San Jose
All international flights go through San Jose, Costa Rica's capital city, so unless you can make a same-day connection to or from Puerto Jimenez, you will spend your first, and possibly your last, nights there. (If you want to avoid a night in San Jose, look for flights that arrive in the early morning, in time to catch the flight to Puerto Jimenez. When departing Costa Rica, try for flights departing San Jose in the afternoon, which will give you time to connect from Puerto Jimenez). Most major airlines fly to San Jose, including Continental, United, American and Lacsa/Grupo Taca (the national airline of Costa Rica).

Please note:
You need a U.S. passport to travel to Costa Rica. Be sure it is valid at least 30 days AFTER your return or they will not allow you to travel to Costa Rica! You can call the Costa Rican Consulate at (202) 328-6628 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, EST with any official questions. You can also try the Costa Rican Tourist Board at 800-343-6332, www.costarica.com , although the Consulate has the final word.

Places to stay in San Jose:
If you need a place to stay in the San Jose area let us know. We are happy to set you up in one of our favorite hotels – all of which are well-run, clean, charming and reasonably priced.

To Puerto Jimenez BY AIR:
The nearest town to our property (35-45 minutes) is Puerto Jimenez, gateway to the Osa. This is where flights from San Jose land, and where you buy groceries. Puerto Jimenez has several restaurants, a post office, three Internet cafes, a clinic, a pharmacy, a bank and other modern amenities we don't have out at Matapalo, where the houses are.

There is daily air service between San Jose and Puerto Jimenez on both Nature Air www.natureair.com , and Sansa Airlines www.flysansa.com . Sansa leaves from the Sansa terminal at the Juan Santamaria International Airport (about 35 minutes from downtown San Jose) where the international flights land. Nature Air leaves from Tobias Bolanos Airport (about 15 minutes from downtown San Jose). Advance reservations are a must, as these flights often fill up. Our experience, and that of many of our guests, is that Nature Air is consistently more reliable, punctual and professionally-run and we think it is worth the slightly higher fare. If you wish, we can arrange to have a reliable, English-speaking driver meet your international flight and take you to your domestic flight for the same rate as a taxi.

On your flight to Puerto Jimenez, which takes about 50 minutes, you will see spectacular views of the countryside and shoreline. For the clearest flying weather, we recommend the earliest flights.

When you leave the country you are required to pay an exit tax of $26 at the airport, in either dollars, colones or with a VISA (not Mastercard).

There are rental cars available in Puerto Jimenez and we can arrange this for you. However, a car is not essential once you're at the beach. Taxis are readily available and much is within walking distance.

To Puerto Jimenez by RENTAL CAR:
Driving is a way to see this beautiful country and we provide you with detailed directions from San Jose to our door upon request. It takes about seven to eight hours from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. We strongly recommend a 4-wheel drive vehicle, especially during the green season. We do NOT recommend driving at night!

To Puerto Jimenez by BUS:
There are two buses a day between San Jose and Puerto Jimenez. Both stop for lunch mid-route. These are not luxury buses and the trip can be long (9 or more hours) and arduous. The good news is, the bus is cheap: about $8 per person, one-way. However, unless you have a high discomfort tolerance and a well-developed sense of adventure, we don't think it's worth it.

The bus company is Autotransportes Blanco Lobo 011-506-256-8963.

PLEASE NOTE:
We will assist you with travel logistics as much as possible. However, we cannot be responsible for your travel arrangements or how they work out. Ultimately, you are in charge of getting yourself to the house and back.

When you arrive in Puerto Jimenez
If you fly, we can arrange to have a taxi meet your plane. At this point we recommend stopping at a restaurant to get your bearings, eat, use the bathroom, etc. Your taxi driver is happy to wait. He will then take you to the grocerystore. (Prior to your trip we send you a grocery list of what you can expect to find). Shopping in Costa Rica is a great cultural experience!

There is also a small produce shop, liquor store and bakery on the main street of town.

Arrival at THE HOUSE
We or our manager will come over and give you an orientation when you arrive. If no one is there to meet you, we’ll leave the house unlocked, with the key in the door, and connect with you later. Go on in and make yourself at home.

Kick back, relax, explore. You made it!