Welcome to Monte Azul

Artist in Residency Program

Address · Your residency will be at:*

Monte Azul Center for the Arts
Contiguo al Puente Chucuyo
Chimirol de Rivas
Pérez Zeledón, San José, Costa Rica

    *Standard street addresses are never used in Costa Rica. Locations are always given in reference to landmarks. Coordinates: 9°26’15.9″N 83°37’28.2″W, Waze or Google Maps

    Phone Number and Your Personal Contact

    Personal Contact: Carlos Rojas, Director
    Cell phone: +506 8703 4703

    Please use WhatsApp (note that most Costa Ricans use WhatsApp for calls and texts).

    Visit San José

    Our capital city is a gritty, bustling metropolis offering a large array of cultural attractions and activities. Click the link to our friend and colleague’s award-winning guide for the arts in the San José area at GAM Cultural.

    Artists are urged to explore the museums and other landmarks, and especially to visit our colleagues in the city, such as Abra and cero uno in the city center. We would be happy to make introductions for you.

    We welcome artists on Mondays 9:00am – 3:00pm
    Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate arrivals after 3:00 pm.

    Lodging on the way to and from Monte Azul

    We recommend budgeting one to three nights in the San José area upon arrival in Costa Rica. Of course, you can book a room at any hotel you choose. Monte Azul suggests the following accommodations.

    Hotel Presidente Approximately 145 km and 3:00 hours from Monte Azul. Special Monte Azul artist rate $85 + tax, breakfast included. Contact info@hotel-presidente.com, copy info@monteazul.art.  Please make reference to Monte Azul Special Rate of $85. Contemporary style, rooftop bar & restaurant (reservations recommended), airport shuttle. Walking distance to museums, restaurants, downtown attractions.

    AirBnb offers many options in a wide range of budgets. We recommend searching in Barrio Escalante and Barrio Los Yoses for their proximity to the city center’s museums and other attractions, as well as for its walkable neighborhood featuring a large selection of restaurants, bars, and shops.

    Santa Bárbara de Heredia Finca Rosa Blanca Organic Coffee Farm & Inn
    Approximately 170 km and 3:45 hours from Monte Azul Seasonal rates apply. Award-winning, luxury retreat only 20 mins from the airport. Pool, gourmet restaurant and organic coffee. Contact teri@fincarosablanca.com, copy info@monteazul.art

    Ground Transfer from Airport and San José

    Below, Monte Azul Center for the Arts offers suggestions for ground transportation to and from our location. We do not guarantee any of these services and only offer them as options that have been reviewed by previous resident artists.

    Just as you would at home, exercise judgment when using local transportation. Do not hire unlicensed drivers who may approach you offering “taxi” service, which you may encounter at transportation hubs, on busy streets, and outside of the airport. Use only marked and numbered red-colored taxis, orange taxis at the airport, or a prearranged private driver. Uber is the only ride- hailing service available in the San José area and your US account is valid here.

    Suggested options

    • Transportes Musoc from downtown San José to Pérez Zeledón
      • To make the transportation convenient for your flight arrival, please make your reservation directly with payment online to fit your itinerary.
      • Travel time to San Isidro/Pérez Zeledón is 3.5 hours, including a rest stop mid-wayA driver will greet you in San Isidro/Pérez Zeledón and drive you to the property (included)
    • Private Driver: You may choose to arrange for private door-to-door transportation if you wish, at your discretion.
      • Mayar +506 8585 9515 (WhatsApp). Mayar is a neighbor in our community and works full-time as a private taxi service. He has been quite reliable, is a great driver, and is fully insured. Artists also use his services to travel locally once at Monte Azul.
    • Interbus https://www.interbusonline.com/ This professional service offers many options and can transport you to any location throughout the country.
    • Car rentalAgencies are abundant in Costa Rica, and your preferred car rental vendor may provide service in San José and other locations. If you choose to drive yourself, Waze is an excellent option

    What to Pack

    Studio Supplies

    Monte Azul is pleased to provide a range of basic supplies, including aprons and latex gloves. Our policy on materials and techniques is straightforward: we welcome and encourage environmentally friendly options while avoiding wasteful practices. Due to our location, it is crucial to coordinate your
    requirements in advance directly with Juliana Valverde at info@monteazul.art to ensure a productive and fulfilling residency.

