Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located? Bosque del Cabo is located approximately 200 miles from San Jose, at the very tip of the Osa Peninsula. The Osa is Costa Rica’s southernmost peninsula on the Pacific Ocean side, located just above Panama. There is a large gulf between the peninsula and the mainland, called the Golfo Dulce (“sweet gulf”). The largest town on the Osa Peninsula is Puerto Jimenez; across the gulf from Jimenez lies the port town of Golfito. Bosque del Cabo is 22 kilometers south of Puerto Jimenez (about a 45 minute 4-wheel drive ride). The lodge sits atop Cabo Matapalo, on the road halfway between Puerto Jimenez and Corcovado National Park. For more information on this subject, please click here.
How
do I get plane tickets down there from San Jose?
There are
daily flights to Puerto Jimenez on two commercial airlines, we will be happy to
make reservations for you. The
flights are “ticketless” when we make the reservations for you; you will get
a faxed confirmation form from us and you just show up at the check-in desk 40
minutes before flight time with your confirmation fax. For
more information on this subject, please click here.
Which
airline is better, Travelair or Sansa?
Both of
the airlines that regularly service this area are good and reliable.
We, and the much of the staff at Bosque, use both Travelair and Sansa
regularly. We just pick based on
convenience of time. One other
consideration is that Sansa runs out of the Juan Santamaria Airport in Alajuela
(the same airport that the international flights come into) and Travelair runs
out of Pavas Airport in San Jose. Both
airports are about equidistant to downtown San Jose (about 25 minutes), and
there is about 25 minute ride between the two airports.
What
activities are there?
Hiking and bird watching are the main activities for most of the guests
at Bosque del Cabo. There are many
trails that go through the rainforest down to the beaches and creeks around the
area. We also have a 250 foot steel
cable zipline that leads into our 110+ foot high tree platform.
There is also surfing, swimming, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, and
boating. For more information
on this subject, please click here.
Are
there beaches there? Yes,
there are several beautiful beaches around Bosque. The Pacific Ocean has gorgeous beaches with tide pools,
waterfalls, and caves. The Golfo
Dulce beaches are perfect for swimming and surfing.
Is
there a pool? Yes,
we have a small pool with deck and bar area.
There are several lounge chairs and stools for sunning and hanging out,
as well as a lower deck with tables and chairs for alfresco dining, relaxed
conversations or card games. We
also have several rows of shady palm trees with hammocks for your enjoyment.
Is
there snorkeling? You
can go snorkeling in the Golfo Dulce, but as a general rule, snorkeling is not
that great off the beaches here. If
you would like to go snorkeling, we can help you arrange a trip to the reefs
inside the gulf. Isla de Cano is
located approximately 3 hours by boat from Puerto Jimenez and offers the
enthusiast world-class snorkeling and scuba.
Tours can be arranged by Bosque del Cabo.
Can
we go fishing? Yes,
fishing is great here. There are a
couple of sport fishing companies in the area that provide pick up in Puerto
Jimenez and a great day of fishing for about $450. Normal catches include sailfish, dorado, roosterfish,
snapper, and grouper. Also smaller
local boats can be contracted for less money.
If you bring your own equipment, fishing off the shore has been rewarding
for many guests.
Is
there any nightlife there? There
are a lot of nocturnal animals that can be seen on night walks, but as far as
discos, bars, and movies, no. In
order to better view the natural nightlife, Bosque del Cabo offers several great
night tours that give you the opportunity to view animals like frogs, spiders,
toads, bats and other nocturnal mammals. The
weekends offer the colorful local disco in town, and taxis can be arranged.
Should
I pick a standard or deluxe cabina?
Both
styles are cabinas are nice and all of the cabinas have great views.
The basic difference is that the deluxe cabinas have one king-sized bed
and the standard cabinas have 2 double beds.
Also, the deluxe cabinas have solar-powered lights.
Are
there many other people that will be at and around the lodge?
Maximum
capacity of the lodge is 30-35 people. Since
we serve dinner at one big table, you’ll have a chance to meet all the guests
and socialize. On the other hand,
there is always plenty of room to have privacy even when we are full.
