Friends visit Costa Rica 2022

Our home is located in Pandora, a neighboring town next to La Guaria. You will never see either name on any public transportation. Instead, you’ll look for Valle La Estrella, a name everyone recognizes. This panorama shows three structures from left to right.  We will occupy Casa Diaz and Casa Rowe as seen in the photo above. The second is occupied by my last remaining uncle, Ticos. 

In the area are two cousins that rent cabinas should you want to stay in Cahuita.  I believe both can be found on Airbnb, but if not they are Cahuita Lodge, and Jardin Tropicales. The are  approximately 20km away from the house but traffic is never an issue. Here’s a google map of what that distance is like.  Sometimes I take that drive daily, but I do like my little town as well. It’s tiny, quaint, simple and not touristy. I only bike ride in my area towards the banana plantations and Indian villages. I do have an SUV, a motorcycle and a bicycle. So if you drive stick shift and want to drive about on a day I might be busy,  you can use the auto.  I do have two helmets so we can always use the motorcycle and with a car bike rack we can get you a loner and go bike riding in other areas, like Puerto Viejo, which I’m sure you’ll love.  I also have family there as well.

If you decide to wait for my arrival, skip the first column below on  how to get to Limon. But if you rather “get on with it” I can get you an Uber driver like Kim to get you to the correct bus terminal. That example is for Limon, but I’d get to a different bus terminal if you’re going straight to Cahuita or Puerto Viejo.  Uber is used in San Jose but it’s not officially sanctioned by the government. Nonetheless, your Uber app will work if you choose to use it.

I would exchange some money at the airport or use an ATM machine there.  Everyone will accept local currency but your credit cards/ATM cards are also valid most everywhere, even really small mom and pop stores. The exchange rate at the airport is not great.  I rarely exchange at the airport but it is convenient, and you will need some cash (say $40-$50) until we can get you to a proper bank.  I normally withdraw in local currency at ATMs around the country,  just not at the airport. If you’re a cash person, no worries, we can exchange at banks almost everywhere.  Just expect the typical Latin American bank experience (think slow or 30 years ago).  Check  your bank services  before you arrive as some US banks will charge you foreign transaction and/or currency exchange fees for using the ATM on top of an access fee.