Resources to help you plan your Costa Rica Vacation!
Costa Rica has been on your bucket list for years and now you are ready to plan your trip. Nature’s Edge Boutique Hotel wants to make that easier for you with our plan your trip page.
Have Questions about Nature’s Edge
Get answers to many of the common questions about our hotel and the local area by visiting our Frequently Asked Questions Page (FAQs).
Flying to Costa Rica
Fly to the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Be sure you use the airport code SJO and do not end up in San Jose, California. Guests have made this mistake, confirm your have booked a flight to Costa Rica (SJO) and not California.
Take a regional flight to Quepos (XQP) from San Jose
There are two regional airlines providing connections from the domestic terminal in San Jose to Quepos (XQP) – approximately 1 hour north of Uvita.
The approximate flying time to Quepos is 30 minutes and to Palmar Norte/Sur is 40 minutes.
From these regional airports you can take a 4X4 taxi or drive.
Sansa Airlines has flights to and from both of these regional airports.
Costa Rica Green Airways has flights to and from Quepos.
Drive or Take a Shuttle/Taxi to Nature’s Edge
Rent a 4×4 and Drive
Use our rental car resource page to research and book your rental car
A 4×4 is required to reach the hotel. The very steep mountain road is safe and well maintained.
We always recommend renting a midsized or larger 4X4 as you will appreciate the additional pwer found in these rentals. A larger more powerful 4X4 or multiple midsized 4X4s should be rented when traveling with more than 2 people. Just ask us what the right rental for you would be, we are here to help.
From San Jose, the drive is approximately 3 1/2 to 4 hours. If you take a regional flight to Quepos or Palmar Norte/Sur the drive will be approximately 1 hour.
Shuttle or Taxi Services
There are several options for private shuttle services to Uvita (only a few are 4X4), so in town you may need to transfer to a 4X4 taxi. The average cost for a private shuttle from San Jose is $200 to $280 each way and depends on if you come directly to the hotel with a 4X4 service or to the center of town and transfer to a 4X4 taxi. We can help you arrange this service. You can also send a WhatsApp to our preferred taxi service to learn more and make your own reservation.
A shared ride to The Uvita Information Center – not direct to the hotel since it is not a 4X4, is approximately $60 to $90 each way. You can contact EasyRide for shared shuttle services. You will then need to transfer to a 4X4 taxi in town.
Approximate taxi costs from Quepos Airport are $100 each way and from Palmar Norte/Sur $80 each way.
The cost to/from the hotel and Uvita Center is $20 – $25 each way.
Our Location – Southern Pacific Zone
Costa Ballena, Costa Rica is a region found in the Southern Zone on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.
It boasts unique rugged landscapes and tropical jungles to explore, along with pristine beaches, waterfalls, and wildlife galore. Learn about Costa Rica’s best kept secret.
The region is less crowded and touristy than Manuel Antonio – think peace and quite!
We are a perfect home base for all of the Southern Pacific
Come stay at Nature’s Edge and be in the center of all the southern pacific region has to offer. You can stay with us as your home base for visiting the towns of Dominical, Uvita, and Ojochal.
We are also within driving distance to Manuel Antonio National Park and a leisurely boat ride away from Corcovado National Park. Our home town is famous for Marino Ballena National Park and the whales tail.
We can arrange the perfect adventure/activity, an amazing spa service, or give you advice on a beach to visit. If you would like to learn more about these, you can find more information below.
Why You Should Stay With Us
- Ranked #1 in Costa Rica and #2 in Central American out of thousands of similar B&Bs/Inns in 2024
- Recipient of Tripadvisor’s best of the best recognition every year since 2022
- Awarded Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice Award every year since 2019
- Our jungle chic accommodations will deliver an experience like no other – check out our reviews
- You will be close to over a dozen beaches in the region and our beaches are stunning
- You can visit 3 national parks; Marino Ballena (15 minute away), Manuel Antonio (just a little over 1 hour away), Corcovado (about 2 hours away by boat)
- Experience being surrounded by the jungle and majestic mountains cascading to the ocean
- You can enjoy visiting 3 refreshing water falls to hike, slide down, or just relax in a swimming hole
- You can experience an amazing mangrove boat ride – where you will see so much wildlife
- In a nutshell, when you stay at Nature’s Edge you will experience all Costa Rica has to offer
Getting Ready For Your Trip
We have provided links to guide books and other essentials we brought with us on our many trips to Costa Rica and eventually when we moved here to live. We have also provided packing tips.
Travel Insurance Is Smart
We highly recommend travel insurance just in case the unexpected happens.
World Nomads and Allianz Travel can help you with your travel insurance needs.
We always purchase travel insurance – actually we have a yearly policy with Allianz.
Helpful Phone Apps
Waze and WhatsApp are essential in Costa Rica for navigation and communication. Be sure to have these on your mobile devices prior to arrival. Personally we use the DeepL Translation App for our translation needs, but Google Translate works too.
I Have Questions About Exploring Other Parts of Costa Rica?
If you need assistance planning your travel to other areas of Costa Rica, we have partnered with Costa Rica Travelling Tours by Amanda. She can help you with rental cars (for your entire trip – even for your visit to us), hotel accommodations and tours/activities in other parts of Costa Rica. Visit her website for additional information, send her a WhatsApp, email her directly at crtravellingtours@gmail.com, or you can follow her on Facebook.