Ocean View/Ac 3 BR & Waterfall /Wi Fi/See Our Feedback Ojochal, Puntarenas Vacation Rental by Owner Listing 114883

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Location: Ojochal, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Central America (Located midway between Palmar Sur Airport and Dominical)

Accommodations:  Luxury Vacation Home, 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths (Sleeps 6-8)

PLEASE SEE OUR FEEDBACK FROM PRIOR GUESTS.

This fabulous, three-bedroom home is nestled on 6.14 acres in a private community in the coastal foothills of Playa Ventanas, just 18 miles south Playa Dominical and 1km north of the village of Ojochal on the beautiful four lane Costanera Sur highway. Entrance to property is gated. It has incredible views of the ocean, offshore rocky islets, the Terraba River delta and entire Osa Peninsula, and lush, jungle-covered mountains. At the botom of the property is a river with flowing stream, small waterfall and swimming hole.

This lovely layout is perfect for maximum appreciation of the beautiful natural environment on the South Pacific Zone, either for private contemplation or for entertaining friends. The estate is surrounded by banana trees and jungle wildlife, including howler and white-faced monkeys, toucans, parrots, sloths, lizards and butterflies. The grounds include a running river and primary old growth forest. Access is 1.5km from coastal highway on gravel road (5 minutes). Entrance to property is gated and access to house is from a 100 meter private road. 4WD ONLY vehicles should be rented.

The beautifully crafted, 2400-square-foot, furnished home features glass, wood, and stone with vaulted ceilings. The home, built in 2000, has 3.5 baths. The estate includes a 20' by 30' swimming pool that is newly tiled in 2008, with patio area and incredible jungle and white water ocean view over pristine rainforest on 6 acre estate. New for 2007 is a 15' x 18' covered rancho. Entire poolside concrete area redecked in stone. The master bedroom suite includes a king-size bed, private bath with double vanity, tub and a shower with porthole. Guest suites have private baths with showers. One room has a queen-size bed and the other guestroom has two twin beds. Each bedroom with individual wireless remote air conditioning. New 2007 bedding and towels are included.

This open-concept home has a living room with ceiling-to-floor windows overlooking the ocean and the jungle. Inside and outside furnishings added new in 2007. The fully equipped kitchen includes a snack bar and dining area. Right off of the kitchen are laundry facilities with washer and dryer.

The Costa Rican jungle is just steps from the door of this home. The Rio Media Luna bounds the estate and the river and running waterfalls and swimming holes are active year round and just a short 5 minute walk down the hill from the swimming pool. Safety hand lines have been added to mark the trail and steps down have been cut to provide for a safe and easy trip down the hill to the river. Travel down the mountainside by car to the nearby pristine beaches, including magnificent Playa Ventanas, renowned as one of the most beautiful beaches in southern Costa Rica. Enjoy the sunset poolside or experience the beauty of a Playa Ventanas sunset. Enjoy the many nearby activities, such as scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, sport fishing, mangrove tours, horseback riding, waterfalls, canopy tours, and much more.

This area of the southern pacific coast of Costa Rica is best described as a beautiful unspoiled natural area for unspoiled people. There are no beach clubs, no umbrella drinks served by waiters on the beach. Just uncrowded, unspoiled natural wonderment around every corner. No crowds, no tourist buses, no gated communities. Instead you will find an interesting mix of expatriates from all over western Europe, Canada and the USA mixing and working together with the local Ticos. Dining in nearby Ojochal is world class. Local restaurants Exotica, Citrus and La Paracela and others provide dining opportunities not available in other areas of Costa Rica.

Services include water from a community spring, electricity, 172 channel Sky TV with dvd library, and garbage collection. WI FI at the house. Skype phone on premises with USA based phone number with or without computer. Please bring your laptop. House is wireless throughout. Updated in 2009 with wireless alarm system. Although no guest has ever been burgled at Casa de Ventanas, we have taken this precaution for the safety of your expensive equipment during long day trips from the property. Our property managers live in the nearby village of Uvita and are there to assist you in insuring a wonderful vacation. Mid week maid service is included in every rental.

