Questions on Sarchi
 

I will be traveling in the end of October to San Jose, Arenal, Manual Antonio & San Jose. I also would like to visit Sarchi to get some souvenouirs. Can someone tell me where it would fall in my traveling trip and how far it is from one of the cities I'm traveling to. Also what is the approx. price of the wooden bowls?

Sarchi is about an hour from Alajuela (the location of the airport). You could easily detour through Sarchi on your way to Arenal OR return to this area the day before your departure and do it then. So much depends on your flight times arriving and departing. You can work that out. In fact, you could even go by there when you transfer from Arenal to Manuel Antonio, but that is quite a long drive without any shopping detours!

One of the most beautiful wood types used (very hard and heavy) is rose wood. It makes absolutely gorgeous bowls. I priced a decorative one last year that was medium sized and $100. It was so beautiful, but I had already bought a leather chair and an oxcart, and my husband thought that was quite enough! I didn't see the same bowl this year. :( You can expect to pay a little less or a little more depending on size and degree of design. I've looked at larger, vase shaped wooden bowls that were in the $200 range.

Put Sarchí at the end of your trip. You don't want to have to wag around all your purchases throughout your travels. Save the shopping for the last day. Sarchí is one hour via public bus from Alajuela or San José. Travel 7 kilometers further up the road and say hello to me here in my beautiful home town of Grecia. We have an excellent new restaurant here, by the way - La Casa de Miguel. Worth the trip for lunch or dinner. Highly recommended!

Thanks for the restaurant rec, Barbarian. I LOVE Grecia and will be sure to look the restaurant up! Good suggestion regarding shopping at the end of a trip!

We LOVE Grecia and will certainly drop by. We are startin a house in January at Vista del Valle - will be in the area.

Oooh, I'm jealous! Neta (of La Finca Que Ama) told us about the couple from Vista del Valle who had bought adjoining property (to save it from unhealthy development) and were selling lots. I e-mailed them and they sent back a little information. What a wonderful area to be located, kim, keep us informed!