Los Chiles is a border town in the north of Costa Rica.

Understand

It's pretty wealthy because of its geographic border situation. It's the most northern town and the only official border crossing east of lake Nicaragua between Plains of the North, Costa Rica and Rio San Juan Region in Nicaragua .

Get in

By bus

• San José, Central Valley - Los Chiles: 5:30 am, 3 pm, Terminal de San Carlos (2100 Colones, 5h)
• Ciudad Quesada every hour from the central bus terminal

By boat

• There are two boats from San Carlos, Nicaragua. One leaving San Carlos at 10:30 am and the other one at 4 pm.

Get around

Pretty small - walkable! The avenidas and calles are clearly marked and numbered. Getting lost should be pretty much impossible.

See

On the Riverbank of the Rio Frio you can sometimes see Howler Monkeys and different birds. There´s a great path that goes along the bank, heading north from the dock. You´ll see lots of locals fishing, which is a great way to spend a day.

If it´s a weekend, you can probably catch an afternoon mejenga (soccer match) in the Central Plaza.

Do

You can hop on a tour boat driving around on the Rio Frio watching birds and stuff like that. Most of these tours are actually organised from Fortuna.

Buy

Los Chiles has something San Carlos (the Nicaraguan town across the border) doesn't: a supermarket. That doesn't mean that you can't get anything in San Carlos but the choice is certainly limited. If you just can't live without certain things buy them here before heading into the Rio San Juan area.

Alcohol (well, rum) however is a lot cheaper in San Carlos than this side of the border

Eat

There are plenty of Sodas all over town.

• Soda Andrea (Donde Comer Es Un Placer), 100m oeste y 50m sur de la parada de buses (100m west and 50m south from the bus station), ☏ +506 2471-1107, +506 8705-6878. 7AM-10PM. Local, family-run business, with menu in English and Spanish.

Offers traditional foods of Costa Rica, specializing in rice, meat and fast foods. Totally natural, home-made fruit juices and smoothies. Well known throughout the community for their good service and good food. Ask for the owner, Andrea -- she´s a sweetheart. With plans for a small hotel next door. 1200 colones to 3300 colones ($2.20 to $6.80). 

Drink

If you are headed north and you like cacique this is your last chance, as it is virtually unavailable in Nicaragua. The immediate border area around the Rio San Juan also has a notably limited selection of European liquors. If you are on a budget, however, try sticking to Nicaraguan rum (Flor de Caña, also commonly sold in Costa Rica, but at much higher prices) once you're across the border: it's cheaper than most booze in Costa Rica and is world renowned for its quality.

Sleep

• Hotal Tulipan (10 000 - 12 000) right in front of Migration with Bar & Restaurant.
• Cabinas Jabiru (8 000 - 10 000 Colones) closer to the bus station (follow the signs)
• Small hostels on the southern side of the soccer field / central park for about 2 500 - 3000 Colones.

Go next

• Every hour there is a bus to Ciudad Quesada (2200 Colomes)
• at 11 am and 3 pm there is a direct bus to San Jose (cheaper then changing in Ciudad Quesada) (2 100 Colones)
• at 1:30 pm the boat leaves to San Carlos, Nicaragua. (5000 Colones ~ 9 US $)