Frequently Asked Questions

Casa Tucana: Located about 750 meters from the beach or about a
10-15 min walk.

Del Pacifico Estate (Casa Cielo, Oceana & Exotica): Located about
3/4 mile (1.2 km) from the beach at Playa Bejuco. It is about a 5 min drive or 30
min walk from the home.

Our homes are perfectly set back from the beach just enough to provide a retreat from
heat and insects that so often are an issue with directly on the beach homes. As
mentioned above Casa Tucana is about a 10 min walk (4 min Drive) to the beach and
Del Pacifico Estate is about a 30 min walk (7 min Drive).

This being said you most definitely can walk to the beach but we only really
recommend doing so if exercise is your goal as it is VERY warm here and walking with
all your beach gear can be a bit much in the heat. Personally we walk and run to the
beach all the time from the home for exercise in the morning and evening, but for
beach surfing outings with boards and trips to the beach with children, a car is
definitely required.

In order to make the most of your trip with us and to have flexibility to really
experience all that Costa Rica’s Central Coast has to offer, we require all of our
guests to have a rental car or shuttle service during your stay with us.

Costa Rica is known for its beautiful beaches, ranging from black sand to white sand,
coconut trees for miles or mangroves! Our beaches on the central coast are some of
the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica!

Please view our Beaches page of the site to see many photos and more
information on the local Beaches.

Local Wave Information: www.surfline.com (search for
Esterillos or Bejuco).

Tide Chart: http://crsurfcam.com/tidecharts

Costa Rica is known for its amazingly beautiful and diverse beaches. Our local
beaches within 5-20 min of the home are all renowned spots for surfing in Costa Rica
with miles and miles of beach break and several reefs. While they are lovely it is
very important, especially while there is swell, to make sure regardless of how good
of a swimmer or surfer you are, that you and your family are well educated about the
potential dangers of the beaches here and how best to avoid them.

When you check in we will help guide to the best beaches suited for you and your
family and what are the best times and tides to visit them. Please click the links
below for safety tips:

We understand life happens. In cases where your group is unable to attend for the
reserved dates, we do not offer refunds, but we do offer credit for a future stay
depending on notice given:

All credits must be redeemed within 1 calendar year of the original booked date and
are subject to changes in nightly rates.

We accept several forms of payment:

Additional options can be discussed with our booking representative.

The closest international airport to Pura Vida Casas is Juan Santa Maria
International Airport in San Jose, CR (code: SJO).

We are located about 2 hours on good roads from the airport. Please click the link
below to see exact directions or read below.

Here is the link to the homes from
Google Maps

If you were to walk out of the terminal then you will see the highway directly in
front of you. Make a mental note that Jaco is to the left and San Jose is to the
right. So if you take a taxi or shuttle to get a rental car then make sure that you
are heading toward Jaco since a lot of people make the mistake of going into San
Jose instead. If you pick up a rental car from the airport then exit the airport and
take the first off ramp only a few hundred meters ahead on the right side that
points to Alajuela. That will spin you around and point you in the opposite
direction heading toward Jaco. Immediately you have to merge onto another road and
you want to stay in the left lane that has a sign pointing to San Ramon. Don't go to
the right where the sign points to Alajuela.

If you take a taxi or shuttle to a rental car place then you will most likely head
toward San Jose. So once you get your car then get back on the highway and head back
toward the airport. As you are approaching the airport the two left lanes will take
you to the airport and the right lane will keep you on the highway where you want to
go but make sure that you don't take the first exit to the right that points to
Alajuela.

From there it's going to take you about 8-10 minutes to where you have to exit on the
right side for which there are many signs pointing to La Garita, Punta Leona,
Orotina and a bunch of other towns and resorts. Once you exit, you're going to turn
left and go over the small bridge. There is a sign that points you toward Los Suenos
and Jaco.

Now you need to pay attention because after about 5 minutes after you made that left
turn you will see a soccer field on your left side where you need to make a left
turn. Once you make the left you will go down that small road for about 5 minutes
until you see the toll road. Turn left right before you go under the highway and
when you get to the traffic circle make two quick rights to get on the road toward
Jaco (West).

