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Beachfront-rainforest tropical paradise retreat, Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula

your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Beachfront-rainforest tropical paradise retreat, Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula

On the beach, sun-loungers, beach towels
Exterior
Dining
On the beach, sun-loungers, beach towels
3 bedrooms, free WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 5106 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer
  • Outdoor space
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Bahia Drake, Puntarenas (province)
  • Osa Peninsula
    1 min walk
  • Playa Danta
    18 min walk
  • San Josecito Beach
    27 min walk
  • Drake Bay (DRK)
    186 min walk

Room options

Similar properties

About the area

Drake Bay

With a stay at this vacation home in Drake Bay, you'll be on the beach, within a 15-minute drive of Corcovado National Park and Osa Peninsula. .This beach vacation home is 4.1 mi (6.7 km) from Cocalito and 4.8 mi (7.7 km) from Drake Bay Beach.

What's nearby

  • Playa Danta - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Drake Bay Hiking Trailhead - 15 min drive - 7.8 km
  • Cocalito - 21 min drive - 6.7 km
  • Drake Bay Beach - 95 min drive - 7.7 km
  • Playa Colorada - 99 min drive - 7.8 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Restaurante Casa El Tortugo - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪La Choza - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Mar y Bosque - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪RestauranteDelicias Bahía Drake - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Roberto's Marisquería - ‬16 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Beachfront-rainforest tropical paradise retreat, Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula

This tropical retreat, Casa Claro del Bosque, is located in Las Caletas area of Drake Bay, away from the main town (~4 km) known as Agujitas. This home is located a few steps from pristine swimming beaches. Las Caletas area is magic and mystic, where miles of solitary pristine beaches and rainforest meet to make a delightful relaxing place to explore and live nature. This home suits those who want to reconnect with nature, adventure-minded, outdoors seekers, nature lovers, and those who look for a remote vacation spot, without crowded beaches and tourist. Once you are at casa Claro del Bosque you can hike in the rainforest, explore desert beaches, swim in clear rivers or simply relax in a solitary beach.

Casa Claro del Bosque has two floors and three bedrooms. The first floor has a bedroom with two twin beds, the main full bathroom, the dining room and living areas along with the kitchen. The kitchen is fully equipped; including a gas stove, refrigerator, coffee maker, blender, and cooking utensils. There is also an outside shower to rise from ocean water and corridors with hammocks and daybeds to relax and enjoy the surrounding forest. The second floor has two bedrooms with balconies with a view to the forest. There is a single and a double bed in each room; both rooms share a half bathroom. The house is open-ventilated which allows the ocean breeze to cool it, when there is no breeze, the ceiling fans will help to keep a cool temperature. But remember we are in the rainforest, which is humid by nature!!.

Just getting to Casa Claro del Bosque means the excitement of adventure. There are several ways to get to Casa Claro del Bosque, you can fly from San Jose to Palmar Sur, from Palmar Sur airport you need to take a 15 minutes taxi ride to Sierpe town. In Sierpe town you will take a taxi boat (colectivo) or hire a private boat to Drake bay. You will navigate through the Sierpe-Terraba mangrove forest, the largest mangrove forest in the Pacific coast of Central America. The boat will take you to one of the nearby landing beaches to Claro del Bosque where we will meet you. It is a wet-landing as there are not harbors, from the landing beach it will take about 10 min walk to the property.

You could also fly direct to Drake bay and then take a 15 minutes taxi ride to Agujitas town. From Agujitas you can take either a taxi or a boat. The taxi will take extra 30 min (4x4 only) from Agujitas town, however, coming by the road depends on weather conditions as there are some sections of the road that are in bad conditions. The taxi will drop you off at the end of the road, where we will meet you, and then you have to walk 5 minutes to the property. If you take the boat from Agujitas, The boat will take you to one of the nearby landing beaches to Claro del Bosque where we will meet you. It is a wet-landing , from the landing beach it will take about 10 min walk to the property.
You can also drive to Sierpe Town or Drake bay. There is also private shuttles that will drive you to Sierpe Town. Driving to Drake bay is long and challenging and requires a four wheel drive car.

The owners or a guest assistant, will be there to help with questions during your visit. We can help you to arrange tours as: Horseback riding, Canopy zip lines, river tubing, Whale and dolphin watching, visit Corcovado national park (Sirena or San Pedrillo National Park) and Caño Island for diving and snorkeling, or any of the other activities available locally in the area.
Make yourself comfortable in this vacation home, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. There's a private balcony or patio. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include a coffee/tea maker and a washing machine.
Pamper yourself with onsite massages or take in the view from a garden.
Guests will find features like internet access.

