Your Casa Mismac writing retreat is not a beach vacation, nor in a bustling hotspot. Nightlife does not exist here. Casa Mismac is on a hilltop on a 37-acre private finca in the quiet area of Grifo Alto, Puriscal, Costa Rica.
Casa Mismac is 1 hour from the SJO airport and 1 hour to the Pacific coast where you’ll find miles-long beaches and touristy beach towns.
There are “supers” (corner stores) 2km in either direction from the house where you can buy snacks, essentials, and limited alcohol. The road is paved, fairly well travelled, yet safe to walk.
The larger town of Santiago de Puriscal is 8km (15 minutes drive) away. There are grocery stores, butcher shops, fresh fish shops, fresh fruit and vegetable markets, and bakeries. Friday evenings and Saturday mornings there is a local farmers market.
The town has a variety of banks and small shops. While US dollars are widely accepted in much of Costa Rica, they are rarely accepted in Puriscal. Local banks can be used to withdraw colones, the Costa Rican currency, using your Canadian or US bank card at decent exchange rates.
Buses are cheap and frequent if you’re adventurous and want to head to Puriscal or even to San Jose for the day. Taxis are available, though not cheap.
Weather and temperature
Casa Mismac is at an elevation of 1100 m (3600 feet), which keeps the temperature and humidity comfortable and eliminates the need for air conditioning.
Throughout the year, we’re treated to spectacular sunsets setting the sky on fire.
Dry Season - December to May
- Sunny every day.
- Daily high 25-35 C (77-95 F). The shade, breezes, and airflow in the house keep most areas comfortable.
- Night temperature around 18-20 C (65-68 F). The evenings and nights can be extremely windy.
Wet season - May to December
It’s going to rain most days. Mornings are usually sunny and the clouds roll in around noon with rain starting around 2pm. Sometimes it lasts an hour, sometimes all evening, sometimes all night.
Some days we get pummeled and rain drops the size of marbles bounce up a foot when they hit the deck tiles. The rain pours from the gutters and can fill a bucket in under 5 seconds. Other days the rain stops and starts as a soft mist for the whole afternoon, clouds filling the valleys all around the casa, then enveloping the house and eventually dissipating to reveal the lush green landscape.
Rainy season temperatures range from 20-30 C (68-86 F) during the day and 17-20 C (63-68 F) overnight.
