Insider Tips

San Jose Area Insider Tips 

 

• Make sure to treat yourself to a fantastic Tomahawk steak at Novillo Alegre after playing a round at Valle del Sol.

• Don’t miss out on visiting Poas Volcano in the morning before the clouds roll in—while you're there, indulge in some strawberries with condensed milk; they’re delicious!

• Your stay in San Jose should definitely include a coffee tour and some amazing views of volcanoes.

• And pro tip: consider using Uber instead of renting a car since traffic can be quite tricky.

• Some popular spots to eat are Novillo Alegre Lindora, Esquina de Buenos Aires, and Tin Jo.

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La Fortuna Tips 

 

• While you’re enjoying your time at Finca 360, ask your guide to take you to Hule Lake and combine it with a visit to Toro Waterfall

• The Hanging Bridges offer an incredible photo opportunity with Arenal Volcano as your backdrop—early mornings are the best for that perfect shot!

• At Finca 360, you'll get to savor an authentic Costa Rican dish called arreglado.

• And don’t forget about Fortuna Waterfall; it’s absolutely stunning! Just take it slow on the way down since it's quite the hike with lots of steps—definitely not for anyone with bad knees!

• Check out our La Fortuna area guide

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Guanacaste Tips

 

• You won’t want to miss the breathtaking sunsets Costa Rica is famous for! Head over to Cocos at Flamingo beach, Pangas at Tamarindo beach, or Lolas at Avellanas beach for a lovely post-round sunset experience. For a local experience, Camaron Dorado in Brasilito beach.

• To beat the heat (which peaks between 11 AM - 1 PM), tee off around 12:30 PM for an enjoyable afternoon round at Conchal or Pinilla before catching that gorgeous sunset afterward

• People watch while enjoying a great beach view - go to Chiringuito in Tamarindo.

• On your last day in CR, consider a sunset catamaran cruise—it’s such a memorable way to wrap up your trip!

• If you’re interested in adventure activities like zip lining, horseback riding, river tubing, thermal waters, volcanic mud baths, plus a short hike to an amazing waterfall, just ask us about great day trip option!

• Check out our Guanacaste Area Guide

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Jaco/Los Suenos

 

• For the best sunsets around, check out Villa Caletas—it's my favorite spot in Costa Rica and just 20 minutes from Los Suenos golf course!

• Again, try teeing off around 12:30 PM during those hot hours so you can enjoy both your game and the sunset later.

• Plan your visit to Manuel Antonio National Park on a Monday if possible—it’ll help you avoid crowds. Make sure to purchase park passes well in advance too!

• A catamaran cruise over to Tortuga Island is also highly recommended as it makes for an exciting full-day activity.

• Stops to eat: Los Suenos Marina Italian, Coco in Herradura Beach, people watch at Claritas Bar, Lemon Zest, or a delicious gelato at the Marina

• Check out our Jaco/Los Suenos complete area guide

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General Tips

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• Any eatery with the name "SODA" has great Costa Rica food at cheap prices - ask for a steak casado, a Chifrijo. 

• When renting a car, go with National or Budget—they accept credit card coverage which can save you $25-50 per day! Just keep in mind there's mandatory insurance that you'll need to buy separately since most companies don’t include it in their quotes.

• Download an offline map of Costa Rica on Google Maps so you can save data and navigate easily when service isn’t available.

• When driving from Guanacaste to Los Suenos - stop at La Leda restaurant for a garlic calamari dish. 

• Uber is widely available in Jaco/Los Suenos and San Jose too!

• No need to tip since all restaurant bills automatically include a 10% service charge by law.If you're driving around with rental cars, remember not to leave valuables visible while parked—always opt for paid parking areas or places where there's someone watching over the cars (called 'guachiman'). They usually expect $2-4 depending on how long you've parked there.

• Avoid exchanging dollars at the airport; ATMs will give you colones instead or use credit cards everywhere—you'll find they’re accepted almost everywhere you'll go! And don't worry about cash for toll roads; dollars work fine there as well—just bring along some $1 bills.

 

 

Golf courses in the Guanacaste area and RIU Guanacaste:

 

Guanacaste has three main areas, Tamarindo, RIU Guanacaste and Liberia. These are the distances to the Guanacaste golf courses:

- For Reserva Conchal:

• Tamarindo: 30 minutes away.

• Liberia: 50 miles away. (50 min car ride).

• RIU Guanacaste/ Palace is about 40 minutes away.

 

- Hacienda Pinilla:

• Tamarindo: 20 minutes away.

• Reserva Conchal: 25 minutes away

• Liberia: 45 miles. (1 hour car ride);

• RIU Guanacaste/ Palace is a 60 min drive away.

 

- Four Seasons Costa Rica:

• Tamarindo: 1 hour away.

• Reserva Conchal: 1 hour away

• Liberia: is 27 miles. (30 min car ride).

• RIU Guanacaste/ Palace is 45 minutes away.

We offer transportation service to/from RIU Guanacaste or RIU Palace, Flamingo area, and Tamarindo hotel to any golf course in Guanacaste.

Tamarindo area distances are a good reference for hotels like Tamarindo Diria, Barcelo Langosta. RIU Guanacaste distances are also good for Coco beach hotels and the Hilton hotel.

 

Golf courses near San Jose, Costa Rica:

San Jose is the main hub for golf courses in Costa Rica. These are the distances from downtown:
- Cariari Country Club is 7 miles away (20 minutes)
- Valle del Sol is 7 miles (20 minutes)
- Marriott Los Suenos is 70 miles (1:15 hour) and a great option if staying in San Jose.

 

We offer transportation service to/from San Jose area hotels to Cariari, Valle del Sol or Los Suenos. Depending on group size it can be a luxury SUV or mini bus.

San Jose area hotels include Del Rey, Balmoral and Intercontinental among others.

 

Jaco area Golf Courses:

 

The golf course in the Jaco area is the Los Suenos golf resort. These are some distances and estimated drive times:

• Manuel Antonio and Quepos are 47 miles away (60 min car ride)

• Puntarenas is 47 miles away (50 min car ride)

 

Tee Times Costa Rica offers private transportation services from any San Jose, Guanacaste or Jaco area hotel to Costa Rica's best golf courses.

 

Arenal Area:

 

There are no golf courses in the Arenal / La Fortuna area of Costa Rica. You can add a trip to this area as an add-on to your golf package. It is well worth it. 

 

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