Our Rental Location in Costa Rica
With GPS COORDINATES of 10º 8’ 35.71” N, 84º 28’ 18.35” W, our vacation rental house is located in the mountains 10 minutes from downtown San Ramon, Costa Rica just off Rt. 702 , an excellent two-lane paved road that leads to La Fortuna/Arenal. We're at an altitude of 3,200ft. with breathtaking views of the Central Valley and the nearby Los Angeles Cloud Forest.
You can view some of the driving times to various national parks, airports, etc. These are distances from our rental house to placs like Arenal, Monteverde, Jaco, etc.
Our vacation house has great rental rates and is an hour northwest of the capital, San Jose and Juan Santa Maria International Airport, San Jose (SJO). The second largest district in the province, San Ramon is loaded with services including an excellent hospital, universities, service stations, several supermarkets, many small restaurants and sodas (small restaurants that service typical Costa Rican food), and a small modern mall with a three screen multiplex. You can view our rental rates here or view our availability calendar and make a reservation.
Our vacation rental is centrally-located and perfect for day trips to explore the area. It's just minutes from the road to the Los Angeles Cloud Forest and the La Fortuna/Arenal area and just 10 minutes drive to the nearest market or restaurant. There are loads of things to do in the beautiful Central Valley. The picturesque towns Grecia, Sarchi and Zarcero are less than 45 minutes away. Tours of the 800 hectare Los Angeles Cloud Forest, zip lines, and horseback riding are all within a 15 minute drive of the rental house. For a list of our favorite Central Valley attractions and conveniences, please see Our Picks.
More about San Ramon Costa Rica
What’s Nearby
Los Angeles Cloud Forest, San Ramon Costa Rica
Our rental house is just on the edge of the
Los Angeles Cloud Forest. We purchased the vacation house specifically for its proximity to the cloud forest, the Juan Santa Maria International Airport in San Jose and for the great climate of San Ramon's mountains.
The Los Angeles Cloud Forest is a fabulous place to learn all about this unique type of forest and much more accessible and less crowded than Monteverde.
Located 18 km. from San Ramon on the road to La Fortuna (de San Carlos) and bordered by the Espino and Balsa rivers, this cloud forest reserve with its wealth of flora and fauna has the perfect conditions for this type of forest because it is between 800 and 1,200 meters above sea level.
This climate is caused by the clash between currents of air coming from the northern plains and the humid air coming from the Caribbean, causing condensation, which in turn creates a cloudy climate. At the reserve you can see all sorts of epiphyte plants (moss, orchids, bromeliads, etc.) as well as agoutis, pacas, raccoons, howler monkeys, and tapirs, among other species. More than 250 bird species have been recorded in this forest, full of color and trilling music resounding in the silence along our pathways. The above information is from www.cloudforestcostarica.com.
For more information please visit: cloudforestcostarica.com
Juan Santamaria International Airport
The San Jose International Airport or as it is known, the Juan Santamaria International Airport is the first and oldest airport in Costa Rica. It was named after the brave drummer boy Juan Santamaria, who died in the Battle of Rivas in 1856 defending his country against the invading forces of American invader William Walker. The primary airport in Costa Rica, the San Jose International Airport sits just outside of Downtown San Jose, about a 20 minute drive away from most major hotels and accommodations in the San Jose area.
With most US and international carriers landing here, this airport also serves as a domestic flight terminal for those wishing to travel within the country itself. Some of the major international airlines that land here include American, United, KLM, Delta, Taca, British Airways, Continental, Cubana, Mexicana, Iberia and American West.
Also very close to Alajuela, the hometown of Juan Santamaria, the San Jose International Airport sits at a distance of about 3 kilometers (1 mile) from the city. Inaugurated in July 1955, this airport was the first in the country to have an asphalt runway, as before this most of the airplanes used to land on runways made from grass.
More about the San Jose Costa Rica Airport
Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano is one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world and is a must-see in Costa Rica. Although viewing the cone is hit or miss, the entire area and its flora and fauna are well worth the trip. On a very clear day, you can see Arenal from within the Los Angeles Cloud Forest. In our opinion, the best place to experience to experience Arenal is from the Arenal Observatory Lodge where you can actually see enormous boulders tumbling down the hill and hear constant rumbling. On almost a daily basis, red-hot rocks crash down its steep slopes and volcanic rumbles produce huge ash columns above the crater. At night, you can see the red lava flow from the Observatory Lodge.
More about Arenal and La Fortuna Costa Rica
Costa Rica Artisans: Sarchi & Grecia
A key artisan town in Costa Rica, Sarchi is best known for the vibrant and pretty oxcarts that are handcrafted here and sold all over the country. Available for a reasonable price, these oxcarts are a must buy for any tourist. A national symbol of Costa Rica, the oxcart plays a key role in the country’s history, as they were used to transport coffee beans to nearby and faraway markets. Highly ornate, these oxcarts are elegantly craved and are usually painted with bright colors. The largest and oldest oxcart factory is also found in Sarchi. The Joaquin Chaverri Oxcart Factory was built in 1902, and is considered to be the birthplace of oxcart handicrafts in Costa Rica.
