F.A.Q.

Here, I will answer all your questions.
Read this page first before you ask, if you can't find an answer you can send me an e-mail.

• Snorkeling
• Payment
• Food store
• Bed size
• Shared shower or kitchen?
• Taxis or buses
• Malaria
• Two separate bedrooms
• Community
• Internet
• Dolphins
• Bikes
• Swim
• Towels
• Wet or "buggy" time
• Activities
• Jungle House
• Drive from San Jose
• Security
• Reservation
• Electricity
• Lock doors
• Screened
• The bathroom
• The kitchen
• Safe for kids?
• Beach
• Airport

 

 

Is the snorkeling good? And do you rent snorkeling equipment?

Depending on the time of the year the snorkelling is fantastic. Most recommended for snorkelling are April/ may and September/October. But also during many other months when the tied is low and the ocean calm you will enjoy snorkelling a lot. I do not rent snorkelling equipment, but there are other places around which do.
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Can we use Credit cards?

Unfortunately I can not offer you this service other than your first payment over Paypal. The commissions on Paypal are very high. If you are willing to pay this commission yourself on top of the total, we do accept your balance payment with paypal. The commission is 5%. Cash money, dollars and colones, is most easy for us. However,  I will take Traveller checks as well. If ou decide to pay with traveller checks we ask you to pay at your first day. This due to the long period banks will take to clear the checks.
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Is there a Grocery store close from your hotel?

At less than a 5 minute walk from the Tree House are two small Pulperias, little grocery stores in Spanish. Especially Morenos store offers a wide range of products. From all fresh milk products and home made whole weed bread to a wide assortment of vegetables and many Italian specialties. All kinds of little national and international restaurants are also at walking distance from the Tree House.
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What size bed is inside the accommodations?

Both at the Tree House as the Beach House have good orthopaedic mattresses and measure 195x140 cm. The downstairs room of Beach house also has a single bed. In the tree house you will find a bunk bed. The Beach Suite mattresses are all Queen size.
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Are the shower and kitchen shared with other costumers?

No, you never have to share any of the houses with any other customers. All houses offer their own facilities and are completely private.
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Can I get a taxi around?

In Puerto Viejo it is easy to find a taxi. The fare to the Tree House is about $6. At night up to $8. We can always call you a taxi from the Tree House. If you want to make your reservation advanced you can contact Luis 8383981. It’s a about a 10 minutes drive from the tree house into Puerto Viejo.
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How far is the bus from the tree house lodge?

From Manzanillo buses leave at 5:00, 8:15 and 17:00 hours. They pass at the Tree house about 10 minutes later, but can be earlier. This bus gets about 2 hours later in limon. In Puerto Viejo many more buses stop. To San Jose buses leave at: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00 and 16:00 hours. From San Jose to Puerto Viejo buses leave at the terminal de caribe or also know as Autotransportes Mepe. They leave at: 6:00, 10:00, 13:30 and 15:30 hours. From Puerto Viejo to the Tree House you will have to take a taxi. The bus fare from San Jose to Puerto Viejo is about $9.
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Is Malaria a problem where you are? Will I have to be vaccinated?

Fortunately malaria is not a problem around Puerto Viejo. Around Bataan, 40 km west from Limon Malaria was reported in October 2008. However, this is almost 100 km from our area. In the areas around Puntarenas, at the pacific site, several cases are reported. It is very rare that I hear of people who get a malaria infection around Puerto Viejo. But if you feel saver, or you travel trough different areas where malaria is reported, I would recommend you to keep taking your prophylaxis tablets. If your doctor  describes you Lariam, that is really to much!! Watch out with that stuff!! More alarming is a Dengue infection. This mosquito only bites during the day. They are sometimes reported, but if you take proper precautions the change to get infected is very small.
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Do I understand this correctly? The Tree House has two separate bedrooms so that it can accommodate two couples?

