Please pay special attention to all instructions to ensure you are met at the car park.
* You must notify the community of your arrival at least 3 days prior to your check in date.
* Please note that a 4×4 vehicle is required for the last 3km from the main road.
* Access to the homes are on foot - please check the average distance times for your rental.
* You will need to cross a river on foot to get to the home.
* CHECK IN TIMES ARE STRICTLY BETWEEN 12 - 5pm Notifying the community of your arrival
Finca Bellavista is not a hotel or resort. It is a private community made up of owners, guests, residents, private consultants and at times, work exchange applicants. There is no office, staff, restaurant or shops onsite so a time to meet a community member in the car park must be arranged before arrival.
Once your reservation is confirmed (whether booking through Airbnb or direct), you will need to post your arrival details in the Fusion Forum. This will allow any available community member to arrange a time to meet you in the car park. As there is no internet/phone signal coming up the road or at the car park, it is best to post your arrival details at least 3 days prior to coming to Finca Bellavista.
Please follow these simple steps to notify the community through the Fusion Forum:
Sign up to the forum using either your google, facebook or email account.
Post your arrival date, house name with booking confirmation number in the 'meet and greet' category.
That's it! A member of the community who is available to meet you the day of your arrival will respond when possible and make further arrangements with you.
Meeting Point
Once you have arrived, you will be escorted on foot to your rental. The Bella vista river needs to be crossed, please pack accordingly and take note of the distance time for your home.
There are no shops or restaurants onsite and it is recommended to bring what you need for your stay. There is also no onsite staff so its advisable to bring your own vehicle for any emergencies/supply runs. The homes are equipped with everything you need for a short stay and a contact will be provided for any cleaning and maintenance requirements you may need.
Internet signal is spotty within the community and it's best not to rely on having a decent signal during your stay (homes on the upper red trail get the best reception) but areas that receive a signal will be pointed out to you during your walkout.
Arriving to the car park:
(precise directions provided with confirmed bookings)
If you do not have a 4x4 or vehicle then you can speak to the local shopkeeper at the bottom of the hill (at the main rd turn off), his name is Cinio - trips up and down the mountain cost $20.00 and you can leave your car outside his shop. This is not a service provided via the community and is a suggestion only. Cinio does not speak English. Please note that it is advisable if staying within the community to bring your own transport given there are no onsite staff/services or emergency vehicles. You can also check if anyone on the forum is overing rides by asking questions direct to the community.
If you have a 4x4 vehicle, you can make your way up to the car park but please do not arrive without first arranging a meet and greet time with a community member.
Hiking times to the home from the car park are as follows
El Fenix: 10 - 15 min
Perezosa: 10 - 15 min
The Fusion Home: 15 - 20 min (includes a section with a steep hill and loose gravel)
Colibri: 10 - 15 min
Fila Tortuga: 25 - 30 min
Tamandua: 25 - 30 min (includes a section with a steep hill and loose gravel)
Paraiso: 10 - 15 min
Mariposa: 30 - 35 min
Leon: 40 - 45 min
* please note, we recommend hiking shoes or wellies for walking around. You are coming to a jungle and critters such as snakes live here too - a liability waiver must be signed to explore the grounds.
Private taxi service from San Jose
There is only one service we recommend and it's hands down the best in all of Costa Rica. We have had the pleasure of knowing Coco for about 6 years now and use his company every time we need it for ourselves or friends and family visit.
You can visit their website - Eco Drivers CR or call Coco directly: +506 8555 1220 (he speaks perfect English/Spanish). Please tell Coco that Matt and Amy say hi (it may get you a cheaper rate 😉).
Getting to Costa Rica
For travelers originating outside of Costa Rica, finding a way into the country is the first step in travel planning to Finca Bellavista. Getting to Costa Rica has never been easier or more affordable, with a variety of options available to travelers from all over the world. Visa and entry requirements vary from country to country, so check with the appropriate governing bodies if travel plans originate outside of Costa Rica.
BY AIR
Fly in to the capital city of San Jose, to the Juan Santamaria International Airport. A variety of airlines have direct flights to and from from major cities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Central and South America. (Due to extended travel time, traveling to/from the Liberia International Airport in northern Costa Rica is not recommended for guests of Finca Bellavista, and is therefore not included.)
