When: Anytime

Length of stay: Any length

Number of guests: We have 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6

Languages: English & Spanish

Fees: (glad to discuss group discounts)

NOTE:

• A 50% deposit is required to reserve the house. The balance may be paid to us in the US before departure; or in Costa Rica, upon arrival, to our managers in traveler's checks or cash.
• Payments to the U.S., before you leave, can be by personal/business check, cashiers/registered check, or money order. We cannot accept personal checks in Costa Rica. VISA is an option in Costa Rica, but there is a 6% charge.
• We require 30 days advance notice (more for holiday bookings) to cancel. With that notice, we will refund your deposit minus 15% of the total rent. After that the deposit is not refundable.
• At our neighbors' request, we have agreed not to make the house available to surfers. They are surfers and passionate about keeping the waves clear. Our apologies to all surfers, but in the interest of good will, that is our policy.
• THERE IS NO SMOKING or CANDLES AT CASA BAMBU (bamboo is highly flammable).

CASA BAMBU:
Blending contemporary technology and construction techniques with indigenous Indian building traditions, Casa Bambu is a revival of the lost art of bamboo construction in Costa Rica. (The rafters and exposed bamboo beams are works of art in themselves!) Constructed from native bamboo and hardwoods (manglio, cristobal and nazareno), the house allows you to be comfortable, while not closing you off from its fantastic surroundings.

With only shuttered half walls and railings between you and the ocean breezes and gorgeous views, Casa Bambu brings the outdoors in. It is a rustic, yet very comfortable, handcrafted, open-air house that lets you escape the hustle of civilization and enjoy the countless natural wonders of this magical place.

Casa Bambu has:

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• A spacious, well-equipped, island kitchen
• Cooking range and oven
• Refrigerator
• 110-volt outlets (like the U.S.)
• Large up and downstairs porch/living areas
• Separate dining room
• High ceilings
• Hardwood floors
• Three bedrooms (sleeps six)
• Hand-crafted, comfortable four-poster beds with custom fitted netting
• Ceiling and bed fans
• Comfortable furniture
• Full bathroom
• Indoor hot water showers
• Outdoor shower
• Linens and towels
• An ocean view
• Landscaped yard with flowers, tropical fruit trees and lawns sweeping to the beach out front

Please note: Casa Bambu is open, with only half walls (which can be shuttered) and no screens (although all beds are custom netted). All in all, the house is very much a part of its natural surroundings. Nature lovers adore it, but if you are not comfortable with the great outdoors, this house is not for you!

HOW IT ALL WORKS:

Your hosts are here about half the year. Full time at the Casa we have two American managers, Mike and Katie Hennessey, who live down the road and are on hand to assist you during your stay in the rainforest. They are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet and a wealth of information about the area. They both want to help make your visit the best possible. Mike is an all around waterman. Katie works up the hill at Lapa Rios, a world-class ecotourism resort and restaurant. Our caretakers are William and Emilse who live next door. They are great examples of the sweetness of the Costa Rican people and our guests love them.

The house is cleaned every four days, but if you would like more frequent maid service, it is available at a very reasonable price. You can also hire someone to wash your clothes, again very reasonably. There is also a big, outdoor washtub and clotheslines if you want to do it yourself. There are many eating options available. Our kitchen is fully equipped. We will send you a grocery list and instructions, so you're prepared to shop when you land in Puerto Jimenez. We recommend you stock up when you arrive, as there are no stores out at Matapalo, where Casa Bambu is. The taxi that meets your plane will take you by La Esquina, the town's best equipped grocery, where you can drop off your filled out grocery list (sent to you in advance), and have them pick out and box the items for you while you have lunch. (If there are things you'd like to choose yourself, like snacks or fruit, you can do this when you return. With other basic items there aren't many choices, so you might want to let them shop for you). Or you can do all your own shopping when you land or on your way out of town. This is all part of our routine and your taxi driver will know what to do. Go to Getting There for more detailed information.

Once you're at the house, our managers can set you up with a food buying service, which will take your grocery list to town and shop for you for a reasonable fee OR you can catch one of the many taxis that pass by Matapalo and shop for yourself.

You can also eat at nearby Matapalo restaurants. These range from gourmet (yes, gourmet food in the rainforest!) to homecooked, and all are excellent. You also may want to hire a cook. Our managers can set you up with a cook or with a meal provision service. Or you can catch your dinner! Fishing Costa Rica is the best.