Ojochal is located approximately 4 to 4 1/2 hours south of San Jose via either the Pan American Highway or the coastal route through Atenas, Orotina and on to Jaco, then south to Quepos and Dominical. From San Jose via the Pan American Highway by car you travel south to San Isidro de General on the Pan American highway (3 hours), and then head west to Dominical (1 hour). From Dominical, it is less than 30 minutes. Given the rapid and ongoing improvement of the coastal highway, we now prefer the coastal route. By taking the coastal route you avoid the traffic of negotiating your way through San Jose. Since the international airport is north of San Jose, driving due west to the coast avoids delays getting through San Jose. An alternative to either route is to fly Nature Air or Sansa from San Jose to the air strip at Palmar Sur. From there it is a 20 minute drive to Casa de Ventanas. Solid Rent a Car can arrange to have a 4x4 ready for you upon arrival. 4x4 vehicles ONLY should be used due to road conditions in the area. Advance reservations would be required. 50% Deposit fee due upon confirmation of reservation. 50% Final deposit due 30 days prior to arrival. $300 US Security deposit fee payable at check in and refundable at check out if no damages. No pets. On site property manager for arrival-departure and information.

No refunds available 120 days or less prior to check-in date.
No credit will be issued for early departures, late arrivals, or no-shows.

Vacation Rental Features

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• Amenities
  • Air Conditioning: All 3 Bedrooms w/ wireless remote air conditioning
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Linens Provided: all new 600 thread count sheets and pillows. all new bed spreads, comforters, shams, etc. purchased new 2007. All new bathroom towels purchased new in USA in 2007
  • Covered Parking: covered breezeway for one auto
  • Off Street Parking: second parking spot near house and covered breezeway.
• Beds
  • King Bed
  • Queen Bed
  • Twin/Single Bed
  • Convertible Bed (2) : aerobed "raised" queen and twin. extremely comfortable and can be placed anywhere in the house.
• Entertainment
  • Cable/Satellite TV: Sky Sat TV with 172 channels
  • DVD
  • Video Library: Numerous dvd titles in the house.
  • Stereo System
  • Music Library: Stero receiver, polk audio speakers, ipod dock and bose 151 poolside speakers for inside/outside quality music. All purchased new 2007. Bring your ipod for music. Radio non existent. dvd player plays cd's and .mp3's.
  • Private Pool: 20' x 30' private pool with ocean view. completely tiled 2008. All new 7 piece outdoor pool furniture with 2 matching chaise lounges
• Kitchen
  • Full Kitchen: all new glasses, silverware and daily wear purchased 2007; completely outfitted 2008; restocked 2009
  • Cooking Utensils Provided: Full Spice Rack, knife block and full stemware and cookware
  • Refrigerator: large side by side refrigerator
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
• Outdoor Features
  • Gas/Electric BBQ Grill: new gas grill in 2009
  • Deck/Patio: large stone patio surrounding pool
  • Lanai: New in 2007 15'x 18' rancho constructed. entire pool and rancho area resurfaced with sandstone surfacing.
• View/Location
  • Ocean View: House sits at 500' above sea level. Dramatic Osa Peninsula and whitewater ocean view.
  • Mountain View: Lush primary rainforest view over 6 acre estate. Abundant wildlife including howler and white faced monkeys and toucans are regular visitors. short maintained trail down to small waterfall and swimming hole in river at bottom of property.
• Communications
  • Telephone: Skype telephone; USA based phone number
  • Free Long Distance: free calls outbound and inbound to USA and Canada
  • Broadband Internet
  • WiFi (Wireless Internet): Wireless Internet on premises. Bring your Laptop. Skype phone provides land line equivalent service. Cell phones will work in Uvita, Dominical and Palmar Sur, but not in Ojochal
• Other Amenities
  • Safe on site for valuables during stay. Wireless alarm system with auto style key fobs for operation. Provides complete security for valuables during day trips from house.
• Suitability
  • No Pets Allowed
  • Kid Friendly: House is family friendly.
  • Smoking Not Allowed
• Activities (on site and nearby)
  • Golf
  • Restaurants
  • Rafting
  • Kayaking
  • Swimming
  • Snorkeling/Diving
  • Surfing
  • Mountain Biking
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Horseback Riding
• Other Activities
  • Short 5 minute drive to house from coastal highway. House is 1.5km up from highway. Playa Ventanas is a short 7 minute drive from house. 4wd required for area roads. Canopy zip line touring, horseback riding to fabulous Nauyaca waterfalls within 30 minute drive at Dominical. See Photos for picture of fabulous Nauyaca Falls. Incredible Dominical surf break less than 30 minutes on coastal highway. Boogie boards at house for guest use.

