Update, Friday, August 7: Route 32 is open again. You can drive between the Central Valley and Limón normally. The detours below are no longer necessary, though they are worth remembering, because this road closes often.
Crews reopened the highway at about 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, after finishing cleanup work, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation said. Debris had come down at six separate points along the mountain stretch: kilometers 28, 30, 33, 35, 37 and 38. The ministry closed the road at 5:50 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, and left it shut overnight because inspecting unstable slopes in the dark is dangerous. The road stayed closed for roughly 21 hours.
Rain is forecast again over the Caribbean and Northern Zone mountains this afternoon, so another closure is possible. If it happens, these are the three ways around:
- Bajos de Chilamate–Vuelta de Kooper, which can be used by all types of vehicles.
- Route 10 through Turrialba and Siquirres, which can also accommodate cars, buses and freight vehicles.
- The Vara Blanca route, which is recommended only for light vehicles.
All three add substantial time, and the Turrialba and Sarapiquí options draw heavy traffic whenever Route 32 shuts. Route 32 is Costa Rica’s main direct connection between the Central Valley and the Caribbean province of Limón. It is heavily used by residents, tourists, buses and trucks traveling to the Caribbean coast and the ports of Moín and Limón.
The mountainous section through Braulio Carrillo National Park is especially vulnerable to falling rocks, trees and landslides during periods of heavy rain. Much of the highway passes between steep slopes where saturated ground can become unstable with little warning. A recent technical assessment identified dozens of sites along the San José–Río Frío section with potential landslide risks. Areas near Zurquí were among the sections with the highest concentration of concerns.
Authorities frequently close the highway overnight or during intense rainfall as a safety measure. Reopening depends on daylight inspections, weather conditions and whether crews can remove the fallen material without further movement from the surrounding slopes. That is why a reopening is never a guarantee for the rest of the day. If you are heading toward Guápiles, Siquirres, Limón or the Caribbean beaches, check the road before you leave rather than once you are already climbing toward Zurquí, where turning around costs you hours.