That's right.  Both the rooms have a double bed (195x140cm) besides; the bottom room also has a bunk bed.  The tree house can sleep in total up to 6 people. Besides, the upstairs room has its own private bathroom.
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Is there is a community of people living on these 10 acres of property around the tree House?

It is just me ,Ziggy and Tyra, my two dogs, and a whole bunch of iguanas who live here all year round. The place is very quite and private. However, there is a change you have to share the place with the Monkeys and sloths who frequently visit the tree House. Many times they just hang out right around the trees around the Tree House. If you leave fruits or other nice food on the counters at night, you have a good change the Racoons will bring you a visit to share the food with you! But don't worry, they are of not any danger at all and very cute.
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Is there any internet access?

At only 5 minutes away you will find a small internet cafe. For WiFi connections you only have to go as far as the Cocles community. At the Café Rio Negro, managed by a girl Marleen and her boyfriend, you can use high speed internet connections.
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Can we see Dolphins?

Dolphins you can find in Manzanillo, 5 km south of the tree house. There are 3 kinds of dolphins reported, including the very rare and recently discovered Amazon species” Tucuci”. The people from the dolphin foundation in Manzanillo, Aquamore, can take you on trips and almost guaranteed you will see Dolphins. However, they won’t allow you to swim with them.
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Do they rent bikes?

At 300 meters from the Tree House you can rent a bike. The price for one day is about $3. But on a week rent the mostly give you a little discount. In Puerto Viejo you might even get a better deal, but it's a longer trip so a little inconvenient on your last day when you have to bring your bike back. The road all the way from Puerto Viejo is recently paved and in a great condition for biking. You can also go off road and explore the area towards Paradiso, on the other side of the mountains.
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Can we swim in front of the Tree House?

Right in front of the property the beach is very beautiful and good to take a dip, but not for real swimming. You can go into the water up to your knees. The coral reefs just out the shore make it impossible to cross to deep water. For a real swim you will have to walk 500 east towards Punta Uva, where the sea is save, calm and no rip tide.
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Do you provide towels and sheets when we stay at the Tree House?

As in any other hotel towels and sheets are included in the price of the rent. We change the sheets  and clean your house every other day. If you prefer we can also clean your house every day, but please let us know from at arrival. Off course you can always ask me for dry towels.
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Wet or "buggy" time?

Question: I am very interested in the design of your Tree-house property, but I am concerned that if we are visiting at a very wet or "buggy" time that the open design of the house may be uncomfortably wet, or too open to insects?

Answer: It is very difficult to prognosticate the weather here. The wet season is normally around July/ August. Also December to February chances it rains are higher.
Mosquitoes are really not to bad. The ocean breeze keeps them away. Besides,  all rooms of the houses are well screened in and  the beds have mosquito nets. It is very rare I hear complaints from people about mosquitoes. Usually it’s the other way around. People came with the idea to be eaten alive, and it’s such a relieve its nothing like that, they hardly did not notice the mosquitoes.
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When we stay at your tree house, what kind of activities is there to do around?

About activities you won't have to worry. There is a lot to do. Jungle hikes in the Manzanillo wildlife refuge are most recommended. Also Butterfly farm, horse back riding, snorkeling/ diving, kayaks for rent, dolphin tours, IguanaFarm, visit to chocolate farm and help making chocolate, bikes and tours to the indigenous reserve in Bri Bri,  canopee and wild water rafting and much more actually.
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How close/accessible are Gandoca-Manzanillo and Cahuita National Park?

The Tree House is actually build within the boundaries of the Gandoca- Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. For hiking in the refuge we recommend to go to Manzanillo, from where nature guides can take you on their tours. If you want you can enter the refuge also by your own, however the change is therre you will get lost if you walk in to far. The trails are narrow and sometimes difficult to find. The vegetation is very thick and walking  off the trails in the rainforest is not recommended. The Cahuita National Park is 15 km North from Puerto Viejo.
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How far of a drive is it from San Jose?

