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Costa Rica Travel Tips
If you can be flexible about your travel dates, you will probably be able to save some money. Flying into the country’s largest International airport, the Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO), near the Capital city of San Jose, you will find lots of options. The airport is located about 30 minutes northwest of San Jose in the direction of Atenas. However if you want to arrive and depart on the weekends, plan to part with more of your money on air fares. If your plans allow you to arrive in the middle of the week, you will have more opportunities to save more money. Mid-week fares are almost always lower. Traveling during the low or Green season (May – November) in Costa Rica will also be cheaper. Flying mid-week in October, you may be looking at half price tickets compared to arriving on a Saturday in the high season (Dec – April). Remember to travel light when you come to Costa Rica. It will cost you more money and hassle to travel with more than one bag per person. You only need a few light-weight layers of clothes, two pairs of comfortable walking shoes, your passport, and of course your camera! Many airlines now only allow you to check one bag. Most visitors do prefer to rent a car…but you don’t really need a 4 X 4 unless you are wanting to do some off-road traveling. The roads have been much improved in the last several years. Tourism is the number one industry in Costa Rica!
The Town of Atenas
Atenas is located about 35-40 minutes from the Juan Santamaria International Airport. Our small town has about 5,000 locals and approximately 17,000 residents in the surrounding neighborhoods known as Barrios. Our Villa Doughty is located in the Barrio known as Pan de Azucar and is the real alternative for those seeking a peaceful yet unforgettable place to stay for your very-own positively-private paradise. Atenas is far from the crowds, yet you are still be surrounded by friendly real Costa Ricans or Ticos, as they are known. And you will find they are some of the most welcoming and warm people you will ever meet.
Atenas is noted for having one of the “Best Climates in the World”, with average temperatures in the 80 degrees F during the day and the 60s F in the nights year round. There are several banks located just off the main town square of Atenas. And all of them have ATM’s. Atenas also has pharmacies, several supermarkets, many small shops, nail salons, a Friday Feria (Farmers Market with local fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses, eggs, and baked goods) and items from various other local businesses. Our home, VILLA DOUGHTY, is located only about seven minutes south-west of the town square of Atenas, which has a Central Park that is the hub of Atenas local life with its beautiful notable St. Raphael Catholic Church as the focal point. You can get to our Villa by car. And the roads are paved, and there is plenty of parking within our completely electric gated property. In fact, the road ends before our villa gate, so it is a virtually-traffic-free zone with minimal noise.
The Pacific Beaches
The Pacific Beaches are about a 55 minute drive on the new Caldera Highway (aka #27), depending on the days of the week you decide to go. The week-ends are always a busier time to go…so try to go during the week. Atenas’s strategic position in the Central Valley makes it the ideal base to discover many of the breathtaking attractions within a day’s driving range. A car, is in our opinion, essential to discover the many fun and exciting adventures that are awaiting for you to discover to make the best of your vacation stay.
Enjoy your journey and we hope to see you soon!