HOUSE & TOWN GUIDE BOOK

We are excited to welcome you to your home away from home - Casa Piña! We know you will have a wonderful time and we hope this guidebook about the house and some town information will be helpful during your stay.

Take a few moments to browse through the guide as it does contain some extremely helpful and important information.

PLEASE DO YOUR PART TO CONSERVE RESOURCES

Please remember you are in a country with extremely limited resources, so we ask that you can make every effort to conserve your usage. Leaving a single A/C on for an entire day uses a large amount of electricity with peak rates. Casa Piña stays very cool during the day and most days the A/C may not be needed until late in the day. When you turn the A/C on, the house will cool in less than 10 minutes.

When you leave the house, please turn everything off including lights.

Water is scarce in Tamarindo, so we ask please keep showers to a reasonable length and try not to leave faucets running when not in use.

Thank you so much for your help in keeping Casa Piña a low-impact home in Tamarindo! We are proud to be reasonsible, respectful and as green as possible in this beautiful city.

PLEASE TURN OFF A/C & LIGHTS WHEN YOU LEAVE

DIRÍA MEDICAL CENTER
GUANACASTE MEDICAL CENTER

ADDRESS:

FRENTE AL HOTEL TAMARINDO DIRIA, PROVINCIA DE GUANACASTE, TAMARINDO, 50309, COSTA RICA

TEL: 506.4701.9859 / 506.6325.7355

DIRIAMEDICALCENTER@GMAIL.COM

IN FRONT OF TAMARINDO DIRÍA HOTEL

EMERGENCIES 24/7

AMBULANCE & AIR AMBULANCE

PATIENT CARE AT HOME

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WELCOME TO CASA PIÑA

Welcome to our home in Tamarindo! Costa Rica is like no other place we've traveled to - beautiful beaches, exotic jungles, friendly people and tons of outdoor activities. We are proud to be reasonsible, respectful and as green as possible in this beautiful city.

We are in the jungle, you will see monkeys, crabs, parrots, lizards, bugs, and many other insects. Some of these creatures might come into the house and that is perfectly normal, please keep the screen doors closed to limit their intrusion.

Tamarindo was a sleepy surf town before it quickly became a surf tourism hot spot. The town has grown quickly and there are some growing pains to be aware of. Power goes out on occasion but it's a great reason to go down to the beach and have a break! Most times it's back on in 5 mins or so.

Water is also shut off at times for rationing. We have a small back up water tank to use when this happens that the house managers can switch on if needed.

The house has a nice outdoor shower to can wash the sand off before coming in the house. No glassware around the pool please.

Costa Rica is exceptionally eco-friendly and strives to save electricity and water whenever possible. Please remember to shut off A/C units and lights when leaving.

QUICK INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOUSE

Our Concierge Service provides a wide range of services from grocery delivery to excursion reservations.

Street addresses are rarely used in Tamarindo, use Google Maps/Apple Maps search "Casa Pina Tamarindo" for Casa Piña's location.

WIFI:

Name: CasaPinaVPN

PW: 3039568012

GARAGE DOOR & MAIN DOOR LOCKS

Our team will provide you with the current keys for gate and entry door. Please lock house when not in use.

WATER AVAILABILITY

It is possible for the water to be turned off by the town during extremely dry periods, or when they are fixing pumps, etc. Casa Piña does have a small backup tank of water that our team can turn on for you to access if needed. Most water outages only last for a few hours at most.

FILTERED WATER

Casa Piña features a water filtration system for super clean drinking water in the kitchen. The cold side provides chilled water that is filtered and clean. The hot water side is not turned on (to save electricity). The water filtration system does not function during power outages. The tap water in town and at the house is safe to drink, so do not hesitate to brush your teeth and wash vegetables, etc. with tap water. We drink tap water around town all the time.

ELECTRICITY AND POWER OUTAGES

It is not unusual to experience a power outage or two while you're in Tamarindo. Enjoy the silence. It's a great time to walk on the beach during the day, and a great time to enjoy the stars in the evening. Most power outages last from 5 minutes to a few hours at most.

As we mentioned before, electricity is a valuable resource in Costa Rica so please turn off your lights and air conditioners as much as possible. especially when you leave the house. Thank you!

