Casa Pilón Welcome Book

About The Home

Casa Pilón was lovingly built from a single native Pilón tree from the mountains of Costa Rica. This Balinesian inspired villa has been constructed with an open air design and lush landscaping. Listen carefully for the sound of the waves crashing and the unmistakable call of the howler monkeys.

Use this QR code to download to your phone

Getting Here

Click on Casa Pilón for directions or google Casa Pilón in Puerto Veijo de Talamanca. Waze works well in Costa Rica

TheclosestInternational Airport isSanJose. FlightsareavailablefromSanJose toLimon.

Pleasecontactmefor reservationinformation

Private and shared shuttle service is available to and from San Jose Airport.

Please contact me for pricing

Black Beach in Puerto Veijo de Talamanca in Limon From the Hotel Banana Azul, 250 meters W and 75 meters S On the right side, there is a stone wall with a sign saying Casa Pilón

Doña Rosa Housekeeping

In case of Emergency

Centro Médico Aruma

24hr Urgent care

+506 8655 5082

Hone Creek Clinic

+506 2756 8022

Puerto Viejo Drugstore

+506 2750 2109

Police, Firefighters & Red Cross 911

Direct number to Police 1117

Tourism Police in Puerto Viejo + 506 2750 0452

Direct number to Red Cross 1128

Direct number to Fire Fighters 1118

Health and Wellness Numbers

Private Doctors in the Puerto Viejo area

Dr Kevin Ruiz + 506 6058 7276

(MD - emphasis on natural medecine)

Dr Arturo Acosta + 506 8800 4257 (MD)

Jeanna - Cacao Beauty and Massage + 506 8771 3361

Kona Yoga Studio Variety of classes

Check-in

Check-in:4:00pm

A few days prior to your arrival you will receive information on how to access the property.

Please let us know if you plan to drive so that we can make arrangements for you to open the sliding gate to park on the property.

Check-out

Check-out: 11:00am

Please let us know what time you want to check out so that our property manager, Juan, can walk through the property with you.

About the house

Water - All of the water in the casa is filtered

Hot water heater - in the primary bedroom bath, the ondemand water heater has to be reset if the power goes out. Under the double sink, to the right of the safe is a white box with a digital display. If you see only dashes, it needs to be reset. Press any button and it will reset.

Towels - 3 are provided for the use of each guest:

beige = bath

plush striped = pool

thin cotton fouta = beach

Please do not take anything but the foutas to the beach Lost or damaged towels will incur a $50 replacement fee.

Saline pool - pool is cleaned Mon-Sat between 7-9am. Pump runs during the day. It is shallow, do not dive in.

Pool lights: The pool pump is housed under the raised seating area overlooking the pool. Open the left side utility door and find the light switch on the top right. There is also a white remote, to change the color of the lights, that should be by the pool.

Lights around the pool - on the coffee table in the open air living room there is a tethered remote. Point it at the wooden fence behind the pool to turn on those lights.

Landscape lighting - light switches to the right of the door to the open air living room and find the switch marked with a “yard lights” icon.

Fans - all the bedrooms have overhead fans inside the mosquito nets. Turn them on with the exterior light switch adjust the speed with the round dial at the center of the fan. The oven is professional grade. Please lower the oven door carefully and hold it all the way down.

Smart TV : access your streaming service to watch.

Gas BBQ grill.

Flashlights - should the power go out, there is a plug-in flashlight in every room. Plug back in after use.

Ping pong table - please ask Juan or myself how to open if would like to use it. Croquet, dart board, corn hole and many table games are also available. There is a first aid kit under the sink in the kitchen. There is a fire extinguisher in each room. Hopefully, you won’t need either.

Bugs and Critters are unavoidable in this part of the world. We do not usually have a lot of mosquitos, but we do have mosquito coils and silver tins to light them in if needed. Keep an eye out for ants; they bite. It stings but you will be okay. There are frogs, lizards, crickets, and Iguanas on the property that are fun to watch but pease don’t disturb them. Remember to keep a clean kitchen to avoid sugar ants and other visitors.

Our ocean is beautiful but does have dangerous rip tides. Stay aware! Do not go out too deep and ask locals for the safest place to swim. If you are caught in a rip tide, do not fight it, stay calm and wait until you are able to swim back (more info on the last page). Never swim in the dark or while impaired!

The sand is beautiful and very fine. Please make sure to wash your feet in the outdoor shower before using the pool or indoor shower.

Puerto Viejo is generally very safe, but with all locations that you are not familiar with be careful at. night and do not walk alone in small groups. Place all your valuables in the safes in the bedrooms.

NETWORK

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Costa Rica

house rules

SMOKING RULES

Please do not smoke on the property or burn candles other than those provided The house is wood and thus highly flammable Please take a moment to identify the location of fire extinquishers in each room

No pets are allowed If someone visits with a pet please ensure that they do not jump on the beds or furniture or swim in the pool or jacuzzi

PARTYING

We hope you enjoy your stay but please be considerate of our neighbors and restrict loud music/noise after 10pm

There is no direct access to washing machines We offer one complimentary full wash and fold from our housekeeper for stays of 7 days or more

4 bikes are available for rent with locks. A $500 deposit is required Each bike costs $8 00 per day Please always lock the bikes Bike theft is common and any guests not returning a bike or returning a bike in a damaged condition , will be charged $500 per bike.

house rules cont.