Rate Details (In US Dollars)

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Personal Currency Assistant™

Dec 15 - March 31....................................... $1,800/week
Apr 1 - May 31 and Nov 1 to Dec 14...................... $1,600/week
Spring Break, Easter week,...............................$2,000/week
Christmas week, New Year's week.................. .......$2,000/week
June 1 through August 31.......................- ........$1,400/week
September 1 - October 31.................................$1,200/week
Check in time is 3 pm; check out time is 11 am. Flexible if bookings permit
$300 security deposit required with final payment.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

Owner's Profile

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• Owner's Profile
• All Photos (7)
• Guest Comments (23)
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Property Photos

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Guest Comments (23)

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• Guest Comments (23)
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• 08/25/09
  Positive Rating
  Paige Parker , San Antonio, Texas
  • Wow!!! My husband and I and our five children, ages 8 through 16, had a fantastic time staying at Casa De Ventanas August 6 - 13, 2009. The natural beauty of the rain forest surrounding the house was intoxicating. The first day our children took a walkie-talkie and plunged into the rain forest to find the nearest waterfall. What an adventure! My husband and I followed them twenty minutes later with the other walkie-talkie. What a sight! I think something grew out of every inch of soil. What a work-out! The pool in the backyard felt soooo good after all the hiking. We truly enjoyed dodging the waves and tiny crabs at the beaches Playa Ventanas and Playa Ballena (National Park). The sea caves at Playa Ventanas were fascinating. My favorite tour was the horseback ride to Nauyaca Waterfalls. The food and hospitality at Don Lulo's home was excellent. The kids were able to softly stroke a toucan inside a walk-in cage, and we saw two tamed Scarlet Macaws up close outside of the cage. We ate a delicious small, spiky fruit that I've never seen before. We climbed up the middle of a pounding waterfall with the help of a rope and our guide's steady hand. Then we took an exhilarating leap off a 12-foot high rock into the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. The horses were sure-footed, and a true joy to ride. The Osa Canopy (zipline) Tour was top-notch. Before long we were hanging upside down and wizzing through the tree tops. It was better than the rides at Sea World and Fiesta Texas combined! Nothing beats eating fresh caught tuna! The boys never caught so many ocean fish (37 each?). They fed a small village in addition to our family. Costa Rica was so very green and lush, everywhere we looked. The views of the Pacific Ocean were breathtaking. The people we met were very pleasant, friendly, and helpful. We all got an education learning new words. The trip was a great success! Thank you, Jay! Thank you, Joan! We never would have had this opportunity without you. Thank you for opening our eyes to the beauty of Costa Rica.
    
    Homeowner Response:
    I am so glad you guys had a great time Paige. Funny, but everyone's experience (including my own on each trip) is a little different, but so much the same. I hope the unspoiled mountains and sea remain that way for many, many years to come. Thanks for the wonderful comments. Jay
• 07/06/09
  Positive Rating
  Yves , NB, Canada
  • We have been to Costa Rica several times and this was our third year coming to Cinco Ventanas. We stayed at the Casa Ventanas for 25 days in June 2009 and absolutely loved it. This gorgeous villa is away from high tourist areas and set in an unspoiled part of Costa Rica. It is spacious, well appointed and has everything we could have needed for our stay. In fact, the photos do not render justice to your property. For us, it outshined by far many villas we have rented before. We want to thank Jay for sharing such a great place and for the easy communication. He really does care about our comfort. We were impressed by many other things. The ocean, jungle and mountain views from the pool deck are unbelievable. We kept our wildlife guide and binoculars out constantly and enjoyed bird watching, as well as viewing howler monkeys play nearby. Butterflies, humming birds, toucans, parrots are just some of the delights from the terrace. We were amazed how much wildlife there is around your villa. The early morning walks for watching birds and the jungle coming alive followed by a dip in the very private and topnotch pool were one other big part of it. Overall, this property makes a great spot just for swimming, sunbathing and gazing. It's simply Pura Vida! The local French bakery in Ojochal made the best bread we ever had in Costa Rica. The local wine and cheese shop and the groceries had unexpected gourmet food items and very good wine choices. It did contribute pretty well - along with the firefly shows and nature songs - to our magnificent evenings. Add to these beauties the kindness of everyone we met, including the lovely couple Joan and Mau. Their thoughtfulness and friendliness help create one of our most memorable vacations in Costa Rica. Please Jay thanks them for all they did. Let it suffice to say that we would definitively stay at Casa Ventanas again and strongly advise anyone that is thinking of coming to this beautiful part of Costa Rica to seriously consider this house as their base. Thank you again!
    