Under normal conditions you drive it probably in about 4-5 hours. However faster is possible. The road from San Jose to the Tree House is paved all the way. At night it will probably takes a little more. However, I really not recommend you to drive after dark in Costa Rica. People sit on the sites of the roads, there are pot holes every where and signs are very poor. I really recommend you to do the drive from san jose to the tree house by day time.
Or use our private transportation. The driver will pick you up from the airport or your hotel and drive you all the way down to the tree house. Taxis’s are very cheap locally and it is not really a must to have your own vehicle while being at the tree house. Most people always realize it was not necessary to have a rent a car. Unless you decide to travel trough the country and want to be independend, I do recommend you to use the private transportion.
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Is there security to prevent theft of our personal belongings?

We offer a 24 hour security service. And all of the houses are equipped with a safety box. The safe is big enough to store a large camera or even probably your personal computer.
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How do I go about making a reservation?

You can make your reservation on line, filling out our form. Choose the house you want and check its availibility. If the house is available, the system will guide you to the PayPal system, indicating the necessary amount of the deposit. After that, you will type your PAYPAL TRANSACTION ID and your RESERVATION ID and EMAIL to complete the reservation.

If you can't use PayPal, you can send us an e-mail reservation to confirm your stay with us and as soon as you pay a 30% deposit your stay is confirmed with us. The 30% deposit can be payed through my account in the US at wells fargo. For European customers there is also the possibility to make this deposit in Holland with the ABN –AMRO bank. We will always send you a reconfirmation of your booking. If you did not receive this within 24 hours after you paid your deposit, please contact us.
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Is there electricity?

Yes, the Tree House lodge is just like any other Hotel and is place hooked up with electricity. In Costa Rica the voltage is 110 Volt.
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Is the area open to the outside and do the doors and windows lock?

Downstairs the tree house the kitchen and living room are  all open. The room upstairs is fully screened in and 98 % bug free. The downstairs room of the tree house has air- conditioning.  Because the windows are screened they do not need to open and there is a good air circulation. This makes the place very cool at night.
The beach suite also offers on room with air- conditioning. All the beds at the tree house lodge have mosquito nets and mosquitoes are really very rare.
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Do we need bug netting or is the house screened in?

You do not need to bring any mosquito netting, because all the rooms already have nets. Mosquitoes are really not to bad. The ocean breeze keeps them away. If so, you only have to expect some bugs just before the sunset. At night the bads help you to catch Mosquitoes. Did you know that one bat can eat 500 to 2000 mosquitoes in one night!!!
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Is the bathroom private?, Is it open to the rest of the house?, Does it have hot water?

The bathroom in the tree house is not open to the rest of the house, but opens towards the jungle. However, in the bathroom you have your own privacy. All showers in all the houses have hot water. Sometimes you have to wait a little while until the hot water reaches the houses. This Is due to the solar heating systems we have installed in all houses. In order to receive enough sun, they are sometimes located a little away from the houses. That sway it takes the water a while to reach to the houses.
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Does the kitchen have a stove and refrigerator?

In the Beach Suite the kitchen is equipped with a stove. Besides all other houses have a full equipped kitchen with refrigerator.
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Is the tree house safe for kids?

At the tree house: To integrate the roots of the trees in the floor I built the floors at all different levels, so watch out you steps. To get to the upstairs room you use the steel expansion cable bridge. The room is built about 4 meters elevated of the ground. To get up in your room, you have to watch your step and use conmen sense.  Especially when it rains the steps can be a little slippery, but anti slip strips on the steps help you to get better grip. Kids can not use the bridge as a play ground.
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Is the beach very far away?

The beach is only 150 meters from the tree house. The pictures on the website are the front of the property. Normally there is nobody out. It is very rare to see people out here. Both the beach house as the beach suite are only a few steps away from the water. From both house you can see the water.
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Please would you advise your nearest airport and map to get to you?

The nearest airport is in Limon. Both Sansa and Nature Air fly on This airport a few times a week. For more information on fly schedules I recommend to visit their websites. www.flysansa.com and www.natureair.com
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