Reviews for Ojochal Vacation Rental - VRBO 3025376ha - 3 BR Puntarenas Villa in Costa Rica, Ocean View/Ac in All 3 BR & Waterfall / 20% Discount!

From the Rocky Mountains to the Rainforest

Guest Go there!
Date of stay 04/13/13
Review Submitted 04/29/13

AMAZING!!!! This place is perfect when you want to find the road not so travelled. The house is perfect for a family or a group palace with great space! I rent a lot of VRBOs and travel extensively and this property has to be at the top of the list! Impeccably clean, KILLER kitchen, the towels, sheets, furniture super comfy. The description/photos do not come close to how wonderful this house and location are. The owner was upfront and honest with any questions I had and beyond helpful in making suggestions. Genuine in his concern that we enjoyed our stay as was the on site property manager. The house is a 10 minute drive off the main highway and the views of the ocean spectacular. Not to mention the monkeys and toucans and birds of every imaginable color. The landscaping was incredible and the pool big enough to actually swim in. Bring pool floats as you will spend a lot of time there! DO NOT miss the hike to the waterfall/swimming pools a short hike away from the house! The visitors center in Uvita is a great resource for activities : Sophia super helpful! Surfing? Find Gibran and company at the Bodhi surf place in Uvita.... Bodhisurfschool.com. Restaurants? Be adventurous and sniff out local. Eat ceviche. Look for signs "se vende pescado" and go back to the house and grill up the fresh catch. One complaint: the house was so nice, it was hard to leave to explore the OSA peninsula.... Bummer! Many thanks to Jay for sharing his place!!!!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Owner response: Thank you, Judy! I am always so pleased when our guests enjoy the Costa Ballena and Casa de Ventanas as much as we do. Saludos. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Going Back Someday, Come What May!

Guest robert h.
Date of stay 02/28/13
Review Submitted 05/04/13

Not so long ago - and all too long ago - we enjoyed too brief a stay at Casa Ventanas. We enthusiastically recommend booking with Jay to all who would plan excellence in a vacation rental experience on the Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. As evinced by the rich missives in review seen here, many have enjoyed thoroughly their sojourn at Casa Ventanas, in Ojochal, and environs near and far. In fact, the reviews themselves, more than descriptors of fine memories and experiences at the lovely home and grounds, are veritable micro-guides to a plethora of rich vacation opportunities there. Add to these the carefully thought out guidance, counsel and suggestions you'll receive from Jay on any and all matters, and you are good to go! Heed his counsel, too, for there is reason in all! Restaurants. All of the surprisingly outstanding best in Ojochal have been reported on in many reviews. I've no personal favorite, for each is a different experience, as are creme brulee and chocolate mousse. Sample all about which you have read praise, as they are excellent within their own rich, varied formats! We did revisit The Citris and Mamma e Pappa. Ylang Ylang serves only dinner, and that with a gorgeous venue! Costa Ricans. You will doubtlessly find these friendly "Ticos" to be as pleasant, gracious and hospitable as any folks found virtually anywhere. Exception: When behind the wheel of an automobile, especially in San Jose, its airport and environs, you'll experience a different creature. Watch out! In fact, when we return, we intend to fly into Liberia (LIR), avoiding the San Jose environs and its airport (SJO) altogether. More on Ticos. Greeted graciously and most pleasantly everywhere, we were especially impressed with the people associated with Nauyaca Waterfalls experience. All were superlatively professional, the Tico meals were wonderful, and a woman we took to be Don Lulos's wife could not have been more charmingly personable. In short, prepare to be your most gracious, relaxed self; you're going to encounter memorable grace. Finally, Jay was exceptionally accommodating, accepting my last minute plans and extending all counsel any would want in order best and quickly to prepare for a wonderful experience. As have many of you, I've enjoyed VBRO in the Caribbean on a few islands and in Europe in a few countries. Never have I been prepared nearly as well as by Jay. That was our first trip to Costa Rica: We'll be back; stay longer!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Owner response: Robert, I hope that "someday" is "someday soon!". Pura vida. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

1st Anniversary & 2nd Honeymoon

Guest AWB & SSB
Date of stay 02/20/13
Review Submitted 03/03/13

Our Visit to: Casa de Ventanas & Ojochal de Osa Outstanding food, incredible relaxation & awesome exotic birds pretty well sums up our stay at Casa de Ventanas. Our favorite local restaurants were Exotica & Citrus. Gilled garlic fish & ceviche at Restaurnate Boca Coronado our favorite for local color/great food. The sparkling clean pool at the house defines relaxation. The raucus sounds of 3 troops of howler monkeys kept us entertained throughout the day. While I realize that not everyone is interested in Neotropic birds; the following is a short list of spectacular birds seen mostly from poolside: Chestnut-mandibled toucan, Fiery-billed aracari, Long-billed hermit (hummingbird), Brown-hooded parrot, Double-toothed kite, Pale-billed woodpecker, Cocoa woodcreep[er, Rouous mourner, Great kiskadee, Scaly-breasted wren, Bananaquit, Cheerie's tanager, Golden-hooder tanager, Baltimore oriole, & Buff-throated salator. Drive from San Jose to Casa de Ventanas takes 5-6.5 hours. We got a late start and arrived at rendezvous shot after dark - thank goodness faithful Keith was still there to greet us! We were rewarded for our delay whenwe saw a large puma run directly in frount of our SUV just 200 yards before the gated entrance to Casa de Ventanas - an extremely rare sighting by any standards.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Owner response: Thanks Stewart. Although Exotica and Citrus being incredible dining experiences does not surprise me, nor does the plethora of birds come as a shocker, I must admit the puma story does! They are rare even in the Osa. That is incredible that you saw it on the Cinco Ventanas road right below the house. That is a real statement to the ecology. You guys were really lucky! Now as for the drive, I can't figure that one out! Ever since the Caldera Tollway and the Coastal Highway were both completed, the drive is almost always a 3.5-4 hour trip. But, I guess with Costa Rica anything is possible! Saludos, Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Handsome Vacation Villa

