Most people who arrive at Las Caletas show up unprepared. Not emotionally — they know the reason they're here. But logistically and mentally? That's where the failure happens. They spend the first two days fighting things they could have handled before they boarded the boat. Email crises that aren't crises. The anxiety of not knowing if their account is still open. A bill they forgot to pay. The panic of being unreachable.
Here's what actually needs to happen before you arrive, so day one can be what day one is supposed to be: the beginning, not a fire drill.
Logistics to handle before you leave
The pre-arrival checklist
- Set an out-of-office auto-reply on email covering 7–10 days. Be specific: "I'm unreachable until [date]. For urgent matters, contact [name] at [email]."
- Tell your close contacts you'll be unreachable and for exactly how long. Not vague. Specific dates.
- Download anything offline you might want — books, podcasts, music. Know that you probably won't use it, but the option removes a reason to feel trapped.
- Pay any bills or time-sensitive things due during your stay. Don't come home to late fees.
- Inform your bank you'll be in Costa Rica. Card blocks kill the vibe faster than anything else.
- Print your flight and boat itinerary. No phone means no screenshots. Paper is your backup.
What to bring
The packing list
- Physical book. Paper. Not an e-reader. The temptation to check email on a device is real.
- Journal and pen. People who don't journal usually discover they have things to write about here.
- Lightweight rain jacket. It rains here. A lot.
- Closed-toe shoes or hiking boots. The jungle doesn't care about your aesthetic.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent. The sun and mosquitoes are real.
- Any medications you take regularly. There's no pharmacy nearby. We have the basics, but bring what you need.
- Cash in colones or USD. ATMs aren't nearby. Have enough for tips, extras, or a souvenir.
- Small day bag for hikes. Your hands should be free.
What to leave behind
Laptops don't come. Neither do tablets, work SIM cards, or the idea that you'll "just check in once." That once never happens. You either bring a phone or you don't. There's no middle ground in a place with no signal.
Leave behind the belief that you need to be reachable at all times. You don't. The world will turn without you refreshing your email every six minutes. I know that's terrifying. That's the point.
The mental preparation
The logistics are easy. The mental part is where most people fail, usually before they even arrive. This is the work:
Shift 1: Accept the discomfort is the point
You're going to feel withdrawal. Your thumb will twitch. You'll reach for your phone at every meal. You'll wake up at 3am and feel the phantom vibration. That's not failure. That's the treatment working. It means there was something to treat. The discomfort is the cure, not the problem.
Shift 2: Let other people handle things
Give someone you trust permission to handle anything urgent. Then trust them. Not because they'll make perfect decisions, but because your constant availability isn't actually helping anyone. It's just feeding the illusion that you're indispensable. You're not. That's good news.
Shift 3: Don't try to "make the most of it"
The best way to prepare is to arrive with no agenda. The less you plan, the more you actually get. The people who come with a checklist of things to accomplish are always disappointed. The people who come ready to be bored find everything.
What happens when you arrive
The boat picks you up. The ride takes about 40 minutes depending on the water. I'll be there when you get to the dock. We'll walk you to your room — private room, private bathroom, nothing shared except meals and intention. You hand over your phone. Yes, physically hand it over. We keep it safe. We don't need it. You don't need it either.
First meal is with one of the families who host here — Elmer and his family, or Virginia, or Rafa, or Davit. They know the rhythm. They know what day-one guests need: good food, a place at the table, no awkward small talk about why you're here. By dinner, the urgency starts to wear off.
By day three, you've already changed.
When you're ready, we're here.
$85/night · 4-night minimum · Las Caletas, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
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