Getting Here

Marbella sits along Guanacaste's coastal road, and reaching it is more straightforward than it used to be. There's no direct shuttle service to the beach, and while public buses do run along the broader coastal corridor, they don't offer convenient or timely drop-offs at smaller destinations like Marbella. For nearly all visitors, a rental car is the practical way in.

Good news on the roads: the main coastal road is now paved all the way into the town of Marbella and continues paved almost the entire way to Nosara further south. So, you can leave the rugged jungle explorer fantasy at home and bring a regular sedan instead. It'll get you comfortably to our property and even down to the beach, as long as you keep your eyes open.

Even though it's paved, don't let your guard down completely: surprise potholes can and do pop up along the way, and once you're in town, you'll often find a combination of potholes and speed bumps on the same stretch of paved road. The speed bumps are especially common near schools and through small villages, and they're not always painted or well-marked, so a little caution goes a long way. As for the dirt roads branching off the main road, potholes are just part of the package there, so factor that in as well. If you plan to venture further into town, around nearby beaches, or beyond, an SUV will make for a smoother, less bouncy adventure.

Plan on roughly 90 km and about 2 hours of driving, depending on traffic. Head south from the airport toward Santa Cruz. Rather than continuing all the way into Tamarindo, look for the turn off toward the small town of 27 de Abril, which comes up before you reach Tamarindo. This paved cutoff road connects you to Paraíso, Junquillal, and Marbella. Santa Cruz makes a good stop if you need gas, food, or supplies. It's still about an hour from Marbella, and roughly 30 minutes from the 27 de Abril turn off, so it's a reasonable halfway point to break up the drive.

Plan on roughly 250 km and 4.5 to 5 hours of driving, heading northwest out of the Central Valley toward Guanacaste before joining the coastal road south through Santa Cruz toward Marbella. It's a full day of travel by the time you factor in the flight and drive, so if you're arriving in the afternoon, consider breaking up the trip with an overnight stop along the way rather than pushing straight through after a long flight. If your itinerary allows it, flying into Liberia instead will save you several hours.

Please note: due to ongoing construction on Costa Rican highways, drive times from San José are currently less predictable than usual. Depending on delays, the trip can take anywhere from 4.5 hours to 6.5 hours or longer. We'd recommend building in extra time for your travel and avoiding a tight same-day connection if possible.

Direct shuttle options to Marbella itself are limited. Most shared shuttle services connect Costa Rica's major hubs — San José, Liberia, Tamarindo, and Samara — but don't make stops at smaller beach towns like Marbella. If you're not renting a car, your best bet is to book a shuttle to Tamarindo and arrange a taxi or private transfer for the final leg south. Public buses do pass through the area, though on a limited and infrequent schedule.

Once you arrive in the small town of Marbella coming from Santa Cruz, the route to TICOASIS is straightforward.

Continue through town until you pass the soccer field. Just past it, you'll see the mini super (small grocery store) on your left. Directly across the street, on your right, is a main gravel road — this is your turn.

Turn right onto that gravel road, heading toward the beach. Like most roads in town, it's unpaved and can be a bit rough in spots, so take it slow. Continue for about 1.2 km, passing two other gravel roads along the way, until you reach the third main road on your right: Calle Congo. This turn is roughly 300 meters from the beach.

Turn right onto Calle Congo and continue for about 500 meters. Take your first left onto Jardín del Sol.

About 70 meters down Jardín del Sol, on the right-hand side, you'll find the entrance to TICOASIS.