Guest Nibur
Date of stay 02/12/13
Review Submitted 02/24/13

This good looking villa in Ojochal was a treat for us. It is well designed with easy access to the outdoors from inside, it overlooks the Pacific from on high, it has a lovely and good sized swimming pool with ample shade, a well equipped kitchen and bathrooms, and beautiful landscaping. We found the written description of the house to conform well to what we found on site. The house was clean and well maintained. We also found that cicadas love illumination! After our first evening outing when we left security lights on and returned to the house, we were bombarded by cicadas. On subsequent evening trips, the lights were left off and we also kept our vehicle windows closed until we reached a lower altitude. Our one quibble is with the driveway leading to the house. The owner, quite rightly indicates the necessity of a four wheel drive vehicle, but the road bed is deteriorating, now comprised of loose rocks making driving on it a bit of a challenge. It requires improvement before it gets truly hazardous. We found our passage from the house to the roadway somewhat anxiety-provoking, given tire slippage on loose rocks.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children.

Owner response: Safety has been and always will be my primary concern at Casa de Ventanas. I was at the house in January 2013 and return next month in March 2013. To be honest, we have never received a feedback of concern over the condition of the driveway. I will certainly have a look next month! Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

A great week in a beautiful place!

Guest Santa Feans
Date of stay 02/03/13
Review Submitted 02/23/13

Beautiful place! We loved the location, which is remote enough to hear only the jungle noises and see a huge variety of birds, but close enough to town that you don't feel like you spend half your trip driving. The air conditioning in the bedrooms worked very well (and, as an American anyway, was truly needed in Costa Rica), the kitchen is perfect, and the house looked exactly like it did in the listing photos. The pool is truly beautiful: immaculate and obviously very well-maintained. The property manager gave good tips as to where to book activities. We also especially appreciated the full stock of towels and the washer/dryer. The Wifi was just as fast as what we have at home, and we also enjoyed the stock of Costa Rica guidebooks provided. While in the Ojochal area, we highly recommend eating at Citrus, Exotica and Ylang Ylang. Skip the Roadhouse... you can get significantly better American food in America. While our stay was awesome, there were a couple of small "dings" in our experience. We learned two days in that the house had no reserve supply of toilet paper. An exhaustive search of every closet by four adults yielded nothing. Dwight (the property manager) was apologetic and stated that was an oversight. Also, we didn't find the binder with all the logistical information such as how to operate the telephone system, etc. until our last day. It was under the coffee table! It would have been helpful to have it placed in an obvious location so we could have used it during our stay. Thanks for an excellent week! We highly recommend your property!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Cyrus, glad your family enjoyed the stay! We try to make sure that the house has a full supply of starters, but sometimes I guess different supplies run out! I am Glad Dwight was responsive to you all. As to the logistical information, we'll leave it on top of the table instead of below! Pura Vida, Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Perfect location and layout!

Guest Linda Wallace
Date of stay 01/19/13
Review Submitted 02/23/13

We love to stay in different area of Costa Rica. Unfortunately, we just can't help ourselves. Every trip has to include a week at Casa de Ventanas. The location is perfect. It is an easy drive (and I do not say this lightly in Costa Rica!) to activities and parks on the west coast. If you are wondering where the really terrific restaurants are in Costa Rica-- Ojochal, just down the road. Citrus is outstanding. Don't miss the passion fruit sorbet concoction at Exotica for dessert. There are fishing tours, multiple excellent canopy tours, fab beaches, a wonderful horseback/waterfall tour, nature preserves, eco-tours, surfing, and much more. Every morning we got up early so as not to miss what were often dozens of toucans in the trees around the rancho. Every evening we swim in the pool overlooking the ocean. Howler monkeys are all over the area. Down by the property waterfall, our guests watched coatimundi playing. We have taken friends the last two trips and they have also vowed to return. The beautiful casa is perfect for families and couples. The master bedroom is on one side of the house and 2 additional bedrooms on the other end. Every bedroom has an en suite bath. Everything you need to grill your fresh caught fish or make tall frozen drinks is on hand. The grocery is close by. We stayed in other casas in the area before finding this one. Before you select a place, ask about the drive up the mountains. This casa is only a few minutes drive, you do not have to ford any streams in your vehicle to get there (often the case) and the roads are well kept and wider than many -- allowing two way traffic. Management is great and it is nice to have free skype and internet if you need it to touch base with home. You'll definitely want a mountain view and breezes. Casas on the beach can get quite hot. If you are looking for a resort with lots of crowds and chain restaurants, this place is not for you! This is a fantastic casa in the middle of all the nature and people the make Costa Rica so incredible!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Linda, you DO know the area very well! It is really great to have others appreciate the details that we put into the house. It is a beautiful area to be sure, but having the comforts of USA standards is not easy! Thanks for coming back to see us and sending your friends as well! Saludos, Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Beautiful place with awesome views

Guest Ken
Date of stay 12/24/12
Review Submitted 01/07/13

We stayed at Casa de Ventanas for Christmas 2012 with my family. What a wonderful house and location. Views were absolutely breathtaking!! The owner Jay was very helpful in recommending places to dine and activities during the day. We will be back again soon!!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thanks for taking the time to respond Ken! Hope to see you back again. Pura Vida. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Adventures, Relaxation and Heaven

Guest Jeff
Date of stay 03/31/12
Review Submitted 05/27/12

Our family rented this beautiful home in Costa Rica for our week long vacation. When we arrived we were immediately enchanted. My children exclaimed, "This is so much nicer than our house!" The living room overlooks a perfectly sized pool. When we swam in the afternoons the toucans watched over us perched in trees nearby. The bedrooms were so comfortable and with 3 1/2 bathrooms, my daughter was in heaven. The house is in a great location close to all our adventures from horseback riding to the Nauyaca Waterfall, ziplining in the Osa Canopy, surfing and kayaking. The perfect ending to these adventures was coming back to this beautiful home and relaxing poolside. The restaurants nearby are delicious and international in flavor. It is one of our favorite places. The owners take great pride and are so helpful in answering any question. We hope to return soon. Thank you.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thanks Jeff. Glad you guys had such a wonderful trip. The restaurants just keep getting better. Getting harder to cook poolside! Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Casa de Ventanas

