Getting to Punta Mona
Getting to Punta Mona is exciting and an adventure in itself. We are located in the middle of the jungle and there are no roads to get here but the trip is very exciting and beautiful. The farm is located on Southern Caribbean Coast about 6 km south of the town of Manzanillo or 10 km north of the small town of Gandoca. Enjoy the journey!

Coming from the San José Airport

Concerning Money - There is a counter to change money at the airport just before you exit the building on the left. You should change about $40 into colones when you land for traveling. We would not recommend changing more as there is a much better deal for money-exchange in Puerto Viejo. Also, you can get colones out of the ATM in Puerto Viejo for the best exchange rate. Nearly all businesses in Costa Rica accept dollars but it’s always best to have local currency.

Transportation – To get to our farm you will need to take busses from San Jose through Limon all the way down the coast to Manzanillo. Take a cab from the airport to the Gran Terminal del Caribe (The Caribbean bus terminal).

From San Jose to Puerto Viejo

*There are buses from San Jose to Puerto Viejo at 6 AM, 10 AM, 12PM, 2 PM and 4 PM.

At the Gran Terminal del Caribe there are several windows to buy tickets. You want the window that says SIXAOLA (even though there is a window that says Puerto Viejo). At the window, ask for a ticket to Puerto Viejo. Outside of the station the "tracks" are labeled with where the buses are going. Remember, you are looking for the bus to Sixaola – don’t be afraid to ask around if you are confused. Be sure to be waiting for your bus at least fifteen minutes before it leaves so you don’t miss boarding.

The bus ride is about 4 1/2 hours. You will be going through Braullio Carillio National Park - a gorgeous cloud forest so don’t sleep through this part! The bus will make a 15 to 20 minute pit stop in Limon. You can use the bathroom and buy snacks here but keep an eye on your carry-on bags. Before its final destination in Puerto Viejo the bus stops at one other town along the way called Cahuita – another nice place to stay the night. From Cahuita, it is about 20 more minutes until Puerto Viejo.

From Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo

*There are buses from Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo at 7:15 AM, 11:45 AM, 4:15 PM, and 7:15 PM.

The bus ride is about 30 minutes. Taxis from Puerto Viejo are usually 6.000 colones and take about 20 minutes.

Boats in Manzanillo

From Manzanillo to Punta Mona

The Office: The Punta Mona office is located West of Maxis Restaurant – look for the hanging signs. If a staff member is there, you will be able to work with them to get to Punta Mona. If not, please see below.

Boats: ***If you are applying as an intern or prefer pre-arranged travel – please email us in advance and we will help coordinate your boat trip as we have boats coming in and out often***

Otherwise, you can hire a boat to bring you to Punta Mona on your own upon arrival. Go to Maxis and ask for a boat captain. The boat captain will quote you a price and bring you in. Boats generally do not leave Manzanillo after 4:00 PM.

Hiking: You can also ask for a guide at Maxis to hike you in. The guides will not hike you in to Punta Mona after 3:30 AM. The walk in is beautiful but not recommended to be done alone for the first time. It takes one and a half to three hours. If you plan to walk be prepared with good footwear (tall socks and rubber boots or good hiking boots) - the trail can be extremely muddy.

Trail to Punta Mona

Coming from Panama
As Punta Mona is on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, the easiest way to get here is through Guabito (on the Panamanian side) and Sixaola (on the Costa Rican side). The border is open from 8AM to 6PM in Panama and 7AM to 5PM in Costa Rica (Panama is one hour ahead of Costa Rica). Make sure you get there with enough time to spare because both sides close for lunch at about 1PM and you may have to wait for a while to be processed. Before crossing the bridge, stop at migracion (506-754-2044) Costa Rica to get your paperwork processed.

From Sixaola

You can get to Punta Mona from Sixaola through either Puerto Viejo or Gandoca.

Through Puerto Viejo:

Take a bus to either Limon or San Jose – the key here is to make sure that the bus goes through Puerto Viejo. See directions above once you get to Puerto Viejo.

Through Gandoca:

After arriving in Sixaola take a taxi to Gandoca. The cost will vary depending on the cab. From Gandoca, Punta Mona is approximately a 40 to 50 minute walk along the beach to the north, depending on how quickly you walk. You can also walk on the jungle path a few feet into the jungle. You will know you’re at Punta Mona when you see Monkey Point, a little island a couple hundred feet off the shore, and our beautiful jungle houses…


Travel Tips –

1. A good identifier of a legitimate cab is a red car with a yellow triangle on the side.

2. Be careful while at the bus station and make sure you are always holding your bags securely. If you put them down, put the strap around your leg or arm.

3. Have your money, passport and plane ticket securely stowed away. Keep a wallet in your pocket with the money you need for traveling and food.

4. Puerto Viejo and Sixaola are the last towns before getting to Punta Mona with an ATM/bank. ***Interns need to pay cash upon arrival for their internship, COLONES are preferred***

5. Costa Rica is a very safe and friendly country – but there are people who try and take advantage of tourists. Be especially careful when leaving the airport and getting off busses for people who may approach you offering to help. It is very easy to find food and lodging (cabinas) on your own all through Costa Rica – so firmly tell them no and be on your way.