Costa Rica Luxury Villas
About Costa Rica
Book your dream luxury villa vacation in Costa Rica. We specialize in luxurious, Costa Rica vacation rentals.
Costa Rica Luxury Villas
Overflowing with wondrous experiences to be had and sights to be seen, Costa Rica is a destination unlike any other. Offering it all including, lush rainforests and dramatic cloud forests, active volcanoes, vast stretches of sand and two equally impressive coastlines, abundant wildlife, energetic cities and languorous beach towns… this is a place that needs to be experienced to be believed. Add to that – its impressive infrastructure, beautiful resorts and boutique hotels, upscale restaurants, challenging golf courses and some of the world's most renowned spas; and you've got yourself a full-service, multi-sensory vacation destination. While Costa Rica can certainly provide the beach vacation you crave, you would be missing out if you didn't explore this country's many wonders.
The Villa Mariana Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica from $795.00 /night
Villa Manzu Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica from $18,870.00 /night
Casa Mar y Sol Guanacaste Coast, Costa Rica from $1,260.00 /night
Casa De Colores Costa Rica / Guanacaste Coast from $400 /night
Villa Estrella Costa Rica/Guanacaste Coast from $1750 /night
Villa Del Sol Costa Rica/Guanacaste Coast from $1000 /night
Casa Pelicano Costa Rica/Guanacaste Coast from $2205 /night
Costa Rica Mansion Escazu Costa Rica from $6401 / Night
Casa Bali Tamarindo, Costa Rica from $3090 / Night
Casa Islita Tamarindo Costa Rica from $1442 / Night
Maravilla Costa Rica / Guanacaste Coast from $1500 /night
AN ECO-FRIENDLY ESCAPE
Costa Rica – literally “Rich Coast” – is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world. The area is home to over 32 National Parks, over 150 wildlife reserves, active and dormant volcanoes, tropical forests, and spectacular beaches. Learn about endangered species, support conservation efforts, and soak in the region’s natural treasures as you snorkel, hike, raft, or zip-line your way through the landscape – and do it all from the comfort of your own private retreat.
San Jose
Colon
Canadian driver’s licences are valid in Costa Rica however, an international driver's licence is recommended.
110 V, 60 Hz
A passport valid for at least 1 month beyond the expected departure date from Costa Rica is required.
-6 hr. Daylight savings time is not applied.
Democratic Republic
51,100 km2
Spanish, some English
Sansa, Nature Air
4,253,877 approx
Roman Catholic 76%, Evangelical 14%, other 10%
none
December through May
Consult the "Country Travel Advice and Advisories" of Costa Rica
Cuisine
Culture
Geography
History
Nature
Sports
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The local currency is Colon, named after Columbus. The currency is inflating at a rapid pace and forged bills are quite common. It is recommended to simply carry US Dollars in small denomination since tourism areas have prices marked in Dollars. Banks are easy to find but always accompanied by long delays. Us Dollar traveller's checks can be changed at the bank or in hotels. You can find ATMs in most places, particularly in San Jose, that dispense US Dollars and Colones. Major credit cards are accepted in major tourist places but not in more rural areas. |
Climate
Because Costa Rica is located so close to the equator, the climate pretty much remains tropical year round. A factor to consider here though is the varying elevation and rainfall. Climate wise, the seasons are divided into two periods. The dry season, or summer, is from December to May. The green season, or winter, is the period from May to November, where in many locations it rains constantly. The location that receives the most rain is the Caribbean slopes of the Central Cordillera Mountains. The humidity is also higher on the Caribbean side than on the Pacific side. The average annual temperature on the coastal lowlands is around 31C, 21C inland, and below 10C on the summits of the highest mountains. For monthly average temperatures please refer to your destination of choice. |
Communication
The country code in Costa Rica is 506. There are no area codes, local phone numbers are seven-digit numbers. The modern telecommunications services are provided by the government run Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad. Direct-dialling, telegram, fax, cellular phone network and internet access are all available. Internet caf�s can be easily found in the tourist spots, as well as in hotels. There is one English newspaper, The Tico Times. Check out Viva and Tiempo Libre for the latest listing of music, theatre and dance performances. |
Health