Property manager

Familia Riba de la Ossa

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach
  • Beach sunloungers
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Massages

Internet

  • Free Wi-Fi, with a speed of 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices)

Parking and transport

  • Car not required

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Stovetop
  • Oven
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Spices
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • Near the sea
  • In a rural location

Things to do

  • Swimming nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Ecotours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Unit size: 1140 sq ft (106 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 1:30 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 8:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is not required for transportation to and from this property

Beachfront-rainforest tropical paradise retreat, Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 24 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 24 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Emanuela T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Genuine experience in Baia Drake
Amazing experience in a unique place. The house is amazing, we saw wales from the beach, quite and very peacefull stay surrounded hy natura. The soda near by is easy to reach and offers very good food. Reccomended for those wanting a real wild atmosphere!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Jungle Immersion
Beautiful house steps away from pristine and unoccupied beaches, jungle path that goes on for miles teaming with monkeys and birds. This is remote. No true restaurants nearby, but the tent camp serves a delicious evening meal with a full bar and is about a 10 minute walk. Town is a 60-90 minute hike and has several restaurants and a very small grocery. The owners of this house are delightful, helpful, and provided excellent orientation to living openly in the jungle. You must love wildlife without fear, and be fit and active. This is an amazing adventure that is truly unique.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Derrek B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic Home and Location!
I can't say enough about this wonderful place. Prior to booking, we did quite a bit of homework, as we had never been to Costa Rica before. We really wanted a quiet out of the way place, with a/c and a pool. However, after reading the reviews for this place, we decided to give it a go in a home with open windows, no a/c, no pool. What an amazing experience. We and our children were delighted by all the incredible wildlife, plants, safe beach (with hardly any other people). The local soda is great, and there's another spot that serves ice cream. We had a wonderful walk to town one day. There is so much to experience. The hosts are extremely helpful and kind. Five stars!!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Toni I.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet and private perfect get away
Great clean home in private setting. Steps away from beach. Home was as described. You need a 4 wheel drive to get down the road to the house and there is a small fee for parking Small grocery is about 30 minutes away by car. Good idea to get groceries and fill gas tank in palmar Norte (2 1/2 hour drive) as that is the closest fuel and full grocery we found. Property owners live next door and available by WhatsApp. They promptly answered all questions we had. We had a fantastic experience staying at the property. The location is very remote which was what we were looking for. Definitely would book again.
Stayed 12 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Little slice of paradise
Great house. Cool jungle. Steps away from a perfect beach. Hosts were as friendly and helpful as possible, while still giving their guests ample space and privacy. Staying in this house was my favorite chapter in our Costa Rica adventure.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynsey L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Choice
My niece and I absolutely loved our stay! The location of the house was perfection, with a wonderful combination of rainforest and beach. The house itself was everything we wanted and more and was beautiful. Lucia was amazing to work with and took great care of us. She checked on us daily, helped with tours, and even brought us fresh fruit. She was lovely and made the stay even better.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nicole S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Osa oasis
Our experience could not have been better! The home is lovely, clean, and comfortable but also provides a full immersion experience in the rainforest at the beach. Though it is open air, we really had no trouble with bugs and the fans in the bedrooms keep you cool at night. We saw so much wildlife at the house and along the hiking trail. The swimming at the beach is the best in the area. The hosts are amazing and were so helpful and easy to communicate with. They set us up with some fantastic tours - river tubing the Rio Claro and El Trillo de la Danta were highlights of our whole trip to Costa Rica, not to mention Lucia sharing so much of her knowledge and amazing stories with us. The small community is warm and welcoming and the local soda was some of the best casado of the trip by far! Thank you Familia Riba - we will be back!!!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