Our restaurant and bar are private, so we don’t have lots of people in
and out that aren’t staying at the lodge.
What
is the food like? Bosque
del Cabo is known for having consistently delicious and plentiful meals.
Our food, and guest satisfaction with our restaurant, is really important
to us. All of the meals are made
from scratch and prepared with fresh, local ingredients, with cooking-style
consisting of a mixture of American, Costa Rican, and international cuisines.
We think you will be pleased and satisfied with the meals.
If
I am a vegetarian, can I get vegetarian meals?
Yes, we
are happy to prepare vegetarian meals, please notify us upon arrival.
Are
there medical facilities around? Yes,
Puerto Jimenez has a basic clinic with a 24-hour doctor on call.
For any serious conditions, San Jose is a 45 minute flight away from
Puerto Jimenez by air ambulance. San
Jose offers a complete range of modern health care facilities.
What
is the nearest town and what is it like?
Puerto
Jimenez is 22 kilometers from Bosque del Cabo (about a 45 minute drive).
Puerto Jimenez is a typical small, sleepy Central American town with a
population of roughly 3500. The
center of town (basically a 2-block radius) has small restaurants and bars.
There is all the local color and quaintness you would expect, plus most
of the amenities that you need, including a bank, airstrip, post office, gas
station, public dock, several markets, a bakery, a hardware store, and a soccer
field.
Is
there electricity? There
are no power lines run this far out, the closest grid power is 20 kilometers
away. We produce our own
electricity for the restaurant, bar, office, pool pump, and deluxe cabins with
solar panels. The houses are
powered by hydroelectric power. We
do have outlets for charging camcorder batteries and such.
Is
there t.v.? No,
there is no t.v.
Is
there hot water? There
is no hot water, but most people find the showers to be refreshing, especially
after a long day of hiking.
What
is the weather like? Costa
Rica has two main seasons, the rainy season and the dry season; the months vary
a little from region to region. On
the Osa Peninsula, you can usually count on December through April being dry
with a few scattered showers per month. May
to July is the beginning of the rainy season, and it will usually rain a few
times a week, usually in the afternoon. Late
August through early November bring the hardest rains; there is normally a
pattern of hard afternoon rains followed by bright, sunny mornings.
The temperature stays in the upper 70s and 80s, with the hottest time
being March.
What
kind of clothes should I bring?
Bring lots of t-shirts, tank tops, and shorts.
Light clothing is best, since it is never very cold and can be hot and
humid. Also, a pair of lightweight, long pants and a long-sleeved
shirt are useful. Hiking boots and
teva-like sandals are the most practical footwear for the Osa. A hat and sunglasses are good for sun protection.
Sunscreen is always a good item to have, as well as any medicines that
you may need. If you are visiting
during rainy season, a lightweight rain jacket is a good idea.
What
kind of shoes should I bring? Hiking
boots and “Tevas” are the shoes we most recommend. Hiking boots are recommended for long trails through the
jungle where ants, stumps and brush can make a closed toe shoe a better choice.
Hiking boots also give you ankle support and better traction on slippery
ground. “Tevas” are good for
beach trails where you can use them to walk through water as well as on hot
sand. Some guests hike in their
tennis shoes, which seems fine for most people.
Some people also like to use “Reef Walker” shoes (mesh and rubber
water shoes) for going in the ocean. Flip-flops
are not recommended for hiking.
Is
there anything else I should bring?
Yes, a
good flashlight, camera (and film and appropriate batteries), and binoculars
(although we do have several pairs of 8 x 30 Swarovski lenses for rent at the
lodge).
Are
there bugs, and if so what should I bring to repel them?
There are
surprisingly few bugs at Bosque del Cabo, partly due to the location 500 feet
over the ocean with prevailing winds and nature’s cycle still being intact.
Most guests even forego the use of mosquito nets at night.
But, it is best to bring some over-the-counter insect repellant to have
on hand, in case you need it (although we do sell an all natural, Deet-free
insect repellent).
What
kind of animals am I likely to see there?
