Can anyone tell at what point does the road going north of town towards Karpata become one way. Is it north or south of Hato?

Definitely north of Hato which is really the hotels and the little neighborhood just north of the water plant and Curoil.

Some place north of Sabadeco and Caribbean Club when the road gets back to going along the coast line (and no houses) there are posted signs (low to the ground if I remember corectly) on both sides of the road warning you that the road ahead is one way.

The one-way section starts just past 1000 steps and the Radio Netherlands transmitter site I believe. I know it's possible to come back south from 1000 steps, but pretty sure if you go further, you're out for the duration of the ride to Rincon.

If you wind up past where the road becomes one way, there is an alternative to taking the long way back thru Rincon. Just after Karpata on the road to Rincon, there is a rock with a bicycle painted on it (indicating a bike trail, I suppose) next to a small, dirt road that goes to the right. It is a very bumpy road, with a real funky, rutted uphill section that requires some good shifting and driving skills, but it has always been driveable if you have one of the small pickup trucks. It goes up over a hill, and then back down and joins up with the coast road back on the two-way section. Saves a good half hour or so driving thru Rincon and back.

Excellent advice Scott - I'll have to try that -
Don't know how many times we've taken the scenic
route all the way back after snorkeling 1000 steps!

Carl

not sure about the shortcut saving 30 min unless you count the stop at Rose in for beers.

The first part of the shortcut to the top of the hill is very rough (passable easy in PU truck 2WD), from the top of the hill to Sadebaco, the un paved road is fairly decent...often times when we go to Bopec or Karpata, we will take the short cut (it seems we always get behind a tour bus on the shore line drive)

I did the drive last night. The switch between 2way and oneway is not well marked. It has a small round "karpata" sign on the left and a white arrow on blue on the right. There is an area that you could 3 point turn around in right before the signs. A stone wall comes up to the road on both sides. Later in the drive there are hard to read signs telling you, you are on a one-way and you can't go back.