Los Chiles Overview

Tourism is still a novelty in Los Chiles, a town 101km north of Ciudad Quesada and 3km south of the Nicaraguan border. Its proximity to the border has shaped the town’s character in conspicuous ways; today, Nicaraguan immigrants makes up almost 40% of the town’s population. The town’s namesake dates back to its industrial heyday, when rubber extractors passed the time by telling each other chiles (jokes). Today, visitors pass through on their way to Nicaragua or to the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro .

Buses leave from the station 300m east of the northeast corner of the parque, behind Soda Pamela, for: San José (6hr.; 5:30am, 3:30pm; ¢4000); Ciudad Quesada (3hr.; 1 per hr. 5am-6pm; ¢3000); Upala (3hr.; 5am, 2pm, 4:30pm; ¢1500) via Caño Negro (1hr., ¢950). Boats go to and from San Carlos, Nicaragua (see To Nicaragua via Río San Juan). Taxis abound, but you should agree to a price ahead of time to avoid getting overcharged.

Orientation And Practical Information

A soccer field and parque central mark the center of Los Chiles, with a church on the eastern side of the parque. The immigration office is 125m west of the southwest corner of the parque, and the Río Frío is another 100m to the west.

Tours: Though there are no official tour companies in Los Chiles, several of the hotels in town offer information and arrange trips to Refugio Caño Negro and Nicaragua. Hotel Rancho Tulipán offers boat trips in Caño Negro (2 people US$70) and 2-day, 1-night tours of Nicaragua (9 people US$1900; includes boat ride, meals, hotel, and guide). Cabinas Jabirú can provide information and, though they do not organize trips, can help you find a tour (Caño Negro tours approx. US$80 per person) that suits your needs.
Banks: Banco Nacional (☎2471 2020), 50m east of the northeast corner of the parque, changes US$, euros, and traveler’s checks. Open M-F 8:30am-3:45pm. MC/V ATM. The storehouse next to the Hotel Tulipán, across from the immigration office, changes Costa Rican colónes into Nicaraguan córdobas and vice-versa. Open daily 7am-6pm.
Police: Police (☎2471 1183, emergencies 911), 400m east and 100m south of the southeast corner of the parque.
Pharmacy: Farmacia Todo (☎2471 1031), 200m east of the southeast corner of the parque. Open M-Th 8am-8pm, Sa 8am-7pm. MC/V.
Hospital: A 24hr. hospital (☎2471 2000), 500m south of the police station.
Telephones: Telephones at the bus station and the northeastern corner of the parque.
Internet Access: Available at Multi Servicios J&Q, on the north side of the parque. ¢600 per hr. Open daily 8:30am-noon and 2-8pm. You can also acess Internet in the lobby of Hotel Rancho Tulipán (☎2471 1414). ¢500 per hr. Open daily 6am-11pm. If the front door is locked, check the side door in the restaurant.
Post Office: The post office (☎2471 1061), is in front of the courthouse, 300m east of the northeast corner of the parque. Open M 8am-noon and 1:30-5:30pm, Tu-F 8am-noon and 1-5:30pm. Postal code: 4450.

Accommodations

Hotel Rancho Tulipán (}/fax 2471 1414), across from the immigration office. The cleanest, most comfortable rooms in town have A/C, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, hot-water baths, and comfy beds. Hospitable owner can answer any of your questions about Los Chiles. Singles US$30; doubles US$50; triples US$70. Breakfast included. MC/V.
Cabinas Jabirú (☎2471 1496 or 8898 6357), 2 blocks east and a block north of the northeast side of the parque. 12 suites with private hot-water baths, a TV room with a bed, and a bedroom with a queen bed. Rooms with A/C have a fridge and microwave. Breakfast US$4. Rooms for 1-3 ¢8000 per person, with A/C ¢10,000 per person.
Hotel Central (☎2471 1096), east of the south side of the parque. Dark, basic rooms with private cold-water baths. TV room where guests hang out. ¢2000 per person.
Hospedaje Los Chiles (☎2471 1262 or 8319 6954), south of the soccer field. Small rooms with fans and shared cold-water baths. ¢2000 per person.

Food And Nightlife

For those looking for supplies to cook their own meal, Supermercado Carranza is located on the west side of the soccer field. Open daily 6am-8pm. Palí, next to Banco Nacional, is a larger option. Open M-Th 8:30am-7pm, F-Sa 8:30am-7:30pm, Su 8:30am-3pm. ATM inside accepts MC/V.

Bar/Restaurante Sonia (☎2471 1140), 250m south of the police station on the top of the hill. Offers breakfast and lunch casados in a breezy dining area with Chinese-style wall decorations. Breakfast ¢1300-1700. Casados ¢1500-2000. Open M-F 6:30am-10pm, Sa 6am-3pm, Su 6am-1pm. AmEx/D/MC/V.
Restaurante El Parque (☎2471 1373). Though the in-house souvenir shop gives it a touristy feel, the location, large windows, and filling portions make it worth a visit. Breakfast pinto dishes ¢1000-1300. Entrees ¢1500-2500. Open daily 6am-10pm.
Restaurante Tulipán, in Hotel Tulipán. Serves surprisingly elegant European food despite the cabana -style decor. Its bar offers classy nightlife and attracts an amiable crowd. Casados ¢2500-3000. Entrees ¢2000-3000. Open daily 6am-10pm. AmEx/MC/V.
Soda Pamela (☎2471 1454), in front of the bus station. Serves as the de-facto fast food stop in town, serving tasty empanadas (¢350) and casados (¢1900-2300) to customers on bar stools. Breakfast ¢1500. Open M-Sa 6am-8pm, Su 6am-6pm.
Salon-Bar-Restaurante el Roble, next door to Hotel Los Chiles. The only bar-disco in town. DJ on Saturday nights. Beer ¢500. Open daily 11am-2:30am.