Pavones, Costa Rica

The quaint village of Pavones is situated on the remote southern Pacific coastal area of Costa Rica, near the border with Panama. The volcanic, jungle-lined beaches form points and bays that rise into the hills and mountains of the Conte-Burica Rainforest Reserve, home of the Guaymi Indians and one of the most richly biodiverse areas in Central America.

Pavones truly is a small, safe little town at the end of the road in the jungle. How small is Pavones? The town center is about one square block, built around the soccer field. There are two little markets, a hardware store, and seven restaurants in walking distance (and a few others a short drive away). There is one cantina on the beach (a great place to view surfing and the sunset). This is not a dance all night party town with clubs on every corner. What we do have is unspoiled nature, wildlife, and a long, rolling point break which makes for a perfect learning wave. If you want to party late and dance the night away every night, Jaco or Tamarindo beaches are for you.

Electricity was introduced only in 1997, and there are still more free roaming horses than public telephones... in fact phone lines in Pavones were only recently installed in 2008. With the introducion of phone lines, three internet cafes have popped up if you absolutely must remain connected. There are no ATM machines and most local businesses do not accept credit cards or traveler's checks, but United States Dollars and Costa Rican money called Colones are accepted everywhere in town. The super market in town can make cash advances on credit or debit cards for a small fee.

Whatdoes exist in Pavones is a tranquil lifestyle that exudes pura vida (pure life), tropical waters, beautiful sunsets, oodles of wildlife, miles of beaches, acres of jungle, and Central America's longest wave.