FAQs

Question

What should I bring with me for my trip?

Answer

March in Costa Rica is HOT! and most places do not have air conditioning. We are located just 8 degrees from the equator, so the sun is very intense. Zancudo has a rustic beach vibe and is very casual. Here is a sample packing list for your convenience: -Swimsuits/Boardshorts -Coverups -Bug Spray -Sunscreen -Hat -Sunglasses -Flip Flops -Hiking Sandals -Light Weight Long Sleeve Shirt (especially for fishing and outdoor activities to reduce sun exposure) -Light Weight Long Pants (to keep the bugs away in the evenings) -Backpack (makes carrying things on your tours easy) -Waterproof Camera -Binoculars -English/Spanish Dictionary -Rain Jacket/Pancho -Dry Fit Shorts/Tank Tops -Toiletries -Refillable Water Bottle -Travel Hammock with straps -Beach Towel (or blanket to take on the beach) For the Wedding- Our ceremony will be very casual. Sun dresses, light weight shirts and shorts are perfect! No shoes, no problem!! Do NOT bring- Expensive/flashy jewelry or valuables.

Question

What is the currency used in Costa Rica?

Answer

The Costa Rican Colón is the currency used throughout the country. It is wise to use Google to convert from dollars to colones when paying cash for something. Generally, most locals use the 500 colones/1 dollar conversion to make it easy on themselves.

Question

Is there an ATM in, or around Zancudo?

Answer

No. There is no ATM anywhere near Zancudo. We recommend getting cash in San Jose, or in Golfito at the Banco Nacional or Coopealianza. Most restaurants and stores accept credit and debit card payments. Most tours will require a cash payment.

Question

Are there any gas stations in, or around Zancudo?

Answer

The short answer is no. It is best to get gas in Golfito. There is one gas station near the public boat dock at the center of town. If you get in a bind and need gas in Zancudo or the surrounding area, you can purchase it in the local stores and markets by the gallon. (It’s sold in plastic recycled jugs) FYI- It is much more expensive to buy gas from the stores in Zancudo.

Question

If I choose not to get a rental car, what are my other options for transportation?

Answer

If you have a short trip and decide to stay close to the wedding events, there are other options besides a rental car that could save money. When arriving in Golfito, you can hail a red taxi from the airport to Zancudo. It will cost anywhere from $60-$80, depending on the driver and your negotiation skills. ;) The car ride is about 1 hour long. You can also take a red taxi to the public boat dock and then take a boat taxi to Zancudo. The cost is the same, but it only takes 30 minutes by boat. Boat Taxis need to be arranged in advance. Once in Zancudo, it is possible to walk everywhere. Some of the rentals in the recommended list we’ve provided have access to bikes. The wedding events will be at the northern point of Zancudo. The southern part of the beach is between 2-4 miles away. The road in Zancudo is a bumpy dirt road and there are no sidewalks, but walking is safe and easy and at low tide the beach is wonderful to walk. There aren’t usually taxi services available in Zancudo.

Question

How do I arrange a boat taxi to Zancudo, Golfito, or Puerto Jimenez?

Answer

There are a few different boat captains that provide boat taxi services. You can call or text Via WhatsApp to make arrangements. Costs vary between $60-$90 for the entire boat. For example, if there are 6 people needing a boat taxi, the cost would be $10-$30 per person one way. Cash payments are required. Nelson- +506 8575 0095 Peter- +506 2780 1819 Los Cocos- +506 8829 5007 Erik- +506 8638 7712 Dan- +506 8387 7715

Question

Where is the boat dock located in Zancudo?

Answer

The boat dock is located on the backside of the Zancudo School and soccer field. If driving north towards the point and ZWB&B, the road splits at the school. Rather than taking the road to the left to continue on towards the point, you’ll take that right which will lead you to a small parking area in front of the dock. The boat dock is a 15-20 minute walk from ZWB&B and is only about a 5-10 minute walk from El Coquito Restaurante where the wedding reception will be held.

Question

Where are the stores located in Zancudo?

Answer

There are two stores in town. Filemon’s (AKA Buena Precia) is located on the south central part of Zancudo and Super Bella and is located on the northern part of Zancudo, near the school and El Coquito Restaurant. You can find food staples, snacks, sodas, alcoholic beverages, toiletries, sunscreen, bug spray, laundry detergent and more at both locations. If you need to get a gallon of gas or air for your tires, go to Filemon’s.

Question

Are there restaurants in town?

