DIRECTIONS & TRAVEL TIPS

GETTING THERE

FLYING:

• ARRIVAL CITY: San Jose, Costa Rica (Not California!) Airport name: Juan Santa Maria Airport Code: SJO.
• From LAX, we recommend the direct red eye (TACA or American). You can also fly from SJO to Quepos (Natureair.com) for $55 (1/2 Hr)
• DEPARTURE TAX: When you leave, you have to pay a departure tax (abt $26/person) at the airport before checking in (Credit Cards OK)

FROM THE AIRPORT TO YOUR COSTA RICA VACATION HOME

TRANSPORTATION: The trip from the airport to our Costa Rica Vacation Rentals is a scenic 2+ hour drive over a mountain road (good condition) and down to the coastal area.

Rent from any of the major US companies. (Budget, Hertz, Alamo etc..) or from our local service (see box below)

to take you to your Costa Rica Vacation Rental Home.

Call ERNESTO for Airport pick-up: (from US:011-506-380-7241; After 3/20/08 : 011-506-8-380-7241) He speaks English. About $100-$125/one way trip. Van fits 12 .

With this option, you will can rent a car from Adobe’s Quepos Office (online or dial: 011-506-777-4242 / after 3/20/08: 011-506-2-777-4242). They will bring the car to your Costa Rica Vacation Home.

DIRECTIONS:

• General Directions: Follow signs to either Los Suenos Resort, or to Jaco.
• From airport: Take the Highway toward San Ramon (autopista de San Ramon) for about 15 Km (10 mi)
• Exit when you see the sign to Los Suenos and Atenas. Turn left and stay on that main road all the way through Atenas and then to Orotina.
• After Orotina, follow the signs to Jaco/Los Suenos/Quepos (2 forks).
• Just before Jaco, you will reach Herradura, where you may want to stop at the Auto Mercado shopping center to get a few groceries . See Grocery Shopping.
• Continue on the main road past Jaco for another 18 km (12 Mi) or so, until you see Del Pacifico (large shopping center and condominiums on the left.)
• Go though the main entrance and stop at the guard house to register.
• Continue driving 1/2 mile up the hill. The houses are on top the highest ridge.

Welcome to your Costa Rica Vacation Home!

View of Del Pacifico’s town center & Condos off the main road.

DRIVING:

Watch your Speed... and wear your seatbelt — Ticos Ticket!.. When cars from the other direction flash lights at you, that means there's either cops or a hazard ahead. Slow down…!

• Normal road speed: 60-80km/hr (40-55 mph)
• Villages or inhabited area: 40 km/hr (25 mph)
• Zona Escualar (School Zone): 25 km/hr.(15 mph)

MONEY MATTERS

CURRENCY:

Colones. American dollars are taken almost everywhere (we never change our money). You can pay with Dollars (small bills preferably) and they’ll give you the change in Colones, they’re used to it and are very honest.

EXCHANGE RATE:

The exchange rate is around 515 Colones for $1US. Here is an easy way to approximately convert prices: Drop the 000s and multiply by 2.

Note: The dot is used instead of a comma. 1.000 (CR) = 1,000 (US)

CREDIT CARDS:

Visa, MC are accepted most places. Amex is not as readily accepted everywhere. On larger items, there is a surcharge for using your credit card.

Vocab: To pay by Card: Con tarjeta

To Pay Cash: con effectivo

SALES TAX AND TIPS:

• Every product you buy will have a sales tax included.
• One of the most common mistake Gringos make is to TIP TOO MUCH!. Average wages are around $1.5 - 2/hr. Typical tips for small things (like the guy who watches over your parked car) should be 300C-500C.
• Restaurants typically charge a sales tax of 13% and a service charge (tip) of 10% which is usually included in the price listed (Impuestos Y Servicio incluidos).
• Feel Free to tip the Maids at the end of your stay.($5)

FOOD & WATER

GROCERY STORES:

There are several stores to choose from. We try to keep the kitchen stocked with basic condiments. Please replace for next renters as needed. On Fridays, check out the farmers market in Jaco (south end by soccer field, especially the Amenanites stand.

