Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
It’s highly likely! We have protected the forest habitat of many animals including sloths. It’s not uncommon to be able to spot a two-toed or three-toed sloth onsite at Casitas Tenorio and in fact, Donald and his brother Anthony are both expert sloth spotters and we can almost guarantee to find a sloth for you! But please remember they are wild animals….
While some people are only able to stay one night- we recommend that you make a reservation for at least two nights to truly appreciate the local area and activities that are on offer at Casitas Tenorio and in the local area. Many of our guests stay up to three nights and we welcome longer term stays as well.
You can access Bijagua from direct public buses from San Jose, Upala and Liberia. You can see timetables online here:
Visit
Costa Rica bus timetable
Anywhere Costa Rica bus timetable
Our farm supports many species of birds and mammals. We have hummingbirds, toucans sloths, monkeys and kinkajous make regular visits to our extensive tropical gardens. We also have many farm animals including cows, and at times horses and pigs. We have two dogs called Derby and Dingly
You can spend days at Casitas Tenorio just bird watching, and the great thing is, you don’t need to leave your casita to do it! You can expect to spot Toucans, Aracaris, Tanagers, hummingbirds and Honeycreepers. We have had many bird watching groups and photographers visit Casitas Tenorio. In a word, the birding here is ‘spectacular’!
Please see our birdwatching page for further information.
Casitas Tenorio is located in a humid rainforest setting and we receive high rates of rainfall. We recommend that you pack closed shoes for hiking, long pants, insect repellent, rain jacket, travel umbrella, flashlight, hat and a camera. You can also pack some items to donate to the community. Click here for more information about our program ‘Pack for a Purpose’.
There are many activities available in the local area. Most people who come and stay will visit the Volcano Tenorio National park where the Rio Celeste river is located. We also highly recommend the night tour at Frog’s paradise.
We work with local bilingual guides. Going to the national park with a guide provides a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the flora and fauna of the area as well as meeting someone from our local community and gaining an insight into local customs and culture. You would also be engaging in responsible tourism and sporting local rural tourism. We work with several local guides and you can contact them directly to organise a tour.
We work with Marlon Calderon Brenes from Bijagua Rainforest Tours
Bijagua Rainforest Tours Facebook page
bijaguarainforest@gmail.com
Jorge Soto Obando
jorgenaturaltours@gmail.com
Casitas Tenorio is located in a humid topical environment. There are many bugs and insects that we share our environment with. We recommend that you bring bug spray and where long pants/sleeves at night time. All our rooms are screened. You do not need to worry about Malaria or Dengue when visiting our area.
We have a laundry service and will gladly wash and dry your clothes for a small fee. to cover the electricity/detergent costs.
The Fiestas Bijagua are held annually in April the fiestas raise money for the local community and include a traditional horse ride, hose competition, rodeos and other traditional events in central Bijagua. They are a great spectacle and insight into Costa Rican culture!
Unfortunately we are unable to accept pets at Casitas Tenorio. We simply have too many wild animals and farm animals onsite.
Wifi is available in the open air lounge and dining area, but not in the rooms. It’s perfect for switching off and truly unwinding, but just connected enough to keep in touch when it suits you.
Yes, you can buy rubber boots (and a machete!) in Bijagua at the hardware store. During the high season there might also be an option to rent boots at the national park entrance.
At Casitas Tenorio, you’re perfectly placed to visit Rio Celeste and the Volcano Tenorio National Parks – two of Costa Rica’s most beautiful sites. There’s so much to see and do around the farm and village itself – hiking, bird watching and horse riding – you can have the full Costa Rican experience right here. Let the local people, geography and wildlife treat you to a truly incredible stay. You’ll also be supporting a local rural tourism project. Take a look around the website to discover some of the many other reasons why you should come and stay with us!
Can you provide me with detailed driving instructions to Casitas Tenorio?
We are located on google maps and the WAZE app. Out Location page has lots of instructions.
You can download detailed PDF instructions here.