You will hit a toll booth in about 5-10 minutes and the fee should be around 625
Colones ($1.25). The tolls range from 90 cents (450 Colones) to $1.25 (625 Colones)
and you can pay with dollars if you do not have Colones and they will give you
change in Colones.

After about 15 minutes you will hit the 2nd (and last) toll booth. After the toll you
will immediately merge to the right to get off the highway onto the coastal road.
There is a sign pointing to Jaco.

Once you get to Jaco stay on the main highway you are on and pass through Jaco
towards Esterillos & Playa Hermosa. You will wind up a hill and around the coast
then pass through Playa Hermosa and continue for another 10 min till you get to the
Esterillos Area.

Continue past the "Esterillos Oeste" sign and drive another 5-7 min till
you get to the large row of buildings with a large sign that says "Del
Pacifico" on your left. Take a left here and check in with the guard.
Head ~300 meters to the top of the hill then turn right at the guard
house where you will see the homes on the right. Casa Cielo Azul is
house #1, Casa Oceana is house #2 and Casa Exotica is house #3.

Turn right at the sign that says "Esterillos Oeste" (a key sign is a
fruit stand right by the turn off). Head ~300 meters down till you see
the sign "Hills of Esterillos" which is the first community on the
right. Go to the gate and tell the guard you are checking into Casa #62.
Go straight for roughly 200 meters till the road takes a sharp left turn
up the hill. Casa Tucana is the red house in the very corner of the
development.

We understand that traveling can be very tiring and we would love to help you have a
smooth and easy ride from the Airport to your vacation home! Please let us know if
you would like us to arrange Airport Transportation for you.

We have a wonderful Team of professional Drivers and the manager Robert can arrange
to have a driver for you for the duration of your stay if you wish to not rent a car
personally.

Their daily rates for Daily Private Service includes:

General Private Driver Rates 2024-25:

This is a much better option than picking up a taxi on the curb which will likely
cost more. Robert knows exactly where we live and he can take you right to your
front door and help you to unload your bags.

In order to have flexibility and to really experience all that Costa Rica's Central
Coast has to offer, we require all of our guests to have a rental car or shuttle
service during your stay with us.

We can set up for you an all inclusive shuttle service for your entire vacation if
you would like with our friend Robert (please read above for details) in which case
we would need to schedule all your tours and activities in advance to ensure you are
able to do everything you want to do on your vacation.

An alternate option is to have the convenience and luxury of your own rental car. Our
homes, though in safe communities, are in the country about 15 minutes away from the
closest taxi, which limits your flexibility. Unlike San Jose which can be a little
crazy to drive, the roads on the coast are much easier to navigate and we will help
you with any precise directions you need upon arrival to local restaurants, beaches
and attractions.

We have several preferred and discounted rental companies out of San Jose and several
local rental companies out of Jaco Beach. When renting a car in Costa Rica please be
advised that they have mandatory rental insurance here which is not shown on online
quotes but will be added when you arrive to pickup the car. This is why we recommend
specific all inclusive companies that include all basic insurance, as well as a free
SJO Airport Shuttle transport for all week long rentals.

Please see our site link below for rates and info.

Note: Rental cars and shuttles book up REALLY quickly so please let
us know ASAP and we would love to set it up for your convenience at our preferred
client discounted rate.

YES!!! Each of the 4 BR Hill top Villas has FIBER OPTIC Wireless internet.

It is perfect for all streaming and normal Wifi as well as Working and Schooling
remotely. We have routers on the 1st and 2nd floors to ensure signal throughout the
home.

For our Business retreat groups we can upgrade to even faster (only available with
FO) for your stay please contact us to chat about options. Our standard speed tests
show 50mb consistently but speeds can be increased to 200 as needed for large
working groups.

Casa Tucana has a direct Cable connection. The signal is very good and perfect for
streaming, email and general internet usage.

In order to make your vacation smooth, relaxing, and tons of fun, we require our
guests to be reachable by a personal cell phone. That way you can have clear
communication with us, your property managers at all times in case of any problems
with the home or in an emergency situation. Your comfort and safety are our primary
concerns.

