FAQ’s

All linens, towels (including beach towels), kitchen towels and toilet paper, biodegradable shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, liquid soap, dish detergent, and other staples for the kitchen.

We also have some games and books together with information cards on the flora and fauna of the area. Some herbs for cooking are grown on site and there is also a variety of fruit trees. Carlos will supply you with these as available.

This area of Costa Rica basically has two seasons: the Dry Season (December through April) and the Green Season (May through November). Rainfall is the main variable. During the dry season, there is less rainfall. Humidity is lower and there is normally a breeze to keep you cool. From May to September there is more of a chance of rain. Very often this rain falls at night or in the afternoon. Temperatures are slightly cooler especially in the evenings. A light blanket on the bed may be needed. October and November are the rainiest months and the house is usually closed. Temperatures remain nearly constant all year round with temperatures averaging between 80 and 90 degrees during the daytime and in the mid-70’s at night. Most people find it necessary to cover up with a sheet or thin blanket for sleeping. The coastal waters are an almost constant 74 degrees all year long.

It is not necessary.  Carlos and Sianne both speak English and the local tours and guides all speak English too.

Yes!  Casa Vida Verde gets it water supply directly from well on the property and tastes delicious.  Just to be extra sure, one tap in the kitchen has a filter unit on it and you can restrict your drinking to water from this tap only.

Nothing is recommended for this area.

There is a clinic open 24/7 in Puerto Jimenez.  There is a hospital in Golfito and for serious emergencies; there is an air ambulance service which will get to a choice of hospitals in San Jose.

None specifically for Costa Rica or the Osa Peninsula.  The usual cautions that you would observe anywhere are all that is necessary.  Given the open design of the house, we recommend that valuables are kept in the provided lock boxes at night and when you are away from the house.  In addition, we ensure that someone is always on the property.

If you are seriously concerned about the possibility of insects being around you, it is possible the open air living at Casa Vida Verde is not the best environment for you. Please be aware. There are many insects around, but most insect encounters are part of the wonder of being in the rainforest. Remember, there is a whole food chain out there and there are plenty of animals and birds’ intent on eating all insects found. The beds are all insect proof with quality mosquito netting and the family suite is a screened in room to provide extra protection.  However, it is a good precaution, especially in early evening, to put on insect spray and we provide a natural liquid repellent in each of our bathrooms to make this convenient.

Our Manager is Carlos who lives on site and Sianne is our housekeeper.  Both speak English well and are there to ensure that your stay is as enjoyable as possible.  They know the area very well and are very experienced hosts.  Our guests report that nothing is too much trouble for them.

Please ensure that you have the right documents for travel and please research this ahead of your visit.  For instance, if travelling on a US passport, you can call the Costa Rican Consulate at (202) 328-6628 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, EST with any questions.   As a general rule, do make sure your passport is valid for 30 days after travel has been completed.

No you do not need to.  If you are happy to walk locally we recommend you getting a taxi to other locations.  This can be easily arranged by Carlos.  The taxi drivers know the area well, will often spot animals and birds that you would miss and can look after the driving while you enjoy your surroundings.  However, if you prefer to have your own vehicle this can be sorted with pick up and drop off in San Jose or Puerto Jimenez.

Plenty.  Even the most jaded and screen addicted kid will marvel at the sight of monkeys playing in the trees. Bugs, slime, mud, rocks, birds, hermit crabs, the natural world around them will captivate their curiosity.  Away from the house and garden, kayaking, swimming, surfing, tree climbing, waterfall hikes and zip lining are just some of the incredibly popular activities available.   This is an ideal place for children to explore and learn about the rainforest.  Nearly all tours welcome children and, where necessary, babysitting can be arranged.  However, we should note that, due to the open design of the house, we require all children to be over school age or 5 as the parents of younger children would not be able to relax!

Cash is king in Matapalo.  The higher end restaurants will take credit cards as will the supermarket.  Everyone else prefers cash.  Tour operators may charge extra for using a credit card.  You can pay with US dollars or Colons and can get either currency from one of the 2 ATM’s in Puerto Jimenez.  Traveler’s cheques are not very helpful here.

Self-Catering is the default – bring your groceries with you or for an additional charge shopping and delivery of groceries can be arranged.

Private chef options are also available for breakfast and dinner or all 3 meals a day. Their rate per person per day includes all menu selection, shopping, cooking and clean up.

In addition, the preparation of occasional local dishes can arranged, please ask.

Within a short walking distance there is Encanta La Vida, a small hotel with breakfast lunch and dinner options available.  Within a half an hour walk there is Martinas, an open-air funky bar and restaurant serving lunch and dinners, and Lapa Rios, an eco-tourism resort with gourmet dining and a fabulous view.  Further afield by car or a possible calorie burning hike, is Bosque del Cabo, another resort with dining to match its views.   Head into Puerto Jimenez and there are many options for eating including Pizza Mail.it in the evenings for the most awesome pizzas and pasta.

The only supermarkets are in Puerto Jimenez and we suggest that you order ahead or plan to shop on your way into Casa Vida Verde.  After that, when supplies run low, Carlos can arrange to have groceries ordered and delivered to the house.

Some modern conveniences are hard to give up! If you just need ice for drinks, then the freezer section of the American style fridge will provide a good supply. However, we do recommend, especially if you are a larger group, that you also buy a couple of bags of ice from BM and then place them in the cooler at the house. This provides additional cool storage for beer and wine etc and means that the fridge is more available for food supplies. A couple of bags will usually keep beer etc cool for about 3 days.

Most restaurants will include 10% on the bill.  In all other circumstances gratuities are discretionary.

