It really depends where you are coming from of course, but the following should cover most bases:

By Air & Car

There are now two international airports in Costa Rica. San Jose, the capital, and Liberia, the new international airport just opened.

Liberia only opened recently, and the good news is that the number of international flights into Liberia are increasing monthly. Liberia is far closer to the Tilawa than San Jose, being 1 hour 15 mins by road, whereas San Jose runs at about 3 1/2 hours by road.

If driving from Liberia, you now need to get on route one heading south to San Jose. Do this by leaving the airport and taking the Daniel Oduber road to Liberia, where you will find a major intersection to Route One. When arriving at Canas, turn left, then the directions are the same as if coming from San Jose.

If flying into San Jose and driving, get on to Route 1 outside the airport heading north to Liberia and Canas. Just drive straight for 3 hours or so, and you will arrive at Canas. At Canas, turn right into the town immediately after you see the large bull ring on your right hand side on route 1. Then just drive straight through Canas heading towards Tilaran. Just outside of Canas you will come to a T-junction, turn left at this junction, and keep going straight and it will take you into Tilaran. When coming into Tilaran, just as you enter the town and as you arrive at the very first stop sign, you will see a hotel called 'The Windsurf Hotel' on your left. At this point, simply turn around (180 degrees) and head back the other way! You will almost immediately arrive back at the fork in the road that brought you into Tilaran. Do not take the left fork - as this will obviously take you back to Canas - take the RIGHT fork, and then keep going. At this point you are 8k from the Tilawa. There is only one more complication. About 4k up the road you will come across another fork, where you will see a sign for the Tilawa. Go LEFT at this fork, then just keep going for another 4k or so, and you will see the hotel entrance on your left (you can't miss it).

Need airport pick-up?

If you want to avoid the stress of driving, we can arrange pick-ups from both airports. A uniformed driver will be at the airport with a sign with your name on, he will then bring you right to the hotel. The cost for 3 people of less (standard saloon car) from San Jose is US$ 100, Liberia is US$ 65. For a 12-seater mini-bus (more than 3 people, up to 8 or so), the cost is US$ 120 for San Jose pick-up, and US$ 75 for a Liberia pick-up.

Wan to get your own taxi at the airport? No problem, but it may cost a little more than the above quoted prices, and you will often need to help them find the hotel, so make sure you bring a map and the directions! Note also that some car rental companies might give directions through La Fortuna. This is NOT the way to go, and will add an hour or two to the drive; insist on heading to Canas.

Driving from Monteverde? From Monteverde, head to Santa Elena, then Numbes, next on to Dos de Tilaran, Patios, Chiripa, Quebrada Grande, finally Tilaran. The trip from Monteverde takes 2 hours or so, but may take longer if the roads are wet.

Driving from La Fortuna? Take the road around the lake heading through Nuevo Arenal to Tilaran. The hotel will be on your left 8km before Tilaran and is clearly marked. Drive time is around 1 hour 45 mins.

Driving from Manuel Antonio? Take the coast road, Route 34, up to Route 27, which then connects to Route 1 heading North to Canas. Then follow the same directions as from San Jose airport. Drive time between 4 and 5 hours.

Driving from Tamarindo? Head to Liberia, then South on Route One down to Canas. ie follow the directions as from Liberia airport.

Coming by Bus?

From San Jose, it costs about US$ 5 per person and takes about 4.5 hours. You should take the Tilaran bus (not La Fortuna), then take a taxi from Tilaran to the hotel, which will cost about US$ 6. The buses depart San Jose daily 7.30am, 9.30am, 12.45pm, 3.30pm and 6.30pm (this is subject to change). For the Tilaran bus, you need the Auto Transportes Tilaran bus stop.

If coming from other places, the ultimate destination needs to be Tilaran, which will often require changes at Liberia or Canas. The Canas change is quite tricky as you need to find the right bus stop in Canas for the Tilaran bus, which is not clearly marked as being the Tilaran stop. You will need to ask a few times, but everyone in Canas knows where it is and you will finally get there. It is a only a few blocks from where you get dropped in Canas, but keep asking every block to make sure you have not been misdirected (the Canas folk don’t misdirect on purpose, but sometimes they get it wrong!)

Depending on where you come from by bus, you may end up routing through La Fortuna. The bus from La Fortuna leaves early morning, so you will need to overnight in La Fortuna. You can check in La Fortuna what time the bus leaves and where it leaves from. La Fortuna is small, and most hotels are close to the main road where the bus leaves from. The bus cost from La Fortuna is minimal at a dollar or so.