The easiest way to stay healthy in Costa Rica is to use common sense when it comes to food and drink. Although the water is considered potable, it is strongly advised to drink only bottled water. Make sure foods are properly cooked, and it may be best to avoid the delicious ceviche dish, a raw marinated seafood salad. Order all drinks without ice cubes and while enjoying the popular refrescos (fruit shakes) make sure to have it made with milk (en leche) instead of water. Here is a list of common ailments to watch for: - Sunburn or sunstroke - Diarrhea and intestinal upsets occur a lot since our stomachs are not accustomed to the food bacteria found here. In extreme cases, you should definitely take a stool sample to a lab for analysis. Amoebic dysentery or another form of parasite could be the cause and is easily treated. - Malaria, dengue fever, and leptospirosis all exist in Costa Rica. Although the likelihood of contracting any serious tropical disease in Costa Rica is slim, especially if you stick to touristy areas, you should ideally be inoculated. - Riptides, in-shore currents running out to sea, are very common. If you find yourself in a riptide, swim parallel to the beach until you're out of the riptide current area. - There are several species of venomous snakes and insects (snakes, scorpions, black widow spiders, tarantulas, bullet ants, etc), but they should not become a great fear. Just watch where you stick your hands, and shaking out your clothes and shoes before putting them on is a good idea. Bug bites can be a nuisance in the tropical forests so bring some insect repellent. There are no required vaccines to enter the country, unless you are arriving from a yellow fever affected destination. The following vaccines though are highly recommended for any tropical destination: hepatitis A and B, rabies, typhoid, tetanus and yellow fever. Less frequented areas of Costa Rica may also be prone to Cholera, Polio, Dengue fever, Diphtheria and Malaria. If you plan an adventure trip, it may be a good idea to get inoculated. |
Official Holidays
January 1- New Year's Day March/April - Easter April 11 - Juan Santamar�a's Day (National Hero) May 1 - Labour Day July 25 - Guanacaste Day August 2 - Virgin of the Angels Day (Patron Saint) August 15 - Mother's Day August 24 - National Park's Day September 15 - Independence Day October 12 - Columbus Day / Dia de la Raza December 25 - Christmas |
Safety
Costa Rica has always been considered relatively safe and its people reputed for being good Samaritans. However crime has risen in recent years, mostly involving robberies and pickpockets. Do not carry a wallet in your back pocket, do not wear anything of value, be discreet with cameras, watch your belongings at all times. The same goes for your hotel room and rental car, leave nothing of value behind. You should even keep an eye on your luggage at all times when travelling by bus. Extra precautions should be taken with a rental car as they can be more easily identified. Always, always use public parking lots. Never park on the streets. Be on your guard of strangers who stop to help you if you have car trouble. |
Shopping
Handicrafts really worth buying are few and rare in Costa Rica. Notable exceptions would be woodcarvings and pottery. An example is the colourfully painted Costa Rican oxcart replicas. These are particularly popular in the craft shops of the town of Sarchi, also know for its furniture. Beautiful low-fired simple potteries put the town of Guaitil, in central Guanacaste, on the tourist map. Costa Ricans create marvellous reproductions of pre-Columbian gold jewellery as well. The one thing you should buy, in large quantities, in Costa Rica is coffee. With seven different coffee-producing zones, you are sure to find one to satisfy your taste. All coffee is strictly Arabica. Caf� Britt is the best widely available brand. Do buying whole beans (grano entero), as the local grinds are much finer and may have sugar already added. |
Taxes & Tips
The departure tax of around US $29, per person, must be paid when leaving the country. The government sales tax is 13%, and is charged on all goods and services. Hotels charge a 16.3% tax. Restaurants charge a 13% tax and add on a 10% service charge. Tipping is also customary for bellmen, doormen, porters and tour guides. Taxi drivers do not receive any tip. |
Transportation
There are 3 main airports in Costa Rica: Juan Santamaria International Airport is located close to the capital San Jose; Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport is near Liberia and is the closest to the Pacific Northwest coast. Used for domestic flights and international chartered flights, the Tobias Bolanos Airport is situated in Pavas, a suburb of San Jose. If arriving by sea, several international ports will accommodate your arrival. The Interamericana (Panamerican Highway) runs through Costa Rica and is the main entry point by car. Many Costa Rican roads are in terrible shape, riddled with major potholes, and many roads are unpaved. A good road map with the small towns listed is essential as road signs are relatively few, or accurate. You can find great deals at car rental agencies but make sure you have proper complete insurance. There is an extensive network of bus routes within the country, and some international destinations, with reasonable fares and usually comfortable seating. Taxis are safe, as long as you choose recognized companies. The national taxi service has red vehicles. From Juan Santamaria International Airport, taxis are orange. When in San Jose, fares are metered. But in the provinces you should agree on a price ahead of time. |
ALL COSTA RICA LOCATIONS
Cartago (1) Dominical (4) Guanacaste (11) Guanacaste Coast (30) Jaco (7) Manuel Antonio (4) Peninsula Papagayo (3) Tango Mar (2) La Reserva (1) Las Catalinas (34) Los Sueños Resort and Marina (7) Marina Papagayo (1) Nosara (1) Playa Hermosa (1) Playa Junquillal (1)