Guest 2Cold up North
Date of stay 01/02/12
Review Submitted 01/14/12

We spent 1 week at Casa de Ventanas. The pictures don't do it justice!! We had a fabulous time, it is so beautiful and relaxing there. Very private, yet close to main hwy.. awesome views...jungle and ocean.. and all the amenities you could ever need...top of the line kitchen, etc. We had visits daily from the monkeys and toucans. There is a nice book at the house giving details of the house and surrounding area which is most helpful. There were 5 of us and the house is very spacious, we never felt cramped or crowded. The pool was so refreshing to lounge in and watch the wildlife above us! We did not want to leave and would most definitely stay here again if given the chance!!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thank you Jeanette. I am so glad you guys had a great trip. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Family Adventure/GetAway

Guest Marc and Kelly
Date of stay 08/07/11
Review Submitted 10/21/11

We had an amazing time at Casa De Ventanas! It was the icing on our cake, for our month-long Costa Rican trip. We travelled from Wisconsin and did all of our booking for places to stay online. So we were taking a chance travelling with our three young children...but this place was just as it was depicted, even better! We were ready to relax the last part of our vacation and this place delivered! The property was large enough and very well kept. Our kids loved their rooms and each had their own bathroom. I loved the washer and dryer (after a week on the beach prior to arriving!) Jay was extremely helpful, as were Joan and Mau in ensuring our experience on this coast was a great one. Like mentioned above, we took advantage of relaxing in the pool daily, but we were also able to plan day trips that got us out and about. Horseback riding, zip lining in Dominical, whale watching were enjoyed by all! We were even able to do some beach time before the rains came, and also enjoyed hiking in the forest just behind the property and swimming in the natural swimming hole. Toucans were in abundance (we must have a million pictures!), and the howler monkeys were out and about near us as well. The kids we in awe....well, so were we! The house had amazing amenities and we were able to enjoy a beautiful kitchen for cooking meals at home and grilling out. An added bonus to this place, all the incredible restaurants in Ojochal! Wow! And we thought we had some great places in Madison....these places were incredible! Mama e Papas, Exotica, Adelante, Ylang Yiang (FABULOUS Indonesian meal--our favorite!!), etc. These places were truly gems hidden off a humble dirt road. Definitely recommend to friends and family. Hope to make it back ourselves again too!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thanks Marc. Glad you guys enjoyed your stay. I tell everyone to bring a good camera and binoculars! It's amazing for kids of all ages. I never tire of it myself. Pura Vida, Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

2011 Family Vacation

Guest Fraire Family
Date of stay 07/21/11
Review Submitted 08/01/11

We spent 6 days down in Costa Rica in this awesome getaway home. This is diffinetly a place to forget all about the daily grind. The vacation was fabulous our family enjoyed all the events we attended, Horseback ride to the waterfall, Whale watching and snorkeling, ATV jungle tour, Beach, beach and more beach. This is a must do with any and all family members we traveled with our 4 year old and a 18 y.o, to our pleasant surprise no complaints, no a peep:-)). The house is lay out is wonderful the swimming is a plus. Jay's you and your family have a great place thank you for sharing, Local host Joan and Mau will make your trip smooth, Thanks You All Fraire Family July 2011

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Leaving is so hard!

Guest Robin
Date of stay 02/14/11
Review Submitted 02/27/11

This morning I didn't sit in the shade of the villa with a cup of coffee watching the activities of the large variety of multi-coloured birds, nor take in the relaxing sounds of the jungle..... the twittering of the birds, the distant and sometimes not so distant honking/roar of the Howler Monkeys nor watch in amazement as several Blue Morpho butterflies did their dip and weave up the driveway like an organic electric blue mirror (no photo can truly capture it!), nor take in the relaxing variety of greens of the huge variety of trees of the jungle, and the colours of the tropical blooms, not gaze at the view of the mouth of the Rio Terraba and the sweeping curve of the coast to the distant hills of the Osa Peninsula........... woe is me! Thanks, Jay, for sharing your lovely villa with us. We've been to the area several times and this was one of our most enjoyable trips, enabled largely by the comfort, facilities, and location of Casa de Ventanas. Cinco Ventanas Road is perfect for us..... not too far up the hill, not too far from Uvita with its banks and grocery stores, and close to Ojochal with its wonderful selection of places to eat and drink. Others have mentioned several of these places, I'd like to do a plug for one more...... Adelante.... with its funky little jungle treehouse bar and good food. Run by fun loving Estonians (I kid you not!) and on the main road just outside Ojochal, it's well worth a visit. Along this strip of coastline, it's overpriced Dominical that gets all the attention, simply because it's been a surfing Mecca for so long. But it doesn't have the variety of good restaurants that Ojochal has, not the facilities of Uvita, nor the variety of beaches between Uvita and the Osa. Ventanas is perfectly placed, and Casa de Ventanas is your perfect base camp.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thanks for the kind words Robin. In fact I leave in 4 days to head down. I will certainly give Adelante a try! As to the casa, we are recovering all the furniture in the living room this week and next up is a repainting of the exterior. The rainforest never rests! Glad you guys had a good trip. Pura Vida, Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

