Question 1

Where is Bio Thermales located?

Accepted Answer

Bio Thermales is in north-central Costa Rica, out in the beautiful countryside near La Palmera, northwest of Cuidad Quesada, San Carlos. We are 40 minutes west of Fortuna and Volcano Arenal.

Question 2

Where is the nearest airport?

Accepted Answer

The nearest airport is the Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) in the city of Alajeula, near the capital San Jose. Travel time from the airport to Bio Thermales is 3 hours.

Question 3

What transportation options are available to get to Bio Thermales?

Accepted Answer

a.        Car Rental: We recommend Adobe Car Rental Adobe for honest quotes, and, as the largest car rental company in Costa Rica, with more offices in popular areas, they respond to any problems more quickly and with excellent customer service. For a special package with perks, contact Orlando Araya's service team at Corpgte@adobecar.com Phone: (506) 2542-4800, and select the option for reservation; tell them you are a Bio Thermales guest. They can reserve a car and drop off/pick up at any of the many Adobe offices in Costa Rica, including SJO, Liberia, Fortuna and many other locations. Adobe will also deliver or pick up a rental car for you at Bio Thermales.
b.       Private Driver: Nature guide Frank Herrera Mendez can provide convenient, safe and comfortable van transport directly from the SJO airport or nearby hotel to us for $160 for up to 4 persons. WhatsApp +506 8377 6663.

If your flight arrives after dark, Frank is your best option since all roads from SJO travel through mountainous cloud forests that are prone to fog, rain and hazardous visibility at night.

c.        Safe, comfortable private shuttles are available from Fortuna to many popular tourist destinations. However, since we are a bit off the beaten path, shuttles do not come to Bio Thermales directly. Frank Herrera Mendez will serve as a private driver to/from Fortuna for $75 (total, not per person) to connect with shuttles – or in combination with a tour.

Public bus transportation is not recommended. Inexpensive but can be time-consuming and a serious security challenge when traveling with luggage.

d.       Taxis are available at the bus station in Cuidad Quesada to drive you to Bio Thermales. Taxis are plentiful in Costa Rica, but definitely not cheap. For safety, use only licensed taxis with a yellow triangle, and be sure to verify the price before getting in the taxi.

Question 4

Can I drive directly to/from the airport on the day of my flight?

Accepted Answer

If your flight lands in the morning at the SJO airport, you can easily drive directly to Bio Thermales before dark. Why before dark? All routes from SJO the airport travel through mountainous cloud forests that are stunning in daylight, but prone to fog, rain and hazardous visibility at night. So we highly recommend driving either route from the airport only in daylight. Sunset is at 5:30 p.m. and the travel time from the airport to Bio Thermales is 3 hours, so we recommend starting the journey no later than 2 p.m. If your flight departs in the afternoon, you can drive directly to SJO airport. For morning departing flights, we recommend traveling to Alajuela the previous day and spending the night near the airport.

Question 5

What nearby tours and activities are available?

Accepted Answer

Wonderful local activities include ziplines, hanging bridges for treks through the rainforest canopy, white water rafting, wildlife viewing tours by slow “safari” boats, horseback riding or guided nature or bird-watching hikes. Please email us using the Contact Form to request the most up to date list of local activities and attractions.

Nature guide Frank Herrera, with more than 20 years experience, is a treasure trove for tours and activities, some very off the beaten tourist track. Contact him toll-free at WhatsApp +506 8377 6663 or his Facebook page.

Bio Thermales is a wonderful nature activity in itself – as a guest in one of our casitas or tree houses, you will enjoy use of our 15 hot springs pools of various temperatures, our rainforest hiking trails and splendid wildlife watching at no charge.

Question 6

What is the weather like?

Accepted Answer

Bio Thermales climate is generally pleasantly warm and humid, as our location is intermediate between the hot lowland forests and cooler mountain forests. Rain is always a possibility in the rainforest, although showers may be short and pleasant, even heavenly in the hot springs! Occasionally we have cooler nights (68° to 72°F) when a sweater or sweatshirt is welcome. In Costa Rica generally, late December to May is the dry season, with September and October being the months with heaviest rains. However, in Bio Thermales region, rainfall is more evenly distributed throughout the year with less intense extremes, which benefits the lush rainforest, dairy farms and fruit orchards youll see on your way here.

Question 7

What should we bring?

Accepted Answer

Swim suit, cotton tee-shirts, shorts, at least one long-sleeved lightweight cotton shirt and long pants or jeans, at least one sweater or light jacket, tennis shoes, flip flops, hiking boots if you will hike, bandana, a light rain poncho or hooded rain jacket, hat with sun visor, sunglasses, sun screen, favorite insect repellent, personal toiletry items, flashlight or headlamps, camera and binoculars.

Question 8

Can we do laundry at Bio Thermales?

Accepted Answer

We can do laundry for $5/load. Housekeeping service, including laundry of casita towels and linens, every 3 days is included at no charge. We are happy to supply fresh dry towels whenever needed.

Question 9

What food and meal options are there?

Accepted Answer

There are both small cafes and full service restaurants within a 15 minute drive and a local café will deliver meals.

The casitas have small kitchens and there is an excellent supermarket and fresh fruit and vegetable stands in Aguas Zarcas, also about a 20 minute drive. Catered meals are also available from a local cafe at very reasonable prices for traditional Costa Rican dishes (not spicy but tasty, and you can add hot sauce if you like).
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Question 10

Bio Thermales safe?

Accepted Answer

Our casitas are designed by architects and built to stringent Costa Rican building codes. We are in a safe countryside location of family farms, where everyone knows everyone else. But petty theft can be a problem in Costa Rica, especially in cities and major tourist areas, so it is wise never to leave valuables unattended or in your rental car, even if it is locked. Parents should supervise children at all times when they are in the hot springs pools and outdoors in a rainforest area.