1. Is your place right for me?

Guests that seem most satisfied and return to our place are most often those that enjoy adventure travel, couples looking for a romantic getaway, singles, friends traveling together, and couples whose children are older or maybe no longer travel with them.

2. What is the weather like?

While it is true that the Caribbean side of Costa Rica gets more rain, unfortunately the way that weather is reported makes it sound like it never stops raining here! The Caribbean is often reported as 70% chance of rain when in reality, it is only raining in one of the micro-climates along the long seacoast, and the rest is perfectly sunny. Yes, it receives more rain than the arid Pacific coast. But for more lush vegetation, and most of the time nothing more than an afternoon shower, you will enjoy the verdant natural surroundings & flora and fauna of the uncrowded, laid back Caribbean coast. Oh, and one more thing, when it does rain in Costa Rica, at least it's a warm, tropical rain!

As for temperatures, they vary little between seasons, with the average around 86°F (30°C) during the day and 70°F (21°C) at night. It is quite humid here year round, as we are in the rainforest, however we have dehumidifiers in each bungalow.

3. What should I bring?

Sunblock, beach gear, mosquito repellent (organic is available if you'd like to avoid DEET), raingear, comfortable hiking shoes, & a headlamp/flashlight for walking/biking in the evenings...but not much else!

4. What activities are there to do in your area?

There is so much to do here for all kinds of adventure seekers! Check out our activities page.

5. How far are you from...?

Puerto Viejo - About 6km which is a good 20 minute bike ride, 5 minute car ride and if you're up for walking it could take about an hour.

Cahuita - About 26km which can be reached in 20-30 minutes by car, there are also frequent buses that will take you there. We wouldn't suggest biking, however, for it is a busy road.

Manzanillo - About 6km which is a good 20 minute bike ride, 5 minute car ride and if you're up for walking it could take about an hour.

Punta Uva Beach- About 2km which is a quick 10 minute bike ride or a nice 30 minute walk.

San Jose - Takes about 4 1/2 hours by car or bus.

6. Is it a good place for families?

Although the area can be a nice place for families, all of our bungalows, except for the Casita, have only one queen bed.

7. Is a car needed once we arrive?

Not really, if you don't mind riding bikes around to the small towns on this coast, visiting the parks, restaurants and shops is easy to do without a car. Taxis are available for night activities, buses run frequently to the towns that are a bit farther away(Cahuita & Bri Bri), and scooters are a popular rental here in town.

8. What is the currency exchange & what is the best option of payment?

Click here for the most current exchange rate. Although many places do accept credit cards here, it is recommended to pay cash in order to avoid surcharges, possible international charges from your banking institution, sales tax & to better negotiate discounts while shopping! Also most places will not accept traveler's checks, however the one bank in Puerto Viejo will cash them and do currency exchanges.

9. Are there many jungle creatures there?

Yes, this is the jungle! Lizards, frogs, caterpillars, crickets, mosquitoes, spiders, snakes, bats, insects, beautiful birds, butterflies, sloths, monkeys, & many more creatures live here for you to see & hear.

10. What are the beaches like?

Gorgeous! The beaches along the entire Caribbean coast are some of the best, with Salsa Brava in Puerto Viejo providing excellent surf, Beach Break in Cocles offering a popular spot to hang out or body surf, Playa Chiquita- our personal favorite-known as a great swimming and snorkeling beach that also kicks up a bit of surf now and then, & Punta Uva with its beautiful natural cove is a must see.

11. Do you have internet there?

There are internet cafes all over the area with many in Puerto Viejo and Cocles offering high-speed service.

12. Are there any safety concerns I should be aware of?

Our bungalows are very secure and each one has a safe for valuable items such as cameras, passports etc. The hosts also live on the property. As for the area, petty theft is a problem throughout Costa Rica and especially beach towns. Puerto Viejo is no more affected than any other places and is in fact safer than places like Tamarindo, Quepos, Jaco and definitely San Jose.

13. Are there many restaurants/What is the food like on the Caribbean?

One of the great things about our area is the variety & quantity of restaurants serving food from all over the world. Because of the various backgrounds of foreigners that have moved here to share their recipes with travelers, you can find Thai, Italian, Caribbean, Latin fusions, sushi, & more. The traditional dishes of the Caribbean usually consist of rice, beans, plantains, seafood, chicken, & beef spiced with local flavor!

14. Do you have maid/room service?

We are more than happy to tidy your bungalow each day however, to remain as eco friendly as possible, linen changes will only be done at the guests' request. As for room service, the Caribbean is just not a room service kind of place.

15. What are the transportation options to your area?

There are many options to reach Tierra de Suenos from San Jose or other parts of the country, it just depends on what will suit you best. Refer to our location page for more info.

16. Can you accommodate groups/larger parties?

Groups - Certainly! We can offer discounts for groups that would like to reserve several bungalows.

Larger Parties - Can reserve several bungalows or our Casita sleeps four.

17. Do the bungalows have kitchen facilities/long term rental options?

Only one of our bungalows, Zen Garden-the Casita, offers a kitchen and long term rental options.

18. What is the Caribbean side of Costa Rica really like?

The Caribbean is the kind of place that can be magical for many and not right for others. Air-conditioning, turn-down service, golf courses, 5-star resorts, tennis courts & posh facilities are a rarity. However, beautiful beaches, friendly people, eco tourism, adventure travel, verdant natural surroundings & wildlife are abundant.

Get more details & history on the Caribbean here

Links

In order to assist you with your trip planning to Costa Rica we have included some links below that we have found helpful.

Tierra de Suenos Lodge is a participating member a select group of boutique, small hotels located on the beach, in the mountains, near National Parks, and all offering nearby adventure activities.

CupoTico is a travel planning site that can help with hotels, rental cars & tours

GoVisitCostaRica is a great tourist guide for visiting Costa Rica

Costa Rica Surf the best place to check the surf in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Discover tours & travel is a travel reservation site

English language news for Costa Rica

PuertoViejo.org an informative website on the area

Greencoast has information on eco-based tourism in the area