Should I have travelers insurance?
Yes, for sure. While Costa Rica is a very modern country and travel to us and around the country is easy…things happen. Every once in a while the airport gets shut down due to weather, or volcanic ash etc. While it is rare, and cleared up quickly..again..things happen. It is ALWAYS better to be covered whether that be for accommodation fees (like ours) or cancelled flights, lost luggage or an accident that requires medical attention (we have EXCELLENT hospitals and doctors here) and all of that can be covered quite easily with a very affordable vacation travel insurance policy.
Here is a website that offers and compares various plans: https://www.squaremouth.com and we suggest considering taking out a “cancel for any reason” policy. They do not charge much more, and there are a few extra conditions, but in these times it can come in very handy.
If we could take out cancellation insurance on our end, we would, but that is not available so it is 100% up to you to safeguard your deposits and payments with these very easy to get travel insurance policies.
About the Retreat:
How many guests do you host?
We host up to ten guests
How large the Villa
The home has 5000 square feet of living space as well as two swimming pools and multiple covered decks.
There are four bedrooms, all have private bathrooms, king sized beds. One of the rooms has a single day bed that can be made up for sleeping and another bedroom has the option of having a full sized/double bed set up for extra sleeping space.
The dining area has room to seat 14 and there is an additional outdoor dining table that seats 8.
Does the Villa have a pool?
Yes, there are two swimming pools on two levels. Both have space to lounge and the lower level has a “bali bed” suspended over one end.
Is the pool area clothing optional?
Your group can decide, it is a private home and there is staff six days per week…but this is your space
What is the view like from the villa?
Our villa has wonderful views right into the rainforest from every room.
You can view the wildlife from your bed, shower, or living room and we often have monkeys or toucans hanging out in the trees right above the pool!
Do animals get into the Villa?
Occasionally a hummingbird will fly in if you leave the sliding screens open. We designed the Villa to be open air, to let the jungle breezes that come up from the ocean to flow through. The villa has sliding glass doors and screens throughout, and anything you want to keep out will do so.
Is the Villa air conditioned?
All of the bedrooms have airconditioners
What is the kitchen like?
We have two kitchens for you to use. The upper level has a professional grade kitchen with huge six burner restaurant style stove and over as well as the usual coffee maker, microwave etc. You can of course fix your own meals as well as arrange to have professional local chefs come to prepare one or all of your meals.
The lower level has all you need, full sized refrigerator, cook top but no oven.
Do you have hot water?
Yes, and plenty of it. We use a solar hot water heating system which keeps the water hot day and night. For those cloudy days, we also utilize back up electricity so that you are never without hot water.
Do you run on Solar Power?
Yes! And we are very proud of that. We have what we feel is the perfect set up. We produce the majority of our power using solar panels , as well we are tied into the county’s electric grid system. At times we are feeding the grid using the sun, and other times we are using the grid. Either way, we always have plenty of power.
Is there WiFi?
Yes we supply fiber optic wifi at 50 mbps.
When are your check in and check out times?
Officially our check in time is 3:00 p.m. and our Check out is 10:00 am.
However, if we do not have other guests coming or going the same day as you, then we are very happy to extend those times to you at no charge. It is best to check to see ahead of time. We are happy to hold your bags for you when needed as well.
Do you allow outside guests?
No, we are sorry, but we do hold a strict “no outside guests” policy, unless we speak ahead of time and are able to accept the request.
Is the retreat “Pet Friendly” ?
In general, no…but when a service animal is needed, then we are happy to discuss.
How far are you from the National Park?
We happen to be extremely fortunate in that we are one of the very few properties in our area that borders directly on Manuel Antonio National Park. The land portion of the park measures just about 1700 acres, and so we have a very large back yard! We chose this locations for many reasons, the two most obvious being the incredible wild life opportunities and the great feeling if privacy.
Is the waterfall on the retreat private?
Yes! You get your own waterfall which is right next to your “Spa Pavilion”.
Here you can lay about in the two hammocks, or practice yoga or have a couples massage right next to our natural waterfall. It is about twelve feet high, and depending on the rains, or how dry it is, can run from anywhere from a slow trickle to a raging torrent. This is one of the reasons we LOVE green season here.
What types of wildlife do you see at the retreat?
Lots! Take a look on the website at the page which shows many of the animal sightings that we have had. ( http://www.pranarainforestretreat.com/prana-retreat-animals/ )
How far is the retreat from the beach?
As the toucan flies we are very close. When the waves are big we can hear the sound of the surf crashing. By car the beach is an easy 5-10 minutes. The walk is more of a hike, and we do it all of the time for exercise. The walk to the beach takes about 40 minutes.
