Frequently Asked Questions
A. Do I need to bring sheets or a mosquito net to the home stays?
- The home stays offer sheets and mosquito nets to the travelers.
- Yes! All the hotels have Wi-Fi for the travelers.
- In most of the villages there are small family run "pulperias" that sell basically anything you might need. You can find most of the basic supplies from these stores. In Drake Bay Town there are few bigger, cheaper markets.
- Families offering the home stay accommodation are very friendly and accommodating. They have previous experience of hosting travelers. All tourists will receive three home-cooked meals a day. You live with the families and in some houses you have to share a room. All rooms will have a locking door and access to an indoor bathroom, shower, and laundry facilities. While the houses here might differ a lot from the accommodations they have at home tourists will live safely, comfortably, and like a traditional Tico family, an unforgettable experience. For further information please check out the HOMESTAY NETWORK.
- Drake Bay Town is located in Osa Peninsula near the Corcovado national park. The rest of villages are small communities and located far away from the main cities. Most of the members of the communities get their living from tourism, fishing and agriculture. The small villages are rustic communities and most of the families hosting travelers have pets and livestock. After the rainy season of May-November, the climate is hot and most of the time humidity is incredibly high. Because of the tropical climate, travelers will be also introduced to the different kinds of animals of tropics; including various species of insects, monkeys, sloths, and birds, sometimes right in front of hotels.
- Before travelling it is recommended to check out the medical recommendations with your doctor, but for the most part there are not any special vaccinations needed.
- Members of the community offer different kind of tours for the travelers. These range from bird-watching trips to tours of local “Fincas” or farms with gorgeous views and waterfalls.
- All of the locals speak Spanish, but most of the local guides have learned conversational English
General Tips
- Dark clothes are needed for the night walks and hiking in Corcovado National Park, also make sure to bring some long sleeve clothes to protect yourself from the insects.
- You might want to bring some loose, dry fit clothes because during the rainy season it rains a lot - it takes a long time for clothes to dry. Most of your clothes will get wet, sandy and dirty. A raincoat or a poncho.
- For the night walks you need a headlamp or a normal flashlight.
- Although the climate is tropical, it is also a good idea to bring a couple warmer clothes for the cold rainy days. For the most part, the weather is going to be warm and you will do fine with shorts and t-shirts.
- A pair of hiking shoes or good sneakers are recommended for doing tours. Rain boots are also recommended because of the continuous raining (hiking shoes often dry quite slowly), you can borrow some from the hotels. Sandals or flip-flops are recommended for just walking around.
- During the rainy season it is essential to get a poncho for your backpack and sealed plastic bags for your electrical equipment as they will save you from the humidity and rain here. Remember to check to see if you need adapters for any electronics!
- Make sure to bring any needed medication for your stay. Generally some plasters, hand sanitizer and lotions for sunburns or mosquito bites are recommended. The hotels do have their own first aid kits, but it is still a good idea to be prepared.
- There are lot of insects in the close-to-the-nature environments. Skin friendly, and strong bug spray is needed in these kinds of conditions.
- Important: Please bring enough cash with you for the duration of your stay. There is no ATM machine in Drake Bay Town. To withdraw more money travelers have to travel nearly 70km to the nearest ATM.
