Frequently Asked Questions
The following is a collection of the frequently asked questions we have responded to over the past few years. We have organized the answers into categories of travel/accomodation, food, facilities/services, activities, safety and reservations. Of course we also have a small miscellaneous section. Feel free to send in questions you might have and we will add them to the list (with answers of course). And, you can use the "Search" function below to help you find answers throughout our website.
First, some basic information for you. Villas Canadiense only has four units. Each of our villas has a queen-sized bed in the bedroom and a double pullout futon in the living room area. The bedroom has an air conditioning unit while the kitchen, lving room and outdoor patio each have large ceiling fans. There is a full ktichen (complete with stove, fridge/freezer, blender, toaster, microwave, cooking and eating utensils as well as dishes), a pool, a beautiful garden yard and poolside ranchito (with a barbeque) for guests to enjoy. Our villas are only 200 paces from the ocean and sandy beach (Playa Guiones). There is no lodging right on the beach as it is designated National Park Reserve land. Our place is about as close as you can get to staying on the beach.
Travel / Accommodation
- Where do you suggest flying in to, San Jose or Liberia?
- Are there rental cars available in both places?
- Can you fly into Liberia, and then drive to Nosara?
- How do I get from Liberia to Nosara (Villas Canadiense)?
- How do we get from the Nosara airport to Villas Canadiense?
- How can I get from San Jose to Nosara?
- Can we fly from San Jose to Nosara?
- How do I get from Jaco or Manuel Antonio over the new bridge to Nosara?
- Do I need to rent a car for my stay at Villas Canadiense?
- Where can I rent a car?
- If I fly into Nosara, will I be able to rent a car there?
- Where is a good place to stay overnight in San Jose?
- How do I contact a car rental company, or airline in Costa Rica?
- Are there taxis in Nosara?
Food
- How much do you recommend for food & drink budget?
- And are the restaurants expensive?
- Are there grocery stores nearby?
- What sort of restaurants/amenities is in the nearby area?
Facilities / Services
- We hope to pack light, are there laundry facilities on site? Do we bring towels or are they provided?
- Does the Villa have a bodega (storage)?
- What are the sleeping arrangements?
- Is the phone available for us to use with at any time?
- Is there Internet service available?
- Is there fax service?
- Do you have television?
- Is there housekeeping provided?
- Is there parking available at the Villas?
Activities
- Is there deep sea fishing?
- What sort of activities are there to do?
- Are there waterfalls in the area?
- Is there snorkelling gear there, or should we bring our own?
- Is there someone we can talk to regarding booking some day trips now or when we get there?
Safety
Reservations
- Do I need to make a deposit on a reservation?
- What happens if I need to cancel my reservation?
- How do I pay if I do not have a PayPal account?
Miscellaneous
- What is the weather like in Nosara?
- What is the bug and/or mosquito situation there that time of year?
- Is the Manager there all day?
- Will there be someone to greet us, show us which unit is ours etc.?
- What is the actual address of Villas Canadiense?
- When is check out/in time?
- Manager’s Cell Phone Number?
- Office Phone / Fax number?
- Can we use the pool anytime?
- What kind of electrical power is available?
Where do you suggest flying in to, San Jose or Liberia?
Check our website (www.villacanadiense.com) under the "Directions" page for details, but Liberia to Nosara is a shorter drive (about 2.5 hours) while it is over 4 hours from San Jose to Nosara. Click here to jump to the 'Directions' page
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Are there rental
cars available in both places?
Yes, most of the major international car rental folks (Budget, National, Economy, Alamo, Thrifty, etc.) operate in both Liberia and San Jose. Also, you will find a number of local car rental firms in both sites. Lots of choices for sure but we like Tricolor. www.tricolorcarrental.com Print off the driving instructions found on the “Directions” page of our website. Watch for police radar on the paved roads and if it is your first trip, we do not recommend you drive the last leg of the trip at night. Click here to jump to the 'Directions' page
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Can you fly into
Liberia, and then drive to Nosara?