The vast majority of accommodations, restaurants and shops sit up on the hills of Manuel Antonio, as are we. That being said, even though Manuel Antonio is beach town, the majority of accommodations are set above, and not directly on, the beach.
What are the local beaches like?
We have a variety of beaches in our area.
The main beach varies from small to medium to large waves, with two sections having larger waves which are very popular for surfing. We also have a couple of beaches with much calmer surf with almost no waves at all.
The sand is clean and warm, and all of our beaches are lined with coconut palms and alamendo trees which often host troupes of monkeys, flocks of parrots and slow moving sloths. Our main beach, about 2 miles long, has a commercial end with restaurants, souvenir shops and beach chair services and the other end is the more natural end with a great surf beach where you can drive your ATV vehicle right onto the sand.
Should I have a car?
Almost all of our guests, and for that matter all visitors to Manuel Antonio, prefer to have their own vehicle. This will give you much more access to our area.
There are several places, hidden gems really, that we can direct you to, but without your own vehicle they are not really possible.
There is one end of the main beach where we love to drive right on to the sand and set up our hammocks and chairs, so it’s nice to be able to have a car that can handle that.
Must you have your own transportation? No, there are plenty of taxis and buses in our area, but those who have visited with and without a vehicle almost always prefer to have a car the next time. Car rentals are very reasonable here, and the driving is easy. (see more about car rentals later in this section)
What types of restaurants are close by?
We have a huge array of restaurants very close by. The closest ones are a two minutes drive away. Close by are restaurants that serve local cuisine, which is your typical rice and beans, protein and salad, as well as international fare like falafel stands, wood fired pizza, Mexican, all the way up to five star resort restaurants serving great food and wines with live music. We have our favorites, and can steer you to what ever you like, as well as get you the best table on those busy New Years celebrations.
Is massage and yoga available ?
Yes, we can arrange to have expert massage therapists come in. There is a wonderful covered area in the jungle, steps down from the lower level that is great for massage and yoga, or you can have either pool side, on a deck or in your room.
Where do we have our massages or spa treatments?
One of the most important things that we designed was the placement of the “Spa Pavilion”. This area is part of your Guest Villa, and is for your private use whenever you like.
Most importantly it is right next to our seasonal waterfall. This waterfall can run pretty strong in rainy season, and go down to more of a trickle in our driest parts of the year.
Either way, it is a magnificent spot to be. Right in the middle of the rainforest, literally steps from the border of the National Park, our Spa Pavilion is the perfect place to have a massage or spa treatment. This is also where we offer our yoga. It is located down a set of stairs leading from the pool deck, and directly below your Villa. When not in use, we offer you a set of hammocks and an antique wooden bench from Java to relax with and let nature happen all around you. It is always there for you to hang out with a morning cup of coffee, a book or a bottle of wine.
Are there walking trails on the property
Yes, we have a small trail system on the property. The trails can take you to the other side of our waterfall, where there is a sitting bench, or the trails can take you down stream to the larger stream that leads into the National Park.
Best to bring covered shoes or at least sports sandals if you plan to hike any trails in Costa Rica.
Our Area ( location and activities)
Where exactly are you located?
We are located in the town of Manuel Antonio on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Our closest “commercial” town is the port town of Quepos, 8 minutes away by car.
There is a main commercial road that links the port town of Quepos and the beaches of Manuel Antonio.
This main road, or Manuel Antonio Road, is about 8 kilometers ( about 4 miles long)
Our road, Villa Lirio Road, comes off of the main road at the mid point.
The retreat is located on Colina Monito road, and is about a three minute drive from the main road.
We are located at the very end of this road which puts us directly on the border of the National Park.
How far is the property from the beach?
5-10 minutes (see earlier description)
How far are restaurants and nightlife?
2 minutes or more (see earlier description)
What activities are in the area?
There are many.
Our area is famous for its amazing adventure travel excursions, beaches, hikes, inshore and off shore big game fishing (we’re happy to cook your catch)
Among the many organized day trip activities are:
White water rafting, waterfall repelling, zip lining, canyoning, whale and dolphin watching, horseback riding, suspended canopy bridge hikes, nature hikes, bird watching, National Park tours, surfing, parasailing, vanilla farm tour and more.
We work with the best guides in the area and can arrange for them to pick you up at the retreat.
What is the difference between the rainy season and dry season ?
Costa Rica has two seasons, green, or rainy season and summer, or dry season.
Green season can begin sometime in April and can last through November.
In turn, our “summer season” usually occurs between December and March.
Green season has many parts to it: The rainy part and the other part.