    Homeowner Response:
    Yves, thank you so much! I am glad you all had such a wonderful trip. I am constantly amazed by what the guests see that I have not seen in my prior trips! Jay
• 06/03/09
  Positive Rating
  Lorri Renaud , San Antonio Texas
  • For anyone wanting to visit Costa Rica, this vacation home is where you want to stay. The house is beautiful, the grounds and scenery are gorgeous. There is a waterfall within an easy hike that is really serene. The home owner and property manager are friendly and incredibly service oriented. Upon arrival, the property manager met us and showed us through the house. The gave us their contact number in case we had any questions. We did call them a them a couple times during our week stay since we had never been to the area, we needed a little help in directions etc., The property owner also called to check on us and provided his contact information. All in all, we felt so well taken care of. We recommend Costa Rica and this house to everyone.
• 04/01/09
  Positive Rating
  Steven Bailey , California
  • We had an incredible time at Casa de Ventanas! The house is great! We had plans to stay at a different house in the area and found that it did not live up to its description on VRBO… We found an internet café in Uvita and got back on to VRBO… we saw the listing and a quick call to Jay (the owner of Casa de Ventanas) and he got us in to this wonderful house last minute! Joan and Mau, the property managers were attentive and welcoming and really went the extra mile to help make our stay fabulous. The house itself is perfectly laid out for a group (we had 5 people) with the master set aside on its own wing and the other bedrooms also set off from the living room area to create a nice amount of privacy. The widows and screen doors were also and major plus… we spent every night with the doors open and the screens shut… falling asleep to the sounds of frogs and the jungle and awoken by the monkeys in the trees at dawn… perfect. The view and the pool and the cabaña and the waterfall and the hike and the BBQ and the monkeys and the toucans and the “everything else”, meant that there was some days we didn’t even leave the property… Very relaxing. When we did leave the house, the nearby beaches, snorkeling trips and restaurants were all great. We have been to Costa Rica many times, but this was our first trip to the Ojochal area and we simply fell in love with it!! We will be back! Many times, I imagine! Thank you, Jay, Joan and Mau!
    
    Homeowner Response:
    Glad it all worked out Steven. I hate to see anyone not enjoy the beautiful "Costa Ballena". We really do care about our guests, and all of these comments make the effort worthwhile. Pura Vida. Jay
• 03/22/09
  Positive Rating
  Rick & Michele ,
  • We had a wonderful week at Casa Ventanas. The home was very clean and well kept and the locals who cared for the place were very friendly and helpful. The owner, Jay, stayed in touch and offered useful answers to questions during our preparation for the visit. The view was fantastic from the home and it was nice and private. The waterfall described on the website was wonderful for the kids. They were able to play in water without getting fried in the sun. Absolutely a super vacation site!
• 03/13/09
  Positive Rating
  Murray & Pam Acton , saskatoon, sk
  • Hi Jay; Wanted to take this opportunity to add a few comments regarding our stay at the Uvita residence. We had a wonderful stay for sure. This was our sixth year of coming to the area. We have stayed at several different locations over the years, but your vaction home was the best! We had all the ammenities, including phone and wireless internet. The decor was beautifully done, and made for such a pleasant and luxurious stay. We enjoyed the pool each and every day as the weather was perfectly hot every single day. That was especially nice for us as we had left -40 and lots of snow! The area around Uvita is beautiful and has beaches that are truly amazing. It is hard to believe or describe the beauty until you actually experience it. The Costa Rican people are always helpful and kind. In the six years we have explored the area, we still haven't had enough time to do all we would like. Each year there is always something new opening up, or starting out along the coastal area. Thank you for your recommendations of where to eat and what to see. There was nothing we were disappointed with. We found cooking our meals at night on the bbq and star gazing was great fun. The constellations were not always easy for us to find as they are in different locations than we are used to - but part of the fun to try and discouver. Good thing we didn't have to navigate around the globe with our knowledge! The on-site property management people were excellent. We had great service and wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others. Thanks again Jay for all your help with facilitating a most enjoyable holiday. We expect we will be in touch soon. Cheers, Murray & Pam
    