GETTING TO THE CASA:
All international flights go through Costa Rica's capital city, San Jose, so unless you can make a same-day connection to Puerto Jimenez (which will probably mean an overnight flight), you will spend your first and last nights there. (If you want to get to our house as quickly as possible, look for flights that arrive in San Jose in the early morning. When leaving, try for flights departing San Jose in the afternoon). Most major airlines fly to San Jose, including Continental, United, American and Lacsa/Grupo Taca (the national airline of Costa Rica). We do not arrange international flights, but have had good luck with fares from Intra-National Tours: 1-800-334-8069.

PLEASE NOTE: You need a U.S. passport to travel to Costa Rica. You can call the Costa Rican Consulate at (202) 328-6628 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, EST with any official questions. You can also try the Costa Rican Tourist Board at 800-343-6332, www.costarica.com , although the Consulate has the final word.

If you stay overnight in San Jose, you can see more of what Costa Rica is about. Taxis are inexpensive and will take you anywhere. There are great spots in and around the city, including Poas Volcano, the Butterfly Farm, the Mercado Central and the National Museum. And you have to try a Pop's ice cream cone. They're everywhere and sinfully delicious.

To Puerto Jimenez BY AIR: The nearest town to Casa Bambu (35-45 minutes) is Puerto Jimenez, gateway to the Osa. This is where flights from San Jose land, where you buy groceries and can enjoy the many local restaurants. It also has a post office, Internet cafe, clinic, bank and other modern amenities we don't have out at Matapalo, where Casa Bambu is. There is daily air service from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez on both Sansa and Travelair Airlines. Sansa leaves from the Sansa terminal at the Juan Santamaria Airport (about 35 minutes from downtown San Jose) where the international flights land. Travelair leaves from Tobias Bolanos Airport (about 20 minutes from downtown San Jose). On your flight to Puerto Jimenez, which takes about 50 minutes, you will see spectacular views of the countryside and shoreline. Advance reservations are a must, as these flights fill up. Let us know if you want to reserve a flight.

Costa Rican flight info:

• There is a baggage restriction of 25 lbs per person. Extra weight is charged at 45 cents per pound.
• Fishing rod tubes are no problem.
• Minimum 45-minute check-in is required.
• Round trip flights are approximately $150.
• Another option for small groups is a charter flight, especially if your international flight doesn't allow for same day connections with Sansa or Travelair. With a charter flight you can avoid overnight stays in San Jose. Isabel can make these arrangements for you. Charter flights range from $580-$680 one-way and hold up to 5 people.

To Puerto Jimenez by RENTAL CAR: Because there are no rental cars in Puerto Jimenez, you have to rent one in San Jose and drive it down. This is a way to see this beautiful country and have control over your schedule. However, roads can be bad and it takes about 8-9 hours from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. The rainy season can be especially difficult. We recommend a 4-wheel drive. And we do NOT recommend driving at night!

If you don't want to drive round trip, Isabel can arrange for you to drive one way and pay a reasonable rate to have the car picked up so you can fly back. Four-wheel drive is recommended. If you decide to drive, we will provide you with detailed directions from San Jose to the house. However, a car is NOT essential once you're at Casa Bambu. Taxis are readily available and much is within walking distance. Rental cars range from $450-$750 a week. Contact Isabel Esquivel at osatropi@sol.racsa.co.cr for reservations.

To Puerto Jimenez by BUS: There are two buses a day between San Jose and Puerto Jimenez. Both stop for lunch mid-route. These are not luxury buses and the trip can be long (9 or more hours) and not comfortable. The good news is, the bus is cheap: about $8 per person, one-way. However, unless you have a high discomfort tolerance and a developed sense of adventure, we don't think it's worth it. The bus company is Autotransportes Blanco Loco 011-506-256-8963.

PLEASE NOTE: We will assist you with logistics as much as possible, and help you with in-country flight reservations and San Jose hotel reservations. However, we cannot be responsible for your travel arrangements or how they work out. Ultimately, you are in charge of getting yourself to the house and back.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE in PUERTO JIMENEZ: If you fly, we will have a taxi meet your plane. (They'll say "Casa Bambu"). The next stop will be the store, La Esquina ("the corner"), where you can drop off your shopping list (which we send you before you leave). If you like, they'll pick out and box items for you. (If there are things you'd like to choose yourself, like snacks or fruit, you can do this when you return). Of course, if you'd rather do all your own shopping, you can do it now or on your way out of town. After you drop off your food list or shop, you might want to have some lunch at a restaurant in town before picking up your groceries (and ice if needed) and heading out to the house. The taxi drivers know the routine. There is also a small produce shop on the main street of town, which usually has a good selection of produce (better than La Esquina). If you wish to eat lunch, you can pick out your produce and leave it there until you head out of town. There is also a liquor store on the main street.