BEACH CHAIRS

Beach chairs are available for rent at $5 per day. Please note that unreturned or damaged beach chairs will incur a $100 fee.

P O O L A N D J A C U Z Z I R U L E S

Have fun but please, no diving - It’s too shallow, no running or jumping. No unsupervised children. No glassware.

H O U S E K E E P I N G

Our housekeeper, Dońa Rosa, cleans Mon, Tues, Thurs and Friday from 11:00 - 3:00 with a complete linen change every 4 days. Juan, our property manager, is available Mon- Sat. Please let them know if you need anything.

WILDLIFE

The villa is open to the environment and you will see a variety of wildlife. If you have any unwanted visitors, please contact Juan.

things to do

Whether you want to relax by the pool or get out and try a new adventure every day, here's everything you need to know about best restaurants, excursions, national parks, beaches and more!

Local Taxi

Johnny Porras Mendez +506 6293 3152

Gregorio +506 8526 9325 (large van)

Don Jorge +506 6125 1310

Marjurie +506 8499 3470

Restaurants

Breakfast Port Vell - Acai bowl, pancakes, gallo pinto, eggs bacon, lattes etc.

La Parada - great view right on the water but basic food, nice juices and banana pancakes.

Bread and Chocolate - great food, nice ambience.

Mi Casa es tu Casa - nice vegan/vegetarian/gluten free.

Gypsea Cafe in Playa Chiquita - wonderful coffee, waffles, eggs benedict, French toast with very cool vibe.

Sol Del Caribe - local place with good breakfast by the beach

Lunch

All of the breakfast places also serve lunch

Banana Azul - less than 5 minute walk from the villa. Order drinks on the beach.

El Rincon Porteno in Cocles - great sandwiches and much more Arrecife - is also a fun beach bar restaurant in Punta Uva; food drinks and music right on a stunning beach. There is another smaller place a little further down the beach called Arrecife as well. Closed on Sundays but nice spot too.

Selvins- traditional Costa Rican Caribbean restaurant.

Famous for the Rondon (seafood soup)

Dinner

Most of the lunch places serve dinner

Koki Beach - great restaurant with international menu and great atmosphere

Chile Rojo - good food but very basic ambience

La Nena - great local seafood restaurant

Stashus Con Fusion - fun restaurant on the beach road overlooking the beach. Great curries and drinks

Soca - beautiful upscale restaurant. Great cocktails and food

Cafe Viejo - Quality Italian restaurant with homemade pastas. Nothing to look at from the outside but great place in center of town.

Green Jaguar Irish Pub - small place with interesting menu and quality cocktails

Puerto Pirata Tiki Bar - opens at 4pm. Very popular for sunset. Small place with limited seating but nice tacos and cocktails

Tasty Waves in Cocles - Fun restaurant and bar.

Karaoke on Wednesday night, live music. Good pub grub and lively atmosphere.

La Leyenda de L’Antico Forno - in Playa Chiquita. Amazing pizza and beer garden. Great atmosphere Your paragraph text

Must See Places

Refugio Nacional GandocaManzanillo

Wonderful national park with spectacular views of the water. Small donation to enter. Go early to see the monkeys and other wildlife.

Punta Uva Beach

Protected by the point, punta uva, is generally better for swimming with less rip tides and stunning views.

Cataratas Bribri Talamanca

Beautiful natural waterfalls. Nice place for a morning swim. Best to take a guide the first time as not all the waterfalls are welcoming.

Punta Mona

Stunning beach deep into the Manzanillo refuge only accessible by hiking or taking a boat.

Chocolate tour

Chocolate Forest Experience, everything you need to know about cacao, chocolate history, tropical wildlife and chocolate making.

Jaguar Rescue Center

Find out everything about rescue, rehabilitation, care and release efforts they do on a daily basis to protect wildlife in Costa Rica.

White water rafting on the Pacuare river

Horse ride along the beach

Recommendations frompastguests

"Walk along the beach to Puerto Veijo and finish with breakfast on the beach”

"Chef David’s amazing whole fish caribbean style. Best meal ever!!"

"Just take a slow walk along the beach or in the jungle. You will make new friends!”

Costa Rica Safety: How do I get out of a rip current?

It is important to try to keep your feet on the sea bed as much as possible when swimming in rough water The perfect conditions for Costa Rica surfing are often the perfect conditions for rip tides, as well If you get caught in a swell and notice the beach landscape swiftly passing you by, it’s likely that you have been caught in a riptide

The following Costa Rica water safety tips will help you navigate the riptide safely:

Don’t Panic!

You should never try to swim back to shore if you get caught in a riptide. 3. Try to regain your footing, if possible, but don’t put up too much of a struggle— you’ll need your energy to stay afloat.

4. Lie on your back and float, pushing your hips and face out of the water. 5. Expect to be dragged out for one hundred to two hundred meters. Remember that a riptide will not drag you under water. It will drag you out to sea. 6. You’ll notice that the current weakens and you will be able to calmly swim parallel to the shoreline, which will let you escape the riptide.

ENJOY YOUR STAY

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT BEFORE YOU LEAVE TO WRITE A REVIEW AND LET US AND OTHER GUESTS KNOW WHAT WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR VISIT

SAFE TRAVELS FROM SARAH, JIM, JUAN AND ROSA

Pura Vida!