Yes, there is a smaller airport (two "gates") located just outside of the town of Liberia on the West Coast of the country in Guanacaste province. Historically, only charter flights landed here so check with your travel agent for available charters to Liberia. However, there are now more and more regularly scheduled flights into Liberia with Continental, American, and Delta airlines. The airport is just over 2 hours North of Villas Canadiense (Nosara) and the roads are paved except for the last 20 or so miles. Again, the trip is really interesting (i.e., all the different scenery, the strange food and fruit they sell along the roads, the signage and much more) and the roads are well marked. Print off the driving instructions found on the “Directions” page of our website. Please obey the traffic signs (especially the school zones) and watch for police radar. If this is your first trip, we do not recommend you drive the last leg of the trip at night. The road is rough, narrow and contains lots of curves and hills. Click here to jump to the 'Directions' page
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How do I get from Liberia to Nosara (Villas Canadiense)?
You can rent a car, or also take a taxi from Liberia to Villas Canadiense for about $75-100 US. depending on how many persons in your group. If you choose to rent a car, we suggest you get a hotel for your first night and start out fresh in the morning. A brand new Hilton Garden Inn is located only a kilometer or so from the Liberia airport. The hotel has a shuttle service, a pool and a good restaurant. Car rental agencies are located closeby. For your trip south, we recommend that you print off the driving instructions found in the “Directions” section of our website. Watch for police radar and if it is your first trip, we do not recommend you drive the last leg of the trip at night.
You can also arrange for Three Monkies, a tour company based in Liberia, to drive you and your group from Liberia to Villas Canadiense. Ask for Rigo or Alejandro and mention that Benno and Ellie from Villas Canadiense referred you. These folks will do transfers from anywhere to anywhere in Costa Rica, with or without a guide. They are incredibly reliable and their rates are reasonable. They have vehicles of all sizes and can transport large and small groups of people. They will stop in Santa Cruz or Nicoya along the way for you to do some light grocery shopping if you wish. We like these folks a lot. You can reach them at:
Three Monkies website
Email :
reservations@3monkiescr.com
As another option, you can check out Costa Rica Shuttle for similar services.
Website: www.costaricashuttle.com
Email: info@costaricashuttle.com
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How do we get
from the Nosara airport to Villas Canadiense?
TOur new terminal is located at the far end of the airport, which is at the east end of the Village of Nosara. The airport is now manned for regular flights. If you take a taxi from the airport our manager or reservations agent, can arrange this if needed) they will know the way to Villas Canadiense. It is definitely too far to walk, especially if you are carrying any amount of luggage.
If you rent a car (Alamo, for example, will meet you at the airport and deliver your rental car right there), it is a fairly short drive to our place. Head west and south through town. You can ask anyone for directions to Playa Guiones (“donde est Playa Guiones”or “where is Playa Guiones”?).The trip is about 4 or 5 miles. Follow the road - signs will tell you that you are heading towards the villages of Garza or Esperanza. Once you reach the Nosara Subdivision (first sign would likely be the Nosar Yoga Institute on your left), keep following the winding road until you see the sign pointing to our place (sign will be on your left and you turn down the road on your right heading toward the beach). The turn is located just after the Giardino Tropicale which borders on the main road. The sign is a wooden affair on two posts with several establishments listed (we are next to the bottom - I think we were the last to apply or something). See the “Directions” page on our website for a picture of this sign. Follow this road down about two blocks and you will see our place on the left-hand side. Other businesses on the sign would include Casa Romantica.Of course, another landmark would be that we are just down toward the beach and across the street from Corky Caroll's Surf School and across the street from Nosara Travel office. Most folks know where we are located so do not be afraid to ask one of the locals.
As you leave the airport heading toward the centre of town (soccer pitch, school is on your left) there are a few stores on the right. Make a 90-degree left turn at the corner of the soccer field and drive past a few more stores, library on your left, keep going, past the church, past Roosevelt's grocery store (it is on the right hand side called the Super Nosara), past Jerry's hardware store on the left hand side here. Keep going past another grocery story (La Paloma also on the right hand side); go past the other end of the airport (it is still on your left). Keep following this road and you will come to a STOP sign (a small caution here is that hardly anyone ever stops) and you will see a turn off to the right (the road sign should indicate this heads north to the village of Ostional). Do not turn right; stay on to the left, go past the horse stable (it will be on your right hand side), go over the small creek (very narrow concrete bridge here so watch the edges), there is another hardware store on the left hand side with a gas station that may never open (some serious environmental concerns apparently), up over a small knoll with a few turns, you will see the sign for Hotel Estancia on the left. Keep going straight, lots of turns and wee hills until you come to our sign. Turn right just after Giardino Tropicale. If you come to Marlin Bills (left hand side) / Cafe de Paris (right hand side), you have gone one "block" too many on the main road. Go back one and watch for sign.
