Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the weather conditions in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. The Green Season lasts from May to November. The Gold Season begins in December and continues through April. During the Green Season expect a daily rain shower late in the afternoon or evening which keeps the landscape green. During the Gold Season, virtually no rain falls and the landscape turns a golden brown. In Guanacaste where Tropical Felgate is located, the dry Gold Season tends to last several weeks longer than in other areas of Costa Rica.

Temperatures vary primarily with elevation, not with season; on the
coasts, the weather is warm all year, while in the mountains, nights can
be cool at any time of the year.

2. Is it necessary to speak fluent Spanish or have an interpreter when travelling to Costa Rica?

No. Spanish is the official language, while English is widely spoken throughout the country. Members of our Sales Team are bilingual.

3. Is the water safe to drink?

Yes. Unlike many other Latin countries, Costa Rica has similar practices and standards found in the U.S. for ensuring that clean, potable water is available to all its citizens.

4. What is the time zone?

Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time (-6 GMT) and Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

5. How would you describe the area of Costa Rica where our projects are located?

The Guanacaste province in northwest Costa Rica is a land of volcanic peaks, jungle valleys, scenic waterfalls and natural hot springs. Home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, with national parks and wildlife refuges, the area offers fascinating nature exploration as well as historic sites and quaint villages. Its beaches are some of the best in Costa Rica and the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Pacific are both inviting and picturesque. The climate is comfortable year-round, with low humidity, sunny days and balmy star-studded nights.

6. What are the attractions to Playas del Coco for tourists and residents?

Coco Beach is the most accessible and frequented beach in Guanacaste. In addition to the commercial conveniences at the Tropical Felgate Village Center, Coco offers a port captain, post office, bank, small hotels and bed & breakfast establishments and a selection of restaurants and souvenir shops.

7. Where are the schools near Tropical Felgate?

The Country Day School in Guanacaste (Pre-K through Grade 12)
Location: Playa Brasilito
Phone: (506) 654-5042
Website: www.cdsgtc.com
Contact: Patrick Brown
Remarks: About an hour drive south to Brasilito, considered the best
school in the area. Tuition is $7,500 per year.

International Christian School
Location: Liberia
Phone: (506) 665-0007
Website: www.icscr.net
Contact: Wendy Taylor
Remarks: About 40 minutes to Liberia. School is branch of larger school
in San JosÈ.

Escuela Teocali
Location: Liberia
Phone: (506) 666-2903
Remarks: About 40 minutes to Liberia. School has been operating for
25 years.

8. What recreational activities are available in the area?

Witch’s Rock canopy tour – “Harness up and swing through the trees” on a series of zip lines suspended between the tall trees of the tropical forest. Enjoy an incredible view of the Gulf of Papagayo.
Horseback riding at El Aromal – Hacienda ARomal neighbors the Santa Rosa National Park. You will observe a wide variety of wildlife and experience breathtaking views as you ride through Aromal. A guided tour begins at the sabaneros cattle herding station where you will wear the typical hats and kerchiefs and the tour ends at the Hacienda where you will be offered a cool drink and a typical Costa Rican snack.
Fishing – Guanacaste offers on of Costa Rica’s premium fishing destinations – Catalina Islands. The deep water to the south and west, off Flamingo and Tamarindo beaches is home to blue, striped and black marlin, a multitude of sailfish and dorado (mahi mahi). Big-game fishing is available, 16-65 kilometers (10 to 40 miles) offshore. Boats measure 9.5 to 16-metres (31 to 51 feet) and accommodate four fishermen each. Every boat is equipped with high-tech communication devices, GPS, fish depth-finder, life jackets and Penn International fishing gear. Half-day or Full-day excursions can be easily arranged.
Scuba diving – There are many dive sites on the Guanacaste coastline, showcasing an underwater life that is richly diverse in color, species and natural volcanic rock formations. Marine life unique to this region abounds – divers will see massive schools of fish, rays, jacks, whales sharks, giant mantas, sea turtles, white tip sharks, dolphins and more. Available diving trips include local dives, night dives and dives to the Catalina Islands.
Surfing – For surfing enthusiasts, local surf shops can transport you by boat to Witch’s rock, Petrero Grande, Ollie’s Point and several other world-famous spots routinely featured in surfing magazines. For the less experienced or new surfer, Tamarindo is a very popular surfing destination, with two beaches: one for beginners and the other for the slightly more advanced. Located approximately 1 hour drive southwest of Tropical Felgate, lesions are available through local surf shops in Tamarindo.
Rainforests – The Rincon Rainforest is Premontane Rainforest (Bosque Pluvial Premontano) at 900 meters down to Very Humid Rainforest (Bosque Muy Humedo Tropical) at 200 meters elevation. In generic terms, it is classical piedmont rainforest on volcanic foothill soils, receiving 4-5 meters of rain annually. It is home to at least 500 species of vertebrates, 3000 species of plants and many tens of thousands of species of insects, mites, fungi, bacteria, nematodes, spiders and protozoans.

