The first bigger town you encounter coming down from the Braulio Carilllo on Route 32 going to the city of Limon, the gateway to the Southern Caribbean beaches. Just before reaching Guapiles is the intersection to head for Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Although Guapiles has a central location, from where Tortuguero, the Braullio Carillo National Park, Aerial Tram and the white rafting river Pacuare can be accessed. So far Guapiles has not taken advantage of this touristy advantage and there are little or none accommodations for tourists. Most people only drive through on the town on their way to and from the Caribbean Beaches. The road from San Jose to Limon is one of the busiest of Costa Rica and the town Guapiles offers a wide range of bars, restaurants and low budget roadside motels and cabanas. The area around Guapiles is mainly agricultural and famous for it’s heart of palm and pineapple. Route 32 is a very busy road for truck drivers and there are some excellent sodas where you can enjoy some real good typical food. Just look for a parking lot full of trucks and cars and you’ll be sure that the food is good and cheap. Guapiles is a good place to stop for a while after you have finished the exciting drive through the mountains. If you want to pass the night in Guapiles you have a good option in the Hotel Country Club Suerre, which offers good standard accommodations and belongs to the same chain as the Suerre Hotel on the Caribbean Coast close to Puerto Viejo.