Super Mercado Plaza in Herradura

RESTAURANTS:

There are many fun restaurants all around our Costa Rica Vacation Homes, especially in Jaco and in Manuel Antonio. Small places where you can grab a typical Tico meal by the side of the road are called sodas.

TYPICAL DISHES:

Costa Rican food is good and healthy.

DRINKING WATER:

This is not Mexico, you can drink the water (Our Costa RicaVacation Homes have filtration system at Fridge dispenser). To be on the safe side, you can buy bottled water everywhere (Vocab: una botella de aqua fria por favor!) .

HEALTH PROVIDERS:

The Costa Rica Medical System is very good and affordable.

There are clinicas and phamacias in both Jaco and Parrita. Pharmacias are not self serve like ours, just tell them what you need. They are very helpful. Hospitals in Jaco and in Parrita (10 min from Del Pacifico)

The concierge Staff of our Costa Rica Vacation Homes will be glad to assist you.

WHAT TO BRING/WEATHER:

PACKING UP: You won’t need much. With the hot weather and the relaxed atmosphere forget make-up and fancy jewels ladies! Flip flops, sunglasses & a few swimsuits; One set of warmer clothes (for the plane) and be ready to peel it off as soon as you land!

Towels, linens, Hair dryers and umbrellas are provided at all our Costa Rica Vacation Villas.

Clothing: Avoid synthetics as they make you sweat more. Best fabrics are light cottons and linens.

Please refer to Amenities for more detail.

WEATHER: Temperatures: Temperatures never change too much, just the rain level.

The SJO area is cooler (75F) than the coast (80-90F) which is also more humid.

Two seasons: Dry season/summer (Nov. to May). Green Season/winter (June/Oct)

Rain: The green season in Costa Rica is beautiful. Rains come and leave quickly, leaving georgeous sunsets. You haven’t seen rain until you have seen Costa Rican Rain! Ticos don’t seem to mind too much, it’s warm water! Storms mostly happen at the end of the day and into the night, with huge lighting. Rainiest months: Septeember, October.

STAYING CONNECTED/ELECTRICITY :

TELEPHONE & INTERNET.Our Costa Rica Vacation Homes are soon set to have land phone lines (Charge for International Calls) and Cable Internet. In the meantime, you can use both at the front gate office. Cell Phones can be rented at Car rental places, some US Cell phones that have international plans will work there, but can be pricy.

ELECTRICITY:Costa Rica has the same electricity and plugs as the US so you will be able to charge you cameras, phones etc..

STAYING IN SAN JOSE:

HOTELS:

There are many good hotels if you need to stay in San Jose.

• Marriot—about 2 miles from the airport.
• 700 Metros Oeste De La Firestone
• San Jose, Costa Rica
• Phone:  506 298 0000
• Fax:  506 298 0011
• Toll-free:  506 2980844
• http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjocr-costa-rica-marriott-hotel-san-jose/

TAXIS:

San Jose is a difficult city to get around in. The streets are a crowded maze. Taxis (red cars) are a good way to go. They are readily available and inexpensive (Government rates)

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

• Del Pacifico Office: Concierge, Maintenance: (506) 2-778-7080
• After 3/20/08 dial (506) 2-778-7080
• Hills of Esterillos Oeste: (506)
• Las Brisas Condominiums: Office: (506)
• Lost US passports: From Costa Rica call: 001-202-955-0430
• travel.state.gov/passport/lost/lost_849.html
• US Embassy San Jose: Telephone: [506] 519-2000  From the U.S.: 011-506-519-2000
• http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/
• Ernesto (Chauffer service): (506) 380-7241; After 3/20/08 dial: (506) 8-380-7241

Note: Calls from US dial 011 first.