Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the best time of year to go?
- Is it safe in the treehouse?
- Is the water good?
- What about the showers?
- What about telephone and internet?
- What about garbage?
- Do insects or monkeys come in to the treehouse?
- What about the restaurants?
- What is there in Costa Rica for children (and adults) to do?
- Is there TV?
- What should we bring?
- What about the floors?
- What caution should we exercise?
- Where are the beaches?
- Car rentals?
- Duration in Costa Rica?
- Does Costa Rica offer Investment Opportunity?
- Payment Policy
- Balance Due
- Cancellation Policy
- Check-in
When is the best time of year to go?
Although Costa Rica is a year round destination, November through April is the Dry (or High) Season when most visits occur as this coincides with the Northern Hemisphere winters. Especially in Guanacaste during those months it rarely rains. The balance of the year is the Green Season, during which rains arrive, but the rain is intermittent and often only an hour or two in the afternoon. September and October can both be quite stormy months. Many people actually prefer the Green Season for the lush tropical green vegetation and the un-crowded tranquility.
November and May are transition months so the weather then can be a rainy or sunny mix. In July and August there is a six-week period called veranillo or "Little Summer" which is beautiful.
Is it safe in the treehouse?
Yes, there is 24 hour, 7 days a week security. The manager of La Pura Jungla, Ray Beise lives by The Visitor Centre which is in the middle of the property. He or one of his trusted staff is always reachable for any questions or concerns. Bringing toddlers is not recommended because of the treehouse open architecture.
To not attract undue attention, we suggest you leave jewelry, expensive watches etc back in your home country. Use common sense by not leaving your bags on the beach or in your vehicle while swimming or walking. Most beach bars, restaurants will gladly stow things for you safely behind their counter.
Is the water good?
Yes, the water is delicious and indeed safe to drink. We drink it all the time. But if you are concerned, just pick up some bottled water.
What about the showers?
They are excellent! The water is heated by solar panels on the roof. If the water temperature is too hot, back the lever tap almost to the off position and it should cool down. There is a hose at ground level for washing sand from feet or an outside cool shower! Please be careful if the bathroom floor tiles get wet, as they can be slippery. Please do not take the bath towels to the beaches — bring a beach towel, or just air dry like we do. Thanks.
What about telephone and internet?
We have a phone in the treehouse for arranging dinner reservations, for emergencies, local calls, credit card calls, or for someone calling you from the USA or Canada.
The absolute best deal for calling long distance though is at the internet shops just off the main square in Liberia. This telephone technology is surprisingly good (called Voice Over Internet Protocol or VOIP). It is very inexpensive compared to regular long distance calls and quite clear quality. You can talk with friends in Canada with this service for twenty or thirty minutes for only 2 or 3 dollars. Regular long distance from CR can be 60 cents or even more a minute. Plus you can check your e-mails while there.
There are internet café services available in Santa Cruz and in the nearby villages of Playa Negra and Junquillal. Also "Wi-Fi" is springing up everywhere as an internet service at several café and restaurants in the area, if you have your laptop with you.
What about garbage?
Fruit skins like pineapple, mango, papaya, bananas etc — just throw this biodegradable stuff out the kitchen window into the jungle. The jungle will take care of it. All other garbage goes into the green plastic container in the kitchen in a garbage bag, or plastic and bottles separate for recycling.
All foods should be kept in the fridge e.g. coffee, cereal, sugar, fruit, salad stuff, bread, jams, juice. We even keep paper like coffee filters etc in the freezer.
As there are no walls, do insects or monkeys come in to the treehouse?
The monkeys never come in, but if they do visit the trees outside, they will mind their own business eating, napping, and perhaps they will watch you!
Insects are seasonal and, if around, they are most active for a short while around 6:00PM and then they go to bed for the night. The bedrooms and washrooms are totally glassed in and enclosed — so keep the doors closed to them and lights out so that when you go to bed later, any moths will not have been attracted into the bedrooms by lights. We rarely see mosquitoes. We learned that the insects are creatures of the jungle and are harmless. The grasshoppers can be quite a good size. You are well up off the jungle floor. Do not put hands under patio stones, or in holes — common sense, right? Often we sit out watching the sunset at night from the living room in complete comfort. In Canada you sure cannot do that, at least in most Canadian wilderness. Use the outer bug lights if moths, for example, start being attracted to the inner lights.
What about the restaurants?
We enjoy them all. Swiss, German, Italian, Peruvian, Costa Rican. Some are small with just a few tables so it is good to call them first (see phone list) to say when you are coming and how many. They are excellent.
La Serena in Junquillal has good food and a quaint balcony setting overlooking the ocean. La Hibiscus (German) (phone Rainer first to reserve), La Puesta del Sol (Italian, call to reserve), Mono Congo Lodge (a treehouse), Cafe Playa Negra (Peruvian food), Guacamaya Lodge (Swiss) and Hotel Playa Negra (fish dinner at sunset by the surf). The Oasis and Tanaka have good pizza. The two little beach villages close by are called Pargos (or Playa Negra) and Junquillal. Paraiso is the village in between them with the soccer field.
What is there in Costa Rica for children (and adults) to do?
Canopy tours, swimming, fishing, surfing and boogie boarding, Spanish lessons, birding, crocodile watching, hot springs, hiking, volcano watching, and horseback riding on the beach. There are two surf boogie boards in a canvas case under the bed.
Other suggestions: There is a teak gazebo just a 100 meter walk down the path to the south from the treehouse where a small bat is rumored to live.