A Perfect Month at Casa de Ventanas

Guest Doug
Date of stay 01/02/11
Review Submitted 02/11/11

Perfect! Toucans and howlers for wake up coffee, a morning swim in the 85 degree pool, and bacon sizzling in the new kitchen were standard morning activities. The beautiful ocean view and flower covered grounds made it a perfect place start the day or to return to after a day at the beach or exploring in the mountains. We had 3 sets of friends and family visit during our month stay. With its split floor plan and en suite bathrooms, the house accomodated all, including 3 little grand kids who lived in the pool. We enjoyed every meal in the spacious gazibo and found a well equiped kitchen for cooking and entertaining. There are two grocery stores in Uvita and one in Ojochal; each with a different variety of goods, and a trip to the farmer's market on Saturday in Uvita and Tuesday at Citrus restaruant provided a bounty of fresh ingredients. A local butcher, a seaside fisherman, and a delicious French bakery round out cooking requirements. The location is perfect for visits to several beaches, the Osa Penensula, Gulfito, the Baruco Indian village, San Geraldo de Dota, Dominical, Manuel Antonio reserve and, most importantly, a half dozen exellent restaurants just minutes away in Ojochal. The house owner, Jay, is a delight to communicate with and very responsive to needs and questions. Hilda keeps the house spiffy clean and the grounds and pool are maintained at the highest level of care. At the end of the day, a last dip in the pool, a glass of wine while enjoying the toucans evening flight, and a retreat to the airconditiond bedroom is best described as "PERFECT".

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thanks Doug. I am jealous that you could spend a full month there. I am really glad you guys had such a great time. Those weren't the first little kids that never dried off for a week there! Pura Vida, Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

A Wonderful Place!

Guest Miller Family
Date of stay 12/24/10
Review Submitted 01/10/11

This is one impressive property! You can tell that Jay the owner has spared no expense in making this house an incredible place to vacation. First of all, it is hard to imagine the level of luxury in the middle of a rainforest jungle. The house is very well equipped with an emphasis on quality. The, kitchen, baths, bedrooms are all very well done and clearly thought out. The kitchen is newly renovated with top of the line appliances and is fully equipped. The pool is pristine and a real pleasure to use against the backdrop of the rainforest. The wireless broadband internet, Bose and Polk speakers indoors and out, A/C with remote controls, satellite TV. are unexpected technological amenities for a jungle home. Important touches like quality linens and bedding, patio furniture, and kitchenware all make you feel like everything has been considered. The best part of course, is this luxurious comfort in an incredible beautiful part of the world. My family was fascinated by the band of howler monkeys that took up residence in a large tree behind the house. You would hear them every morning at sunrise and at sunset, and could watch them as they feed during the day. Toucans flew in every afternoon by the pool. The trail down to the mountain stream is very nice and gives a real sense of the jungle. There was more to do then we could in one week. The trail ride to the Nauyaca Falls, the beaches, the local restaurants, and just exploring the area nearby kept us busy. You can even drive up the road past the house a little farther for a magnificent view of the valley going down to the beaches. Next time we would try the canopy zip line tours, a fishing/boating expedition, and even a surf lesson or two. As for getting around, a 4x4 with adequate ground clearance is a must, as is good footwear for the jungle trails, beach, and rocky streams. The residents of the area were all very pleasant and accommodating. There is a good supermarket and bank about 15 minutes away in Uvita. All in all an easy place to visit in such a remote area of the country. Jay, the owner is very helpful and answered any questions we had about local sites, restaurants, and attractions. Highly recommend it and we definitely would like to come back! The Miller Family Bethesda, Maryland

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

AWESOME house in Costa Rica!

Guest Curtis
Date of stay 12/21/10
Review Submitted 12/30/10

My wife and I recently spent a week here for our honeymoon. We had a blast. The house is extremely nice and there is tons to do in the area. I could go on and on about the week we had, but this website will tell you everything you need to know. http://www.casadeventanas.com/ The pictures are very accurate, however you have to see the sights yourself to truly appreciate it. Two must do's:the canopy (zipline) tour and the horse back ride with the waterfall jump. Both of these cost $50 a person and are a lot of fun. Restaurants: we ate out almost every night and recomment Morgan's (Italian), Mama me Papa (Italian) and Citrus (French). There were lots of other good places, but those are the best. Beaches: the beaches are great. Each town has a different beach altogether. Some have big waves, some have small waves. Some have caves, some don't. You really just have to hop around to find your favorite. In short, the trip was amazing and can't wait to go back with friends. Highly recommend it.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Honeymooners

Guest Britt
Date of stay 12/14/10
Review Submitted 01/03/11

We had the best time spending our honeymoon at Casa de Ventanas. Everything was just as it appeared online and the descriptions were very accurate. Jay was so helpful when we were planning our activities and told us all the good spots to hit. We felt like we had an inside tip the whole time we were there. Unfortunately, we never saw the howler monkeys didn't grace us with there presence while we were at the house but we were usually up and out pretty early so we must have missed them. We also got a good bit of rain while we were there which is probably another reason they didn't show. The A/C was amazing and so was the humidifier because it was quite muggy down there. We will definitely be going back to stay at Casa de Ventanas and bringing more people with us because the house is extremely spacious. Thank you Jay for all of your help while we were there.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Wonderful Green Season in Ojochal.

Guest JeanE
Date of stay 11/19/10
Review Submitted 01/04/11

We arrived at the end of the rainy season (late November), in fact we missed the tail end of a hurricane by about ten days. The destruction caused by the hurricane was obvious - roads out, flooding, etc. So it was wet. But there was sun every morning until about two in the afternoon. Even the rain was not unpleasant. I took pictures of the kids laughing as they played water polo in the pool one day. First - get a map, or bring a GPS that works. I am a great navigator, but we had a heck of a time finding the highway from the airport. It seems Ticans do not believe in road signs, nor do they sell maps in local stores or service stations. We were met by Maurissio (Mao) in Uvita, who kindly stopped at the Supermarket on the way to the property so we could stock up. He was v. friendly and he and his wife Joan set up excursions for us while we were there. The property itself: The house couldn't be more perfectly suited to us. There were me and my partner and three teenagers. The wonderfully air conditioned master bedroom and huge bathroom is separated from the rest of the house, so it was easy to get respite from the teens. Their rooms were air conditioned, too, so if any of us wanted to get away from the heat we had a place to go. Oh the kitchen! Beautiful and well equipped. We shopped at either the supermarket in Ojochal or in Uvita. It really wasn't roughing it at all. I felt a bit guilty getting home and telling my friends that I had spent 11 days in the rainforest in Costa Rica in our air conditioned house overlooking the sea equipped with gourmet kitchen and swimming pool. Surrounding trees were filled with howler monkeys, toucans and parrots. We did get to Exotica in Ojochal and Lucie, the proprietor, was v. charming. We also visited the bakery at the entrance to Ojochal, and the Tilapia Farm at the Cascada (Don't miss it - it's beautiful, but I can't remember the name of it - just head south of Ojochal and look for a sign for a Tilapia farm and follow the road a couple of miles up til you get to the Farm and waterfalls. We got some amazing photos there. The kids had surfing lessons at Ballenas beach at Uvita - my son said he didn't expect surfing to be so easy (!!) We also took Don Lulo's horseback riding tour to the Nauyaca Falls. It was v. good value $40/each which included breakfast and lunch, 1 1/2 hrs of horseback riding and two beautiful waterfalls and swimming and rapelling up the falls. Thanks Jay!!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: I am glad you all had such a great time Jean. My feelings are very close to yours. A stone's throw from the Osa, but with all the comforts of home. Kind of seems like cheating! Pura Vida, Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Beautiful home, great view, lots of wildlife

