Northwestern Costa Rica - Costa Rica - page 444

Mina Tours TOUR
( 2662-0753; www.minatours.com ; day trips from US$30; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri)
Behind the church, Mina Tours is a family-run tour outfit that can arrange transportation
and offers several gold-themed tours, including of the Ecomuseo and abandoned mines.
Sleeping & Eating
Cabinas y Restaurante Heliconias CABINA
( 2662-2260; www.cabinasheliconias.com ; s/d US$28/40; )
Set along the river, this leafy property has 12 freestanding cabins with high, beamed ceil-
ings, rustic wood furnishings and ceiling fans. It's the best sleep within walking distance of
the town center (it's set about 1km west of town). The attached restaurant serves a tasty,
smoky barbecue pork.
Pueblo Antiguo Lodge & Spa LODGE
( 2662-1913; www.puebloantiguo.com ; s/d US$52/65; )
This rustic getaway rests on the lip of a wooded ravine next to the Ecomuseo. Its 10
wooden lodge rooms aren't fancy but are very comfy, and there's a good chance wildlife
will appear on your doorstep. There's plenty of recreation and relaxation onsite, including
hot springs, spring-fed swimming pool, spa and nature trails. Staff arrange tours to the mu-
seum and gold mines.
Getting There & Away
The bus terminal is two blocks east of the main road, parallel to Parque Central. There are
no buses to the Ecomuseo, but a taxi will cost about US$8 one way.
Cañas/Liberia US$1/3, 45 minutes/two hours, depart at 5:30am
San José US$3, three hours, depart at 6:30am and 10:45am
Drivers should take the turnoff from the Interamericana, 27km south of Cañas (at the
gas station). Monteverde is 30km northeast of Las Juntas on a partially paved road; the last
12km are rough, though normally passable for regular cars in the dry season. From Juntas,