    Monte Azul offers essential materials for printmaking, sketching, and some painting. However, given our remote setting, please bring any specialized tools or materials you may need. Confirm the availability of required materials at least 30 days before your arrival to ensure your time at Monte Azul is as productive as possible.

    Personal items

    Since the weather is always spring-like, we recommend you bring comfortable yet durable clothing for studio work. We suggest wearing layers for the changing temperatures and conditions that occur throughout the day, including a light jacket or light fleece and extra socks. Bring clothing that will dry quickly considering the higher relative humidity. Washing is available at a fee of $20 per load.

    Sturdy walking shoes or sneakers are recommended for walking around Monte Azul. Hiking boots are wish to try local trails. Open-toe shoes should
    never be worn on the trails.

    While in San José, casual attire such as jeans, khakis, comfortable skirts, tee shirts and polo shirts, as opposed to shorts and tank tops are recommended, and if you are a foodie, dressier attire may be more appropriate in some restaurants. A collapsible umbrella can be handy.

    Monte Azul Center for the Arts provides our house-made natural soap and shampoo. You will want to bring sunscreen, insect repellent, lotion and any other personal items for comfort and convenience.

    Weather and Seasons

    Monte Azul Center for the Arts is located at an elevation of about 1,100 mts (3,600 ft). Daily High temperatures rarely exceed 28C (83F), lows rarely dip below 14C (57F).

    Rainy season is roughly between mid-April through November. Typically, you can expect warm, sunny mornings with clouds building mid-day, and afternoon downpours clearing afterwards or rain during the evening. The heaviest rains are usually expected in May and October. Occasional low
    pressure systems from the Caribbean (known locally as temporales) may bring cooler temperatures than normal, with two to three days of drizzly rains.

    Dry season is roughly between mid-December through April. Typically expect cool mornings, warm days, occasional rains. This is also the high season for tourism and travel may come at a premium in airfare and hotels.

    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are delivered to the communal area where you are welcome to enjoy your meal with other artists.

    We source ingredients from our immediate vicinity, from organic produce to free range proteins and locally raised trout. We try to accommodate for artists’ personal tastes but cannot guarantee adherence to strict dietary restrictions and allergies. Please consult with us prior to finalizing your residency at Monte Azul.

    Travel Insurance

    To cover any emergency medical care, or travel cancellations due to illness or injury, Monte Azul strongly urges every artist to purchase insurance.

    Payment of Fees

    Monte Azul policy requires payment in full to guarantee residency dates. We pass the savings on to our artists by encouraging deposit into a US bank account in California, or deposit to a Costa Rica bank account. Your invoice will contain the information. For convenience or other motives, we offer a secure credit card payment option. Please note that Monte Azul is a family-run business and cannot absorb the associated fees, which will be added to the transaction should the option be preferred.

    Please note that Monte Azul does not offer refunds. It is strongly advised to purchase travel insurance.

    Daily Life at Monte Azul

    Studios are open daily, with access 24 hours. These are shared facilities and occasionally may be reserved for sessions with a Master Printmaker or other events for a period of 4 hours at a time, which will be posted at the studio in advance. We appreciate your willingness to coordinate with other resident artists.

    Artists may choose to sketch or work in their lodging, private gardens, a secluded spot anywhere on the 100-acre property, or to explore the immediate area. We are happy to offer suggestions.

    As a retreat designed for an artist’s inspiration, Monte Azul Center for the Arts is a place where the pace is relaxed and emphasis is placed on personal attention, attracting independent artists who want time to focus on a particular project or organize their thoughts through reflective practice.