SHOPPING NOTES: The house is equipped with toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, salt & pepper, sugar, bar soap, dish soap and a cloth coffee filter and holder (Tico style - makes good drip coffee). Our well water is excellent, so there is no need to buy bottled water. (Tap water in Puerto Jimenez, although not as pure as our well water, is safe to drink). If you will be drinking a large quantity of iced drinks, you should get a half block of ice for our cooler, as fridge space is limited. The ice plant is next to La Esquina. Order "un media block empacada." (A half block packed in sawdust).

ARRIVAL AT CASA BAMBU: Our managers and caretakers will be expecting you. If our managers are not there to meet you, they'll leave the house unlocked and connect with you later. Go on in and make yourself at home. Our caretaker, William, will come over and introduce himself when you arrive, bearing whatever delicious fruit is in season. Neither he, nor his wife Imilse, speak English, but they are very sweet and helpful. Kick back, relax, explore. You made it!

AREA WILDLIFE: Costa Rica, and the Osa Peninsula in particular, is dense with natural wonders. Twenty-three per cent of this nation is made up of protected, natural areas, and National Geographic called the Osa's Corcovado National Park one of "the most biologically intense places on earth." Incredibly, this tiny country is home to five per cent of all the world's species, including:

• 
• 850 bird species
• 3000 butterfly species
• 200 types of mammals
• 103 species of bat
• 350 types of reptiles and amphibians
• PLUS an equally impressive number of flora.

Our immediate area offers the rare opportunity to experience nature at its most spectacular and unspoiled. It is home to four types of monkey, hundreds of bird species (there are over 300 species of birds identified in the immediate area), sloth, iguana, anteaters, iridescent butterflies and myriad varieties of vegetation. It is a principle stronghold of the endangered squirrel monkey and scarlet macaw, and offers more opportunity to view these rare animals than anywhere in Central America. We also share our neighborhood with toucans, parrots, hawks, tanagers, parakeets, pelicans and many other birds; coatis; agoutis; tayras; kinkajous; and armadillos.

GUIDED TOURS:
There is so much to see and experience in the Matapalo area and Corcovado. Yet with an untrained eye or incomplete knowledge many wonders are easy to miss. We have been amazed at how much we've walked by until it's been pointed out. Consequently, many of our guests choose to maximize their visits by using the expertise of local guides. Due to popular demand, we researched the best guides in the area and set up arrangements with them for our guests. Now we can put together tours and fishing expeditions for you in advance. In addition to our tours, there is Dilber Chavarria, a tour operator in the local vicinity. Dilber is a skilled naturalist and knows the area intimately. He can even replicate the calls of over 90 birds! He offers customized tours of Matapalo - both on foot and on horseback. For Corcovado trips we recommend native guide Felipe, who can take you on an unforgettable trip to this amazing park.

OTHER THINGS TO DO: People come to the Matapalo area to enjoy the majesty and tranquility of nature. Consequently, there isn't much nightlife and residents live by natural rhythms, going to bed at nightfall and rising with the sun. If it's a lively party scene you're after, you'll be disappointed. However, if what you want is a rare experience of unspoiled nature, you'll love it.

Some of the many things you can do include:

• 
• A walk from the house, down the dirt road toward Backwash and Matapalo beaches. This can be a real adventure, as you are likely to see monkeys, toucans, macaws, hawks (and countless other bird species), iguana, blue morpho butterflies and much more. The rainforest ecosystem is very much intact here and there are exotic species of plants and animals everywhere you look.
• Exploring the tide pools in front. We've been amazed at what we've seen in them!
• Hiking to one of the many gorgeous waterfalls.
• Going to the beach. Some of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the world are right here, including your front yard. Enjoy swimming, shelling, walking and sun bathing.
• Fishing. This area offers world-class inshore and offshore sport fishing, and we can set you up with the best guides.
• Kayaking, scuba diving and snorkeling;
• Rainforest tours, on foot or horseback (including world famous Corcovado National Park).
• A boat tour of the Golfo Dulce with whale and dolphin watching.
• Bird watching. It's one of the best places in the world for it.
• Monkey watching. Endlessly entertaining, they often scurry right by our upstairs porch, through the almond trees - and all over our yard!
• Exploring a mangrove preserve, home to a rich variety of flora & fauna
• Surf lesson with our own Mike Hennessey. Mike is not only an expert surfer but also a great instructor and tons of fun. He supplies the board and guarantees that you'll stand up during your first lesson. (He even got Lyn to stand up, so we know it's true!)