Anytime is a good time to come to Nature's Edge! There are 2 tourist seasons in Costa Rica. High "Dry" Season is from middle of November to end of April. Low "Green" Season is from beginning of May to middle of November. The high season has little or no rain, more tourists, and higher prices. The low season is beautiful and lush with less tourists and usually better prices! Whale season is from mid July through October, and again in December through March. As for the dolphins, they are always here! Wildlife (Monkey's, Bird's, and the like) are also always here especially in the jungle canopies at Nature's Edge! Remember seeing wildlife is never a guarantee, as you are visiting them in their natural habitat.

Most guests fly to San Jose (SJO) and drive approximately 3 1/2 hours to our hotel. For more details click here to learn more about how to get to Nature's Edge. We have partnered with Skyscanner to help you find the best flight deals, click here to book your flight to San Jose. Make sure it is San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) and not the San Jose in California. Save money on your rental car, click here to book your 4X4 required to get to Nature's Edge. There is also the option to connect to the regional airline Sansa and fly to Quepos (XQP) – approximately a 1 hour drive to Nature's Edge. You still fly into San Jose (SJO) and then connect to Sansa. You will need to rent a car to drive the rest of the way from Quepos but this will save you about 2 hours of driving time.

Yes! A 4X4 mid to large size SUV is required as our mountain road is well maintained but is very steep. We can help you with this reservation, click here to be directed to our rental car shopping page. We always recommend the largest 4X4 rental you can afford, especially if you are traveling with a lot of luggage or more than 2 people. Renting a 4X4 and having the freedom of driving your own car allows you to explore all that Costa Rica has to offer! Your valid driver’s license from your home country allows you to operate a vehicle in Costa Rica. Always carry a copy of your passport with the entry stamp in case you get pulled over. Insurance is mandatory for renting a car and will be costly but it is worth it. Your insurance from home or provided by your credit card company may not be sufficient, and you most likely will need to purchase the additional insurance. Check with the individual companies to understand these insurance requirements. Driving to Nature's Edge is mostly on paved roads, until the drive up our mountain road. In general the roads in Costa Rica range from well paved two-lane highways down to the potholed dirt roads with river crossing that are treacherous. For the most part unless you want to off road during your visit, the drive to and from Nature's Edge and the surrounding areas is pretty easy.

Yes! We are located on a low traveled mountain road. We have more wildlife than visitors who don't have a purpose to be on our road. The mountain is a neighborhood of people looking after one another. Additionally, we have security cameras on the entire property. When you venture off from our hotel, please use "street smarts" for your own security. Don’t leave valuables unattended or in plain view. Finally, be cautious after sunset, and be wary of “helpful” strangers. Each room has a safe for you to use.

Thank you for helping us save our planet! We strive to be eco-friendly in all that we do here at Nature’s Edge, we hope you will join us in helping our planet by following some of these simple habits.

• Please limit your time showering as this helps us to conserve water
• Please reuse your towels
• Recycle (bins are by the pool) and Compost (throw food scraps into the jungle or use in-room container)
• If you need housekeeping services let us know (trash removal, room refresh, or new towels) otherwise we will respect your privacy and not enter your casita during your stay with us

No, all rooms and patios have ceiling fans and open screens for air flow. Nature's Edge is at an elevation of 1200 ft. above sea level, the mountainous climate provides guests with comfortable cooler temperatures, many times with mountain breezes flowing directly into your room. We live here on property and have never felt the need for air conditioning (we do not have it in our home either).

Nature’s Edge is not suitable for children under 18 years of age, as we are an adults only hotel. Our property is built on a steep mountainside, with many cliffs. There are no places for children to play. We want everyone to experience the peacefulness of our jungle surrounds and make your stay in nature a quiet retreat away from it all.

Nature's Edge is NOT recommended for people with mobility conditions. Nature’s Edge is built on a steep mountainside, with many cliffs. All of the roads and pathways within the property are gravel making it hard for guests with mobility issues to navigate.

There is no smoking of any kind inside the rooms or on the balconies/decks of any room. Anyone caught doing so can be asked to leave the property without a refund and charged a cleaning fee. In Costa Rica smoking is strictly forbidden inside or near any building and the fine can be up to $8,000.00 for not following this law. No smoking will be allowed at Terraza de Alma. This includes the pool, kitchen, and any area around the jungle deck. Although we would prefer you not smoke on the property, we understand some guests need to do so. We ask that you are considerate of other guests with your second hand smoke and that you clean up butts afterwards. Please don't mess up our beautiful jungle or grounds! We only permit smoking in the parking areas outside of the rooms. Please do not throw away butts in any of the garbage cans in your room.