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How can
I get from San Jose to Nosara?
You have several options to get to Nosara, including the following:
- Arrange for a car and driver to take you to Nosara (Ernesto at 011-506-2235-0598 or Fernando at 011-506-2374-0202)
- Rent a car and drive yourself to Nosara (about 4 hours or so)
- Fly on one of the small regional airlines into Nosara (40 minute flight)
- Take a bus to Nosara (daily run from San Jose)
You can hire a car to drive you from San Jose to Nosara. We can recommend two highly reputable, careful and safe drivers - both have large clean vans and both speak English. We have used these two chaps on several occasions for the trip to Nosara and other destinations. The cost would be in the range of $150 but it would be wise to verify this with a specific request. Names and phone numbers are below.
You can also take the bus from San Jose to Nosara, it leaves downtown San Jose once daily - costs about $10 t0 $12 - clean, air conditioned, good drivers, limited English. The bus leaves the downtown depot at 6:00 AM, takes less than 6 hours, and the cost is around $10 US. You can pick it up also at the Cariarri Hotel (near the San Jose international airport) also.
There is a regular return bus from Nosara back to San Jose also. It picks people up at the Cafe de Paris corner. See our manager for the exact pickup times. This is a bit of a "cattle run" in that it stops many, many times. Destination in San Jose is the Carierri Hotel (near the San Jose international airport) as a first stop. Our manager could advise on further details here.
Fernando is the first driver. His phone number is 011-506-2374-0202. He is based in San Jose. Has a large van (immaculate), speaks good English and is a careful driver (this is important when compared to most Costa Rican drivers). He provided a lot of help, and we have used his services often. The second driver is a delightful chap named Ernesto. He has a similar van, also immaculate, a 12 passenger Toyota van, in really good shape, and is a great trustworthy driver. Phone is 011-506-2235-0598 or cellular phone 011-506-8385-7021. He speaks broken English, but you can also ask for his sister Monica, who is an English teacher. Ernesto has driven to Villas Canadiense and back as well as local destinations in the San Jose.
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Can we fly from
San Jose to Nosara?
Nosara has a small airport that is used for commuter flights from San Jose. The airport property has recently been refenced (now, no more cows on the runway) and the runway itself has been resurfaced. The cost for one person one way is about $100 US. You can make these short hop arrangements by contacting Nature Air ( www.natureair.com) or Sansa Airlines (www.flysansa.com).
Flying time is about 1/2 hour either way and allows you to skip the 5 or more hours of driving from San Jose even if the scenery is delightful and interesting. Luggage weight is limited and if you have too much, there is a surcharge and sometimes your bags might have to follow you via a different route. Some of the car agencies (for example, Alamo) will have a car waiting for you at the airport in Nosara for a small (about $50) drop charge.
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How do I get from
Jaco or Manuel Antonio over the new bridge to Nosara?
Basically head back to San Jose, but just north of Jaco Beach (about 10 miles north), stay left on the road heading towards Puntarenas about another 10 miles. Just before you get to the town of Puntarenas, turn right and follow the directions along the Pan American Highway north towards Canas and Liberia. Continuing on the Pan American Highway just before Canas watch for the sign to Tempisque (ferry) or Nicoya to the left, at a huge Shell gas station. This road will take you over the new Taiwanese bridge to Nicoya (the ferry is no longer in service). The directions on this web site Directions from San Jose
will be the same once you get north of Puntarenas. Print these off and watch for police radar. Top
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Do I need to rent
a car for my stay at Villas Canadiense?
If you plan to go further than Nosara (which you might for Monteverde, Arenal volcano tours etc.) then a car would probably be a good idea. You can indeed walk wherever you want in the subdivision for groceries, restaurants, bakery, juice bar, and bars. However, most folks often choose to go a bit farther afield after a while and end up renting a car. You can also rent a golf cart or ATV for shorter trips in the area if you do not mind the dust.