The rainy part usually occurs in the months of September and October. We are talking weather here, so nothing is written in stone.
The “other part”, April through August and November can usually be described in two ways:
The first possibility; there is no rain at all.
Another way it can go often goes like this; we begin the early morning with a mist left over from the previous night’s rain, the mists clears around 8:00 am into a glorious sunny day, around 4:00 p.m. the clouds roll and we get a refreshing shower, clears agin for the evening and then later on, around 8:00 pm we might get showers that last the night….or not.
September and October are the months that we can sometimes get rains that last all day, and sometimes all week.
Then again I am sitting here writing this on October 20th, and there is not a cloud in the sky, so again, you never know.
A quote from Mark Twain says: “Many people complain about the whether, but no one does anything about it”
The important thing is that our green season is just that, green, and not rainy all of the time.
The rivers are great for rafting and the waterfall are dramatic and full. For most of us who live here, green season is the best time of year.
Our summer, December through the end of March is relatively free of rain. It is warmer and dryer, but there is always an ocean, river or swimming pool very close by.
Do I have to know how to speak Spanish?
If you do, that is great, but it is not at all necessary.
If you speak English, then you will get along just fine in the area. Many locals, known as Ticos, know some English and almost all of the staff in restaurants and on the adventure tours are fluent in English.
We also have some guides who speak a few other languages as well.
Can you drink the water and eat fruits and vegetables?
Yes and yes.
The tap water here is as clean as the U.S. and Europe. Just like anywhere, many prefer to drink bottled water, but you can also safely drink right from the tap. We do include a large chilled bottled water dispenser in your villa. The same goes for vegetables and fruits. You can eat anything here and not worry about getting sick from it. Costa Rica does not allow for the same “fertilization” methods that you might find in places like Mexico where you need to be very strict about what you consume there.
How does the money work? Do I have to use the local currency? Where do I change my money?
The local currency is called the “Colone”.
U.S. dollars are widely accepted here, but you will get your change in Colones.
The airport in San Jose has plenty of money changing counters, but, they usually give the very worst exchange rate for some reason.
In turn, it is very difficult to get your money changed at a bank if you do not have an account with them.
Our best advice is to plan on using an ATM card.
You can take out either Colones or U.S. Dollars.
Just make sure to let your bank know that you will be using the card in Costa Rica.
Travel: To Costa Rica and to Manuel Antonio/Quepos.
What airport in Costa Rica to fly into from my country?
There are two international airports in Costa Rica, but one is much closer to us.
The two are: San Jose (SJO) which is named Juan Santamaria International Airport
The other is named: Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport also known as “Liberia International Airport”
San Jose airport is the best one to use to get to us.
Liberia airport serves the Guanacaste, or Northwest area of Costa Rica.
***Please note that SJO is our San Jose Airport and NOT SJC, the San Jose in California. We are also NOT San Juan, which is Puerto Rico…these understandable mistakes have been made***
How do I get to the retreat from the international airport in San Jose?
There are two ways, by air or by land.
By Air:
Sansa Air ( www.flysansa) is located very close to the international airport.
You will be looking to schedule your flights to our local airport which is named “Quepos”, which also the name of our small port town.
The flights take about 20 minutes, the planes are small ( 12 passengers) and very safe. The ride is beautiful, and the cost hovers around $75.00 per person depending on the time of year. The schedules varies greatly between green season and dry season so be sure to pay attention to that on the web site.
As of 2020, there are now four domestic airlines serving us. Simply do an online search under “flying from San Jose to Manuel Antonio” and many options will come up. We like Sansa the best, all are of course safe, and the added competition offers different schedules and pricing.
Sansa Air require that you check in at their counter a minimum of 45 minutes before departure
We offer transportation to and from the Quepos airport with any stay of three nights or longer.
By land: There are options here as well.
You can rent a vehicle, hire a car and driver, take an airport shuttle van or get over to the bus station in downtown San Jose and take one of the modern buses, sorry no chickens anymore, these are pretty nice buses.
We can help you out with any of these methods, but here is some information specific to renting a vehicle:
Driving in Costa Rica is very easy. We have a well paved highway system, and most of the secondary roads are in good shape, and a few are not.
Do I need a GPS
There are few to no marked streets outside of san Jose.
That being said it is a huge advantage to have a GPS with your car.
They rent them along with the car with updated Costa Rica maps for around $5.00 per day. Get one, or bring one, but you will be very glad to have it.
UPDATE: If you will have a cellphone that is set up to work in Costa Rica then the app WAZE works very well here, so no need for a GPS in that case.
Can I ask for an automatic transmission?