We are a small bed and breakfast style boutique hotel. We live on the property and provide check-in services at your casita between the hours of 3pm and 7pm. We do not have a front desk but are available on WhatsApp. Guests checking in before 3pm may relax by the pool until their casita is ready. Guests checking in after 7pm or when we are not on the property (we will have notified you of such) will be self-check-in. If we do not meet you on the day of check-in, we will check you in poolside during breakfast at 7:30am the next day. We will message you in WhatsApp with all check-in details. Need to reach us by WhatsApp? Most of the time we will have already created a welcome group in WhatsApp for easier communications. If you still need to reach us you can click here to send us a WhatsApp message.

You should have some Colones for tolls driving to Nature's Edge (about $5.00 US Dollars). While most shops and tourist area accept credit cards or U.S. dollars, we recommend carrying about $100 worth of Colones just in case. As mentioned, US Dollars and Costa Rican Colones can both be used here. Everyone will take 20 dollar bills or less. You will get the best exchange rate from banks. It is recommended you advise your credit card companies you will be traveling in Costa Rica, this way there will be no surprise declines due to suspicious activity. You can get Colones in the baggage claim area of the airport. An ATM and a currency exchange are available there. There are also ATMs available in the area, as well as banks in Uvita that can exchange money for you. The Costa Rican Colones is really colorful and fun, see the denominations below.

Yes! We recommend you check your local country rules regarding travel, but a passport is required to enter Costa Rica. You are usually allowed to stay between 30 and 180 days on a tourist visa that is issued once you enter the country. The number of days depends on your originating country and also the date of your return flight. The maximum legal stay for tourists will be determined by the immigration agent upon your entry into the country.

Be sure to check the expiration date, passports must be valid at least 6 months from the departure date on your return airline ticket

Carry a copy of your passport with the current stamp. Never give up your original passport.

Send a copy of your passport to your personal e-mail so you can access it from anywhere in the world.

Send a copy of your passport to your phone as a picture or PDF file so you can access it from anywhere in the world.

Learn more about entry requirements here. They can change, so please be up to date before your trip.

IMPORTANT, remember in order to enter Costa Rica, you will need a ticket for a return flight (or other means of transportation) to leave Costa Rica. The immigration official will ask to see your means of departure travel when you arrive.

Yes - it is recommended! We have always traveled with insurance, many companies allow for individual polices (per trip) and some offer yearly policies (for the frequent traveler). We have partnered with some of the top insurance providers to help you find a policy that fits your needs click here for resources to find travel insurance.

Costa Rica uses the same electric standards as the rest of North America. Outlets are 120 volts and 60 hz. Visitors from Europe and other parts of the world may need adapters. Nature's Edge does offer USB outlets in all the rooms.

We suggest packing as light as possible. The dress code in this area is very casual. You will find you don't need much while you are here. Click here to see the list we have created of links to shopping items we brought with us each time we visited and eventually when we moved down. What TO pack:

• Passport (see passport FAQ above).
• Drivers License, your international drivers license is usually valid for the number of days of your passport stamp (may be different based on your originating country).
• Personal electronic equipment chargers, all rooms have USB plugs.
• Bug spray and/or bug repellent clothing.
• Unscented sunblock and lotions - scents attract bugs.
• Flip flops, hiking sandals, and hiking boots if you plan to do difficult hikes.
• Things that can get wet and will dry quickly - moisture-wicking fabrics.
• Hats that will protect you from the sun.
• Sunglasses, especially if you plan to spend any time at the beach or on a boat.
• Camera, GoPro or phone camera protectors - waterproof highly recommended.
• Binoculars, even if you're not 'into' birds, you may be by the time you leave.
• Waterproof bag, very handy on water based excursions like whale watching.
• Bathing suits - moisture-wicking fabrics are best.
• T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, short sleeved blouses and light skirts/pants.
• All clothing should be quick dry, breathable and allow you to easily move.
• Long pants (if needed) should be light-weave material or moisture-wicking fabrics.
• Light sweater or sweatshirt as evenings can get cool between April and November.
• Rain poncho or rain jacket - the lighter the better between April and November.
• Prescription medications, if you forget something, there is a pharmacy in Uvita.

What NOT TO pack:

• Perfume, as biting and stinging insects are attracted to scents, especially florals.
• Scented hair products and lotions as well, including sunblock.
• Blue Jeans and other heavy material clothing, as they take a long time to dry.
• Hair dryer, your room comes equipped with one.
• Expensive jewelry, as it can be easily lost, and can make you a target for thieves.
• High heeled shoes, there are very few paved surfaces in our area.
• Beach towels, we have them and they are easy to purchase as well.
• Surf boards, as they are very inexpensive to rent ($10-$20 a day).

