FAQs

Question

What is Playa Potrero like?

Answer

Playa Potrero (where Rachael and Cristhian live, and where the wedding festivities will take place) is a small, rural town on the North Pacific Coast in the province of Guanacaste. There are only 700 local residents in Potrero, and an expat and tourist population that is growing each year. Potrero is divided into two sections, the village of Potrero where mostly locals live (where Rachael/Cristhian live and where Rachael's work is dedicated) and Surfside, which is part of Potrero, but where most of the expats/tourists are (where the wedding/reception will be, hotels, vacation rentals, beach front properties, etc.). Potrero is surrounded by a number of amazing beaches, containing both black and white sand. In the Surfside area, there are a number of restaurants and bars. In the village of Potrero, there are a few restaurants, a public elementary school, a catholic church, and the most popular, important hang out spot, the soccer field! (Soccer/futbol rules over everything here in CR!)

Question

What is the currency in Costa Rica?

Answer

The local currency is called Colones. However, everywhere will accept USD$ as well, but make sure to bring bills no larger than $20. If you pay in U.S. cash, you will get change in colones. Currently, the exchange rate is about 600 colones to $1 USD, so if something costs 2000 colones, just divide 2000/600 = $3.33.

Question

Do I have to rent a car?

Answer

While all the official events will be within the town of Potrero (Surfside area), it is good to have your own wheels as walking along the roads can be dangerous, especially in the dark. If you plan to share rides or bum a ride off of Dan Sine, there are plenty of shuttles from LIR to Playa Potrero. See the shuttle options on the "travel" page of our website. We can also recommend local taxi drivers.

Question

Does anyone speak English?

Answer

Brush up on your Spanish phrases! At touristy restaurants and hotels, the workers will speak some English, but don't rely on it!

Question

Is Potrero safe?

Answer

Yes! Costa Rica is a very safe place to be, and most crimes that do occur in the area are crimes of opportunity. Like in most places with high levels of tourism, you should always be aware of your surroundings, lock your car/house doors, never leave anything visible in your car, never leave anything unattended on the beach, etc. Use common sense and remember that we are all guests in the community, and there will be no problems!

Question

What will the weather be like?

Answer

HOT! There are two seasons in Costa Rica, dry season and rainy season. March is right in the middle of dry season, with the good news being that we don't have to worry about rain, and the bad news being that it's really hot with not much relief. Expect temperatures to be between 90-100° F with not much wind and lots of direct sunlight. Hats and sunscreen are highly recommended. Since it's also dry, most of the greenery will be brown unfortunately, and forest fires are not an uncommon occurrence.

Question

Any special packing recommendations?

Answer

Pack for a hot, tropical vacation! Shorts, flip flops and t-shirts or tanks are best here. I (Rachael) have never worn a sweater in Costa Rica (except for the airport)! We recommend bringing plenty of sunscreen and bug spray for the mosquitos (these 2 items are very expensive to buy in CR.) An insulated, reusable water bottle is also a great idea to reduce plastic waste.

Question

Can I drink the water?

Answer

YES! Water is potable in Potrero so you don't have to worry about buying bottles or getting sick from drinking tap water. The water comes from the mountains and volcanoes and is full of healthy minerals. People say their hair and nails grow stronger from the water here!

Question

What kind of food do they eat in Costa Rica?

Answer

Two words- rice and beans. If you want to eat "typical" Costa Rican food, be prepared to have rice and beans for breakfast, lunch and dinner! A typical dish is called a "casado" and consists of rice, beans, salad, plantains, and your choice of beef, chicken or fish. Another population dish is "arroz con pollo" or rice with chicken (and happens to be Rachael's favorite). Of course, restaurants generally have a wide range of dishes to serve the tourist community, so don't sweat it if you aren't a fan of the rice and beans!

Question

Where can we stock up on groceries in/around Potrero?

Answer

There are a few markets you can stop at to buy some groceries or other essential items. We recommend Super Massai in Flamingo (about 5 minutes from Potrero) for the best selection of items. In Surfside near the venue/most of the hotels, there is a small market called Mrkdo that also has a good selection. Rachael is happy to help point you in the right direction once you arrive!

Question

Can you tell us more about what you guys do in Costa Rica?

Answer

We are glad you asked! Rachael is the director of the nonprofit organization Abriendo Mentes (www.abriendomentes.org), operating in Playa Potrero and Brasilito. The local communities face little educational resources, high levels of unemployment, drug/alcohol abuse, and many complex family and social issues that contribute to high levels of poverty. My organization runs a number of education and community development programs with the mission of empowering local residents to build skills needed to break the cycle of poverty and reach economic stability. Cristhian, born and raised in Nicaragua, moved to Potrero over 8 years ago to work. He works in maintenance at a beautiful private beach front property about 10km North of Potrero. While his parents still live in Nicaragua, 6 out of the 9 of his siblings also live in the Potrero area and he has lots of nieces and nephews! Potrero is now where Rachael and Cristhian call home, and we can't wait for you all to see it!

Question

A Note on Responsible Tourism

Answer

The town of Potrero and the surrounding areas have seen development from the tourism industry happen essentially overnight. Potrero did not get electricity until the early 90's. The main road into town was only paved in 2012. Just a few decades ago, Potrero and the surrounding area thrived on agriculture. This economic shift from agriculture to tourism has left many local residents with unprofitable job skills, leading to high levels of unemployment and poverty. While the tourism industry can bring numerous benefits to a community, it also can bring hardships. It's important to remember that we are all guests visiting Potrero and to be respectful of the local people, customs and etiquette, whether that be driving on the road, tipping the housekeeper/ waiter at a restaurant, etc. There are so many wonderful things to enjoy about Potrero, and Rachael and Cristhian have been extremely blessed to be accepted into the community and call it home. We can't wait to share it all with you!