TRASH

Our housekeepers will take out the trash when they clean the house, but in the event you need to take the trash out before they arrives, the trash bin is located outside of the house on the road. Do not leave trash on the front porch, even if the bag is sealed the animals will tear into it. The trash bin is to the left of the garage door (looking at the house) and looks like a small black cage on a pole. Lift up the top and toss your trash in. Be sure to close the lid or raccoons and other animals will tear it to pieces.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that all trash Is in a sealed (tied) bag as the trash truck will not take loose trash.

THE KITCHEN

We have tried to stock the kitchen with almost everything you need to prepare a meal. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to ask for clarification. The pipes are not perfect in Tamarindo, so we do ask that you scrape food into the trash before washing your plates.

QUESTIONS? NEED HELP? CONTACT OUR TEAM: audra@1stcrcr.com | 506-2653-1132 | 506-8847-2383

HOUSE MAP LINK

HOUSEKEEPING, LANDSCAPING & POOL

Our team provides housekeeping services as well as gardening & pool service multiple times per week.

POOL

Casa Piña has an incredible pool (as you know!} so enjoy it! Please do not bring glasses or glass bottles into the pool, it is extremely difficult to clean broken glass out of the pool. The pool is cleaned 3-5 days a week (depending on need).

The pool and patio lights are controlled by a timer. In the event the pool lights are not turning on in the evening, please notify us and they will adjust the timer for you. Occasionally the timer needs to be reset after long power outages.

MOSQUITOS & BUG SPRAY

You will notice that Tamarindo does not have a lot of bugs, but at sunset, the mosquitos will come out in the morning as well as the hours before and after sunset. If you are hanging out outside during these times, we would highly recommend using bug spray. Spray can be purchased at any of the local supermarkets. Your vacation will be much more fun without mosquito bites!

Chances are you will see the family of monkeys that travel the path right over Casa Pina a few times during your stay. Be sure to look UP! The monkey family is frequently found taking an afternoon nap in the tree above the pool. The monkeys are a fantastic addition to your experience, and they can also leave little presents for you in the form of poop. Our gardening service will take care of cleaning the monkey poop up, but if you want to clean up some random droppings before the gardeners arrive, feel free to use the hose on the side of the house and spray the plops away. Welcome to the jungle!

You may also see (and hear) iguanas on the roof of the house. Don't worry, they don't want to come anywhere near you. You may also see squirrels in the trees above the house and late in the evening. You may get to see our resident raccoons that travel around when they think everyone is asleep.

Please be kind to all of our animal friends, they are a part of Costa Rica and Casa Pina, so please don't try to scare them or be aggressive with them, they live in the jungle peacefully with us all.

Finally, late afternoon is an incredible time to watch the local birds come and play in the pool waterfall. If you sit outside at the table or the sitting area and wait, you're almost guaranteed to see some beautiful birds playing in the waterfall.

If you're lucky you will see other critters like frogs, who love to hang out by the pool in the evening, as well as "Langosta bugs," which look like large grasshoppers and are completely harmless. Butterflies, geckos, raccoons, skunks, possums, carpenter ants, cleaner ants, and other visitors are our friends and help balance everything. We love witnessing the evening "parade" of wildlife through the backyard. If you do not disturb them, they will not disturb you. And please, only spray yourself, not the critters.

The ecosystem here is incredible, be open to the experience and please be kind to Casa Pina's wildlife and insect families. They are all very important for the environment around the house. If you have any questions about any of the insects or animals, please check In with us before going to purchase insect-killing sprays or similar as most of the insects are doing great things for the house and yard.

HOUSE GOLF CART

We have a new EZ-GO golf cart for rent at Casa Piña. This street legal cart is perfect for traveling around Tamarindo and negates the need for a car.

This is the easiest way to get around town, go out to dinner, pick up groceries and get to the beach. The cart is a 4 seater with surf rack, bluetooth speakers, and seatbelts. This is available to rent for $65/per day.

EVERYDAY TIPS FOR TAMARINDO & BEYOND

1) WEAR BUG SPRAY - The mosquitoes and sunset "no see-urns" can leave you with little bites if you're not wearing bug spray, especially in the morning and about an hour before and during sunset.