collette f.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful Jungle retreat near an unspoiled beach
We really enjoyed our time at the familiar de riba de osa's home, tucked away in the jungle very close to an unspoiled private beach. Our hosts Pablo and Lucia were wonderful, helping us book tours, providing car service, and helping us navigate our way while exploring the osa peninsula. A great place to relax and be immersed in nature.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Glen A., Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness
The Ultimate Jungle House!
We'd have to say that this house exceeded our expectations in all respects. Although we did expect a jungle setting, but we did not expect there to be monkeys and toads occasionally visiting us in the house, which we enjoyed very much! The house is right on the beach, and although we've travelled in around 50 countries, we have to say that the beaches in this area are probably more beautiful than any others that we've seen around the globe. Lucia and Pablo are very experienced and gracious guests. They met us when we arrived, showed us everything that we could possibly need, and as both of them are retired biologists, they explained the jungle surroundings with a wealth of education, experience, and respect. We would highly recommend this place. Do not expect to see cars, stores, or people. If you are looking for a quiet tropical holiday in a true jungle setting, this is for you.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andrea B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Drake Bay
House was great, easy walk to beautiful beaches. Nature surrounding the home was stunning!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ines K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise
The house is perfect to get away from it all. It is in the most gorgeous location, right in the forest and steps from the beach. No civilization noise whatsoever, you’ll be woken by birds in the morning. The house is very spacious, light and open with plenty of outdoor space to enjoy the wildlife, including two hammocks. The owners were lovely and super helpful, providing excellent tips and helping us arrange tours. We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Quite an adventure
We had a wonderful stay at this property. Being totally immersed in the jungle was something new for us and it was so enjoyable for my children (12 and 7). This is not for those who do not enjoy nature up close and personal as the open air house occasionally had visitors from the jungle, which we found fascinating. The home is very remote so some planning beforehand is required for groceries and things you need as the walk to town, while incredibly beautiful is a serious trek with kids. It says it takes and hour but with my kids it took close to 2 hours to get to town. Now that is a two hour hike through the most beautiful place you've ever experienced, but it puts a damper on popping into town for a bottle of wine. (plan ahead). Our host was so kind and helpful. She answered all of our questions and made us feel at home.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sarah G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic
This is a beautiful home with wonderful hosts. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay!! Just be sure to get groceries on your way in.
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jessica d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise
This property is a hidden piece of paradise, tucked into the rain forest on the shore of a pristine private beach. It’s worth every effort it takes to get there! Lucia organized a taxi for us from the airport at Drake Bay and met us at the car to walk us to the property. The place was impeccably clean, open, and stocked with our basic needs. She helped to arrange our tour to Corcovado and checked in with us during our stay. We spent an entire day resting, lazing on the hammocks, napping, and swimming in the warm ocean. We had the beach entirely to ourselves and were visited by spider monkeys as the sun was setting. Make sure to give yourself time to just rest and enjoy the property! Take note that food resources are very limited. Thankfully there was one family restaurant with a small set menu and a tiny market within walking distance that provided all of our meals. The food and delicious aguas frescas were always made fresh and with the spirit of pura vida. You may want to grab some food from the grocery store coming in to make some meals at home for variety. We just got snacks but were grateful for the meals provided. I highly recommend that you adventure to this magical place!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Leivy B., United States

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Slice of Paradise
Our family had such an amazing experience at this property. We've traveled to the Osa many times but this was our first trip to Drake Bay. Lucia was an amazing host and made us feel right at home, her love for the animals and the Osa is apparent. Waking up in the jungle was so much fun and unlike anything we've previously done in CR. We had a couple of White Face Monkeys visit us on our first morning and they came right into the house (make sure to not leave anything out or they'll take it). We shared our shower w/ a couple of tiny crabs but it wasn't a big deal. The beach to the left of our house was splendid (we had it to ourselves our entire stay). If you love to hike then Drake Bay is for you. The hike into town is a little over an hour and consists of river crossings, hanging bridges and wildlife galore. Make sure to bring flashlights as it gets dark early and if you're out on the trail past 6:00pm it's pitch black. We will definitely be back but will pack a little lighter next time. We had a 50lb suite case with us which was not ideal as we opted to take the water taxi from Sierpe and had the "wet landing" followed by a short 10 minute hike to the property. Thank you Riba Family for sharing your home and country with us. We can't wait to come back!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark H., Switzerland

