Driving Route 32 Through Braulio Carrillo: What to Know Before You Go

Every trip to the Caribbean side starts on this road. Here is how to drive it well.

October 7, 2026 · 5 min read

Route 32 is the main road from San José to Guápiles, Siquirres, and Limón. Between the capital and the lowlands it climbs through Braulio Carrillo National Park, a huge block of rainforest that the road splits in two. The drive is beautiful, and it earns its reputation for rough conditions.

What makes this road different

The road passes through the Zurquí Tunnel, the only road tunnel in Costa Rica at 468 meters long. Beyond it you drop into mountains that sit in fog and rain, even in the dry season. Trucks heading to and from the port at Limón share the same two lanes, so expect slow stretches on the steep sections.

Leave early

Start before noon. A drive that begins after 2 pm ends in the dark, and we don't recommend that for first-time drivers. Some stretches have faint markings, and rain cuts visibility fast. Plan to be through the park by early afternoon.

Check for closures before you leave

Landslides close the road at times, mostly in the rainy season. Officials can also close it at night as a precaution. Check conditions the morning you drive. Local drivers post closures and accidents in real time in a Facebook group called "Braulio Carrillo. R32-ORIGINAL, CR."

If the road closes, the older route through Cartago and Turrialba on Route 10 is your backup. It adds time, so plan around it.

Driving it: fog, curves, and trucks

Use your low beams in fog. High beams bounce back at you. Slow down before a curve, not in it. Never pass a truck on a blind curve, even when the road markings allow it. If rain turns the road white, pull off at a safe spot and wait.

Stop in the park

Braulio Carrillo has three sectors. Zurquí sits just north of the tunnel on the right and makes the easiest first stop. Quebrada González sits right off the highway and works best if you want wildlife. Barva, the cloud forest sector, takes a longer detour from Heredia.

The park is open from 8 am to 3:30 pm every day. National parks have gone cashless, so bring a card. Plan two to four hours at Zurquí, and wear rain gear because the trails stay wet.

If you would rather not drive

Public buses run along Route 32 from San José to Guápiles, Siquirres, and Limón, and they pass the park. A private driver is the calm choice if you are heading to Tortuguero or the Caribbean beaches. We plan these transfers as part of every itinerary.

Flying into Limón instead? Our Limón airport guide covers the other way in.

Written by Insiders Costa Rica — Certified Travel Advisors based in Atenas, Costa Rica.

🌿 The full breakdown — costs, booking contacts, and day-by-day timing — is in the Insider Guide.