By Taxi
For those that may not know, Escazú is just outside San José on the southwest side of the capital. Ruta 27 is the closest and one of the more direct routes to access the municipality.
Almost every taxi/uber driver that knows Escazú, knows La Paco (or Paco Plaza). I live practically across the street from the grocery store called Fresh Market in Paco Plaza. Our entrance (Ubicatión Las Vistas), is about 3 doors up from Chez Christope, a French bakery.
There is a gated entrance to this community which is called 'Las Vistas' or "The Views" (probably because of the great views of the mountains). Tell the guard at the gate that you're going to see Jilla Roth or Tiger in Casa Veinticuatro (house 24).
You can always call me from Fresh Market and I'll come get you. If you're coming by bus, the stop is right in front of "La Paco" or Paco Plaza. Again if you have any problems have your cab/uber driver call me and I'll be sure to get you here.
You can contact me at my home number 4033-4632, or my cell, 8667-3591.
Almost every taxi/uber driver that knows Escazú, knows La Paco (or Paco Plaza). I live practically across the street from the grocery store called Fresh Market in Paco Plaza. Our entrance (Ubicatión Las Vistas), is about 3 doors up from Chez Christope, a French bakery.
There is a gated entrance to this community which is called 'Las Vistas' or "The Views" (probably because of the great views of the mountains). Tell the guard at the gate that you're going to see Jilla Roth or Tiger in Casa Veinticuatro (house 24).
You can always call me from Fresh Market and I'll come get you. If you're coming by bus, the stop is right in front of "La Paco" or Paco Plaza. Again if you have any problems have your cab/uber driver call me and I'll be sure to get you here.
You can contact me at my home number 4033-4632, or my cell, 8667-3591.
By Car - Car rental at Juan Santamaria Int'l Airport
There are several car rental agencies near the airport. Some agencies will deliver the car to the airport parking lot (for an added fee) and process the paperwork right there. Some agencies will send a courtesy car (usually free) to meet you upon arrival. Be sure that you know how their particular system works – will they meet you at the specified flight arrival time, (and what is the process of notifying them if the flight is delayed). Some provide a courtesy phone at the airport for you to call them for pick-up. Some run a bus every so often which you can flag down. And for some, you have to make your own way to their outlet (there are cabs available at the airport). Also, be sure you know their operating hours, and whether they provide out-of-hours service.
To get to Tiger’s Den, the general route will take you from the airport towards (but not into) San Jose, then turning off towards Escazu. The first half of the driving is on multi-lane highway, and is reasonably signed, after that, it’s street driving with few signs. There are speed cameras, and the fines are very steep (you are allowed about 10 kilometers/hour over the limit.) Also, on the first section of highway, there are some areas where the right hand lane is reserved for busses. This is marked by white diamonds painted in that lane.
If necessary, ask the car rental agent to give you directions to get you onto the main highway (the Pan American Highway, or Route 1) going in the direction of San Jose. (Some of the agencies are on the wrong side of the divided highway, and you might end up on the Pacific Coast – it’s very nice, but not where you want to be!)
To get to Tiger’s Den, the general route will take you from the airport towards (but not into) San Jose, then turning off towards Escazu. The first half of the driving is on multi-lane highway, and is reasonably signed, after that, it’s street driving with few signs. There are speed cameras, and the fines are very steep (you are allowed about 10 kilometers/hour over the limit.) Also, on the first section of highway, there are some areas where the right hand lane is reserved for busses. This is marked by white diamonds painted in that lane.
If necessary, ask the car rental agent to give you directions to get you onto the main highway (the Pan American Highway, or Route 1) going in the direction of San Jose. (Some of the agencies are on the wrong side of the divided highway, and you might end up on the Pacific Coast – it’s very nice, but not where you want to be!)
Route A
1) Depending on where you start, from the Airport, or the agency, you will drive between 7 and 8 miles (10 - 13 Km) before you will leave this highway at an exit on the right marked ‘ESCAZU’. (If you miss this exit, do not panic, but drive straight ahead, and go to Plan B below.)