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Where can I rent a car?
You can rent a car from any of the major car rental agencies (Budget, National, Avis, Thrifty, Alamo, etc.), as part of your travel preparations and it will be ready for you when you arrive. We like , a local company who have served us very well over the years with an office in San Jose and also in Liberia. If you choose to go by taxi, and decide at a later date that you want to rent a car for some local touring, you can have the rental car delivered to Villas Canadiense for a nominal drop fee. You can also rent a four-by-four vehicle if you plan more adventurous tours as part of your vacation but this more expensive type of vehicle is not normally needed to get to Villas Canadiense. Gasoline costs vary but at last check the price for regular gasoline was about $4.00 USD per gallon.
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If I fly into
Nosara, will I be able to rent a car there?
Some of the car agencies (for example, Alamo) can have a car waiting for you at the airport in Nosara for a small (about $50) drop charge.
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Where is a good
place to stay overnight in San Jose?
We most often stay at the Hampton Inn hotel in San Jose (right near the airport). The phone number in San Jose, Costa Rica is 011-506-2443-0043. The hotel is only a couple of minutes from the airport; they have English service at the front desk, a pool, a small gift shop, airport and restaurant shuttle services and an excellent continental breakfast. There is also a great chicken restaurant (Rosti Pollos – roasted chicken) right next door and several "typical" restaurants only a short couple of blocks north.
Several car rental companies operate right across the street from the hotel itself. Our suggestion is to book your rooms in advance and your car rental at that time too. You can take a shuttle bus from the airport to the Hampton, and rent a car from there. If you rent from the airport there is a 15% surcharge. Some companies that come to mind are Budget, National, and Economy, Thrifty and Toyota. Our favorite, Tricolor is located about one block down the road from the hotel. www.tricolorcarrental.com
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How do
I contact a car rental company, or airline in Costa Rica?
You can readily see that there are lots of choices for car rental agencies. The list includes
the regular international companies that you will encounter all over the world. In addition, there
are a number of local agencies in the above list. Choose whichever firm makes you comfortable.
We like Tricolor.
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|
LOCAL AIRLINES |
NOSARA PHONE #'S
|
RESERVATIONS PHONE #'S
|
WEBSITE LINKS
|
|
Sansa |
2682-0168 |
011-506-2290-4100 |
|
|
Nature Air |
2682-0181 |
011-506-2246-6000 |
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INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES |
SAN JOSE PHONE #'S |
WEBSITE LINKS |
|
American Airlines: |
2257-1266 |
|
|
Delta Airlines: |
2256-7909 |
|
|
United Airlines: |
2220-4844 |
|
|
Continental Air: |
2296-4911 |
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|
Mexicana: |
2295-6969 |
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|
Taca: |
2296-9353 |
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|
Alitalia: |
2295-6820 |
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Are there taxis
in Nosara?
Yes, there are two or three local taxis available for hire. These are all based in the village of Nosara (about 5 miles away) and accessible by phone. English may be limited but our manager or our reservations agent can help make your arrangements.
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How
safe is road travel in Costa Rica?
The Canadian Travel Advisory website talks of car jacking etc. in Costa Rica, but they don't even mention the same for Jamaica (go figure!). We have never had a problem with this however we have noticed that some of the car rental agencies have put an alert in their agreement packages. They suggest that if you have a flat tire, just keep driving until you reach a service station (apparently, the bad guys will flatten your tire and then come to your “rescue”). Our guess is that situations like this might occur in San Jose or possibly on the East coast near Limon, which has a bad reputation, but we have never heard of such a thing out our way. The road is heavily travelled all the way to the turnoff past Nicoya - lots of holiday and commercial traffic and lots of police traffic and radar. On the gravel road portion (the last portion), there is still lots of traffic - mostly to and from our area.
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How much
do you recommend for food & drink?
Food and drink is really, really reasonable. Beer is not much more than a couple of bucks a can at the grocery store the last time I checked. Great rum (Ron Centenario) is about $12 a bottle. Wine is a bit unpredictable as all is imported. I seem to recall a good Chilean, Conca Y Toro Sunrise Merlot at around $10 a bottle or the South African Two Oceans Shiraz for about the same price.
