While we hope you will never have to use this section, we find it helpful to provide our guests with some basic information in case of an emergency.

• Emergency Services (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
  In Costa Rica, please dial 911 in case of an emergency or accident. It’s important to note that you may not get a dispatcher who speaks English. When and if possible, please ask a native Spanish speaker, like the on-site concierge to assist you.
• Medical Services
  Medical care in Costa Rica is considered some of the best in the world and on-par with many developing countries. In fact, the World Health Organization ranks private healthcare here higher than the United States in terms of availability, and affordability. Pharmacies are aplenty in Tamarindo and usually a good first-stop for mild to medium infections and injuries. Many are part of a larger clinic with on-site doctors and physicians that can treat most medical concerns. A few we recommend include:
  • Farmacia Pacifico in central Tamarindo
  • Farmacia Fischel
  • Farmacia Tamarindo
• On-site Concierges
  If something is not an immediate emergency, your first point of contact should be Casa La Reina’s on-site concierges. Melissa & Jimmy have a wealth of knowledge about the area and can best guide you based on your needs.

Chances are you are arriving to Tamarindo from one of Costa Rica’s two international airports in San Jose or Liberia. Upon your arrival, our staff will give you a full orientation of the villa, the geography, surrounding areas, how to access wireless internet, operate the television, use the security system and where certain amenities are located.

Geography and Climate
Costa Rica has a tropical climate, because of weather systems from both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, mountains, cloud forests, jungles, and volcanoes. However, one of the best things about Costa Rica is its many micro-climates. You can drive 15 minutes in any direction and find yourself in completely different weather! In Guanacaste we typically experience two seasons – rainy season from April to November and dry season from December to May. Both are great times to visit for different reasons but remember that the dry season is busier so book your travel early!

People
Costa Ricans or ticos and ticas as they are colloquially known are warm and friendly. The country is known for its pura vida attitude which translates to “pure life.” Costa Ricans don’t take life too seriously and generally have a positive outlook. In Guanacaste the Indigenous population is known as the Chorotega. You’ll find many local influences of the Chorotega people in the art and décor at Casa La Reina.

Language
Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Costa Rica followed by English. Due to the heavy influence of Western tourism and large expat community, English is common in tourist areas. You can get by without knowing Spanish, although it’s always polite to speak a few words to locals. If you know nothing else then remember, Pura Vida is often used as a greeting, and you’ll hear it everywhere!

Currency
The local currency in Costa Rica is the colon although dollars are also widely accepted. Most places accept major US and Canadian credit cards. If paying at a local grocery store restaurant or shop, we recommend asking for the price in colons as you will usually get a better exchange rate than if you’re being charged in dollars. If possible, change your money in your home country as local businesses tend to inflate the rates or download a currency converter app to get an accurate daily rate.

Water & Electricity
Unlike almost any other country in the region, Costa Rica has safe drinking water. Tap water is in fact some of the best in the world. Some people find the taste of the water a little strong due to the high mineral content. Casa La Reina has a 3-step water filtration system that purifies it further.

Electricity is 120v in homes and buildings so no special adapters are required for those traveling from North America. However, power outages happen occasionally so please conserve power at Casa La Reina as you would in your own home.

Safety
Costa Rica is considered extremely safe, especially compared to other countries in the region and in South America. Violent crime is very rare and even less so against tourists. However, like in any place, caution is always advised. Crimes of convenience like petty theft do happen so please don’t leave valuables on the beach or visible in your vehicle. We advise against walking on the beach late at night, especially if you’re a woman or by yourself. Some areas are more dangerous than others, but due to a large police force and protection of tourists, don’t worry too much!

Driving can be tricky in Costa Rica. The pura vida attitude tends to spill over and people can be rash on the road. We recommend that you don’t drive long distances by yourself at night. If you need to drive overnight, we recommend hiring a tourist van as these companies navigate the roads daily.

Casa La Reina has an in-built alarm and security system. Should you want to use it, please consult the handbook, or speak to the concierge upon arrival. All bedrooms have a safe to store valuables and passports.

Tipping and Service Charges
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory in Costa Rica. Most restaurants and tour companies include a 10% (or more) service charge on the bill, and you are not required to give more than that. However, Costa Ricans work hard to make visitors feel welcome in their home and we encourage leaving a tip if you received good service. At Casa La Reina, our staff is dedicated to making your stay memorable so any tip for the staff is appreciated. Please leave the tip with the concierge who will distribute it to the staff.

Casa La Reina is fully equipped with all the tech and entertainment you could possibly need during your stay. Although we encourage unplugging from the world while you’re here, we understand that some creature comforts are necessary. The tech features of the villa include:

• Fibre-to-home 100 mbps symmetrical with strong wifi connectivity all around the property. Download shows, stream from your favorite content platforms, or even take Zoom calls!
• Amazon 4k Fire Stick with access to Amazon TV, YouTube, sports, cooking shows or national news networks
• Bluetooth speaker
• High-tech home alarm system

In-house meals, prepared by our on-site chef is a unique amenity at Casa La Reina. Not many places provide this, and we are excited to offer our talented chef’s cooking to our guests! Our chef will prepare, up to two meals per day of your choice! Book the cook and ask for comfort food, local cuisine or a wide range of international options including sushi!

Personal shopping for groceries, alcohol and essentials is also something we are happy to provide our guests. Please give your shopping list to our concierge who will provide you receipts at the end of your stay.

Our vision at Casa La Reina is to give our guests a full-service experience so they don’t have to worry about any logistics on their vacation. To that effect we provide a full suite of guest services, organized by our on-site staff. Guest services include:

• Meal service for up to two meals per day by the chef
• Personal shopping service
• Booking services through our concierge for tours, local activities, appointments, transportation and more
• Daily housekeeping for six days a week
• Laundry service (there is no charge for this, but please consider it in your tip at the end of your stay)
• Maintenance and landscaping – a large property like ours requires ongoing maintenance and landscaping. Please report any maintenance issues directly to our concierge and she will have it resolved as quickly as possible
• Transportation – Transportation, including airport transfers can be organized for a portion or the complete duration of your vacation. This service is by request so please let us know what you need when you book with us.

• Map to Casa La Reina
• Bienvenido a Casa La Reina
• Emergency Contact Card
• Meal Service a Casa La Reina
• Utilities Conservation – Casa La Reina