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Voykit pocket guide · Costa Rica
Finca Sonador
Spend 2–3 days to join a host family, attend workshops and take a guided rainforest walk; longer stays need more time for community projects.
Finca Sonador (Longo Mai) is a community village in South Pacific Costa Rica offering eco‑tourism, farm stays and workshops. A short 2‑day visit covers a guided rainforest tour and a class; a 3‑day stay adds a farm activity and time with a host family.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season, check)
- Avoid
- May–Nov (rainy, check)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CRC
- Money
- Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₡6,000–8,000 excl. transport (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Kölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police/ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.; Guides: US$5–10 per person per tour.; Shuttle drivers: US$2–5.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local coffee (served at host family) | ₡500–800 |
| Meal (included in pension) | included |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SJO · Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Bus or shuttle about 2½–3 h to San José, then Tracopa bus to Longo Mai
Typical fares
- San José → Longo Mai (Tracopa bus)
- ≈₡7,000–9,000, 3½–4 h (check schedule)
- Shuttle from bus stop to village
- ≈₡2,500–3,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Take a Tracopa bus from San José (3½–4 h) to Longo Mai stop, then a 1‑mile gravel road; shuttle from stop costs ~2,000–3,000 CRC (2026 estimate). Walk or horse ride to nearby sites.
See and do
Known for
- eco‑tourism
- community farming
- rain‑forest tours
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiba tree and petroglyph site | Guided walk from village, about 30 min each way | ≈1 h total |
| Perica waterfall | Horse ride then 2‑hour hike | ≈4 h total |
Sleep
- Host family rooms
- Full pension, 6,000 CRC per day for long stays, 8,000 CRC for stays under 14 days
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaˈola |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwanˈto ˈkwes.ta |
| I would like a room | Quisiera una habitaciónkiˈsje.ra ˈu.na aβi.taˈθjon |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Buenas' and a handshake; cheek kiss among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting
- Conflict: Stay polite and indirect; avoid: Raised voices
- Time: Be on time for tours; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Nature: Stay on trails, keep quiet; avoid: Feeding animals
Scams and watch-outs
- No alcohol sold in the village; nearest bar 30 min walk
- Transport limited – shuttle may be unavailable outside peak hours
Generally safe; main risks are remote location and limited night transport – plan arrivals early.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Finca Sonador yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- eco‑tourism
- community farming
- rain‑forest tours
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Finca Sonador coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/QXXXX
- Wikivoyage: Finca Sonador, revision 4227357 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4227357
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Finca Sonador
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/ambulance911
US consulate in San José; other embassies in San José
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/finca-sonador). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.