We are planning on staying at AOL in mid August and are trying to avoid renting a car. Is it expensive for taxis to/ from la fortuna? i noticed that most of the activities depart from la fortuna and not AOL. Does the front desk generally help in booking transportation to and from the hotel for day trips?

Yes, they will help, and yes, it is expensive, about $20, I think, for a transfer. At that hotel, you REALLY need a vehicle and it is very easy to get yourselves around. No hazards at all in the area, excellent road (except the rough one from AOL to the highway)

YES, AOL is beautiful but you either need to have our own vehicle with good clearance or be prepared to pay dearly in transfers back and forth to Fortuna.

So we have decided to stay at (or attempt to stay at ) Silencio del Campo. Im assuming that it would be much easier to stay here without a vehicle (given its proximity to town) Only one problem, i cant get replies via email and their phone numbers dont work. what is the best way to reserve a room here? Thanks !

t, the phone numbers in Costa Rica have just undergone a change - that may be why your phone numbers aren't working.

I received this e-mail from a company in CR--perhaps it will help you make that call to El Silencio.



Dear Friends,

At 12:01am on 20 March 2008 - This Thursday; the entire country of Costa
Rica will change from 7 digit phone numbers to 8 digit phone numbers.
All land lines will have a 2 added before them and all cell phone lines
will have an 8 added before the number.

Land phone lines begin with 2,4,5,6,and 7

Cell phone lines begin with 3, 8, and 9.

OLD NUMBER will become NEW NUMBER:

2xxxxxx will become 2 + 2xxxxxx land phones

3xxxxxx will become 8 + 3xxxxxx cell phones

4xxxxxx will become 2 + 4xxxxxx land phones

5xxxxxx will become 2 + 5xxxxxx land phones

6xxxxxx will become 2 + 6xxxxxx land phones

7xxxxxx will become 2 + 7xxxxxx land phones

8xxxxxx will become 8 + 8xxxxxx cell phones

9xxxxxx will become 8 + 9xxxxxx cell phones

1xxxxxx will become 1xxxxxx + 0 DSL lines

Although the tours can pick you up, you are so far from town, I think that you will be happier if you drive into town to join the tours.

Otherwise, at the end of a tour, you face a long ride back to your hotel, and then must make the long trip back into town if there is something else you want to do.