Guest Michael
Date of stay 08/11/10
Review Submitted 08/23/10

This is a beautiful, well-equipped, spacious house on a pristine jungle property overlooking the Pacific Ocean. We stayed for a week in August and loved it. The bedrooms, baths, kitchen, pool, and patio area were all luxury quality. The wildlife right outside the window was impressive. Toucans, howler monkeys, hummingbirds, and butterflies abound. A 4X4 rental is highly recommended as the road up to the house (about 5 min. up from the highway) is a bit rugged and exploring sideroads in the area requires one. The owner was instantly responsive to our questions and was very helpful with recommendations for acitivites and restaurants in the area. His website for the house in extensive and extremely informative. We had excellent meals at Citrus and Exotica in nearby Ojochal. La Corona supermarket in Uvita was about 15 min. away. The horseback ride to Nauyaca Falls with Don Lulo's was a true highlight. Playa Uvita at low tide allowed a great walk out onto the "Whale's Tail". Day trip to Corcovado Park on Osa Peninsula was a long journey with 45 min. drive followed by 90 min. boatride (each way, of course), so time in park is limited, but worth it with right attitude.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thanks Michael. I appreciate your comments. The natural beauty of our area never ceases to amaze me. It is a challenge to keep the casa up to those standards, but it is always nice to know how much it is appreciated by our guests. Warm regards, Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Casa De Ventanas - Amazing house with beautiful views!

Guest Will S
Date of stay 06/17/10
Review Submitted 07/07/10

Jay- You truly have made the place a home away from home! The house has every amenity you could ask for. The wireless internet and ipod adapter for the stereo were great additions! The view was fantastic and it was fun to hear the Howler Monkies in the morning. The new kitchen is beautiful too! We will have to make it back sometime in the future!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thanks Will. Glad you guys had a great time. And the howler monkeys are my favorite as well. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Sandra67
Date of stay 04/06/10
Review Submitted 04/06/10

We had such a wonderful stay at Casa de Ventanas! We have been 4 persons and there was so much space! We loved the pool, it is big enough to swim, jump...! The new Barbecue grill is perfect, we bought fresh fish at the street to Oajala and had a great lunch. The kitchen is very good, with a lot of equipment. Every day for breakfast at around 7am there have been a lot of Tucans an d the howler monkeys really close by the house! At afternoon you can see al lot of hummingbirds and a pizote came often to visit us. We loved to sit at the veranda and watch the animals! the time in March we have been there it was really hot! So you definitely need the air condition in the bedrooms! It was quite hot in the main area but outside too many insects at night. Fascinating to watch from inside! We did a great walk to the waterfall with the younger son of the really very nice maid. He showed us a lot of animals, a snake and he found the howler monkeys near the water in the trees. It was quite a climb, but worth it! You need a 4 wheel car to go around. It is fun to see where all the streets in the area go! Great views! There are enough supermarkets around. Great beaches and waves! We had a lot of fun with body boards. we definitely like to come back!

Owner response: Thank you Sandra! This dry season was apparantly a very hot one! Although much of the year the air conditioning is unnecessary, it sure is nice to have when you need it! Sounds like you all so much of our local fauna. That is always my favorite part of any trip. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 03/21/10
Review Submitted 03/21/10

What a beautifull property. With all the windows, we could enjoy from the house all the wildeness around. Fantastic! The surrounding of the house is also fantastic: the trees, the birds, the morphos (our older daughter called it the "transmorpho", because there were many of them in the morning always in the same trail), the toucans, even the huge insects are great. In the evening, every evening, we had the visit of a huge tod beside the chili bushes. The house was perfect for us. Quite big also. And well "limpieza". We spent a day just around the house and wen to the pool down the line in the forest. Fantastic down there! There were howler monkies up in the trees around us. The kids loved it. For us, the forest around the house is the top. We love forest and all kinds of trees. And the view to the ocean from the pool, great. Talking of the pool, we spent all the evenings in it. So good to have a big pool like that. We spent lots of time under the rancho. The Ojochal area is so nice and so quiet, like we needed and love. Playa de ventanas has been our favorite playa. Beautifull and quiet. Uvita is a small town that offers what we needed: banks, 2 big groceries, gasoline and Tico restaurants. The peoples are quiet and friendly in the area. Simply a piece of paradise!!! Louise, Yvan and family

Owner response: Thank you for your comments Louise and Yvan. The "naturaleza" is certainly my favorite part of the house. I am glad you all got to enjoy the abundant wildlife. Pura Vida! Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Guest manrique1
Date of stay 01/26/10
Review Submitted 01/26/10

Dear Mr Friedman; The house was wonderfull, we enjoy it very much.It is quiet and very clean. Actually we are planning to return soon. Best regards, Manrique Ortiz