Answer

Yes, we have a nice variety of quaint open-air restaurants along the beach. -El Coquito: Where the wedding reception will be held, near the north part of town. Serves American and Tico favorites.+506 8608 1111 -Sol y Mar: Located near the South end of town. Large menu and lively bar crowd. +506 2776 0014 -Colosso: Quaint and quiet ambiance. Breakfast and Dinner options. +506 2776 0050 -Tranquiló Bar: Pizza and cold beer. Take-out options. +506 2776 0131 -Caroline’s Mosquito Bar: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mosquito-Bar-At-Playa-Zancudo/1735615043331098 -La Piña Pavones: Authentic Italian Food with beautiful beach views +506 8957 3739 -Cafe de la Suerte Pavones: Vegan and vegetarian spot +506 8381 4347 -Olas Bravas Bakery: Homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, bagels, pizza and cakes. Gluten free options available. +506 8986 1478 -CasaZenn: Private Dining experience in your rental or on the beach! Delicious meals inspired by travel around the world. +506 8528 3168

Question

How do addresses work in Costa Rica?

Answer

Unlike the United States, Costa Rica doesn’t use a numerical system to determine addresses. Instead, they provide directions that use landmarks to get you in the right place. When using the GPS, you can usually enter in the name of the location you are headed, or the name of the landmark used in the address and then, follow the directions from there. For example, the address to ZWB&B is 500 meters north of Zancudo Lodge in front of the beach, yellow house with red roof. You would enter in the GPS “Zancudo Lodge” and then follow the road another 500 meters and look for the yellow house on the beach. This system seems a little unusual, but it’s pretty easy to adapt to and works surprisingly well.

Question

Is it safe to drink the water in Costa Rica?

Answer

Yes!! It is safe to drink the water almost everywhere in Costa Rica.

Question

Can you flush your toilet paper?

Answer

In most cases, you CANNOT flush your toilet paper down the toilet in Costa Rica. Most places will have signs in the restroom as a reminder and if no sign is visible, it is always better to assume you shouldn’t flush any paper or feminine products. Sewage systems in this area cannot handle an overflow of paper.

Question

Do I need to be able to speak Spanish to get around?

Answer

Having some basic Spanish will really help you throughout your travel. The local people (Ticos) are very patient and love when tourists try to speak their language. Google translate is a great resource to help you. DuoLingo is a learning app that you can use to learn some basic Spanish prior to your trip. Here are some common phrases used in Costa Rica: “Pura Vida”-means pure life. Similar to Aloha in Hawaii, this phrase is used as a greeting and a goodbye. It’s also used to respond to “how are you?” “Hola”-Hello “Por favor” -Please “Gracias” -Thank you “Con mucho gusto.” -You’re welcome/with pleasure. “Cómo estas?” -How are you? “Todo bien.” -All is well. “Todo bien?” -Everything good? “Quanto cuesta?” -How much does this/it cost? “Chao” -Bye “Donde esta…?” -Where is…? “El Aeropuerto” -The Airport “El Baño” -The Bathroom “El Restaurante” -The Restaurant “El muelle público” -The Public Boat Dock “Necesito ayuda.” -I need help. “Habla Inglés?” -Do you speak English?

Question

Will my cell phone work in Costa Rica?

Answer

We recommend signing up for an international cell phone plan for your trip. Prices vary by service provider. If you have a phone that is unlocked, you can purchase a local chip at the airport in San José that will give you local service throughout the country. Nearly everyone in the country uses WhatsApp to communicate with one another over a good wifi connection. It is a free app and easy to use, but remember that if you do not have a data plan of some kind, this app will only work when you are connected to wifi.

Question

What GPS service should I use while driving around?

Answer

We recommend the Waze app for the most accurate and direct routes throughout the country. Google Maps is also a reliable GPS app. In general, Apple Maps is not a good option.

Question

Where is the best place to shop?

Answer

The cheapest place to buy groceries and duty-free alcohol is in Paso Canoas. This is a border town between Costa Rica and Panama. It is about 45 minutes-1 hour drive from Zancudo. You can find everything you need here including gas and souvenirs at the lowest price. Keep in mind it has that border town feel, but it’s safe. City Mall is a great place to enter into the GPS and you can find almost everything you need there. You’ll see signs for duty-free beer, wine and liquor along the way. If you’d like to have a guide drive you and show you around versus making the trip yourself, contact Sonny at the Frithe Estate +506 8400 5185

Question

What are the requirements to enter Costa Rica from the United States?

Answer

As we all know, things change quickly in this day and age. Many countries have different requirements to enter. Follow this link throughout your planning to know what is required for tourists to enter Costa Rica and get back into the United States. https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements As of October 5, 2021- VACCINATED foreign visitors are required to fill out a Health Pass (found here: https://salud.go.cr/) and provide proof of vaccination. UNVACCINATED foreign visitors are required to 1.) obtain health insurance from an approved international travel insurance company (we recommend Trawick International (https://www.trawickinternational.com/) as well as 2.) Fill out the Health Pass form (https://salud.go.cr/).