Costa Rica Villas on the Quiet Nicoya Coast
What a Week Here Actually Costs
10 guests · 5 bedrooms · 7 nights at Playa Tambor in February at $3,060 a night
Villa rate
7 nights x $3,060
$21,420
Taxes
Costa Rica's 13% VAT is already in the nightly rate
Included
Fees
Booking fee, damage waiver, departure clean
$199
Chef
Private chef for three meals at about $300 a day. Housekeeping and laundry are included
$2,100
Staff gratuities
About $10 a bedroom a day for housekeeping, plus 15% to the chef
$665
Food & dining
Groceries $40 pp/day, 2 dinners out at about $60 pp with tax and service
$4,000
Transfers & getting around
Small-plane flights from San José to Tambor at about $115 each way, with pickup at the airstrip included
$2,300
The number the family pays
$3,068 per person · 43% above the villa rate
$30,684
The owner doesn't take a damage deposit at either house.
These are our costed estimates for a villa of this class, not a quote. Send us the brief and we'll cost your actual house.
Cost Your Own WeekSubject to Villa Type
Housekeeping: Included
Both houses have a housekeeper every day, and your laundry gets done too.
Chef Extra
The owner can arrange a chef. Locally a private chef runs about $300 a day for three meals, with the food on top.
Tips aren't in the rate. About $10 a bedroom a day for housekeeping and 15% to the chef is normal. Costa Rica's 13% VAT is already in the nightly rate. Restaurants add a 10% service charge to every bill by law.
Flights
Can You Get There From Where You Live?
Your Nearest Metro
Nonstop from Atlanta to San José on Delta, daily. About 4 hours 10 minutes.
One connection from Austin, via Houston or Dallas-Fort Worth. About 6 to 8 hours total. A Southwest nonstop starts in March.
One connection from Boston, via New York or Atlanta. About 7 to 9 hours total.
One connection from Calgary & Edmonton, via Toronto or Houston. About 10 to 13 hours total.
Nonstop from Charlotte to San José on American, daily. About 4 hours 25 minutes.
Nonstop from Chicago O'Hare to San José on United or American, in season. About 5 hours 15 minutes.
Nonstop from Dallas-Fort Worth to San José on American, daily. About 4 hours 10 minutes.
Nonstop from Denver to San José on United or Southwest, a few times a week in season. About 5 hours 15 minutes.
One connection from Detroit, via Atlanta or Houston. About 7 to 9 hours total.
Nonstop from Houston to San José on United from Bush, or Southwest from Hobby. About 3 hours 35 minutes.
One connection from Las Vegas & Salt Lake, via Los Angeles or Houston. About 8 to 11 hours total.
Nonstop from LAX to San José on Alaska or Delta, daily. About 5 hours 50 minutes.
Nonstop from Miami to San José on American, and from Ft Lauderdale on JetBlue, daily. About 3 hours.
One connection from Minneapolis, via Atlanta or Dallas-Fort Worth. About 7 to 9 hours total.
Nonstop from Montreal to San José on Air Canada, daily. About 6 hours.
Nonstop from Newark to San José on United, about twice a day. About 5 hours 25 minutes.
Nonstop from Orlando to San José on Southwest or Frontier, and from Tampa on Breeze twice a week. About 3 hours 20 minutes.
One connection from Philadelphia, via Charlotte or Miami. About 6 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours total.
One connection from Phoenix, via Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston. About 8 to 10 hours total.
One connection from San Diego & Orange County, via Los Angeles or Houston. About 8 to 10 hours total.
Nonstop from San Francisco to San José on United, overnight. About 6 hours 30 minutes.
One connection from Seattle & Portland, via Los Angeles or Houston. About 9 to 12 hours total.
Nonstop from Toronto to San José on Air Canada, daily, with Porter from December. About 5 hours 30 minutes.
One connection from Vancouver, via Toronto or Los Angeles. About 11 to 13 hours total.
Nonstop from Washington Dulles to San José on United, in season. About 5 hours.
San José (SJO) is the better airport for both houses. From there a small plane reaches Tambor in about 30 minutes, and the house picks you up at the airstrip. Liberia (LIR) has a few more winter nonstops but is 4 to 5 hours away by road.
What Governs the Arrival Day
The small plane from San José. Sansa flies to Tambor about four times a day at about $115 each way. Bags are limited to about 30 lb checked plus a 10 lb carry-on, so pack light.
By road from San José it takes 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours, including the ferry across the gulf. A van for 10 runs about $400 to $500. You don't need a 4x4 on the main road.
Schedules change. We check yours before anyone books.
Best For
- Groups of up to about 12 who want a quiet beach to themselves
- Families, with a calm, shallow bay to swim in at Playa Tambor
- Nature lovers, with monkeys in the trees and the Curú refuge nearby
- Day trips to the waterfalls at Montezuma and the surf at Santa Teresa
Not For
- Big groups, since our largest house has six bedrooms
- A short travel day, with a small plane or a ferry at the end
- Nightlife, since the nearest town is tiny
- September and October, the wettest months of the year
When to Go
Dry Season
December to April, with January and February the most reliable
Festive Window
Dec 20 to Jan 3, booked by the week
Green Season
May to November, about 15% less than February and wettest in September and October
Minimum Stay
7 nights over Christmas and New Year · 3 nights the rest of the year
Where to Stay in Costa Rica
Playa Tambor
Villa Amor del Mar has five bedrooms on the beach inside the gated Los Delfines golf community, right next to the Tambor airstrip. The bay in front is calm and shallow enough to swim. About $3,060 a night in February, or $1,350 for two bedrooms.
Tango Mar
Casa Oceano has six bedrooms on the open coast south of Tambor, with an infinity pool above about a kilometer of beach. About $3,400 a night in February, or $1,400 for two bedrooms.
Pairs Well With
Planning a Trip to Costa Rica?
Tell us the group and the dates. We'll come back with the houses that fit and what the week costs.
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