    Homeowner Response:
    Thanks Murray! We're actually 1km north of Ojochal....so technically not Uvita. But who's counting! I am so glad you guys had a great time. I feel the same way you do each and every one of my trips down to the "Costa Ballena". Thanks for staying with us, and we look forward to your return trip. jay
• 02/25/09
  Positive Rating
  Joy & Murray , Regina, SK, Canada
  • We consider ourselves truly lucky to have spent eight great days at Casa de Ventanas in February. There were six of us (three couples) and after a fairly busy week of travelling around Costa Rica we were ready for some R & R and this was the perfect location. We felt that we could do as little or as much as we wanted. Just to spend the day at the house, watching birds and animals, listening to the howlers and the chicharras, sunning by the pool, swimming, reading or having a little siesta was a real treat. And those were the quiet days! We loved the walk from the house down to the waterfall and the swimming ponds. This is truly a very special spot. It is so quiet and peaceful. We had a picnic lunch and a refreshing swim there one day. It was a great way to cool off from the heat of the day, and we found some really neat frogs, and a sloth on the hike back up to the house. We also enjoyed walking up the road to the mountain top for the view out over the ocean. Now that is good exercise! There is so much to do in this area of Costa Rica that you can be fully occupied every day if you wish. The men went fishing one day with Aldea del Rio and caught enough mahimahis for three deliscious suppers. (And they did all the cooking, too) The women went horseback riding with Rancho La Merced, just north of Uvita. The first time we did the ride up to the waterfall, which we enjoyed so much that we went back another day to do an early morning ride on the incredibly beautiful Playa Hermosa. If you like riding we would really recommend the Playa ride as they have excellent horses and if you have experience you can take them for an exhilerating run on a beautiful deserted beach. And the beaches are not to be missed! We particularly liked Playa Ventanas and had way too much fun with the boogie boards and the surf. I think I still have sand in my ears. The Casa has all the amenities you need, and is so roomy and spacious that you can have as much privacy as you wish. We did visit a few of the recommended restaurants in the area and they did not disappoint. But I think that we more enjoyed cooking supper and eating in the rancho. It is hard to beat that ambience. The sky at night was brilliant with stars and so very clear. There is no light pollution here. Thank you Jay for your suggestions of what to do (the contact list on the phone is more than helpful)and for being so enthusiastic about this wonderful region in Costa Rica, and for providing so much info on your website and in advance. And Joan and Mau were there to ensure that you have no worries when you are at the house. We were so glad that we had picked this location and our only regret when we left was that we couldn't spend three or four more days.
    
    Homeowner Response:
    Sounds like a great trip Joy. Why do the guests always see and experience more than I do? Jay
• 01/21/09
  Positive Rating
  Don and Susan Clarkson , Waterdown Ontario Canada
  • Hi Jay: Point for feedback... - The satellite internet was a major plus. Being there over Christmas made us a bit homesick but relief was just an email or a phone call away (on Skype). - The place is laid out beautifully for both families and couples sharing, with each having a separate wing. It provided for lots of privacy and the three baths are a big plus. We loved the design and how the focus is on the pool and the view with all that glass. The outdoor gazebo is also a stroke of genius - we spent almost all of our time out there and never ate a meal inside even when it rained. - We loved the sound of all the wildlife especially early in the morning and at twilight when the monkeys were so vocal and the birds all chirping cheerily away. We saw howlers almost every day and toucans and parrots and a red-headed woodpecker and morpho butterflies by the dozen. - We loved the incredible quiet and remoteness of both the Casa and the surrounding countryside. Starry, starry nights were so enjoyable in an area so unaffected by pollution - Thanks for recommending Aldea Del Rio in Sierpe. We were able to set up a day trip with them to Osa and Corcovado. We had the exclusive use of a boat and guide for the day and had a remarkable hike in the jungle. The young Tico guide was extremely knowledgeable and his English excellent. - The restaurants were excellent and at least two were world class (Citrus and Exotica). We had a great time at Gringo Mike's Saturday evening pizza buffet. We also went often to Mike's (AKA Joe's, his son) for breakfast - amazing breakfast pizza and all kinds of fancy coffee's. And for New Year's Eve we went to a party at Ron y Adies in the village - fellow Canadian ex-pats. - The Saturday morning market at Uvita was a great place to get fresh fruit and vegetables and all kinds of home-baked treats. - We were pleasantly surprised by the selection of wines that Lucie had at her Licoria at the foot of the mountain (another Canadian, eh?) - we found a source of fish so fresh that it was just out of the boat next to Gringo Mikes. We often bought snapper and shrimp and brought it home for supper. The Trapp family lodge near San Jose Airport was a great little oasis in the dodgy area around the airport - Playa De Ventanas must be everybody's idea of where they would like to be if marooned on a tropical island. The caves were unique and the beach virtually empty most of the time. Jay, I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture...we're hooked on Costa Rica and this is due in no small way to the wonderful accommodation we received at Casa De Ventanas. A million thanks for providing us with so much useful information. We won't hesitate to pass on our exceptional enjoyment of the Casa to friends and family and wish you every success in your endeavours with it. Pura vida!
    
