Hi Ed!

These are some great questions! As always, decisions regarding driving (especially after dark) usually come down to a traveler’s level of comfort. You know best what will work for you, so I’d say to trust your gut. That said, in my personal opinion, I wouldn’t hesitate to make the drive in the late afternoon/early evening. The most difficult part of the drive is getting out of the airport area, with its busy highways, and making the climb up toward the cloud forest before descending into the northern plains, and eventually, La Fortuna. Given that you’ll likely make the first half, if not the first three-quarters, of the drive when there’s daylight, the part where you’ll be driving in the dark will likely be the last leg, which is primarily flat. The biggest obstacle for that part of the drive (probably made in the dark) will be watching out for hazards encountered along the way, such as wildlife or people walking along the side of the road, not the road/route itself.

As for which route to take, I don’t see a problem taking the route through Ciudad Quesada, as your hotel suggested, but I also don’t see a problem taking the route through San Ramon either. I usually take the route through San Ramon, but I’ve driven both routes several times and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend either. You may find our related blog post about driving to La Fortuna helpful; it explores each route in more detail and will give you a better idea of what to expect from each: https://costaricatravelblog.com/driving-to-la-fortuna-arenal-costa-rica/

Pura vida! 🙂