9. Are there national parks in Guanacaste?

Parque Nacional Ricon de la Vieja and the Rincon Volcano is located in Guanacaste about 58 kilometers or 36 miles from El Coco. Estimated travel time is a 2-hour drive. This 35,000-acre (14,161-hectare) national park is named after its active volcano, Rincon de la Vieja. There is an abundance of Costa Rica’s national flower, the guaria morada, a purple orchid. The wildlife in the park is extremely varied with almost 300 species of birds recorded here. The Ricon Volcano is about 1 million years old and is the third most active volcano in Costa Rica. It has nine active craters. Gentle activity has occurred many times since the late 1960’s. The most recent eruption of steam and ash was in 1997.
Palo Verde Wildlife National Park is located in Guanacaste about 60 kilometres or 37 miles from Tropical Felgate. Estimated travel time is a 2-hour drive. This 42,000 acre (17,000-hectare) national park features saltwater and freshwater lagoons and marshes, mangrove swamps and deciduous woodland, as well as an impressive array or wildlife.

10. Where are the best places to shop?

El Coco retail shops – Local merchants offer cigars, clothing, jewellery, t-shirts, hand crafted wood items and local pottery.

11. Where is the closest International airport to El Coco?

The Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia is approximately 20 minutes from Tropical Felgate on a paved, well-traveled road. Currently non-stop flights are available from Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Newark, Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver.

12. Are there direct flights from the US & Canada to Liberia, Costa Rica?

Delta Airlines flies direct from Atlanta to Liberia six times per week. Delta Airlines is in the process of adding a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Liberia. American Airlines provides service from Miami three times per week. Continental Airlines provides service from Houston to Liberia twice daily, seven days per week. Continental Airlines also offers one weekly non-stop flight from Newark to Liberia. First Choice Holidays, UK based company run charter flights from Gatwick Airport to Liberia once a week from May to October.

13. Are transportation services available to the Tropical Felgate office?

Transportation services can be arranged by contacting a Sales Executive.

14. Can we bring our pets to Costa Rica?

To bring a pet into the country you must contact the Costa Rican consulate in the US to obtain the proper paperwork and procedures prior to arrival. There is no quarantine time for pets.

In general, pets must have all vaccinations and documentation from a vet. Shots must be current within two weeks except for rabies which must be less than one year. Certain species and breeds of dogs and cats are not allowed in the country. It is an easy process to bring a pet to Costa Rica provided the owners follow the procedures correctly.

15. How do I reserve my vacation rental property?

To make a reservation just choose a vacation rental to your liking. This will bring you to a page with more details about the property for your review. Click to Request Reservation, fill in your requested dates and Click on "Check Availability" after reviewing the property details and choosing the property, click on the "Click to reserve" to get to the the form with your personal details and we will arrange your reservation. Most reservations are made real time. We will follow up with you via email to confirm your reservations.

16. How do I know the reservation is confirmed?

Many reservations are made real time and we always follow up with you via email to let you know that your room has been secured. If you would like to confirm or follow up on a reservation, please write to us at sales@costaricaproperty.co.uk

17. Why do we require a pre payment ?

In order for us to provide you with discounted rates, we came to an agreement with our vacation rentals owners that we would have to charge a 25% holding deposit.

18. How do I know that my credit card information is secure?

Tropical Felgate takes the issue of secure commerce very seriously and we take every necessary step to ensure your credit card information is secure. You will notice when you arrive at the "Reservation Booking" page that your browser shows a padlock icon on your status bar (often in the bottom-right corner). This indicates that the page is secured by a Secure Socket Layer (SSL). SSL is the industry standard for secure data exchange from one system to another.

19. Are the vacation rental rates per night, or per person?

All rates are based on standard occupancy per vacation property, and are quoted on a nightly basis unless otherwise specified. Extra people, children, roll-away beds and incidentals may be subject to additional charges.

20. Do the rates quoted include tax?

It will be indicated by the quoted rate if taxes and miscellaneous charges/fees are included. In general, taxes are included.

21. What is a Vacation Rental?

A vacation rental is any suite-type lodging that has self-catering facilities, refrigerator, microwave, etc.) Most vacation rentals have separate bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, one or more bathrooms, common use washer and dryer on the grounds, and sometimes a balcony or patio. Towels and linens are provided. Daily maid service and other hotel conveniences are usually available on request at extra charge.
Unlike hotels with per person pricing, there is a set price for an entire vacation rental with a maximum number of persons allowed. Most one-bedroom units sleep a maximum of three using a sleeper/sofa in the living room. Most two-bedroom vacation rentals sleep a maximum of six, and most three-bed room vacation rentals sleep up to eight.
Please carefully read the vacation rental descriptions to learn what is provided and how many people are allowed.