Casitas Tenorio B&B on Google Maps
Our exact location is: +10° 43′ 11.93″, -85° 2′ 31.92″
We are located about 10km from the entrance to the Volcano Tenorio National park where Rio Celeste is located. The travel time is about 35minutes in car, as the road is unpaved and bumpy in some parts. A vehicle with high wheel clearance is recommended.
The road from Bijagua to Casitas Tenorio is unpaved. At times it can be rough but a 4×4 is not needed, however a car with high wheel clearance is recommended.
Bijagua is located in the valley between Volcano Miravalles and Volcano Tenorio. The weather is influenced by the Caribbean and can quickly change. We experience over 4000mm of rainfall a year, you can’t have the rainforest without rain!
You can visit Casitas Tenorio year round! We do have a green season. The driest months are March and April and August through to October.
Yes! The ‘Green Season’ is a beautiful time to visit Casitas Tenorio. The gardens look so lush and there are fewer people visiting the national park and local village. We still have dry days in the rainy season.
We currently don’t offer a dinner service at Casitas Tenorio. We however have the menus of local restaurants and you can order takeaway to Casitas Tenorio and our local driver will deliver your meal to your casita!
We have received really positive feedback from guests about their experience at Casitas Tenorio. You can read some comments from previous guests here. You can also visit our page on TripAdvisor to read some comments of past guests at Casitas Tenorio. We were added to the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame this year for having received excellent reviews for five consecutive years.
Yes! We have accepted volunteers who have worked at Casitas Tenorio and in the local community. Do you have a particular skill or passion? Please contact us or visit our volunteering page to find our more information.
There are many ways in which you can give back to our local community. You may like to pack some supplies for the local schools or engage in volunteering. You can also eat in our local town and buy your supplies here, supporting other small businesses or make a donation to community groups or Casitas Tenorio.
Rural community tourism consists of planned touristic experiences which are integrated sustainably with the rural environment and developed by local citizen organizations for the benefit of the community.’ – ICT, UNDP and the Alliance for RCT, 2005.Click here for more information.
For us, rural tourism means integrating our B&B with our farm to provide guests with an opportunity to see and participate in rural Costa Rican life. It’s about making tourism part of the community, rather than creating new communities to cater to tourists. Click here for more information.
Bijagua is quintessentially Costa Rican – it’s not uncommon to see people using horses for transport through the town, and you can still buy a machete in the hardware store. As in any farming community, everyone in Bijagua relies on each other – we’re united by a great sense of pride in our community, and in the incredible forest that surrounds us. Bijagua is in a unique wildlife zone between Volcano Miravalles and Volcano Tenorio.
Bijagua has also been declared of being part of the ‘Water and Life’ (Agua y Paz) Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The reserve is comprised of eight core zones that are protected wildlife areas legally constituted and that are administered through the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC).
At Casitas Tenorio, we welcome all types of guests including guests with children. Our farm is a wonderful place for children to explore the outdoors and learn about nature and the tropical rainforest. Children can be involved in milking a cow, feeding the chickens and spotting wildlife. Our children also enjoy meeting and sharing time with children.
At Casitas Tenorio, we welcome all types of guests including guests with children. Our farm is a wonderful place for children to explore the outdoors and learn about nature and the tropical rainforest. Children can be involved in milking a cow, feeding the chickens and spotting wildlife. Our children also enjoy meeting and sharing time with children. Please let us know if you are coming as part of your honeymoon so that we can be prepared with chocolates and towel swans!
At Casitas Tenorio we do not discriminate based on race, religion or sexual orientation. We welcome all guests including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travellers.
We welcome all types of travellers at Casitas Tenorio and do not discriminate. We have one room which is built to standards for people with accessibility issues however it may be difficult to enjoy the full of extent of our gardens if you are mobility impaired. Please contact us in regards to your specific needs and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Casitas Tenorio is our home and business. We are Donald Varela Soto and Pip Kelly. We are a Costa Rican/Australian couple. We have two daughters. We’ve turned our commitment to sustainable living into a working farm and eco tourism venture.
We recommend that you book directly with us on our webpage. You will be assured that no commission is paid to large companies and you are supporting a small business in rural Costa Rica. It’s safe and secure to book directly with us and you can contact us at anytime about your reservation requirements.