Liked: Cleanliness
unique nature experience
Staying at Lucia and Pablo's place was a truly unique experience for our family (3 kids aged 5-11). We absolutely loved being surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest and the ocean, feeling immersed in nature and seeing lots of animals, having a wonderful beach mostly to ourselves a few steps away -and in general living in a very different setting from what we are used to. Also it was fascinating to speak to the owners themselves about their life here. It may not be for everyone: Expect various insects and crabs in the house, monkey thieves (an adventure in itself!), all rooms open and a simple kitchen. For us this was a fantastic and memorable stay we'd like to repeat someday and we can recommend wholeheartedly to anyone who is looking for a unique nature adventure away from the crowds.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brian H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing location - Wonderful house
This property is paradise for nature lovers and Pablo is an amazing host. It is open air and you are IN the forest - with all its inhabitants and (sometimes very loud) sounds. It is not for people who need creature comforts. But if nature is your church - this is a place of worship.
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matthew S., Atlanta, GA USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Fell in love with this
First of all, I would love to take time to thank the family for sharing their property with us. We had such a raw, immersive experience during our stay. This house was perfect, equipped with tons and tons of hiking opportunities, a beautiful beach within seconds of the house (you can hear the waves crashing all day/night). This is an OPEN AIR HOUSE. That means no A/C. But honestly you don’t need it since you are covered by the natural, wonderful jungle. It gets nice and cool at night too. The family lives on the property and is always there to help with any questions. Their daughter has a same day laundry service incase your clothes are extra smelly. They were quick to help us book our snorkeling tour to Caño island as well as help us find a guide for Corcovad National Park. I absolutely, whole heartedly recommend this house to anyone looking for a real experience of Costa Rica. Thanks again to the family for hosting us and I, personally, hope to be back again! Pura Vida!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Laura C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise!
We loved every minute of our stay at this gorgeous, serene, tropical paradise! Lucia, Pablo, and their daughter Sofia are excellent hosts, meeting our boat at the nearby beach landing upon our arrival, always available to answer questions, arranging tours, securing taxis for grocery shopping and for our departure to the airport. This jungle home is beautiful, well-designed, artistic and comfortable. Short walk to a nearly secluded beach, perfect for daily swims. Walks on the trail located a short distance from the house, spotting monkeys, birds and wildlife tracks. We highly recommend this home for anyone seeking a tranquil setting to connect with nature, relax, and recharge. We look forward to a return visit!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Eric B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Three Monkeys
Three capuchin monkeys watching us put away the groceries. A plump toad sitting next to us as we watch a movie outside. Cute little land crabs scurrying about after the rain. The silhouette of a gecko backlit from the soft light of a paper lantern… If you are fascinated by nature and love the rainforest, this is your paradise. Pablo, Lucia, and their wonderful daughter Sophia were our hosts for eight magical adventure-packed days. They were fantastic about helping us with all the logistics, lining us up with the best tours, and answering all our questions. As conservation biologists who have lived in Drake Bay for decades, they are a wealth of information and fascinating to talk to. Lucia’s story about moving to Drake Bay is one you’ll have to hear! The home is so comfortable and open. It’s an excellent example of tropical architecture that fits perfectly with its environment. Pablo’s sister, a university professor of architecture, designed it and they built it with love you can still feel today. The kitchen is spacious and well equipped, the bathrooms large and open. There are two balconies on the second floor and three covered lounge areas outside. Hammocks in the shade and a freshwater shower outside make coming home from a busy day at the beach pure bliss! Pablo and Lucia’s postcard beach is less than a one-minute walk. It’s hard to imagine having a place so beautiful all to yourself. It has the feel of a beach on a billionaire’s private island. The only tourists we saw were hikers passing by. In the evenings, you might see a local couple or family going for a sunset walk. It really makes you think about what the ‘good life’ really is. Be sure to bring a mask and fins. The snorkeling off the pinnacle rocks in the center of the bay is stunning! This home is an adventure oasis in a paradise where the air is filled with the sounds of birds and the scent of tropical flowers. The rainforest is alive and the beaches are stunning. Diving, snorkeling, hiking, afternoon naps in a hammock, and watching the sunset will fill your days… and your heart with treasured memories. I sincerely hope you are fortunate enough to experience Casa Claro del Bosque! Eric & Julie
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kati B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Unique and welcoming
We immensely enjoyed our stay and hope very much to return. This is an immersive coastal jungle experience. It’s a beautiful house and a convenient location for excursions to Corcovado and Cano Island. But there is also plenty of wildlife and opportunity to explore locally, plus a great beach just steps away. While a certain amount of self-sufficiency and preparation is required, the hosts are exceptionally welcoming and kind. They live in a separate residence on the property and are always available. They are a wealth of knowledge having been in the area for a long time. We highly recommend this home for adventurous travelers.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jim W.