Owner response: Thank you, Manrique. It means alot to have a Costa Rican express satisfaction with the house and the area. I am glad you all enjoyed your stay and look forward to your return. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Guest Janet58
Date of stay 01/12/10
Review Submitted 01/12/10

We had a fantastic time. It was a great house. There was plenty of room and the beds were very comfortable. The kitchen was well outfitted and the pool was a big hit. The tucans were all given names by our children and the howler monkeys kept us company. We recomend it!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Guest Patrick Herold
Date of stay 01/12/10
Review Submitted 01/12/10

Renting a house we had only seen online for christmas over the internet was a bit of a risk. But it paid off this year. The location is remote, but Jay was kind enough to clue us into to the best places to eat, beach, etc. Getting to the area from San Jose took a few hours. The road through Quepos is nearly entirely paved, a huge improvement from previous years. Arriving in Uvita we connected with the key and were escorted another 20 minutes to Ventanas near Ojochal. The house is a couple kilometers up a dirt road. You'll get privacy and a great view. Good 4x4 a must. We've rented some other places on vrbo with less than hoped for results so we were a bit nervous arriving, but as the door swung open and we saw the view, the great room and the pool, we gave a big sigh of relief. The house is very well equipped. High speed internet, (capable of skyping), satelite tv, nice lighting, a great sound system. The kitchen had all the gear you need. Blender, fridge, stove, dishwasher, did I mention blender?. Fruit squeezer, plates, glasses of all types. Really quite well equipped. Oh and washer dryer, awesome. The house has two wings, a master bedroom with master bath and another wing with a queen room with private bath and a room with two twins and private bath. Kids at one end and parents at the other. Or you could do a couple small families with the adults taking the king and queen, kids in twins and I think there may be some blow ups for the young ones. The beds were great. Often we'll find beds that are tired or saggy, but these mattresses were in great shape. I have to assume they were pretty new? (not sure) I'd be happy to have the master and queen in my home. (Yep, I had to spend one night in the queen as the kids wanted to pile in with mom after a long day of surfing and sun). The pool is great, nice sitting areas, comfortable deck furniture. And a killer view out at the Osa. Five tucan visited throughout the days. Early the howler monkeys may wake you. The area is off the beaten path, but Ojochal is a gem, great restaurants and more. Small, out of the way and needing to be explored. If you aren't willing to drive up dirt roads into the town and poke around, you'll miss the best parts. If you want to get away from the typical costa rica tourist crowd, but still want to be connected and comfortable this may be the place for

Owner response: Patrick, thanks for the straight up feedback. I really do try to match the casa with the clients. I could not have summed up the area any better if I tried. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Paige Parker
Date of stay 08/25/09
Review Submitted 08/25/09

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.

Owner 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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Linda Wallace
Date of stay 08/25/09
Review Submitted 08/25/09

We spend several weeks a year in Costa Rica and our now favorite spot is Casa de Ventanas. Perched in the slightly cooler mountain climate-- even in the height of summer, we were comfortable in the 80s during the day and 70s in the evening. We spent mornings in the rancho eating breakfast with an incredible array of wildlife. The howlers monkeys do start up early and toucans surround the property about 7-9 AM. One morning there were 19 toucans in the trees (not scary like Hitchcock's "The Birds"), but usually at least 6-8 could be seen. The property and home are beautiful, with a wonderful pool and everything you need for a relaxing vacation. The pictures do not do the house justice. The home has a very large indoor/outdoor living area, with a wall of sliding glass doors. We always get a 4X4 SUV but found the roads up to the casa to be in very good repair (for Costa Rica especially). The house is laid out with 2 BR on one end and the huge master at the other-- perfect for us! We stocked up at the nearby large grocery in Uvita for breakfasts and snacks. At the bottom of the mountain there is a strangely complete liquor store. In summer there are roadside stands on the main highway with cerviche, the best is on the beach side with a small fridge and selection of 5 or so different kinds. The mixto is very good. Our family, with 3 college age girls, had a fantastic visit. The new canopy tour in OSA is not to be missed. It is the best canopy tour we've had in Costa Rica. The truck ride up the mountain with numerous switchbacks is but a glimpse of the excitement. The first zip line is over 1500 meters and then they get faster! The girls enjoyed surf lessons (guides usually hang in Dominical, but start beginners at smaller waves in Ballena or other less populated beaches). The girls also enjoyed a day on ATVs through the mountains and a small village. There are many beaches to pick from. Ventanas and the caves are beautiful and usually have very few people. Dominical is nmore populated, but great for watching surfers. My husband spent several days fishing in nearby Sierpe (guide Pablo) with a local friend for snapper, mackerel, and roosterfish-- with great luck and coolers full for our fish taco night. Great sodas, restaurants, and food all close by!! You need nothing dressier than flip-flops or sandals for any spot. I brought my new netbook and the girls checked final dorm assignments and caught up with boyfriends via the high spe

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Yves2
Date of stay 07/06/09
Review Submitted 07/06/09

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!

Owner 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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Lorri Renaud
Date of stay 06/03/09
Review Submitted 06/03/09

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.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Steven Bailey
Date of stay 04/01/09
Review Submitted 04/01/09

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!

Owner 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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Rick & Michele
Date of stay 03/22/09
Review Submitted 03/22/09

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!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Murray & Pam Acton
Date of stay 03/13/09
Review Submitted 03/13/09

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

Owner 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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Joy & Murray
Date of stay 02/25/09
Review Submitted 02/25/09

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 web

Owner response: Sounds like a great trip Joy. Why do the guests always see and experience more than I do? Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Don and Susan Clarkson
Date of stay 01/21/09
Review Submitted 01/20/09

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

Owner 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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Dudley Oldham
Date of stay 10/20/08
Review Submitted 10/20/08

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!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Bonnie & Jason
Date of stay 09/02/08
Review Submitted 09/02/08

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 reall

Owner 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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest denise24
Date of stay 08/05/08
Review Submitted 08/05/08

