F.A.Q.

To make a reservation please connect with us through our Contact form on the site or click HERE.

We require a 50% non-refundable deposit at the time of booking to reserve your dates. We also require you to either sign our online contract or print out our PDF version then sign, print, and scan back to us for reservation confirmation.

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:

• Cancellation up to 120 days before: Full credit for future stay.
• Cancellations up to 60 days before: 50% credit.

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:

• Credit Card: via our online payment system (3% service fee added).
• QuickBooks Direct Deposit: No fee option.
• Wire Transfer: For clients outside the USA or Costa Rica.

Additional options can be discussed with our booking representative.

We do not take a security deposit in cash, but we require one credit card number per home at check-in for incidentals. Any charges for damages would be discussed with the guest prior to or post-checkout.

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.

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:

• Driving to 1 group tour in the areas of Manuel Antonio, Jaco, Dominical Daily.
• Unlimited trips in the local area of the villas "Esterillos" to local beaches, horse back riding, and local restaurants.
• Up to 10 hours of driver service max daily.

General Private Driver Rates 2024-25:

• $320 per day + Tip for Big Van (25 guests)
• $300 per day + Tip Van (15 guests)
• Airport transfer: $140 (1-4 guests) per way. Each additional guest is $10pp extra. (ie: 6 guests airport transfer is $160)

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:

1. Go to Skype.com on your computer, install the software, establish an account and add money.
2. Download the Skype App on your SmartPhone and establish your account.
3. When on a wireless network, use the Skype App to dial ground lines. *When powering on your cell phone internationally, make sure to TURN OFF ROAMING.

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:

• Check in meter reading: 12345
• 1 home for 7 nights = 70 watts per night x 7 nights = 490 watts of usage included free.
• Allotted Meter reading: 12345 + 490 = 12835 included in your rate. Any amount over this will be charged to the renter.

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.

No. Costa Rica uses the same 120V 2 or 3-prong outlets as the USA.

Hair dryers and hand soap are provided. We currently do not provide other personal hygiene items.

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.

YES! Our Home Managers can help you plan special events and coordinate tours. View our Activities page for more info.

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

• Checkin time: Your Villa will be ready any time after 3:00 pm (we need this time to provide the deep cleaning necessary between guests) unless you have a pre-approved early checkin time. Early checkin and late check out is available but is per availability and must be confirmed the day before your arrival. Once you are on the road please message us at our CR number +506 8304-8474 so we can be ready for you.
• Keys & Arrival: We offer self check-in via our door codes (which we will send the day before checkin) or pending availability we can personally check in with our onsite caretaker or manager. Our on-site caretakers Janet and her Husband Donald (they live in the apartment next to Villa 2 above the garage) will be there to assist and answer any questions you may have. We are also always available to assist via WhatsApp or phone.
• Cleaning: Cleaning & the Safety of our guests is a top priority and we are following the Health Ministries recommendations for sanitation. Your home will be given to you clean and in order. Should you desire daily cleaning services our cleaning team are available for $3 per hour paid directly to the girls in cash. Please let us know in advance so we can coordinate that for you!
• Electrical Allotment & Meter Reading: Our caretakers will take a meter reading upon checkin since your rental comes with a daily allotment sufficient to cover normal use of the home and minimal use of the AC for sleeping only (8pm-8am). If you choose to use more AC in the daytime it will go over the daily allotment and for this we charge per KW over the included 50KW per night at .70$ USD per KW exceeding the limit.

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:

• LAUNDRY: Leave BEDS UNMADE. Take all beach and bath towels to the laundry room. If you can, start a load of towels as they take a long time to dry.
• DISHES: Run the DISHWASHER and return dishes to their proper place. (Note: if you rented both houses, please return items to their proper house to avoid being charged for missing items.)
• CLEANING AND TRASH: Don't be too concerned with doing a deep thorough cleaning, though a quick cleaning is appreciated. Any food or drink still good, even if partially used, please keep it in the fridge. Please take kitchen TRASH in a trash bag to the garbage can on the street to avoid insect infestation.
• SAFE: Make sure you're not leaving valuables in the safe. Please LEAVE SAFES OPEN for our next guests and return the keys to the manager.
• TURN OFF LIGHTS, FANS & ALL A/C Units! LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS with deadbolt. Leave key in the lockbox. Give 2 Key Sets to Manager. DO NOT LEAVE ANY KEYS IN THE HOUSE unless directed by manager.

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:

1. Take the Colones amount
2. Drop the 000s
3. Multiply by 2
4. Remember in Spanish the "," is a "." (e.g., c 1.000 = $2, c 5.000 = $10, c 10.000 = $20)

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.

There are local markets in Esterillos Oeste and larger stores in Jaco/Parrita. We offer grocery stocking services to have your home ready upon arrival.

Many great options within 5-15 minutes. We will provide a map and recommendations at check-in.