    Our residency program is intended to be an intimate experience with nature, and you can look forward to having the luxury of living in the moment. With the intimate scale and relaxed pace, you may find your perception of time seems to change during your stay.

    At Monte Azul, it is important to take the first few days (at least three) to slow down, to contemplate your new surroundings – to observe, to experience, to listen and to adapt to the slower pace and sounds of nature that the experience here provides. This is an important part of our process designed to offer you the most fulfilling and successful experience possible.

    Certain periods of the year may allow artists to enjoy the entire property as a private retreat. Many of the artists find that solitary and mindful walks along a trail or along the river are moments when they conceive their best ideas.

    The indulgence of taking time to intentionally take in your immediate surroundings when you first arrive can lead to new concepts and perhaps even resolve an issue that has been difficult to solve.

    We look forward to your arrival!

    FAQs

    Is there a local car rental agency if I decide to explore on my own?

    Rioja Rent A Car in San Isidro offers competitive rates and quality service at several points throughout the country.

    Is there WiFi?

    Yes, Monte Azul offers free WiFi at about 100Mbs upload and download.

    How far is the beach?

    Dominical is only about a one hour and 15-minute drive from MACA, and Uvita is just a little farther south. World-class Manuel Antonio is 90 minutes away.

    Are there wild animals on the property?

    Yes. Monte Azul is a nature preserve and is part of the largest forest in Central America, home to 5% of the planet’s bio diversity. Interactions with the natural habitat are a positive experience when exercising proper discretion and care.

    Monte Azul hosts an abundant variety of native birds, butterflies, wild orchids and a variety of unique insects.

    How about mosquitos?

    Mosquitos are usually encountered under the forest canopy; surprisingly very few are found in the garden areas and they are rarely found indoors.

    What is near Monte Azul?

    We are located in an area of interface between wilderness and rural zones. The village of Chimirol has a farmers’ market on Wednesday, at about a 10-minute walk. Our local eateries and shops deliver a diverse number of products from local fare, pizza, sushi, beer, spirits, wine, and sundry personal items. Canaán is about 2 miles up river and offers a restaurant bar, butterfly farm, café, bakery, and a family cheese farm you can visit. San Isidro is a thriving regional town with all the services, including banks, a large weekly farmers market, several coffee shops and restaurants, and a number of clinics and pharmacies.

    Is there public transportation nearby?

    The local bus line (San Isidro – San Gerardo) bus runs four times a day for about $1 and takes about one hour and 15 minutes each way between Monte Azul and San Isidro, or you can opt for a 20- minute taxi ride for about $15 to $20 each way.

    Is there a hospital or clinic nearby?

    San Isidro offers a full service public hospital as well as several excellent private clinics. Pharmacies are abundant in town and every pharmacy has a Doctor of pharmaceutical science on-site to offer advice on medicine. Locally the pharmacy in Rivas delivers for a modest fee.

    What is there to do in San José?

    We encourage our artists to enjoy the cultural experience that our lively capital city San José offers, from the museums, coffee houses, micro-breweries, and restaurants, to the local color of the pedestrian main street and the Central Market. The neighborhood known as Barrio Escalante offers lively restaurants, cafés and bars with many choices within walking distance. Ask your hotel for recommendations. La Sabana is our Central Park with many options for sports, and several restaurants and cafés nearby.

    Is there a guide for cultural activities and events?

    GAM Cultural is an internationally awarded calendar and guide for all of the events in the San José area, from galleries, to theater, music, and more.

    Is San José a safe place to visit?

    As in any urban environment in a developing economy, take the same precautions you would consider in any city. San José is not considered a dangerous place, however, it is not advisable to walk in the city center late at night. For evening transportation, always check with your hotel for official local transportation services.

    Does Monte Azul recommend a travel agency or itinerary for additional Costa Rica travel?

    If you prefer the help of a professional, we recommend Costa Rican Trails, which is highly rated and offers assistance with travel – both for those on a budget as well as luxury itineraries.