2) This is a slip road that puts you directly onto the ‘Circumvalacion’ (a ring road, or by-pass, around San Jose), which you will travel for just about 1 mile (1.8 Km) at which point you will leave this highway at another exit on the right marked ‘ESCAZU’.
3) This is a slip road, which puts you directly onto the last stretch of highway (Pista del Sol, Route 27), which you will travel for about .6 of a mile (1Km), where you will take the exit (on the right) for ‘ESCAZU’.
(End of Plan B detour. You have re-joined the original route.)
(See attached map for the following instructions)
4) You will loop around, under the highway, about .4 miles (800 yards/meters) and be heading for the first set of traffic lights. Get into the centre lane. (You are on Route 105 – see map)
5) Go straight ahead, (100 yards/meters), to the next set of traffic lights, and get into the right hand lane.
6) Go straight ahead down the hill (600 yards/meters), through a set of traffic lights, around a slight bend at the gas station, and take the next RIGHT turn. You can turn right on red! (Route 121, John F. Kennedy Highway.)
7) Follow this road for about 1 ¼ miles (about 2 kilometers).
You will:-
a) Pass through a set of pedestrian lights.
b) Pass Villa Rey Restaurant on your right.
c) Pass History Restaurant on your right.
d) Pass through a set of traffic lights.
e) At the next set of traffic lights, you want to go STRAIGHT AHEAD, so keep to the centre of the lane (allowing ‘turn right on red’ traffic to pass you on your right).
8) About 100 yards/meters ahead you will need to make a sharp LEFT turn.
9) Go about 150 yards/meters, and opposite the ‘Fresh Market’ on your left, turn RIGHT into the Residencias las Vistas Gated Community. The guard will ask you who you are visiting. Once through the barrier, take the first RIGHT, and Tiger’s house is number 24, on the left, with the steep ramp.
2) This is a slip road that puts you directly onto the ‘Circumvalacion’ (a ring road, or by-pass, around San Jose), which you will travel for just about 1 mile (1.8 Km) at which point you will leave this highway at another exit on the right marked ‘ESCAZU’.
3) This is a slip road, which puts you directly onto the last stretch of highway (Pista del Sol, Route 27), which you will travel for about .6 of a mile (1Km), where you will take the exit (on the right) for ‘ESCAZU’.
(End of Plan B detour. You have re-joined the original route.)
(See attached map for the following instructions)
4) You will loop around, under the highway, about .4 miles (800 yards/meters) and be heading for the first set of traffic lights. Get into the centre lane. (You are on Route 105 – see map)
5) Go straight ahead, (100 yards/meters), to the next set of traffic lights, and get into the right hand lane.
6) Go straight ahead down the hill (600 yards/meters), through a set of traffic lights, around a slight bend at the gas station, and take the next RIGHT turn. You can turn right on red! (Route 121, John F. Kennedy Highway.)
7) Follow this road for about 1 ¼ miles (about 2 kilometers).
You will:-
a) Pass through a set of pedestrian lights.
b) Pass Villa Rey Restaurant on your right.
c) Pass History Restaurant on your right.
d) Pass through a set of traffic lights.
e) At the next set of traffic lights, you want to go STRAIGHT AHEAD, so keep to the centre of the lane (allowing ‘turn right on red’ traffic to pass you on your right).
8) About 100 yards/meters ahead you will need to make a sharp LEFT turn.
9) Go about 150 yards/meters, and opposite the ‘Fresh Market’ on your left, turn RIGHT into the Residencias las Vistas Gated Community. The guard will ask you who you are visiting. Once through the barrier, take the first RIGHT, and Tiger’s house is number 24, on the left, with the steep ramp.
Route B
Continue on the Pan American Highway (straight ahead at any intersections) for about 1 ½ miles (2 Km), at which time, you should have a large park on your right and city buildings on your left. Get into the right hand lane, and after you pass under the pedestrian footbridge, you will automatically be funneled (via a right turn) onto the Pista del Sol (also called Route 27). Go straight ahead for about 1.8 miles (3 Km) at which time you should take the exit for ‘ESCAZU’, and re-join the original route at 4) above.