Food is variable. In the Nosara Project, there are many fine restaurants to choose and the more expensive meals will range around $40 per person. Marlin Bill’s or Casa Romantica would likely be the most expensive but the food is wonderful and really not that costly. If you choose any of the close-by “typical” (i.e., local fare) places, a meal will cost $10 per person or less. With the grocery stores in the area, you can make your own meals, breakfasts for sure. There is lots of great fruit with a real taste we do not get in North America after it has been picked green, painted, irradiated and lord knows what else. The local Super Mini has fresh frozen fish and meat readily stocked.
Fresh fish is readily plentiful. Occasionally, the "Fish Truck" will come by our place regularly with fresh fish. This is a half ton truck with a freezer in the back. Or, you can take the short drive to the fish markets in Garza or San Juanillo to pick some up. Also, the German Bakery truck will roll though the subdivision (usually on Wednesday) with a load of delectable delights for those of us with a sweet tooth. Alternaitvely, the Cafe de Paris bakery is ony a 10 minute walk away. They have fresh baked goods daily. All gorcery prices seem realtively reasonable and similar to what we pay at home. Imported goods may be a bit more.
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And are
the restaurants expensive?
Restaurants are extremely reasonable. All of the restaurants in the Nosara Project are EXCELLENT and reasonably-priced - a real mix of continental dining. Probably the most expensive would be Marlin Bill's or Casa Romantica. However, the most expensive meal would be around $40US here - liquor extra. Beer is really cheap (about two dollars a bottle) and rum is even cheaper than the Coca Cola. A bottle of rum at the store is about $12 (circa 2009).
If you drive into the town of Nosara and eat at the local restaurants, the food is even cheaper - probably up to $10. Costa Rica is about the only place in the world besides Turkey where I have come home with money left over in my jeans.
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What is the weather like in Nosara?
Nosara is only 10 degrees above the equator but it does have some distinct seasons.
November through April is considered to be the “dry season”. This period is typified by consistently beautiful hot, dry days and balmy evenings. There is literally no rain in Nosara during this time. The temperature is in the mid 80's Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celcius) , sometimes higher, and it is quite balmy at night. However, the gravel roads get a bit dusty at this time and many of the big trees lose their leaves (retaining blossoms in most cases).
May through August is still mostly dry. This period is typified by consistently hot, dry days and balmy evenings. There will be an occasional rain in Nosara during this time but the rain is warm and of short duration. The temperature is in the mid 80's Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celcius), sometimes higher, and it is quite balmy at night. That means it will get pretty hot during the day (try to stop any strenuous physical activity by 11:00 am unless you are conditioned to the heat) and cools down nicely in the evening - say in the mid-70's Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celcius) - nice to walk around - no jacket or long sleeves required. We have been getting more and more reservations throughout the summer (June, July and August), as North Americans seem to be figuring out that Costa Rica is a great summer destination with the kids.
September through October
is considered the “rainy season” in Costa
Rica. The rain is so warm and freshens
everything up. Everything is green and
in full bloom - the flowers are so beautiful and fragrant. Temperature in is usually in the 80's Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celcisu) during
the day, and quite balmy at night. Some
of the rains are amazing deluges that seem to come down in sheets. Rain will appear typically only twice per
day and will last for about ½ hour. The
first will arrive around 1:00 pm in the afternoon and the second one will
appear around midnight (a beautiful sound on the roof). This is also the pothole season for the
gravel roads so be patient on the roads.
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How safe is the area?
Our property and each of the villas have solid security. Our trained manager is available by phone almost anytime. Also, for five days of each week, our gardener is workng on site. During the evening, we ask our clients to ensure the main gate is locked. The key is kept in a lock-box and you will be provided with the code for this in case you decide to stay out late). Each villa has a thick, solid wooden door, which you can lock. An outer door is constructed of wrought iron and this also can be locked. The keys for each unit are also kept in a lock-box outside each unit. You will be provided with the code for this lock-box. Always return the key to the lock-box when you leave. Our entire property is fenced with barbed wire hidden in the hedge that covers the fencing. All of the windows are protected with wrought iron grates (attractive, but also protective). Finally, each of our villas is equipped with a small safe where you can store any small valuables.