In short, having a cell phone helps avoid so many potential problems that WE
REQUIRE all of our guests to have at least one that functions for both
calls in and calls out while in Costa Rica.

Our homes are NOT connected to a land line so you will need to do one of the
following options:

Bring an Unlocked Phone with 3G access

Often our clients will talk to their carrier prior to their trip about getting a
temporary international plan. Most companies in the US offer a daily rate plan ~$10
per day so you can use your phone as normal when abroad — this is what we recommend.

However, if you have an unlocked iPhone or smart phone, when you arrive you can go to
ICE (our main Cellphone company here) at the airport and purchase a prepaid Costa
Rican SIM Card. Please talk with your specific provider and phone manufacturer for
details on compatibility.

Make International Calls via Skype & FaceTime

For guests traveling with a Computer, Tablet or Smartphone this method may allow you
to make very low cost international calls using your device connected to the homes
WiFi. It costs roughly 10 cents/minute to make international calls (computers,
tablets & iPhones work best).

If you decide to go this route and need to install Skype:

Yes our homes are Equipped with AC.

Casa Tucana has individual AC units in all bedrooms and now the living area.

Del Pacifico Estate (AZUL, OCEANA, & EXOTICA) have whole house Central AC
controlled from one control for the downstairs and one from the upstairs.

However, our homes have been designed "GREEN". They enjoy fresh breezes most of the
day and you might only need the A/C for about an hour or so in the late afternoon
when the breezes die down. Each room has ceiling fans and screens on windows so you
can open them even at night without worrying about insects.

Electricity rates are outrageously expensive in Costa Rica and have reached
$2,000/month per house! Using the A/C can also be NOISY. Who wants to hear that loud
buzz while relaxing in this most beautiful setting. Come to value as we do the
symphonic noises of the jungle.

ONLY USE THE A/C WHEN ABSOLUTELY NEEDED!

SET THERMOSTAT AT 80F — This may seem high, but you'll find that it
is comfortable and lets you adapt to the outdoors.

PLEASE CLOSE ALL DOORS & WINDOWS WHEN USING the A/C and ALWAYS TURN A/C
OFF WHEN LEAVING THE HOUSE!

Thank you, we appreciate your cooperation to help us keep our costs down and use less
energy!

Being that Electricity is very expensive in Costa Rica and that we want our guests to
be conscious, we have an Electrical allotment for each home per day. Each home is
allotted a specific daily amount (50 watts for Tucana and 60 watts per day for the
Del Pacifico Estate homes) which is included on the rental rate. This will allow
your group to enjoy the home for normal usage such as cooking, lights, laundry, and
conservative usage of the AC when needed. If you decide that you would like to
exceed this included amount you can choose to do so but will be charged for the
overtures at $.49 cents (USD) per watt over the allotted 60 per day.

We will take a meter reading at your check in and show you the location of the meter
so you can monitor it yourself. We then will take a reading at checkout and let you
know of any excess watts. This can be paid in Cash at the time of checkout.

Here is an example:

If you are renting more than one home and one goes over the allotted wattage and the
other goes under, we will count the usage as a total and allow for roll over between
homes.

A guest safe is provided for your convenience and security at each home generally
located in the master bedroom.

We have both combination safes that you enter your own private code, as well as safes
that open with a key in both Casa Oceana and Exotica and CIELO AZUL. The safe at
Tucana is operated with a key that is attached to the key ring for the front doors.
Please keep track of your keys — if they are lost there is a fee to get the safe
open and a new key made. Lock your valuables away when you leave the home. At check
out, please leave all the safes open for our next guests to set their own
combinations.

We want to make your stay in our homes easy and relaxing — no planning meals, doing
dishes, or grocery shopping! We would love to offer you a range of dining options
from food and beverage stocking and cooked meal deliveries, to all included Full
Service in-home Chefs for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner!

Please click to view our Dining Page for more information as well as this link for
our sample 8 day all inclusive menu ideas: 8 Day All inclusive Menu

PVC Personal Chef Options:

Pura Vida Casas would like to make your vacation planning easy while still offering
flexibility and customization to your Dining Experience. We have created 2
customizable menus for you to select items from. Our Costa Rican Experience Menu
offers our more budget minded guests the chance to experience all the local colors
and flavors unique to Costa Rica while allowing you to enjoy some classic dishes
from back home. For those seeking a truly Exotic and Unforgettable dining
experience, we offer our International Gourmet Menu which is a fusion of Costa Rican
and Globally inspired dishes.

