Do people speak English? If not, do you recommend a guide? — Most of the locals speak a little English and all of them want to learn more. We have English speaking contacts in both San Jose and Puerto Jimenez if you need help.
How do we find you? How long does it take to get there from the airport? — Finding us is easy! Just fly into San Jose, Costa Rica. Get to Puerto Jimenez three ways:
- A 8-10 hour bus ride for about $7.00
- Rent a car and enjoy a beautiful drive (either on the Pan American
Highway or the Pacific Coast road). A rental car is always nice to have, but isn't
necessary. It's always convenient to be able to get around once you are at the beach
if you want to drive into town or just go for nice scenic drives in the
mountains.
- Catch a 12-15 seat plane into Puerto Jimenez and then catch a taxi for
$25.00 out to the property. The taxi driver will allow you to shop before
going out to the house and arrangements will be made to pick you up when it
is time to go the airport for your return flight to San Jose.
We can make all the arrangements or you can do it yourself, just let us know.
We have English speaking contacts in both San Jose and Puerto Jimenez so you never have to worry about troubles communicating.
Is it safe to walk the beach/trails at night? Is the region safe? — The beach is safe at night. It is beautiful to walk and see the stars and moon reflecting off the water and sand, but it is not recommended to walk in the
jungle after dark. If you choose to do so, make sure you have good flash
lights with plenty of batteries! Stay on the
trail!
This region of Costa Rica is very safe. The lifestyle is very laid
back and slow. If you visit the the larger cities (such as San Jose), we would
suggest that you take greater care with your personal safety. Just as in any
large city, there are places one just should not go after dark or alone.
What is the weather usually like? — There are basically two seasons at Casa Dulce: Summer (little if any rain...very hot) and Winter (quite a bit of rain but comfortable temperatures). Summer months are from January into the middle of May. It rains quite a bit from August until
mid December. We think it's beautiful all year round!
Is the water safe to drink? — The water is pure clay-filtered well water from a well located on our property...it is wonderful! Water throughout Costa Rica is safe to drink as well.
Can I rent a car? Do I need one? — Yes, you can rent cars near the airport in San Jose. We can make all of
those arrangements if you would like us to. We have a good friend who meets people at the airport and helps them with tasks such as this or anything else they require.
How many people are normally on the nearby beach? Is it crowded? Noisy? — The beach is sometimes deserted, but other times can have several
people on it (depending on the time of the year) Easter can be pretty
crowded! The beach is generally very quiet and peaceful.
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Is it safe to swim? Are there dangerous fish or tides? — The beach is one of the best swimming beaches in the area. The one thing to look for is that there are sometime Stingrays in the sand near the shore. It is recommended to do the "Texas-shuffle" as you walk...shuffle your feet (sliding them
one in front of the other instead of picking them up and placing them down
after each step). When you slide your feet, you bump into the Ray and it
will swim off instead of stepping on it. (If you are stung by a Ray, heat
water on the stove and put you foot in the hot water - make it as hot as you can
stand it! Meat tenderizer is also another thing you might bring along with
you, as this will take away the pain also.) Other than the infrequent
Ray...the beach is very safe.
What is the nearest town? Is there shopping there? — The nearest town in Puerto Jimenez where there are several shops, grocery stores, etc...
Where is the closest store/restaurant for groceries or eating out? — There are two restaurants within walking distance - about a mile, one in
each direction. We recommend cooking at the house. Just pick up what you need in Port Jimenez on your way to the house.
Are the bugs very bad? Do they come in the house? — There are virtually no bugs in this area except for a couple of days around the New
Moon. We recommend that you bring some "OFF" or other bug spray. The house is completely open-air, so there will be an occasionally bug that makes it way toward the inside lights. Beds all have mosquito
net canopies so you can sleep in comfort.
What do you recommend that we pack? — Pack light. People always bring too much! Once you get to the beach, you will live in a pair of swim trunks or shorts. Bring your camera! You won't want to forget all you see here.
Do I need a passport or shots? — Yes, a passport is needed, but shots are not.
Is there a hospital/clinic nearby? Do you have a basic first aid kit on the premisis? — There is a very basic clinic in Puerto Jimenez. Across the bay in
Golfito, there is a hospital. For emergencies, there is a charter plane to get you to San Jose. A basic first aid kit is availble at the house.
Do you have a phone? Electricity? — While there is no phone available, you can communicate with the
outside world via the Marine Band Radio, communicating with Lapa
Rios and other neighboring establishments and neighbors. You will find a
laminated information sheet posted in the lock-up room containing radio numbers and other contact information you might need.
The house is powered by a Solar System, so electricity is limited, but
there is one 110 volt outlet for recharging camera batteries, etc. There
is also be a CD player, but you will have to bring your own CDs.
There is hot water and a stove/oven. There is a refrigerator, but if you
use a lot of ice, it is recommended to get a block of ice every time you go
to town. The freezer is slow when it comes to making ice!
Do you allow pets? — Pets are allowed, but not recommended. You'll have to research what types of paperwork or quarantine periods might be required by the Costa Rican government.
Is it safe/recommended for children? What ages? — Yes! We would highly recommend that children of all ages come to Casa Dulce. For them, it's probably the trip of a lifetime...they'll come home telling their friends about the monkeys and parrots and all of their adventures.
Do you provide fishing equipment/water toys (floats, tubes, water wings, etc), etc? — No, we don't provide any fishing or swimming gear. There is a sporting goods store in town, but we can't guarantee what they will stock from week to week, so it's best that you bring your own gear, floats, etc. There is excellent beach fishing and we can suggest the type of tackle that
has worked for us in the past. Just ask us when you email and I'll answer all your questions!
Light tackle is recommended for beach fishing. If you go deep-sea fishing, all tackle and gear is provided. We can hook you up with one of the best captains in the area, just ask us! We're more than happy to help.
What currency do I need? Is there a place to exchange US money locally? How much money do I need to bring? — American money is accepted nearly everywhere in Costa Rica. Local currency is
Colonies and you can exchange American dollars if you like at the bank in Puerto Jimenez.
Do you allow smoking on the premisis? — Yes. We have no problem with smoking.
How do we contact you? — We welcome your questions and feedback! . We'll get back with you within 48 hours.
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