Jay, Thanks for sharing your wonderful home with us. It was great waking up in the morning to the sounds of the jungle. We had rain on most days but only for short amounts of time. The remoteness and peacefulness made it extra special. We stayed up late at night just to sit in your beautiful back yard and enjoy the quiet. We had a great time with all your recommendations - The canopy tour with Hacienda Bura, and the horseback tour to the falls. We took a mangrove tour with Jaime tours which was exciting and then tried to visit his treehouse and the Tilipia Farm but the road got washed away. We loved eating at Citrus. It was our favorite. Exotica was great too and Lucy was a very pleasant host. We barbequed at the house twice after shopping at La Corona and the food was just like we would grill at home. We also fished with Jay out of Sierpe and caught a bonita. Not the best day, but tons of fun. We saw howler monkeys, sloths, macaws, bats, toucans, crocodiles, racoons, iquanas and I am sure lots more that I did not know the names of. The stream and waterfall below the house was beautiful too. And, the pool was enjoyed by young and old, every free moment we had. Thanks again.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Darcy and Mike Petersen
Date of stay 08/02/08
Review Submitted 08/02/08

We stayed at Casa De Ventanas in June. We had 11 days of total relaxtion. We were first excited by the wonderful website and the pictures we saw but when we got there it was so much more than what we had expected. The pictures don’t do the place justice. The views are breathtaking. You feel like you are one with nature. We would go to bed every night around 8 or 8:30 and wake up in the early morning with the sun to the sound of howler monkeys and birds. It was not until the 10th day that we finally saw the howler monkeys in person up by the road at the gate and they did not disappoint. There was a whole family of them. They sat there for a long time as we just stared at each other and took pictures and video. They are very personable and seemed to enjoy us as much as we enjoyed them.We traveled with our 3 children, one of which was just 3 ½ months old, and my mother-in-law. The house was very comfortable and had everything we needed. The pool was also great. If we wanted to cool off but did not want to trek down to the beach it was perfect. The waterfall is well worth the short hike. It is like a private utopia that we will never forget. Steve and Naomi are great people. Steve told Mike about some great surfing spots and even let Mike and our 11 year old son borrow 2 body boards and a surf board. He even gave us a phone number of a surf instructor. Their dogs Zimba and Bones came over and visited as well. Since we are animal people it was great. Zimba stayed for the better part of a day once.We ate at many of the recommended restaurants. We found Exotica to be great. We loved the owners and the food was fabulous. We also liked Citrus. We went to the Talapia farm and we could have caught fish all day. We were the only people there when we went so we talked to the family that runs it. Even though their English is limited we learned a lot about each others lives. The fish that we caught was prepeared while we went to enjoy the waterfall across the street. The meal was great and inexpensive. The newer grocery store in Uvita was wonderful. They have many of the foods we are used to in the states and of course all types of Costa Rican delights. The chicken was fresh from the farm and the people were nice.We traveled to Hacienda Baru as suggested and did the canopy tour which was fabulous! We had 2 guides and learned much about the wildlife and plants of the rainforest. We saw a few 3-toed sloths and toucans. We also

Owner response: Thanks for the kind words Darcy. Glad you guys had such a wonderful trip.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Alicia2
Date of stay 07/30/08
Review Submitted 07/30/08

We stayed 8 fabulous nights at Casa de Ventanas. We had two families with preschoolers and babies and loved our time. Definitely contact Aldea del Rio for a trip to Corcovado if you're interested in an intense day of outdoor adventure. We even saw whales! Hacienda Baru has some nice hiking as well. The beaches were beautiful. We ate out at Exotica multiple times and were so pleased. Make sure you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and plenty of mosquito repellant. The monkeys, Toucans and Aracaris are amazing at the house. If you're looking to break up the trip from San Jose, check out San Geraldo de Dota -- halfway between. We stayed at Dantica and it was fabulous, saw numerous Quetzals there. Beautiful country, less touristy. This was our 3rd trip to Costa Rica and we agreed we liked this region the best and will be returning.

Owner response: Thanks Alicia! You are an incredible photographer. Your photos will be on the site and become art in the casa. The Corcovado is the real deal, and the green season adds a bit of rain down there (and hence the mosquito issue!). Glad you guys had such a wonderful experience. 4wd is imperative. Exotica is truly world class dining. I am inbound next month with 4 boogie boards for the beach. Thanks for the positive feedback!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Karen, Mike, Chris, Jen
Date of stay 05/09/08
Review Submitted 05/09/08

We had an absolutely wonderful time. The house is great. The view is amazing, the pool is awesome. Would definately stay here again. You will definately need a 4 wheel drive vehicle for this trip. For anyone thinking of driving from San Jose, plan on at least a 5 hour drive on winding roads. The country is absolutely beautiful.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Ellen B.
Date of stay 05/02/08
Review Submitted 05/02/08

This was our first trip to Costa Rica, 4/08. We read the descriptions on the web pages, followed the links, and talked to the owner. It was one of the best vacations!! I think the reason it was so successful was due to the information the owner has posted. It has all the local resources that eliminates some of the "tourist traps", and allows a person to experience a local Costa Rican atmosphere. I would highly recommend that if anyone is interested in this property to take the time to review the information on the web page and follow the recommendations of the owner. The best thing was the comfort of the house, it felt like roughen it in the jungle but with modern conveniences.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Cindy Hughes
Date of stay 04/23/08
Review Submitted 04/23/08

We just left Casa de Ventanas 4/19/08 to make the last adventure down the most beautiful mountain - Cinco Ventanas near the quaint village of Ojochal. The house has all the comforts of home with A/C, fully equipped kitchen, comfortable beds, refreshing pool, and the view from the pool was extaordinary! The sunsets were unforgettable, but my favorite time was relaxing in the Rancho, under the fan, and watching butterflies and the family of 6 toucans come by to feed in the nearest tree 3 or 4 times each day. The sounds of the jungle were very soothing. The food was wonderful whether we cooked at the house or at out at Exotica, Citrus, the Twisted Toucan, or Rico Verde near Dominical. The beaches each held a different and beautiful view, and the local fruits were delicious. A big thank you to property managers Naomi and Steve for their special touches, recommendations,and hospitality. Don't miss the Talapia lunch and swimming at their waterfall - and be sure to get a 4-wheel drive vehicle for your adventure. Hope to go back to see more butterflies, birds, and monkeys.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Blake Jones
Date of stay 04/15/08
Review Submitted 04/15/08

