Hiring Drivers

If and when you hire a private taxi, car or van, make absolutely sure that you and the driver agree in advance on a price that includes gas and tolls and all other possible expenses, like, food for the driver and in some cases...lodging, if you want the driver to stay with you for your entire excursion. The drivers won't have to eat and stay at the same quality places you are staying. They will find their own food and lodging for a fraction of what you will pay to stay wherever you choose to stay. But this all needs to be discussed in advance so there are no surprises.

At the end of your trip the driver, even if it's the owner of the van or taxi, appreciates a gratuity. People usually leave between 10% and 20%. It's up to you and of course all depends on the quality of the service that was provided to you. You should be able to hire a driver for a full day for around $150-$160 including gas, tolls and food. But that's only the ball park. A "full day" is about six hours. If it goes longer than that, ask the driver if he is going to charge more for the extra time. Always clarify the prices...along the way. It can't hurt to stay on top of it.

Below are the names and contact info for two drivers I recommend. Alex Palma and Carlos Fernandez. You can either call them from the states and set up your excursions beforehand, or call them when you get there and be more spontaneous, leaving your options open till the last minute. 

1. Alex Palma- Alex knows practically every inch of Costa Rica. He knows all the great sights and can serve as your tour guide as well as your driver, interpreter and negotiator when you're ready to buy that VERY IMPORTANT MUST HAVE item. Before long, Alex will become part of your family...it's just the way the Ticos are in Costa Rica. Very friendly, lovely, helpful and nurturing people (unless they are at a soccer game...then they turn into crazy lunatics screaming in Spanish while jumping around wearing Costa Rican flags on their heads and red, white and blue paint on their faces!!!)

Of course mention my name when you contact Alex. He'll be extra specially nice if he knows "Didi sent you!" Alex speaks english very well and has a beautiful, air conditioned van. However, I sometimes get the feeling Costa Rican drivers don't like to use their air conditioners, so you need to stay on top of that issue.

Alex's Tours and Price List
All prices are roundtrip with pickup and drop off at your recovery retreat. Prices include gas and driver's expenses.

1. LA PAZ WATERFALLS: On this tour, we will see the City of Alajuela, Mango Park, then we will go to the Biggest coffee plantation of Central America name DOKA three generations, then we will go to see the biggest crater of the world POAS VOLCANO, and then to the final destination La Paz Waterfalls, where they will see birds, toucans, macaws, hummingbirds, monkeys the largest butterfly sanctuary of the world. This tour takes about 5 to 7 hours, depends on how long they stay seeing each places.

$160.00 ROUND TRIP.

2. RAIN FOREST: We will see the City Of San Jose and we will stop at the Market for souvenirs, National Theater, National Museum and them drive through the Braulio Carrillo National Park so they do the Aereal Tram where they get to go inside the Rain Forest.

$150.00 ROUND TRIP.

3. OROSI VALLEY: We will see the City Of San Jose and we will stop at the market for souvenirs, National Theater, National Museum, the Oldest City of Costa Rica Cartago, The ruins of Cartago, The biggest Cathedral of Central America Maria de Los Angeles, Orosi Valley with the oldest church of Central and South America, plus stopping a the Restaurante El Cafetal for lunch (Ron's favorite) then The Hydro electrical plant of Cartago. This tour is 5 to 7 hours.

$160.00 ROUND TRIP.

4. JACO BEACH: One full day at the Beach, including the Mountains of the Aguacate and the Crocodile River where they get to watch the Crocodiles and have lunch at Orotina, the best rotisserie chicken in C.R., or lunch at the Beach by the water.

$225.00 ROUND TRIP.

5. LOCAL  "AROUND TOWN" DRIVING/TOURING: $20.00 AN HOUR.

6. QUEPOS MANUEL ANTONIO: Includes the Jaco Beach Tour plus another hour driving on the Pacific Coast to the Magnificent Manuel Antonio National Park. (long driving day)

$260.00 ROUND TRIP.  

7. THREE DAY ADVENTURE : Includes waterfalls and horseback riding, plus they will see the Live and active volcano of CR. The Arenal Volcano with it's lava at night time, they need to stay over night so they do the HOT SPRINGS. This one is everybody's favorite, roads are great and beautiful views of mountains and cloud forest.

$200.00 PER DAY. ( INCLUDES DRIVER'S EXPENSES.)

8. TWO DAY ADVENTURE: VOLCAN ARENAL FORTUNA, HOT SPRINGS, WATERFALLS.

$200.00 PER DAY. (INCLUDES DRIVER'S EXPENSES.)

ALEX PALMA 011-506- 8846-6868
Website: www.elgallotours.com
Email: palmaelgallo@racsa.co.cr

2. Carlos Fernandez- Carlos's prices are slightly less than Alex's prices for the same tours mainly because Carlos has a regular car as opposed to Alex's large van which uses more gas and is therefore more expensive to operate. Carlos's price for "around the town" driving to malls, museums, local shopping, touring within the evirons of San Jose is $10 an hour as opposed to $20 an hour for Alex's large van.

Carlos Fernandez contact info...

phone numbers - (from outside Costa RIca dial 011-506-83-82-7044 or 011-506-83-48-6188
(when dialing from within Costa Rica you don't need to dial 011-506)

email addresses charlie1091crl@aol.com or carlosfernandezc2005@gmail.com

See Carlos's website for tour prices - http://www.medicalconciergecostarica.blogspot.com