We are located in a well-populated area of the project. We have phone and fax access. The nearby town of Nosara has its own police force of five officers and two fully equipped ambulances. The town doctor has a clinic office in Nosara and lives in our subdivision. She was trained in the United States, speaks fluent English and takes emergency calls (if you are old enough, you will remember what a house call is) when needed. Recently, a full 911 service has been implemented in the Nicoya district. They will dispatch fire, police or ambulance service 24 hours per day with one simple phone call. In addition, our manager can be reached by telephone after hours.
The nearby town of Nicoya has a full-fledged acute care hospital, complete with emergency service and a pharmacy. Most residents can report good service from this facility. The capital city of San Jose boasts several large hospitals and also has a reputation for high quality dentistry, medical and plastic surgery services. Closer to home, we maintain a full First Aid kit available in the office.
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How safe is the
water for activities?
The waters of Playa Guiones are safe for swimming and surfing. The ocean floor slopes gently out so you can wade out a fair distance before the water is over your head. There are no significant riptides in the bay. When traveling to other areas to swim or surf, please check with the local experts to get an idea of the local conditions. For example, the beaches at Ostional are far more dangerous. Experts advise that if you are ever caught in a riptide, do not attempt to swim against it but rather “go with flow” and you will soon find yourself in calmer waters and you can readily get back to shore.
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We hope to pack light, are there laundry facilities on site? Do we
bring towels or are they provided?
Pack light for sure. We provide towels and bedding and towels for the pool. If you want a big beach towel, we would suggest you bring one or buy one along the way.
The laundry facilities on site are not for guest usage but there is a lady about a block away that will do laundry. Lelys, our housekeeper will take laundry home for guests for a small charge of $10.00 (U.S.) per load. Arrangements may be made with Lelys or our manager. You may pay them directly in cash.
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Return to 'Facilities' questions.
What is
the bug and/or mosquito situation there?
There really aren't a lot of mosquitoes in general in Nosara except in the rainy season or near the Nosara River area. Sometimes certain people get bites from those little tiny bugs you can't see - we call them "no-see-ums", but they only seem to pick on certain people and are not a major nuisance.
As for bugs, you may want to pack some insect spray just in case. Mostly you never see or feel the bugs, but some people (apparently, only the real juicy people!) are prone to little bites from the "no-see-ums". An antihistamine cream or an antihistamine tablet is sometimes helpful to reduce the itch.
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Does the Villa
have a bodega (i.e., storage)?
Each unit has it's own safe for smaller valuables such as money and passports, jewellery, etc. Please take good care of your travel papers and valuables.
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What are the
sleeping arrangements?
Each Villa has a queen-sized bed in the bedroom (which has air conditioning) as well as a double pullout futon couch in the living room - perfect for kids! Also, the easy chair makes into a single futon bed if needed. As well, each unit has a fully-equipped kitchen, living room, bathroom with shower and a covered patio. Visit the Facilities page of this website for some pictures and further information.
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Is the manager there all day?
Our manager is on site usually daily but can always be reached on his cell phone. We also have Keilyn on the front desk most mornings. Chico, our groundskeeper is on site for five days per week and Lelys, our housekeeper will be in to clean your unit every second day, except on weekends. .
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Is the phone available for us to use with at any time?
Phone service is limited, since we only have one phone line. Local phone calls are free of charge. When the manager is there, he will dial the call. You must use a calling or credit card for all long distance calls. You can also walk up the street to the Frog Pad or The Gilded Iguana where they have a phone for use. The Java Jungle across from the little strip mall on the next street over offfers free calls to Canada and USA.
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Is there Internet
service available?
Internet service is available at the Cafe de Paris and the Frog Pad ( both within 2 blocks). Our manager or the office can advise you how to get there. Both PC's and MACs are available. The cost is about $5 per hour. Also, the Java Jungle offers free wireless service if you have your own laptop as long as you buy a cup of coffee. Seems like a fair deal.
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Is there fax service?
Incoming and outgoing faxes are $1.00 (U.S.) per page plus the associated long distance charges. The incoming fax number is 011-506-2682-0350. Arrangements may be made with our manager for sending or receiving faxes. Alternatively, you can make arrangements for fax service at the Frog Pad just up the street.
