carrying 'contraband' merchandise.