You can write your name and date into the bird identification book when you spot one.
You can climb the water tower for a great 360 degree view of the area. Have a relaxing in-home massage in the treetops. Hiking trails (best in early morning while still cool).
A one day side trip down the coast in dry season to Samara, then loop back through Nicoya, Santa Cruz. A two day trip up to the Rincon National Park on the other side of Liberia is interesting (closed Monday). The trip up around Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano, if you have lots of time, is best a three day outing. Tamarindo is only 45 minutes each way.
Is there TV?
No. Well, there is TV, but we have not had it hooked up (yet). If you want bring DVDs — there is a DVD player in the treehouse. There are good speakers for the radio there (in the green blanket box in the m\bedroom). If you have a portable CD player with you, just plug it in to the speakers. Costa Rica FM 95.5 is a great station for Latin Jazz and 99.5 is another good station. The phone plugs in to the wall opposite the back of the fridge. We suggest you bring a book, or two.
What should we bring?
Dress is informal. It is best to pack and travel light. Suggested items for you to pack include — shorts, sandals, flip-flops, bathing suit, beach towel, beach bag, sun block, repellent, small flashlight, camera, binoculars (birds), paperback book, and Spanish phrasebook. For side trips to higher altitudes like Arenal and the Central valley, slacks, light sweater, footwear, rain jacket would be useful. Passport with AT LEAST 6 month's validity left on it. A photocopy of passport is acceptable in your vehicle which saves having to take your actual passport everywhere with you.
What about the floors?
They are teak. Water does not hurt them. Please take your shoes or boots off at ground level — bring them up, but sandals, flip-flops can stay at the bottom of the stairs — remember the old western movies with cowboys always shaking their boots first thing out in the morning! A hose is on the patio to wash off sand from feet. We are usually in bare feet on the floors so as not to scratch them.
What caution should we exercise?
The sun is strong this close to the equator. Sun block and a hat are useful. We often keep off the beaches from 11:00 till 2:30PM to avoid the direct sun. Also, remember that it gets dark here like a curtain falling at 6:00PM sharp.
Also, understand rip currents. These are caused by tides, waves, water movement. Swim where others are around. For safety and courtesy, do not swim directly in front of surfers.
The Papagayo Winds sometimes can howl at night in January and February and can really rock and roll, but should be no problem as the house is very, very solidly anchored. If it does blow hard, please keep the rocking chairs back from the edges.
Where are the beaches?
A quiet long beach to the south on the other side of Paraiso is Playa Junquillal. It is wonderful for walking and there is a shallow tidal area at the south end (snorkeling).
Playa Negra — go left at the bend in the road in Playa Negra (Pargos) and follow the sign to close by Hotel Playa Negra. Awesome world class, “expert only” surfing is right in front of the large thatch restaurant hut. This is rated as one of five best surf locations in the world. It was in the film “The Endless Summer”. To the left of Playa Negra beach continues Sandy Beach which is good for swimming and the boogie boards (in a canvas case under the bed). The walk south along the beach is beautiful. Further north up the coast road a bit past the Mono Congo Lodge is Playa Avellanas. Here you may meet Lola, the 750 pound surfing pig. The smoothies and tuna salad lunches here are highly recommended. The walk north up this beach to the estuary is fabulous.
Forty-five minutes north up the coast from the treehouse is Tamarindo, a busy, active touristy resort town with a long beach.
Car rentals?
A great way to explore Costa Rica. We usually rent a SUV. Prices vary by vehicle size and season. Their offices are close to (but not at) both airports. It is best to arrange a rental vehicle in advance — they will meet you at arrivals with your name on a plaque — Liberia Airport. Roads can be potholed, dusty in Dry Season and muddy in Green Season.
Duration in Costa Rica?
Our guests often say a week is great, but too short. Two weeks is better to include a trip up to Lake Arenal. A month is best. Three months is utopia.
Does Costa Rica offer Investment Opportunity?
Fortunately while in Costa Rica we had the time while there to research and talk with many people - homeowners, property owners, architects, builders, developers, lawyers, business people, and international visitors. We had the additional advantage of actually living four months in our amazing tree home before investing.
A number of things worked in our favor us such as the recently greatly improved relative strength of the Canadian dollar. We noted that the properties are located just a short trip from an international airport with direct flights from Canada and the USA and are close to peaceful secluded beaches and quaint villages. In addition, we absolutely love the beauty, culture, bio-diversity and people of Costa Rica.
Based on this valuable experience and the additional knowledge that we are gaining every day, we can offer our expertise to introduce this amazing area to share our findings to our friends, guests and acquaintances. We discovered that beginning with a single investment one can initiate a potential threefold return - property appreciation, a fascinating retirement or vacation destination, and monthly revenue income from rental.
Payment Policy?
To confirm a reservation a 50% deposit is required at time of booking. Rates are per week, based on a one week minimum stay.
Balance Due?
The full balance is due (30) thirty days prior to arrival. All payments are non-refundable after final payment due date.
Cancellation Policy?
All cancelled reservations forfeit the reservation deposit regardless of cause. Refunds may apply only to those dates that we are able to rebook. No refunds are made for unused nights resulting from late arrival or early departures regardless of cause.
Check-in
Check-in time is not before 3pm. Checkout anytime before 11:00am.
If you are interested in at least exploring this ownership option to diversify your portfolio, please give us a call and Jeanne and I would be pleased to discuss our experience.
- Paul