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Will there be someone to greet us, show us which building is ours, etc.?
If you are arriving in the evening, we can arrange for our manager, to be there at any time as long as we have a reasonable estimated time of arrival. He will pop back and wait for folks to arrive. If they happen to miss him, we can supply his home phone number and they can call him from one of the bars or restaurants along the way (Cafe de Paris for example which is on the main road, one block before the turn to our place and there is always someone there that speaks English). With the lock-boxes, you can check yourself in as you will be provided with the codes by our reservations agent.
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Return to 'Miscellaneous' questions.
Are there grocery stores nearby?
Yes! Lots!
1. Driving to Nosara, there are two large grocery stores if you pass through the town of Nicoya. The Pele (right across from the hospital and in front of the only flashing red traffic light in the town) or the Co-op (about three or four more blocks south on the same side of the road).
2. In the village of Nosara, there are two large grocery stores. The first is called the Super Nosara and the second is called La Paloma. Both are near the Nosara airport.
3. In our subdivision, there are two small grocery stores. The closest is called Ricardo's Super Mini. It is clean, air conditioned and well stocked with almost anything you would need including fresh fruit and vegetables. The store is about 2 blocks away. Another small grocery store is located near Playa Pelada (about one mile away) called Pancho's. Also, Randy at the Harbour Reef (about 3 blocks away) has added some groceries to his store (about 2 blocks).
4. Fresh fish is available from a truck that comes by irregularly or the fish markets in the nearby villages of Garza (three miles) or San Juanillo (a bit further). Check with our manager for details.
5. Fresh pastries are available from a truck known locally as the German Baker that rolls through the neighborhood on a regular basis. Check with our manager for details.
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Do you have
television?
We do not have TV service at our place. I don't think we have even tried to see if we could get some kind of "jungle vision" reception. Lots of homes in the area have TV but not sure of the nature of the service (jungle vision, cable or satellite). I do recall that Direct TV satellite service was offered in the area not long ago.
Most of the bars, restaurants in the area have TV in the lounge areas. For example, The Gilded Iguana, Cafe de Paris, Casa Romantica (inside) are all within 2 blocks. Most of these places are reasonably casual and I am sure they would be willing to let a client flog around the channels a bit. Usually, there is some soccer game on if one of the locals has the controls. We never see hockey! CNN is a constant - it seems to be available just about everywhere.
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Is there
housekeeping provided?
We provide housekeeping via Lelys or sometimes, one of her daughters. She cleans each unit every second day. That means she will change the bedding, sweep, dust, clean the sinks, toilets, clean take out the garbage, etc. Extra towels are always available although we ask clients not to take them down to the ocean. Toilet paper, paper towels and hand soap are provided also. If you require extra items, please contact the manager. Extra items available upon request include a crib, blankets, barbecue, pool towels and CD/radio player.
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Is
there deep sea fishing?
Lots of spectacular deep sea fishing opportunities are available close by. The fishing pictures on our website are real. See the Activities page for some fishing outcomes. Trips are usually available for ½ day or a full day. Skippers will provide a full service – you just have to show up at the designated beach. Larger groups can also be accommodated and some of the boats are truly first class (air conditioned, hot meals, etc.). The fish are pretty much biting any time. Check with our manager for details and assistance making arrangements.
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What sort of
activities are there to do?
Of course, there are many exciting activities available for you. See the Activities page for more information and lots of photos. We can help arrange horseback tours, kayak trips (ocean or river), white water rafting trips, jungle tours, midnight crawler expeditions, turtle tours, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, volcano expeditions, etc. Merely check with our manager at the office for currently available events. At certain times of the year, you can drive a short distance to rodeo and dance events. Also, some of the local bars feature karaoke.
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Are there
waterfalls in the area?
There are several in the area. One of the best is located just on the far side of the Town of Nosara. You can walk yourself or take a horseback tour. Entrance fee is $1 to the folks who own the land. Our manager can provide directions. Lots of other waterfalls located across the country - some are really spectacular – for example the hot falls at Tabacon near the Arenal volcano. More falls are located in the Rincon volcano area many can be found in the central part of the country falling down the mountain spine that goes from north to south.