Please note that an airport departure tax is required when leaving Costa Rica, and is included in some airline ticket purchase prices. Passport, visa and other entry requirements vary by country of residency and origin, so check with applicable governing bodies prior to booking travel. BY LAND For travelers coming to Finca Bellavista by land, the nearest border crossing is located at Paso Canoas on the border of Panama and Costa Rica. Finca Bellavista is located a 45-minute drive to the North via the InterAmericana Highway. Another regional border crossing is available to overland travelers coming from Panama to Costa Rica at Rio Serena near San Vito. Fewer services are available, but the access to Amistad National Park and San Vito might make an appropriate crossing point for some travelers. Car rentals are not allowed across the border.
Ticabus provides bus service and connects capital cities in Central America, including Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. Tracopa provides bus service between David, Panama and San Jose, Costa Rica. BY SEA Golfito harbor is the closest deepwater port to the north of the Panama Canal on the Pacific Coast. As such, many cruisers stop in to Golfito, which is filled with local character and a variety of amenities. The waters of the Golfo Dulce around Golfito have many safe anchorages, and a handful of small marinas can provide a safe and comfortable place to anchor. A large-scale marina project is under construction in Golfito, and is set to open partially within the year.
Public ferry boats and water taxis (passenger only – no vehicles) operate between Golfito and Puerto Jimenez, and between Zancudo beach and Golfito.
Finca Bellavista is a 45-minute taxi ride from Golfito and provides a great land layover for those that live and travel by water.
Travel from San Jose
Getting to Finca Bellavista from San Jose is dependent upon budget and timeframe. A variety of travel options to the Southern Zone are available at different price points and budgets.
REGIONAL FLIGHTS
Regional flights are the fastest way to get from San Jose to the Southern Zone. We recommend flying in to Golfito, as the scenery is a breathtaking and unforgettable part of traveling to Finca Bellavista.
Sansa Airlines operates daily flights between the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose and Golfito. On average, these flights take 50 minutes of air travel time.
(A 4×4 taxi from Golfito to Finca Bellavista adds 45 minutes of ground travel, and can be easily negotiated at the Golfito airport.)
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
A variety of ground transportation options are available to travelers at different price points. Please note that a 4×4 vehicle is required for the last 3km from the main road to Finca Bellavista.
TAXI
Taxis are readily available in most towns, including Golfito, to get to Finca Bellavista. Remember that a 4×4 is required on the road from the highway to the finca, and that any taxi needs 4-wheel drive to access Finca Bellavista. Negotiate the price before you get in the taxi, and ensure that the taxi driver has read the Spanish directions (sent upon making a reservation) and fully understands where they are taking you if they have not been to Finca Bellavista. Rates are dependent upon the market price of fuel and other factors. The current rate (August 2022) from Golfito to Finca Bellavista is $70-$80, depending on the size of vehicle and number of people.
SHARED SHUTTLE
Travel in between regional hubs, touristy areas and cities can be made with shared shuttle services. Agencies like Interbus, Costa Rica Shuttle and Super Shuttle provide regular trips with shared costs for travelers making connections throughout the country.
CAR RENTAL
Car rental prices in Costa Rica are higher than in other countries, but allow a freedom of movement and schedule that other transportation methods do not have. Drive time is 5-8 hours to Finca Bellavista from the international airport. For those interested in renting a vehicle, we recommend getting one near the international airport, and taking a few days to explore the South Pacific Coast en route to Finca Bellavista (see Trip Planning for a list of suggested itineraries). Remember that your rental car must be 4×4!
BUS
Bus travel is the most affordable, yet slowest travel option to Finca Bellavista. You can take either the Costenera or Mountain (longer) route.
REGIONAL BUSES
With three different bus stations servicing three different regions of the country, bus travel to Finca Bellavista from San Jose must originate at the Tracopa bus station. Select a bus that goes to one of the following locations: Paso Canoas, Golfito, Ciudad Neilly, Rio Claro or Laurel (‘Cerro’ routes go via the mountain route/Highway 2 and tend to be longer, Costanera routes use the Caldera Toll Road/Highway 34 and is normally a faster route.). If available, opt for busses that say ‘directo’ as there will be fewer stops and shorter travel times. All of the above-mentioned busses pass by the 4-wheel drive entrance road to Finca Bellavista that connects to the InterAmericana/Highway 2 in La Florida de Piedras Blancas. You must ask for the bus to stop in La Florida or Piedras Blancas and will need to get a taxi up the 3-kilometer uphill road from La Florida.
LOCAL BUSES
Local bus travel is affordable and useful for traveling short distances between towns and cities, or exploring within bigger cities for the day. Wait times, the number of stops, prolonged travel times and the likelihood you will be standing make local busses unfeasible for travelers with luggage and is not recommended.