Budgeting for your Meal Plan:

Flat Rate Service Charge for desired # of meals (2-10 pax*) + Groceries Rate
(estimate based on which menu is selected) = Your Custom Dining
Experience!

Please check out our dining charts and menus below for approximate rates. For exact
quotes please email us @ info@puravidacasas.com to get started
on planning your custom dining experience!

* Extra adults over 10 add $10 per pax, children 12 and under no additional
service charge.

If you are bringing the kids but want to step away for a romantic evening or there
are some tours that you just would love to do but can't because your kids are too
young, we would love to provide you with in-home child care. We have several local
ladies with many years as nanny who would love to provide you with either a few
hours of extra help or full day services during your stay!

We would love to enable you to step away for a day or evening to have a little time
to yourselves.

Please don't hesitate to ask and we can custom it into your trip.

Check in Procedure

Download Check-in
PDF

Check-in Time:

Your house will be ready for you to check in after 3:00 pm. **PLEASE ARRANGE
AHEAD-OF-TIME FOR EARLY Check-IN times. We will do our best to accommodate you but
sometimes it is not possible due to same day bookings. In most cases though we can
arrange for you to drop off luggage at the home and then you can be free to go to
the beach or a local restaurant till the home is ready.

For late check-ins, please make arrangements with us prior. If we are unable to meet
with you, we will provide you with the Key Code at the front door of each house so
you can access the home. In this case we will meet you at the house the next morning
and do the standard check-in then.

CHECK-OUT : 10AM

Inform the manager as soon as possible when you plan on checking out. Our standard
check-out is by 10am, however if you need a later check out please arrange this
ahead with the manager. We are happy to accommodate you if possible.

If you are enjoying your time and would like to extend your stay, let the manager
know. If the home is available, we will be happy to offer it to you at a significant
discounted rate (as much as half off potentially).

Another common situation is when guests have plans to fly out the next day. When our
clients realize that our homes are less than 2 hours from the airport, most opt for
leaving early in the morning the next day. We can help you think through it all to
maximize your vacation time.

If you are leaving before 6 am in the morning, inform the manager as soon as possible
and he will meet with you the night prior to walk through the check-out process.

On the day of your checkout please do the following:

MANAGER HOME INSPECTION: Before you leave the manager will walk
through the home with you to do an inspection and inventory assessment. If their is
any broken or missing items as a result of guests misuse, the manager will make note
on the Check in Document and will inform the guest of the fair cost to replace or
repair. All this being said, we will be completely fair, upfront and honest.

Once the check-out process is done, the manager and guest will sign the contract
acknowledging everything is in order for a peaceful departure.

SERVICE TIPS: TIPS for cleaning ladies & guards, though not required are much
appreciated.

No need to change your US Dollars. They are accepted everywhere however they will
always give you change in Colones. If you want to get a better rate, we recommend
you exchange your money at the bank in Jaco or get local change at the grocery
store. The exchange rate is around 600 Colones = ~$1.

A quick way to estimate Colones to USD:

Costa Rica has great health care and should you require medical attention during your
stay there are several options available for you.

First you can start by calling 911 if it is an emergency and you need an ambulance.

For basic medications and supplies you can visit most any pharmacy — there are
several in Jaco & Parrita. Tell them your symptoms and they can provide
treatments for common prescription medications such as antibiotics, pain killers,
flu and cold medicine etc.

Also here is a link to a very educational blog post on medical services: Taking your kid to the doctor in Costa
Rica

1) Parrita Medical Clinic: 10 min drive

At the Government Run Parrita Clinic, they can service medical emergencies such as
cuts, burns, medical diagnosis and prescription for antibiotics etc. For larger
scale Emergencies (broken bones, operations etc.) please see options number 2 and 3.

2) Quepos Hospital: 50 min drive

This Government Hospital is the main one for the region and here they can take care
of most all major medical needs.

Contact us today to learn more about your private island experience