Also, widely found throughout town are dozens of wooden furniture and souvenir stores that sell everything from beautifully decorated bowls and trays to intricately carved wooden utensils, jewelry and masks. Elegant and stylish, a lot of wooden furniture is also available in Sarchi, from tables and chairs to dressers and desks. These items are usually meant for the local market, and often reflect Costa Rica’s diverse culture and traditions.
Besides the beautiful handicrafts, another reason to visit this charming town is for its unusual church that is painted pink and blue. Built in the 1950’s, this two-towered church sits on a hill overlooking the town. The above information is from www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cid=387.
Monteverde
Monteverde which means “Green Mountain” in Spanish is a small town in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica. The population of Monteverde is not high – currently at about 6,500 residents many of which speak good English so even if your Spanish is a bit rusty or non existent, you won’t have much trouble getting by.
What makes Monteverde an attractive vacation destination is nature. With its unique cloud canopy, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde in Spanish) is a paradise for nature lovers and avid photographers. It comes as no surprise that people who visited Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve rank it as one of the most beautifully stunning and breath taking nature reserves in the world.
Poas Volcano
47 miles and roughly an hour drive from the capitol of San Jose is the Poas Volcano. This is one of the most visited areas in Costa Rica, and the weekends here sees a lot of tourists who come to see the streaming, sulfurous lake in the center of one of the two explosion craters on Poas. Take the highway near the airport through Alajuelas, and continue driving. You will pass through Pilas, Poasito and then you just follow the signs until you get there. You will notice that the temperate begins to drop as you drive up the smooth paved road up to the Poas Volcano National Park.
The summit area of Poas Volcano is covered with ash and has little vegetation. Explosions still occur regularly, and the activity like the steam, is often caused by the interaction of the lava with the water. While the water in the lake may seem inviting, it is extremely acidic and can be as hot as 185 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is definitely not for swimming. There is mild activity occurring frequently, and 39 eruptions have been recorded since 1828. In 1989, high gaseous emissions caused the part to shut down temporarily, but usually the eruptions are of steam and muddy water, giving Poas the distinction of being the world"s biggest geyser. There is an animal that is unique as well. It is the Poas yellow-green squirrel, and it is only found here in the part. Aside from this 79 species of birds live here, like hummingbirds and the resplendent Quetzal.
Costa Rica Pacific Coast Beaches
Jaco - A laidback bustling town, Jaco is one of the most popular Costa Rican beaches. Located in the North of the Puntarenas province along the country’s central Pacific Coast less than 2 hours from San Jose, Jaco has the reputation of being a “party beach” with an excellent nightlife. However, the fun here is casual and relaxed, and the people here are nice and friendly. Catering mostly to a huge number of foreign tourists who want to enjoy a more tranquil lifestyle, Jaco has a nice clean beach that is especially popular in the summer.
Tamarindo - With its pristine beaches, crystal clear blue waters, superb natural surroundings, and near perfect weather, it is no wonder that Tamarindo is among the most popular vacation destinations in Costa Rica. A former fishing village in the northern regions of Guanacaste province on the North Pacific Coast, Tamarindo is the area’s most well developed tourist town with plenty of accommodations to suit every pocket. With much to enjoy & even more to do, this multi-cultural community is the ideal place to have some fun in the sun!
Manuel Antonio - Manuel Antonio is one of the most exclusive areas in Costa Rica, however budget hotels can be found. It started out as a tiny village that had a beautiful National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, next to it. As the park started to become more known more hotels started springing up. Because of Manuel Antonio’s size, or lack of size, hotels started building on the road to Manuel Antonio and many started taking advantage of the magnificent panoramic views. Soon very exclusive hotels arrived, thus bringing us to present day Manuel Antonio, however budget hotels can be found but most are found down near the beach. More expensive hotels have loftier, breezy perches and most offer off season rates. Many hilltop hotels may have steep steps; inquire. It can be a tough, hot walk back up the hill from the beach if you don’t want to wait for the bus, however this does run every half hour.
More about Jaco, Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio
Why our Rental House?
If you decide to enjoy our Costa Rica house rental, you’ll be ideally situated to enjoy the natural wonders of this beautiful country. Our rental rates are lower than most of the surrounding area and our location is close to the airport and serves as the perfect base to explore all that Costa Rica has to offer, such as zip lining, bird watching, horse back riding and the Los Angeles Cloud Forest.
Why Costa Rica?
Costa Rica, situated in Central America between Panama and Nicaragua, is a fabulous eco-tourism destination. Guests of our Costa Rica house rental can enjoy Costa Rica’s diverse landscape of cloud forests, rainforests, mountains, volcanoes, and beautiful coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Other helpful links about Costa Rica
Our Flipkey Rental Ad
We Love Costarica
More Costa Rica vacation rental homes
Costa Rica Wikipedia
Costa Rica Rental Car
Vacation Travel Information for Costa Rica
Costa Rica Forum