Adventures are plentiful in The Costa Ballena Region! We can help you plan an experince of a life time while staying with us! For more details of the available adventures/tours click here. Click here to complete the request form for the adventures you want to experience.

Please use caution and common sense when on any tour. Although we have selected reputable vendors, Nature's Edge is not liable for any delivery of tours or injuries to guest while on any tour.

We have partnered with local professionals in the area to provide these services. Some of them will even come directly to your room to provide services. Please inquire about these prior to your stay if they are important to you, as they do book up. Otherwise when you arrive we will do our best to find you a service that fits your needs.

Yes! The Costa Ballena Region of Dominical, Uvita, and Ojochal have a plethora of great restaurants. Each town has an eclectic mix of different types of eating establishments. Trip Advisor List of Restaurants

• Uvita (closest town - 10 minutes from Nature's Edge)
• Dominical (25 minutes from Nature's Edge)
• Ojochal (30 minutes from Nature's Edge)

Food delivery is available from local restaurants! We have created a list of menus and the contact for an express service for delivery to make it easy to stay here in paradise and have food delivered right to your casita or Terraza de Alma. Learn More

Yes! The Costa Ballena Region is the home to Nature's Edge and over a dozen beaches each with their own characteristic. Click here to see a list of beaches within close proximity to Nature's Edge. The famous Whale’s Tail beach, a naturally formed sand and rock beach where during low tide you can walk out into the pacific - is an amazing site. We will guide you to the perfect beach for your visit, there are beaches for bird and wildlife watching, swimming, surfing, kayaking, and other activities. A 15 to 20 minute drive from Nature's Edge will take you to many of these beaches a few others are only 1 hour away. Although the beaches are amazing to look at, most of the South Pacific coast has strong currents. If you happened to be caught by a wave that pulls you out to the sea, let yourself go and try to swim back parallel to the beach. The waters are always between 23 to 28 degrees, making them perfect for water activities. LOOK UP before sitting down under a palm tree, you don't want a coconut falling on your head!

Yes! There are 3 amazing national parks located in close proximity to Nature's Edge!          

Marino Ballena National Park - Right down the mountain road. This is home to the famous whales tail sand bar formation and is also where most of the water based tours leave from.

         

Manuel Antonio National Park - Approximately a 1 hour drive north of Nature's Edge. You can visit the park on your own, but we recommend you book a tour with our private guide to have a much better experience.

         

Corcovado National Park - Is a guided boat ride of 1 1/2-2 hours each way to and from the park. You MUST be with a guide to visit the park.

Although Nature's Edge is situated on 10 acres surrounded by the jungle, we do not have trails onsite because our property is very steep.

There are a number of great hiking and walking options just down our mountain road in town (our favorites are at Aracari Restaurant and Hacienda Baru), just ask us about these when you arrive.

Our main road has many vistas if you turn left or right out of the property and simply walk on the road - we hike our mountain road a lot and enjoy being close to nature.

Please use caution and common sense when hiking/walking. This is the jungle and dangers do exist. Nature's Edge is not liable for any injuries to guests when walking within or outside of the property.

You can never be guaranteed encounters with wild animals. However the following list is to be used as a guide to what is commonly seen throughout the year. This list is based on the areas past years of recorded sightings: January: Spotted Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins February: Spotted Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins March: Spotted Dolphins, Bottle nose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales, Beaked Whales Occasional: Orcas, Rissos Dolphins April: Spotted Dolphins, Bottle nose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales, Brydes Whales Occasional: Orcas, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas May: Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins,Brydes Whales Occasional: Orcas, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales June: Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales, July: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales August: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Pilot Whales September: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales October: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphin Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Pilot Whales November: Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins Occasional: Orcas, Sei Whales, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pilot Whales December: Humpback Whales (after mid December), Spotted Dolphins, Bottle nose Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins

Average temperatures in Uvita range between 73°F (23°C) and 95°F (35°C). Temperature ranges for Uvita and Beaches  At Nature's Edge, we are 1200 feet above the jungle canopy, you will enjoy lower temperatures ranging between 67°F (20°C) and 89°F (32°C). The night time is always cooler up in the mountains (usually high 60°F/21°C), so you will enjoy a great nights sleep. Temperature ranges in the mountains, usually 6°F (3°C) cooler   See the current weather at Nature's Edge!