Flamingo, Costa Rica
Welcome to Casa de la Playa, your private retreat on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. We hope your stay is everything you've dreamed of.
Guest notes & house information
Getting to Casa de la Playa
Activities & excursions nearby
Weekly meal suggestions
Getting here from the US
Phone numbers & emergency info
(From the states dial 011–)
506-2-654-4970 phone
506-2-654-4965 fax
911
2653 0611 EMS – private medical clinic, Villa Real
2653 1974 EMS – private medical clinic, Tamarindo
EMS (Emergencias de la Costa): ambulance, paramedics, doctors & laboratory
Flamingo, offers home delivery – 2654 5524
Coast Guard, Flamingo – 2654 5033
Police (Tourist Assist), Flamingo – 2654 5086, 2661 8113
Police, Santa Cruz County – 2680 1580
OIJ (FBI of Costa Rica) – 2681 4062, 2690 0128, 2690 0129
Melissa Chellemi, Potrero – 8828 2287, 2654 4150
Emergencies calls only please between 9 p.m. & 6 a.m.
Melissa Chellemi is our house manager. She lives in Potrero and can be reached at home 2654 4150 or cell 8828 2287. Our house employees here do not speak very much English, but will try to understand you. There is also usually a Spanish/English dictionary around the living room. Please don't take it with you on any adventures!
Roland is chief caretaker at Casa de la Playa. He is on hand to provide security, property maintenance, and help guests with any heavy work. Roland and Isaiah work on a rotating schedule — one of them is present on the property at all time for your security and convenience. Isaiah is chief grounds keeper. There will also be a guard at night on hand from 9pm to 6am.
Yerlyn is head house keeper and cooks meals for Roland and Isaiah. Her hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays. She is off on Sundays, unless special arrangements are made. Additional kitchen staff can be added upon request to prepare, serve and clean up at breakfast and lunch. The cost is $16 per day. For groups of 6 or more, or use of more than 4 bedrooms, an additional staff member will be hired to assist Yerlyn with cooking and cleaning. Guests will be responsible for paying $16 per day for the additional staff member.
For special meals at the house, private chef Miguel can be hired to plan the menu with you, shop, prepare, serve and provide clean up. The cost is $35 per person, $12.50 for children under 12. Prices do not include alcoholic beverages but fresh juices or iced teas could be included. Meals include salad, entrée with accompaniments and dessert. Entrée options are: grilled tenderloin, shrimp, surf and turf or chicken.
Miguel can also provide chef services where clients provide the food and he does all the cooking, service and clean up. The price for this service would be $8 per person and $6 for kids under 12. Miguel does not speak English. Call Melissa if you would like to make arrangements: 2654 4150, 8828 2287.
There are two digital safes at Casa de la Playa. One is in the closet of the Casita. The other is upstairs under the bathroom sink. Please use these to lock up your passports, money and any other valuable items. We cannot be held responsible for missing items. Call Melissa for digital combination at 2654 4150 or 8828 2287.
Kayaks are available for you to use. However please take extra precautionary measures when using them. People have been lost at sea in this area while out kayaking. The wind can come up quickly and very strong. It is wise not to go too far offshore. Always have someone on land keep an eye on you and inform them ahead of time where you plan to paddle and when you plan to return. The Coast Guard in Flamingo is under staffed and under equipped so don't think that you could easily be rescued. Use caution and sound judgement.
When using air conditioners please keep bedroom doors closed to prevent them from running for extended times.
Costa Rica is home to over 600,000 fantastic species of insects. You will definitely experience some of them while you are here. Most of these are nothing worrisome. Mosquitoes are likely to be the worst menace. We suggest that you wear lightweight long pants and tennis shoes or covered shoes especially at dawn and dusk when the mosquitoes are most aggressive. If you are too hot to cover up, repellent is recommended.
There are two banks on the main road leaving Flamingo, a mile or so from the center of town, Banco Nacional & Banco de Costa Rica. Both have ATM machines that will dispense dollars or Costa Rican colones.
The best close-by small grocery store is on the main road leaving Flamingo, a mile or so from the center of town (between the banks). It is called Super Massai. The best large grocery store in the area is Auto Mercado located in Tamarindo. You may also stop at several grocery stores on the way to the house from the airport.
For airport transfers and tours please call Alan Lopez 8386 7922. Also available for taxi services, tours and transfers is Alex Moreno 8384 8222. Be cautious about hopping into any taxi. The two listed here are well known by us and very responsible and trustworthy. They also speak pretty good English.
If you would like to tip the employees, we ask that you stick to the following amounts: $5 per day for each employee — please don't exceed these amounts.
Follow the road past the airport to the west towards Puntareñas (a port city on the coast). It will take about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending upon the traffic through the mountains. This road is very dangerous at night, and should only be driven in the daytime. That goes for most driving in Costa Rica. Expect to encounter people, horses, cows, and buses in the road, and in your lane, at any time.
After you reach Puntareñas (you won't actually go through the city) follow the signs (and the only road north) to Liberia. When you reach Liberia, turn left towards the Liberia airport, then follow the directions below. Total trip time from San Jose airport to the house, 4–5 hours.
As you leave the Liberia airport, turn right on the main road toward Filadelfia and Tamarindo. Go west 27.5 km, through the town of Filadelfia, to the town of Belen where you look for a gas station at an intersection.
At the gas station in Belen, turn right (turn just before the gas station) and proceed 4.0 km to a T intersection and a stop sign in the small village of Santa Ana. Turn left at this stop sign. Go 20.0 km thru the rural farm country. You will go over a small pass (which is shortly after you pass another gas station on your left) to the town of Huacas.
