| For which length of time is it recommended to visit PachaMama? Since a visit to PachaMama is a rich experience to digest the request is to come for a minimum of 10 days, to have time to get oriented and have a taste of the essence of the village. One can come for a shorter stay if participating in a workshop, since that helps plugging into the rhythm of PachaMama at once. |
| Do I need a visa to visit Costa Rica? To be certain of your Visa status, contact the Costa Rican Consulate or Embassy in your home country. Visitors from most of the European countries, Israel, Canada and USA can stay 90 days without applying for a visa. |
| Do I need a Health Insurance? Yes. When you arrive to PachaMama you'll be asked to present a valid health insurance that covers you during your stay in Costa Rica. Ask about an insurance in your Travel Agency. |
| Do I need to exchange U.S. Dollars to Colones (Costa Rican currency) before I come? It is not necessary to get Colones prior to arrival. PachaMama accepts U.S. currency, credit cards and traveler's cheques since there is no ATM machine in the village. (There is one in Nosara, half an hour away). Most businesses in Costa Rica accepts U.S. Dollars. If you should need Colones, PachaMama exchanges small amounts or you can go to many local banks to exchange larger amounts. The best is to bring Dollars in cash in small bills, or Colones. |
| Where can I stay in San Jose? A list of recommended hotels in San José can be supplied on demand from the Welcome Office. |
| Do I need a passport? Citizens of the U.S. and Canada may enter Costa Rica with a valid passport. Note that Costa Rican law requires your passport to be valid for at least 90 days after the date you enter the country. Check with your airline or travel agent for more information. Citizens of other countries should check with the applicable Costa Rican Consulate in your country about rules governing entrance into Costa Rica. You are required to carry your passport or a photocopy with your photo, passport number and entry stamp with you at all times. |
| What do I need to bring? Only 100% biodegradable soaps and shampoos are used in PachaMama. All the products that you bring should be natural, including skin and hair products, deodorants, insect repellents, shaving creams, toothpastes, etc. All these can be purchased in the PachaMama Jungle Shop. Bring a good strong flashlight (preferably an alternative one without using batteries, otherwise rechargable batteries only. PachaMama provides all bedding's but towels. Bring your own towel. Mosquito repellent and Tee tree oil is useful, comfortable clothes for yoga and meditations and a set of white clothes for Satsang. |
| What kind of electricity is there in Costa Rica? If you bring anything electrical, Costa Rica runs on 110 Volts, 60Hz. If you want to bring 220V equipment, a converter is needed. Bring only rechargeable batteries! |
| Do I need vaccinations? Starting on July 30, 2007, the Costa Rican authorities will demand that all travelers coming from the following countries (Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador as well as the Republic of Guyana) have a yellow fever vaccination certificate. |
| Can I use my cell phone? Check with your local cellular provider if your specific phone fits the cellular networks in Costa Rica. Be aware that reception depends on topographic features and distance from cellular antennas. |
| Where is the nearest Internet facility? There is a facility in PachaMama. There are several options depending on your needs. You can buy a one-hour card or a one-year card and anything in between. A one-hour card costs $ 6. A 5-hour card costs $ 25. A one-week card is $ 25 and a one-month card costs $ 59. It gets cheaper the more you use it. It is also cheaper if a couple shares their card. You can also connect your laptop to the wireless network. It costs the same as if you would buy Internet cards. |
| Do you offer a laundry service in the village? Yes. |
| Can I rent a car? Yes and it‘s easy. You can either arrange it with the major car rental companies before you come or we can help arrange it once you are here. There are several companies that will drop off your rental car here in PachaMama. You will need a driver's license, passport and credit card. |
| Is there a shop in PachaMama? The Jungle Shop offers health food and you can get all the necessary items for your stay in PachaMama. |
| How can I get to the beach? During the high season PachaMama has a daily taxi service to the nearest beach in San Juanillo. |
| What is the nearest town to PachaMama? Nosara is 25 minutes away. It has an airport, banks, a post office, restaurants, private and public medical aid and car rental possibilities. |
| What kind of food is served in the PachaMama restaurant? Pacha Mama's restaurant "Food-A-Vida" offers 3 fresh vegetarian meals a day. There is no sugar nor dairy products or flour being used. In addition the "Wild Treats" raw-food bar is open all day long offering fresh juices, smoothies and a variety of delicious raw dessert goodies. |
| Are there are any night activities? Often in the evenings there are activites e.g. movies, dance, singing or other events. |
| Can I visit the Turtles beach? PachaMama is located about 5 km from Playa Ostional, one of the most important nesting sites of the Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Latin America: Thousands of females arriving in huge "arribadas" during several nights, digging a hole in the black sand and laying their eggs ( 100 – 110 per animal) into this nest. The biggest arribadas normally occur from July to December. During these mass arrivals, thousands of nests of the animals having landed early are destroyed by the later arriving ones; for this reason the local people from the village are allowed to collect eggs during the first phase of each arribada. Turtle arribadas in Ostional are supervised by the national wildlife protection authorities. During the nesting time we sometimes organize tours to see this spectacular event. |
| Is the water safe to drink? Yes, the water in PachaMama is safe to drink from every faucet on the property. We filter the underground well waters. |
| What are the bathrooms like? All bathrooms are unisex. Bathrooms in the bungalows are private. There are public showers and toilets set in a few locations around PachaMama. Toilets and showers are in separate buildings. |
| Are there refrigerators in the rooms? None of the basic Casitas are equipped with refrigerators. There is a small fridge in the Cottages, the Family Casita and in all Houses. There is a communal fridge next to the restaurant. |
| Do you have heat and air conditioning? None of our rooms or facilities have air conditioning or heating. The year round temperature is 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 27 degrees Celsius) during the day with mild nights. |
| How does a Casita look like? The standard Casita is simple but comfortable. They can be arranged with two single beds or one king size bed. Each Casita is equipped with a mosquito net for the bed, a small table, a low chair and a reading lamp. See also the accomodation page. |
| Do the Casitas have locks? All the Casitas have doors without a lock. PachaMama a relatively safe property and has no problem with theft from Casitas. Additionally, there is a safe in the office in which you can store your valuables. |
| Can I bring my children to PachaMama? What can they do while they're there? There are many possibilities for kids. They can join the the kids camp, the daily afternoon activities or use the private babysitting care. Kids between 3-5 that stay more then 2 months can join the kindergarten. For more details check the children's page. |
| What is the weather like? The winter season, December-April, is warm and dry with clear blue skies, with average temperatures ranging from 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 35 degrees Celsius). June through November is the Green Season. The mornings from June through September are usually clear and sunny with light rains beginning in the late afternoon. October is the peak of the rainy season, when rains can last all day. If you arrive in San Jose, long pants and a sweater may be needed, as it is high in the mountains and cooler. |
| Can I come for a short visit? Encouraging people to dive deeper into the PachaMama experience, a minimum period of 2 weeks visit is highly recommended. Unless booking for a specific workshop, a minimum charge of a two weeks stay is required from all visitors. |
| Can I drive a car in the rainy season in PachaMama? Yes, but it is strongly advisable to use a 4-wheel-drive. |
| Can I participate in a Silence Retreat when I come with my child? During the Retreats PachaMama is in Silence. All public places in the commune are silent zones without any children activities. Babysitter services are available if you want to participate in the Retreat. Be sure to inquire about this in advance. |
| Do you offer camping? Yes, there are many beautiful camping spots. Toilets and showers are nearby. You need to bring your own camping equipment. See Price List for camping fees. |
| How much luggage can I bring to PachaMama? As much as you are comfortable carrying around. There is no luggage carrying service in PachaMama. |