Most cars here are manual transmission, meaning a stick shift.
If you prefer an automatic, be sure to arrange that ahead of time, and then double check when picking up your car.
Do I need to have a four wheel drive vehicle?
No, you do not need to have one, but it is nice to have.
A four wheel drive will give you more access to more places should you want to get off of the beaten track. As mentioned before, we like to drive onto the beach sometimes and a four wheel drive is helpful. You rental agency will frown on plans to go onto the beach, so you may not want to mention it to them.
Also, you may not ever need to engage the all wheel drive, but these vehicles generally have much higher clearance and this is very important when driving on roads with potholes and stones.
We see plenty of tourists and locals driving low riding smaller cars and they do fine, but having a larger vehicle will take a lot of your worries away when out on your adventures.
Should I take out the extra insurance policy?
Great question, and here is where you can save some serious money.
The agencies here will make you take out a very inclusive policy, meaning it’s expensive.
Our best advice is to do this:
First check with your credit card company about their car rental coverage policy.
Be very specific about that you will be in Costa Rica when asking your CC company about your coverage.
Some credit cards are great, many are not, so ask.
Our own credit card, for example, will cover all insurance costs for rental cars when renting a car in Costa Rica as long as we hold the damage deposit with the credit card. That’s it. It’s a great credit card.
So if you have one of these, look into using it.
Second, you have to HAVE TO CHECK with the car rental agency if they will let you do this. Some will, some won’t.We listed two agencies below (they are in both San Jose and Quepos/Manuel Antonio) who will allow you to use your credit card’s insurance coverage .
Do your homework, and you can save a lot of money.
Do I need an International drivers license ?
No you do not, just a valid one from your own country.
Do you have recommended car rental agencies?
Yes, we have two that have worked out well for many of our guests, but of course there are several more if you look on line. Here are our two favorites because they have offices in both San Jose and Quepos / Manuel Antonio, and both will allow you to use your own credit card’s supplemental insurance if your card offers offers it.
Adobe Rental Cars: http://www.adobecar.com/offices.html?tracking=10115
Adobe: you can either pick up at their office in Quepos, or they will meet you at the Quepos airport, or they will drop the car off for you here at Prana Rainforest Retreat. You can also pick up at the San Jose airport after taking a shuttle to their office.
Economy Rental Car: https://www.economyrentacar.com
Another good one with great service. Pick up here in Manuel Antonio close to the retreat.
Do I need to carry my passport with me all day?
No you do not.
First, you must have a passport to enter Costa Rica.
Your passport not have an expiration date of not less than 90 days or there is a good chance you will be denied entry
Once you are here and you have passed through customs, they will have stamped your passport.
After that time you are only required to carry copy of your passport and you can use a photo of it kept on your phone.
You must copy both your picture page as well as the page with the stamp that they put there upon entry.
After that is better to just leave your passport in your safe in the villa.
What to bring?
We’ll just cover the basics, and please ask about anything else.
I tell people to pack light. We’re in the tropics, and even our finest restaurants offer a casual elegance, so no need to dress up.
The most important thing may be what footwear to bring.
I always suggest bringing at least three items:
A flip flop for the beach, a sports sandal that can get wet, and a closed shoe that is light weight, either a sneaker or light hiking shoe.
These three will get you almost anywhere and through almost any activity here.
The lighter, stronger and more water resistant the better.
Light clothes, and light rain gear for green season.
All of the obvious stuff like sun block and bug spray is here, but if you can bring it, it may be cheaper at home.
Of course bring any needed medications, but we do also have good medical care here if you need it.
A small flashlight can be helpful, and we’ve had some guests arrive with compact headlamps which they enjoyed using on our trails at night.
These days we don’t see nearly as many real books being used, and there are very few book stores left. Electronic readers are great to have, and with our Wifi you can download more while you’re here.
Do we need inoculations/shots?
No
Luckily, we have very little to worry about here in Costa Rica as far as any infectious diseases are concerned. Check with your county’s recommendations (in the US it is the CDC). Costa Rica does not require any shots to visit the country.
Should I bring Booze?
If you’d like to, then yes, you should consider picking some up before arriving
Alcohol is more expensive here, so we suggest stopping in at the duty free shop if you would like to have some in your villa. In San Jose airport, you can pick it up after you get off of the plane which is pretty convenient.
After you go through passport control and just before baggage claim there is a good duty free store.
The local fire water is named “Guaro”, it is made in Costa Rica and it is inexpensive, but you might not be so happy about it the next day!
The best wines to look for will be from Chili and Argentina.
If you forget, or choose not to pick some up ahead of time, then there are plenty of local shops close by.