There is no sign that tells you that you are actually in Huacas. In Huacas stay straight toward Flamingo, not left to Tamarindo. You will see a Super Compra grocery store on your right. After the Super Compra, go 1.0 km and make a sharp right toward Flamingo, not straight which takes you to Playa Grande. It's easy to miss this turn so watch for the signs to Flamingo.
Go 5.0 km to the Happy Snapper Restaurant in the town of Brasilito. Just after you pass the Happy Snapper, turn 90 degrees right toward Flamingo Beach.
Go 3.9 km and look for the small Supermarket "Super Massai" on the right hand side. This is a land mark to let you know you are going the right way. Continue until you get to a 90 degree turn to the left. The ocean will be right in front of you. After you bear left, the ocean will be on your right. You will see the town of Flamingo ahead of you.
Follow the road across the bridge and wind around past the shopping/restaurant area with the thatched roofs. The road will turn into a dirt road and will continue along the beach with a hotel on your left. As the road winds away from the beach there will be condos on your right called The Palms. There will be a V in the road and you will take a right, going past the front gate of The Palms condo complex. Follow the road up the hill and then down, where our house is the last on your right after the last curve in the road with a long white wall on the right. We have two black solid metal gates at the driveway entrance. Trip time 1 hour.
Melissa is happy to coordinate any of the following activities or tours at no additional cost to you. She can be reached at 2654 4150 or 8828 2287.
Full or half days. Casa de la Playa recommendation: Gamefisher II, one of the best, most experienced and most fun sportfishing boats in Costa Rica. If you can get online, see www.gamefisher2.com. Priced at $1150 and $550 respectively. Call 2654 4150 & 8828 2287. Or e-mail: rcgamefisher2@gmail.com
Playa Potrero, $60 per person/3 hrs fishing time. Fishing rods and tackle included. Soft drinks, water and snack foods provided. Call Walter Moreno, 8760 5459.
Casa de la Playa recommendation: Marlin del Rey, actually out of Tamarindo but a large very comfortable boat with nice equipment and good crew. Transportation is provided from Flamingo. Tours are either mornings or afternoon to sunset, 3 hours on the boat plus 1 hour snorkeling opportunity. Priced at $75 p/person. Call Melissa to arrange.
Point Break Surf School is one of the area's best. Operated by New Zealand surf instructor Matt Craig. Two hour personalized instruction: $45 p/person. Includes transportation, Playa Grande Beach or other local surf break. Call Matt, 8866 4133 or e-mail pointbreaksurf@gmail.com
Aquacenter is located below the Marina Resort Hotel in Flamingo. Two tank dives are $95 p/person. Call 2654 4141 and ask for Aquacenter.
Only 30 minutes away from Flamingo is a 14 platform zip line course with three hanging bridges and 11 cables. The Congo Canopy also has a butterfly farm and interesting variety of rescued wildlife including monkeys, parrots, coati and snakes. Plan to stay and explore after the zip line thrill. Price is $45 per person including round trip transportation from Flamingo. Call Melissa to make arrangements, 2654 4150 & 8828 2287.
Approximately 90 minutes away, visit this sleeping giant of a mountain and experience amazing zip lines, thermal waters and mud baths. Other activities offered are: horseback riding, hiking, ATV's, tubing down a river, giant water slide, even canyoneering for the brave at heart! This is an all day excursion that should start with an early departure from Casa de la Playa. Call Melissa, Alan or Alex to make arrangements for transportation and the full day package. Package includes lunch. Total price per person including transportation from Flamingo is from $135–$150, for 2 person minimum, $135 for 4 person minimum. Prices vary depending on guides' ability to communicate in English. $80 per person if you do your own driving.
There are several options at Rincon de la Vieja:
Approximately 2 hours from Flamingo, this is an all day tour with river boat cruise to observe a wide variety of Costa Rica's wildlife, including crocodiles, several species of monkeys and many species of exotic birds. *Price is $120 per person with a 2 person minimum or $100 per person for a 4 person minimum. Price includes lunches and cold drinks along the way.
Non-denominational Christian church services are held in English at Beach Community Church in Brasilito, Sunday mornings at 10:00. Entrance is ½ kilometer past Westin Conchal main entrance on left (dirt road with creek crossing).
The strength of the sun here is like nothing you have likely ever experienced before due to our proximity to the equator. Take precautions so you don't get burnt. The best part of the day in the tropics is the two hours after sunrise and the two hours before sunset. Try to plan some outdoor activities during these times for maximal enjoyment. Plan your siesta during the heat of the day where ever possible.
Enjoy your stay!
There are a number of car rental agencies that service the Liberia Airport. They are all off-site, but will meet you at the airport and take you to their office. Please remember that the roads are generally poor in Costa Rica. You will encounter people and animals (horses, cows and pigs!) constantly on the roads. You should not drive at night for these reasons. Breakdowns can be extremely inconvenient — there is no AAA around here! 4-wheel drive vehicles are available, but not necessary unless you plan to do a lot of adventuring. The roads to CasadelaPlaya are paved.
Budget Car Rental 506-2-668-1024 or email at budget@racsa.co.cr
Economy Rent a Car 506-2-394-2831 cell 506-8-666-2816 fax or email at economy1@sol.racsa.co.cr
Alamo Car Rental 506-2-668-1111 or email at autosada@sol.racsa.co.cr
Delta Airlines (www.delta.com) also flies two daily nonstops from Atlanta to Liberia. They also fly to San Jose. You can then drive to the house (this takes between 4 and 5 hours). You can also catch a puddle jumper on SANSA airlines to Tamarindo airstrip (15 minutes from the house). It can be difficult to make the connection in San Jose and might require an overnight stay in San Jose. Go to www.flysansa.com to check out the SANSA flights.