    Homeowner Response:
    Thanks for the kind words Don. I think you have a very unique perspective given a 4 week stay at the house. I am glad you guys had such a wonderful stay. Jay
• 10/20/08
  Positive Rating
  Dudley Oldham , Houston,Texas
  • Our bunch really enjoyed our stay at Casa Ventanas in mid-August! The property and house are perfect for three couples or a family group.The landscaping is very attractive and atracts a wide variety of wildlife We had regular visits of toucans,parrots,a wide variety of bird species and butterflies,together with a sloth and several howler monkeys.We were there at the early part of the wet season,so had rain showers every afternoon from about 4-6 pm.They always came at a perfect time for a nap before dinner. The beach is a short 10 minutes away and very attractive.We were surprised by the quality of the two European restaurants in "town"---excellent dining! We had a great time and plan to make a return visit!
• 09/02/08
  Positive Rating
  Bonnie & Jason , Palm Beach Gardens, FL
  • August 4-10, 2008 We were looking for a place to stay which would offer us isolation from the "tourist" sections and a chance to see an abundance of wildlife on our own time. We wanted to be off the beaten path and your home provided us with exactly what we wanted plus more. We loved coming home, after spending our days out, to the efreshing pool. The hike, from your place, to the waterfall was a lot of fun. We do recommend reading the book with information first...LOL. As we didn't, and on our first hike down we stopped at the fallen tree and thought we couldn't get to the waterfall. We soon discovered we should have gone around the fallen tree. Absolutely beautiful and peaceful!We enjoyed listening to the Howler monkeys each day and night. We were able to see them on your property. We saw them at the bottom of the driveway just hanging out and we saw them on the move through the trees around the property. Your Rancho was an excellent addition! We sat under it each morning just admiring the endless sounds of animals/insects and the water rushing down the creek. It is a great place to sit and bird watch too (numerous Tanagers, Finches, and Hummingbirds). We even moved the chairs to sit under the tree, by the Rancho, to admire the gorgeous Chestnut-Mandible Toucans and the Firey-Bellied Aracaris. On our way, back and forth to the house, we were able to see: the Morpho Butterfly (also at the house), Green Iguana (a huge one in the middle of the road), Coati Mundi (at the house as well - in the tree next to the Rancho), Road Side Hawk and the Oropendola Nests (hanging nests). We ventured through the "neighborhood" to go into town. That was quite a ride, especially getting to drive the 4X4 through the creek. We also had stopped at the top of the mountain at the "lookout point" - gorgeous view on a clear day. We also stopped in to see Naomi & Steve at their house(talk about another fabulous view)! We ate at the restaurants everyone else had seemed to had eaten at -Exotica, Citrus, Boca Coronado, La Fogata, La Mancha, Cafe Iguana, La Cusinga, Talapia Farm, and the Ceviche place before Playa Ventannas. We woud recommend them all. I do have to say, La Cusinga was an unforgettable experience. We really experienced eating in the Rainforest with a rainstorm (at no extra charge...LOL - the lightning was magnificent out over the ocean). The restaurant in the states, Rainforest Cafe, does no justice to what we experienced! Playa Ventannas was nice. We really liked going into the caves at low tide. We also went to Playa Tortuga (recommended by Naomi & Steve) around 2:30-3:00 pm twice. We saw six Scarlet Macaws one day and twelve the next time we went. The vibrant colors of the Macaws were extraordinary to see up close without having to use binoculars! We were that close! We couldn't have asked for a better experience! We felt as we were part of Costa Rica and not just a typical tourist. Thanks again...Pura Vida!
    
    Homeowner Response:
    Thanks Bonnie and Jason. Glad you guys had such a wonderful time. The southern zone is a perfect fit for guys like you. Your attitude is the one essential to a great trip to a still unspoiled natural area. Regards, Jay

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