Sierpe

Three small-town open-air restaurants on the northern Sierpe Riverbanks with river views focus on freshness, traditional Costa Rican seafood – ceviches, whole fish & shrimp - and old fashion desserts.

Three bars – Cocodrilo, Coco Peli and Bar La Esquina – all within walking distance from the Central Park play music at night up to 10 p.m. or sometimes further into the night as long as there are people enjoying themselves.

Become one with nature on the Sierpe River inside the largest Mangrove forest of Costa Rica! Sit on a motorboat, kayak or Stand up paddle board, relax and experience the heard of monkeys, iguanas, birds and wildlife dwelling in the five different types of mangrove trees without the hassle of long hiking trails.

Unwrap the mysteries of what ancient Costa Rican tribes left behind – perfectly shaped stone spheres – at Finca 6, the Stone Sphere Park, that hosts three stone spheres buried in the ground on their original location and the remains of a center building structure.

Experience the charm of Siepe's rustic and simple hotels that can accommodate up to 100 travelers.

Downtown Sierpe has only two hotels. Close to the bus station and nearby a few restaurants and bars. A mile stretch of road winds through the tropical forest from Sierpe Central Park to Palmar Norte hosts the additional hotels with a capacity for 100 people.

• For about $10-$15, you can find a room with shared bathroom

• For about $15-$30, you can find hotels with private rooms, A/C, Wi-Fi, hot water, a pool and breakfast included

Sierpe only has a pier, a park, a police station and a soccer field.

Sierpe bustles the largest mangrove forests in Central America with bountiful wildlife.  Motorboat, kayak or Stand Up Paddle tours on Sierpe River help you spot spider, howler, squirrel and white-faced monkeys; scarlet macaws and hundreds of more exotic birds perched in the mangrove branches; and many other creatures of the forests. Night hikes thrill you with the spooky noises of creature's nocturnal life in the mountains across the river town.

Walks through the mysterious verdant Finca 6 bring you back to 1,500 B.C. to learn what is known about ancient civilizations in Costa Rica and its stone sphere artifacts.

Daily snorkeling and diving tours to Caño Island or hiking tours to Corcovado National Park (San Pedrillo or Sirena ranger stations) - just one to two hours away - depart from Sierpe.

Air

Local carriers, Nature Air and Sansa, fly between San Jose and Palmar Norte airstrip several times a day, with departures and arrivals from many popular tourist locations. $200 round trip.

Bus

Direct Buses: San Jose- Sierpe

Direct buses from San Jose depart from the Tracopa Station (Transportes Costarricenses Panameños) at Plaza Viquez (Calle 5 and Avendia 20) in San Jose: $12 one way; 8:30 a.m. Mon.-Sun.; 7-8 hours; 2221-4214.

Direct buses from Sierpe depart from the Sierpe park in front of "Farmacia Ibarra" in Sierpe: $12 one way; 7:30 a.m. Mon.-Sun.; 7-8 hours; 2788-1311.

Indirect Buses: San Jose - Palmar Norte - Sierpe

Buses from San Jose heading to Ciudad Neily, Golfito or Paso Canoas stop at a town near Sierpe called Palmar Norte. From Palmar Norte, you can take the local bus to Sierpe ($1). All indirect buses that stop at Palmar Norte depart from the Tracopa Station (Transportes Costarricenses Panameños) at Plaza Viquez (Calle 5 and Avendia 20) in San Jose: $12 one way to Palmar Norte; 2221-4214.

Tracopa station serves three bus lines you can take to Palmar Norte (San Jose – Ciudad Neily, San Jose – Paso Canoas and San Jose Golfito) with two routes: the coastal or the high mountains highway.

Buses from San Jose that stop at Palmar Norte via the coastal highway (5-6 hours) leave San Jose Mon.-Sun. at 6:30 a.m., 7 a.m., 7:40 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 1:05 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6:40 p.m. Additional service on Fridays only at 10 p.m.

Buses from San Jose that stop at Palmar Norte via the high mountains (6-7 hours - They call it "El Cerro") leave San Jose Mon.-Sun. at 5 a.m., 5:30 a.m.,7 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Additional service on Sundays only at 10:20 p.m.

Buses from Palmar Norte in route to San Jose via the high mountains leave Palmar Norte from Tracopa station Mon-Sun. at 5:40 a.m., 6:15 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 10 a.m.,1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.; Additional service on Sundays only at 12:15 p.m.;$12 one way.

Buses from Palmar Norte in route to San Jose via the coastal highway leave Palmar Norte from Tracopa station Mon-Sun. at 6:05 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:50 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 3:01 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Additional service on Sundays at 9:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m. and 3:17 p.m.; $12 one way.

Palmar Norte – Sierpe

Buses from Palmar Norte to Sierpe depart from the Auto Lasa station in front of the Gollo appliance store at 5 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.; $1; 30 minutes; 2786-7496.

Buses from Sierpe to Palmar Norte depart from the corner of the Sierpe Park near Farmacia Ibarra at 5:30 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.; $1; 30 minutes; 2786-7496.

Note: In case you miss the bus to Sierpe you can take a taxi for $14-15 from Palmar Norte to Sierpe.

Car

Travel time between San Jose and Sierpe is roughly four hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Take Route 27 west toward Orotina, the fastest way – for about 30 – 40 minutes. Exit toward Route 34, following signs to Jaco. Expect to pay around $6 in tolls - payable only in Costa Rican currency. Before reaching Jaco, you'll cross the Tarcoles River Bridge where dozens of crocodiles may be spotted from the bridge. From Jaco, continue on Route 34 towards Manuel Antonio/Quepos. Pass Dominical, Uvita and continue until you get to Palmar Norte. Exit toward Route 223 Sierpe and continue for 15 minutes until the end of the road.

Alternatively, from San Isidro del General, you can take the Panamerican Highway south to Buenos Aires. You will pass through sugar cane and pineapple farms. After Buenos Aires, continue south alongside the Terraba River until you reach Palmar Norte. Cross the river bridge and turn right to reach Sierpe.