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Is
there snorkelling gear there, or should we bring our own?
Snorkel equipment can be rented locally. Check with our manager for locations and phone numbers. Snorkelling is available in the tidal pools of Playa Guiones (our bay) or in the bay of the little village of San Juanillo just about 10 miles up the coast.
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Is there someone we can talk to regarding booking some day trips
now or when we get there?
Our Reservations Agent, our manager, or the Keilyn at the front desk can help here for sure. Contact reservations via email to start. For our manager, the office phone is: 011-506-2682-0350 (Costa Rica). Again, these trips can be booked in advance and there is a choice of horseback, hiking, kayaking, etc.
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What sort of restaurants/amenities is in the nearby area?
- Groceries - two blocks (Ricardo's Mini Super)
- Groceries - three blocks (Harbour Reef - also has some clothing)
- Bakery - three blocks (Cafe de Paris)
- Casa Romantica restaurant - one block
- Casa Tucan restaurant - two blocks
- Harbour Reef restaurant - three blocks
- Cafe de Paris restaurant - three blocks
- The Gilded Iguana restaurant - two blocks
- Marlin Bill's restaurant - three blocks
- L'Aqua Viva restaurant - ten blocks
- Giardino Tropicale - Pizza &Pasta - one block
- Quad Rentals - three blocks
A bit further afield but still within walking distance (walk down the beach and around the point (North).
- La Luna restaurant - Playa Pelada - 2 kilometres (beach, blow holes)
- Pedro's restaurant & grocery store - 2 kilometres
- Rancho Suizo restaurant - 2 kilometres
Only a short drive from our place you will find:
- La Garta restaurant - 3 kilometres north (overlooks the Nosara River)
- Dos Lorenas restaurant - 3 kilometres (south near Esperanza)
- La Dolce Vita restaurant - 3 kilometres (south near Esperanza)
- Vista Del Paraiso - 2 kilometres (all uphill)
Further yet - lots more restaurants (typical), library, Red Cross, post office, our airport, a couple of bigger grocery stores and several bars in Nosara village about 4 miles. We do not recommend road walking. There is lots of dust in the dry season and lots of traffic at all times.
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What is the actual address of Villas Canadiense?
Villas Canadiense del Sol
Codigo Postal 5233
Nosara, District of Nicoya
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Alternatively, the area has been called the Reserva de Nosara, Bocas de Nosara, the Nosara Subdivision, the Nosara Project or the American Project. All of the labels seem to work. Often, the area is described by the name of the primary beach - Playa Guiones.
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Is there parking available at the Villas?
Parking is available at the front of the facility by the entrance gate. Please do not block the Entrance Gate.
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Can we use the pool anytime?
Regular pool hours are 7:00am – 10:00pm. From 10:00pm – 7:00am (our Quiet Hours) the pool may still be accessed and used, but the pool lights might be out and we would ask you to keep the noise at a low and respectable level for our other quests.
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Check in is by 4:00 pm. Check out is no later than 10:00 am. Please return your keys to your lock box the morning of check out. If you check out before office hours, please lock your door and leave the keys in the lock-box. If you were a late arrival, please come to the office in the morning to check in. We suggest you make check out arrangements with the manager the day before you leave.
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Phone 011-506-8839-9761
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Phone 011-506-2682-0350
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Do I need to make a deposit on a reservation?
Yes. For a normal reservation, we require a deposit of 20% of the value of your reservation. For extended stays, larger group reservations or peak period reservations, we require a deposit of 50%. See our Reservations section on this website for details.
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What happens if I need to cancel my reservation?
Contact our Reservations Agent right away. We will do the best we can to accomodate your changed requirements but we will have to charge an adminstration fee. See the Reservations section of this website for further details.
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How do I pay if I do not have a PayPal account?
PayPal is really easy and you do not even have to have an account. If course, if you want to use PayPal for other purchases, having an account is a good idea. If you have any difficulty, please contact our Reservations Agent for assistance.
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What kind of electrical power is available?
Great question! The electrical power at Villas Canadiense is the same, standard 110 volt, 60 hertz power found all over North America. We can tell you that the power availability is subject to different risks than elsewhere but is still reasonably reliable.
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