FREE AND INEXPENSIVE ACTIVITIES NEAR VILLAS ALTURAS

WATERFALLS:

Waterfall near Plantanillo, Don Lulu has a horseback riding tour to this waterfall, cost $65, there is a way to hike to it from Villas Alturas. It is a strenuous walk up hill mostly, takes about 45 minutes, and the cost for entrance to the waterfall is $6.00 per person

Uvita Waterfall La Catarata – Cost $1.00, great little soda in Uvita that allows you river access to a swimming pool with a slide down the waterfalls. Very refreshing and fun place, you can hike up the river also.

Dominicalito Waterfall, called Poza Azul – very nice, one minute walk down some steep stairs to a beautiful grotto and swimming pool. With a rope swing that the kids love!

El Pavon Falls – Great Place! Restaurant has catch your own tilapia option, then they cook it for you. Park your car here and walk about 5 minutes to their waterfall access, usually very uncrowded and great place to swim! Howler Monkeys usually hang out along this beautiful drive to El Pavon, back into the jungle.

BEACHES:

Ventanas Beach – 25 minutes south of us on the other side of Ojochal. Parking area, for $6 the gentleman watches your car while you walk to the beach (about a 10 minute walk). Go at low tide and you can actually go inside the Sea Caves that are there, formed by lava tubes millions of years ago. This beach is beautiful and very uncrowded.

Playa Hermosa – Most popular beach around, 8 minutes drive from the Villas, going South towards UVita. The Ceviche stands mark the entrance to this great beach! The currents can be tricky here, so be careful and don’t swim too far out into the surf. This is also a great surfing beach.

Marina Ballena Park-This is about 20 minutes south of the Villas, beautiful protected area, and great place to swim, the waters are very calm here, always. It is also where you can access the whales’ tail at low tide.

Dominical Beach – One of the most popular surfing beaches in Costa Rica! Great Waves here! Also lots of street vendors selling t-shirts, wraps, jewelry, etc. One of the only places to buy souveniers close to the Villas. Tortilla Flats, one of the top ten beach bars in Central America, is a great place to eat and people watch. Dominical has several other restaurants, including Coconut Spice Thai Restaurant and San Climente. Dominical is 7 kilometers north of Villas Alturas.

Grocery Stores and ATMS:

Uvita BM Supermarket has two locations in Uvita, 14 kilometers south of Villas Alturas, there is several banks in Uvita with ATMS. Dominical also has a small Supermarket and an ATM. The best place to buy supplies is in Uvita.

FACTS:

American Dollars is taken by almost everyone in Costa Rica. No need to exchange your money for Colones. There is an Exit TAX of $28 per person payable at the airport, by credit card or cash. They will take your left over Colones if you have any left at the end of your trip.

In the rainy season, June thru Nov10th, it rains in the afternoon but usually sunny almost every day in the mornings. So your activities should be planned for mornings and the afternoons for relaxing around Villas Alturas. The tours still operate in the rain, bring a rain pancho and umbrella during these months.

The roads here are pretty famous for being rough and steep in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica. A 4×4 Vehicle is recommended