No, this is not available.  The house is open and is designed to take advantage of the cool air movements coming down the hill behind the house.  Most guests find this very comfortable and ceiling fans in the kitchen and living room, together with fans in the bedrooms assist when the breeze weakens.

This is a time for leaving the modern world behind as much as possible!  Some modern essentials are inevitable though and this includes cameras, cell phones and laptops.  We have a Bluetooth player if you wish to bring your own music.  We do request that you do not bring hairdryers and curling irons, anything that needs to heat up, as this uses too much power.  In the jungle you don’t have to worry about what your hair looks like.  The outlets are standard North American for 110V applications. If you have a question about a particular device, please ask.

Almost the same as on grid except PLEASE, charge devices during the day when the sun is creating oodles of power and PLEASE be aware of lights and fans being left on, especially at night, which will drain the batteries. While we have backup generators, we much prefer to only use them for utility purposes.

No landlines exist in the area.  However, cell phone coverage has been expanded and the Matapalo area usually has good coverage.  As you come through the airport you are now able to purchase a SIM card for use in Costa Rica.  Check with Osa Tropical for the latest information regarding Costa Rican SIM Cards and compatibility with certain phones.  As a back-up, Carlos and Sianne both have cell phones and can assist you with any local calls you may need to make.

Yes. We provide the best Wi-Fi we can – we have belts and braces with two sources of signal being Starlink and a local network. However, we cannot guarantee it will always be functioning.  Treat it like solar – adequate but not home, so don’t count on it except for e-mail, social media updates, reservation confirmations (intl. flights check in and others), weather check, surf reports and simple browsing.  Depending on how many teenagers you have with you, it is sufficiently robust for some software updates, video streaming, and other work purposes.  You may be lucky and have no issues but sometimes it will fail and it may take some time to return.  Please do not come into Matapalo requiring perfect internet – if all does breakdown – the Osa Tropical office in Puerto Jimenez can assist in an emergency.

Included in the rental is a cleaning service every other day and sheets and towels are changed regularly.  The house has washing machines and a gas dryer but these facilities are not directly available to guests due to the complicated logistics involved in managing our water and power.  However, for a fee, the amount dependent on load size, laundry can be done on site.  If you prefer, there are service wash facilities in Puerto Jimenez as well.

• First get to San Jose:

  All international flights go through San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city.  Most major airlines fly to San Jose, including Continental/United, American, Jet Blue and the Latin American airline, Taca.
  You will need to plan overnight stays in San Jose unless your international flight arrives before lunchtime (in the dry season) or departs mid-afternoon.  Although the internal airlines operate out of the international airport, timing and possible delays due to weather make it prudent to plan at least a 4 hour window between an international flight and a internal flight arrival or departure.  Also bear in mind that the number of internal flights outside the high season reduces significantly.   Our Agents can recommend the right hotel in San Jose for your needs and budget.

• Then get to Puerto Jimenez:

  • If you choose to fly:   Your destination will be the airport in Puerto Jimenez. From San Jose you have the choice to fly with a domestic airline, Sansa or others. Our Agent can assist with reservations which are recommended as flights are often sold out especially during the high season.  The flights are available through the morning and early afternoon and last about 45 minutes. The flight offers breathtaking views of the country’s majestic mountains and magical beaches. You’ll want to keep in mind that there is a baggage restriction of 25 pounds per person, with additional weight allowed for an additional charge – apx $1 per pound.  If you are traveling in a group, another option to consider is a charter flight.

  • If you choose to drive: Driving is a great way to see this beautiful country and our Agent can provide you with detailed directions. It takes about 7 hours from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez.  It is essential to hire a four-wheel drive vehicle and plan your journey to arrive while it is still light.  The roads are usually good until you reach the Osa peninsula.  From there into Puerto Jimenez the road has been improved but there are still sections where caution is required and the driving is by pot hole and pit.  Not an easy drive and much more difficult at night!

  • Other options:

    • Schedule Shuttle: Please contact Osa Tropical for more information.

    • Private driver and van:  we highly recommend this option when you have the time to enjoy the journey but do not want the hassle of having to drive on unfamiliar roads.  Our Agent will put you in contact with a very experienced English-speaking guide and driver who will be able to convey you to your destination in comfort.

    • Bus: Our Agent can give you up to date details.  There are two buses daily between San Jose and Puerto Jimenez which stop for lunch mid-route. These are not luxury buses and the trip can be long 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, it is not where to save money!

• Then get to the house:

  If you fly into Puerto Jimenez, the Agent will arrange to have a taxi waiting to take you to Casa Vida Verde.  If you drive in, plan to take a break in the town.  This is the time to stock up on groceries if you have not preordered as you will soon be in the middle of nowhere!  Puerto Jimenez also has restaurants, a 24-hour clinic, pharmacies and two banks.  Whether by taxi or rental car, your final leg into Matapalo will take from 35 to 50 minutes depending on the condition of the road.  It is a distance of 18 kilometers, but the road is unpaved and eroded at certain sections.  Your adventure begins here!  As you drive in you may see signs of the wildlife all around you.  Chances are you will stop to view monkeys or macaws close at hand.  When you reach Casa Vida Verde, our Manager will be there to welcome you and help settle you in.  When you are ready, they can give you an orientation of the house and the neighborhood.  Now is the time to relax, unwind and recharge, you are now in your own corner of paradise!

Please note that our agent will assist you with travel plans as far as possible. However, your travel arrangements are ultimately your own responsibility.  If something goes wrong and things change, we will assist where possible but are not obligated to give compensation based on not showing up.