You will
see Scarlet macaws, toucans, parrots, hawks, tanagers, and many other types of
birds. There are over 300 species
of birds identified in the local area. As
far as animals, the most commonly seen are monkeys (there are 4 types here, and
it doesn’t take much hiking to find them all), coatis, agoutis, tayras,
kinkajous, sloths, armadillos, and anteaters.
Also spotted on our reserve have been pumas, ocelots, margays, jagarundis,
and peccaries (wild pigs). There
are also a host of amphibians and insects to observe such as the poison dart
frog, iguanas, boas, morpho butterflies, leaf-cutter ants, and many many more. For
more information on this subject, please click here.
Can
I rent a car there, and do I need one? Renting
a car in Costa Rica only requires a driver’s license and credit card.
There is no car rental agency in Puerto Jimenez, or anywhere on the Osa
Peninsula; if you want to rent a car, you must rent it in San Jose and drive it
down. There is a drop-off service
that some of the rental car companies now offer; it costs around $140 for
drop-off or pick-up, and a driver will bring the car down to the Osa (or pick it
up from the Osa and drive it up to San Jose) for you.
You will need a good 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Expect to pay between $450-$750 U.S. dollars per week.
Do
you have special “low season” rates?
Yes,
please check our pricing schedule.
How
many days should we stay? We
recommend a stay of 3-5 days, or more if you want to really relax and get in the
groove of things; many of our return guests stay anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks.
A 2-day stay is the minimum stay that we recommend, since it is quite a
trip for such a short amount of time.
How
far in advance should I make reservations?
The
Christmas/New Year’s week always books up about 6 months in advance.
The Easter Break/Spring Break week usually books up about 6 months in
advance, also. So, for those times,
it is best to make reservations as far in advance as possible, to insure that
there will be space. Otherwise, it is good to make reservations at least 3 months
in advance for the high season (mid December to April). During the green season, there is usually some more
flexibility in room availability, but it is always good to book those rooms as
far in advance as possible. If you
are interested in booking one of our rental houses it is best to do that as far
in advance as possible, as these houses are very popular and get booked up
quickly.
Are
kids welcome? Yes,
we welcome kids at Bosque del Cabo. It
is a great place for kids to play and explore the rainforest first-hand.
Of course we expect children to be well conducted and supervised by
their parents.
Can
we get a babysitter? Yes,
we can usually arrange a babysitter for you.
Is
there any place else to eat in the area?
Not
really. Puerto Jimenez is a long drive (about 45 minutes), and there
are no public restaurants close by. Our
prices include the cost of food. If
you miss more than one meal, we will adjust the price of your stay.
Can
we visit (should we) visit Corcovado National Park?
We are
approximately 20 kilometers from Corcovado National Park and the terrain and
vegetation are very similar to what you see in the park.
Most guests are more than satisfied with the hiking and wildlife that we
have at Bosque. If you still wish
to visit the park, day trips can be arranged either by flying into Sirena or
hiking into the park through Carate. Guests
that have gone on these day trips have found it very adventurous and exciting,
as well as tiring, but most agree that they see as much wildlife at Bosque.
Do
you have a guide? Bosque
has at least one resident naturalist guide.
Our guides are very knowledgeable and professional, most are biologists,
and offer an enthusiastic approach to learning more about the rainforest.
We also have guides who specialize in birding for the many birders who
visit regularly. We look for guides with a good sense of humor that like to
have fun.
Do
you have a Check-in, Check-out time?
We try to
be as flexible as possible, but official check-in time is 2:00pm, and check-out
time is 12:00 noon.
Where
can we stay in San Jose? We
can either make your reservations or put you in touch with hotels in San Jose.
There are a wide variety of hotels in San Jose, ranging from quaint bed
and breakfasts, to luxury hotels. Just
ask us.
Can
you change extra money for us at the lodge?
Of course
we can make change for your bill with us, but we have a hard time changing extra
money. We are pretty far from the
bank, so we have a hard time keeping lots of change on hand.
But, there is a bank with an ATM in Puerto Jimenez, as well as various
businesses that will change dollars or Traveler’s Checks for you.
Are
there any other places to visit in the area?
We
believe that the Golfo Dulce and Osa Peninsula area are the most beautiful in
Costa Rica. If you would like any more information about visiting places
close by, just ask us.