An amazing family vacation!
My wife and I, along with our two daughters, ages 14 and 17 stayed at this wonderful retreat for a week in early April, 2019. We are fairly fit and good hikers, but generally not into camping, but found this a delightful and relaxing stay. Lucia and Pablo are fixtures in the Osa peninsula, having lived there for more than 20 years and have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to make your stay as rich an experience as possible. It is rare that your guides, shopkeepers or waiters won't know Lucia and Pablo! Things to do: The two things you must do is to to get a guided tour of the Tapir Trail (Trillo de la Danta) nearby and a tour of Corcovado National Park (1.5 hour boat ride away). We saw an amazing variety of animals and learned about the history of the Osa Peninsula from our guides. Both areas are vastly different in their history and animals, so we recommend doing both! We also enjoyed a horse-back ride to Rio Clara, about 1 hour there and back with a break for swimming in the river. The walk into town (Agujitas) is a really enjoyable 1.5 hour walk and a good place to buy groceries later in your trip (we bought enough for a few days when we first come through town). You could also have Pablo and Lucia send someone to shop for you, but we enjoyed walking the bayside trail. The Scarlet Macaw Cafe (known as a "Soda") is a great place to eat local food and also makes good smoothies, so if you run out of groceries and don't want to get more, you'll still eat very well. The beach is a great place to relax, bring your snorkeling gear to see some of the tropical fish that congregate around the rocks off shore. The surf is rough and not good for small children. Also, Capuchin Monkeys could be found every evening at the point just south of the house eating mangos (which are still not ripe in early April). Things to be aware of: There are no screens, and so you will be sharing your house with the occasional flying ant or mosquito in the evening. You'll also have to pick up a crab or two and relocate them outside, but this is part of the charm of the place. This is a great place for folks who really want to experience the jungle, but probably not so good for people that want to wall off nature with glass windows and A/C! You do have to keep the kitchen clean if you don't want ants visiting. The Capuchin monkeys will also raid the kitchen if you leave food out, but Lucia and Pablo provide monkey-proof boxes to keep everything safe. Highly recommended!!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kristin H.

Awesome cultural experience!
We loved this home. It was open to the out doors, similar to many homes in the area. The wood finish and decore made us feel like we were living the life style of other Costa Ricans in this area. It was beautifuly hand crafted. Lucia and Palo helped us sign up for different activities, and were helpful in any way they could be. The house was perfectly positioned out of town, but close enough to enjoy Cano Island, Corcovado, and many other Drake Bay excursion. We will definitely recommend this beautiful home to all of our friends and family. Thank you for sharing your beautiful oasis!
Stayed 9 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Albert G.

Rainforest dream!
We stayed at this house for a week in December 2018, and what a treat! It was built and is owned by 2 conservation biologists (Pablo and Lucia) who live right nearby. Their love of the rainforest and the ocean, as well as an artistic sensibility, inspired the location and construction of this amazing house. It’s spacious and airy, and truly open to the outdoors, as there is no glass in any of the windows! That means that the sounds of the ocean and of the jungle are always with you. The kitchen is well-equipped, and Pablo and Lucia are happy to help out if you need anything. The house is very close to a swimming beach. This is one of those beautiful postcard tropical beaches, with coconut palms leaning out from the jungle. The beach feels like your own private secret, because there is hardly ever another soul there. One cool feature of this area is that there is a footpath that runs along the shore, partly in the trees and partly on the sand. This means that you can walk south, about 40 minutes to the Rio Claro and beyond to San Josecito Beach, or about 1 hour to the north to Agujitas, if you need to pick up some groceries. If you like wildlife, you’ll love this house, where you can see scarlet macaws, toucans and monkeys right from the house. Indeed, the capuchin monkeys are likely to pay you a visit to see if you have been careless and left any food out! Also nearby is a tiny family restaurant called the “Soda Lapa Roja” (Scarlet Macaw) that can serve you a delicious Costa Rican meal at any time of day, and with delicious “batidos” (fruitshakes). The location is also perfect for visiting the wildlife wonders of Corcovado Park and Cano Island. A guide, Gustavo, can also take you on a lovely wildlife hike and river swim in virgin rainforest just a mile away (Trillo de la Danta). Other possible activities include bioluminescent plankton night swims, floats down the Rio Claro, and ziplining. If you like fishing, Pablo and Lucia can hook you up with a local who’ll take you out. If you are cost-conscious, be aware that transport from the airport will cost you $100 round-trip, and that there is a $30/day surcharge at house for each guest above 2. So, what else can I say? The owners are lovely people; there is great wifi; the showers have hot water; and bottled drinking water is supplied. But basically, this is just a dream spot, and we miss it every day – Pura Vida!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2018