2) TIPPING IS STANDARD - Some of the country does not work for tips, but in Tamarindo tipping is a standard addition when dining. We typically tend to tip around 10% to 20% (similar to tipping practices in the U.S.}, depending on the service. Many waiters & waitresses prefer to receive tips in cash rather than as a part of your credit card charge so they don't have to pay the fees. If you have cash, use that, otherwise, tipping on a credit card slip is just fine.

3) ATM's - There are a few ATM's in town. The one we frequent the most is at the Vindi market but there are a number of options throughout town. You can withdraw USO or Colones at most machines.

4) CURRENCY - The Costa Rican currency is the Colon, but everyone in Tamarindo also accepts US Dollars.

5) PETTY THEFT EXISTS - As a general rule of thumb, don't leave things sitting around or unattended, they could disappear. Crime is low in Tamarindo, but there is petty theft, so just be smart about your possessions and you should be just fine. Follow general common-sense rules, lock your doors, lock your car, and don’t leave things sitting around unattended.

6) DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING SITTING ON THE BEACH ALONE -If you leave anything (including shoes} on the beach, there is a good chance that it will vanish when you get back. The best rule of thumb is to bring as little as you can and if no one is going to be on the beach, bury your stuff.

7) THE TIDES ARE LARGE IN TAMARINDO - Twice a day the tide goes out and the beach is massive. Twice a day the tide comes in and the beach gets very small. A good rule of thumb, if you're going for the day, look at the beach chairs on the sand, that's typically where the tide will be headed throughout the day. The tides can come in fast and sweep your stuff away (or at least get it real wet) so be prepared as the water comes closer. You can check the tides at www.TamarindoTides.com

Our Concierge Service provides a wide range of services from grocery delivery to excursion reservations.

GROCERY LOCATIONS:

SUPER PURA VIDA

The Super Pura Vida is the closest store to Casa Pina. It is located on the main road 200 meters north (right looking toward the beach) of the turn to Casa Pina by the restaurant La Argentina. You will find almost all the essentials at the Pura Vida.

THE VINDI

The Vindi is the "nicest" market in the main area of town and is located just up the dirt road toward La Esquina. You'll find the best selection of fruits and veggies at the Vindi as well as a large variety of products. You'll also find a drug store and a bank with an ATM in the same complex.

SUPER COMPRO

The Super Compro is located one block up the road from Plaza Concha! Across from Long Boards and the Food Court. It's on the bottom floor of a high-rise tower.

AUTO MERCADO

The Auto Mercado is the big grocery store in Tamarindo. It's on the northside of town, just past the river. Due to its location past the estuary, it's not an easy walk, especially with families, so it's best to drive yourself {if you have a car) or to hire a taxi in town for a few dollars to take you up there. This grocery store has a great selection of virtually everything you may need. Great produce, meats, fish, fruits, etc as well as a huge selection of staples, snacks, liquor, drinks, health products, and more. Prices, unfortunately, are comparable, if not higher than U.S. grocery stores.

THE FERIA (SATURDAY MORNING FARMERS MARKET)

Most Saturday mornings there is a Farmers Market in the middle of town. Ask anyone for directions and you'll find it located behind the skate park. This is a great location to get produce and other organic foods as well as a variety of handcrafted souvenirs, jewelry, and gifts.

THE THURSDAY NIGHT MARKET (GYM PARKING LOT)

Most Thursday evenings there is another Feria up near La Esquina. There are a lot of food vendors as well as the standard Farmers Market items.

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OUR FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS

BEST TACOS

LITTLE LUCHA

HOUSE & TOWN GUIDE BOOK

PLEASE DO YOUR PART TO CONSERVE RESOURCES

PLEASE TURN OFF A/C & LIGHTS WHEN YOU LEAVE

DIRÍA MEDICAL CENTER GUANACASTE MEDICAL CENTER

WELCOME TO CASA PIÑA

QUICK INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOUSE

OUR FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS

OUR FAVORITE SPORTS BARS

RECOMMENDED SUNSET DRINKS

FOOD OPTIONS

OUR RECOMMENDED BEST SURF INSTRUCTORS

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES

DIRÍA MEDICAL CENTER
GUANACASTE MEDICAL CENTER