Casa de Ventanas is truly paradise found! The secluded setting, abundance of wildlife and amazing ocean view set this home apart from others in the area. We were up every morning at the crack of dawn simply because we couldn't get enough of the surrounding beauty and sense of harmony and peace. Jay's caretakers, Steve and Naomi, live up the mountain and are a wonderful source of information. They helped us choose our activities and directed us to many wonderful restaurants, including Exotica (our favorite) and Citrus. We loved going to the Tilapia Farm for lunch, and walking across and taking a dip under the unique waterfall across the street while our lunch was cooking. If you are looking for the real Costa Rica and want a place that has yet to be overrun with tourists, this is the place!

Owner response: Thank you Blake. I agree with you, the restaurants in the area are wonderful. Thanks for the kind words and come back and see us again! Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Andrea25
Date of stay 04/09/08
Review Submitted 04/09/08

We absolutely loved our stay. We don't live too far away from Ojochal but wanted to relax for a few days... and this house was perfect for it... very quiet and peaceful spot, great ocean view, super comfortable beds... You really feel like you are in PARADISE... lots and lots of beautiful birds that you can see all day long, howler monkeys will wake you up in the morning... Just a great getaway... Check out Citrus and Exotica in Ojochal (GREAT food) Las Terrazas at Uvita (spectacular viewS) and Confusione in Dominical (GREAT Italian food).

Owner response: Thank you Andrea. I have always felt the only job of the casa was to allow for the comfortable enjoyment of an incredible place on this earth. Glad you enjoyed your stay. Thank you for the kind words. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest mark30
Date of stay 03/24/08
Review Submitted 03/24/08

We had a glorious time. Lots of birds and you have a monkey trail to the west of the house across the driveway. They (6 to 9) put on a good show between 6:30 and 7 am on Wednesday. Erica had very good food and prices; Citrus was tasty. My youngest daughter learned to surf with the Green Iguna surf folks in Dominical. I was a failure, but they are very nice people. Hacienda Baru has a nice canopy tour and nature walk that we all enjoyed. The folks at Mystic Dive center were not very helpful with their snorkeling expeditions. Beautiful country...very relaxing house...you might supply a better map! and, the hotel Aeropuerto is a nice old hotel with good food. Great suggestion!

Owner response: OK Mark, I've already got the map updated! Glad you guys enjoyed your stay. Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Fernando2
Date of stay 03/24/08
Review Submitted 03/24/08

Fell in love with the area many years ago, despite the fact of knowing the whole Country, this is my favorite place, and Casa de Ventanas just makes it a lot easier to enjoy the beauty of nature in a truly comfortable environment. Definitely will recomend to friends and family.

Owner response: Thank you Fernando. It is really wonderful to hear a life long resident of your beautiful country feel the same way about the area as I do. Welcome back anytime! Jay

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Elizabeth10
Date of stay 04/08/07
Review Submitted 04/08/07

I agree 100% with the comment previously posted. My family had a wonderful holiday at Casa de Ventanas. We have lived in Costa Rica for seven years and have traveled around the country extensively. This area is an undiscovered jewel with its beautiful beaches, fantastic restaurants and teeming wildlife. As yet it is unspoiled by over commercialised tourism and we hope that it stays this way. The house itself is beautiful, comfortable, well-equipped and clean. The view from the pool is breathtaking and it was magical to sit and watch the toucans flying around in the early morning and late afternoon. We are already planning a return visit. You will not regret staying here but do make sure you come in a 4x4 vehicle.

Owner response: Thank you for the kind words Elizabeth. We hope it stays this way as well. The house remains a work in progress for us and more updates are planned at the end of May. We will continue to do all we can to make sure our guests have a wonderful experience in this incredible environment. Jay Friedman and his partners.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 03/29/07
Review Submitted 03/29/07

How fortunate for us to be the first guests of Casa de Ventanas, under the care of the new owners. We had an amazing stay. The house is beautiful and very well maintained. The lady, Naomi, managing the property is fantastic to deal with and helped make our vacation even more special. The view from the pool deck is spectacular. We really enjoyed the walk down the path into the rainforest with the waterfall. Ventanas beach is the warmest water I have ever swam in and the view back up the mountain is quite a sight. Ojochal is a lovely little village with many fantastic little restaurants. The zipline past Dominical is not to be missed (Haciendas Baru - ask for Juan Carlos). Make sure you get a 4x4!! Just beyond Casa de Ventanas, a little further up the mountain is the most beautiful view of the coastline, breathtaking. I could go on for hours of all the sights and sounds, (howler monkeys howling) but go experience it for yourself. You certainly will not be disappointed with Casa de Ventanas or Ojochal. It truly is paradise.

Owner response: Thank you! I am so glad your family had a great time. We are striving to make it better with every passing month. Our goal is for families to enjoy the magic that is southern Costa Rica. Jay Friedman and his parnters.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Guest comment entered by owner

Guest N/A
Date of stay 03/12/07
Review Submitted 03/11/07

Welcome to Casa de Ventanas. We are in the process of updating the house throughout 2007. We have tried and will continue to try to provide a wonderful vacation experience for your family. The area of Costa Rica from Dominical to Ojochal is truly magnificent. The mountains crash down to the sea and the outdoor activities in a 25 mile radius are outstanding. The house and grounds provide their own constant entertainment. There are three troops of resident howler monkeys and toucans daily visit the trees surrounding the house. Keep the binoculars handy! The dining experience in Ojochal is not to be believed. Exotica is outstanding french cuisine and reservations are necessary. French is a common language in this little village. La Paracela on the way to Dominical is another favorite. Across the highway from La Paracels is La Macha. Try it for some authentic Tico cuisine. Finally, just south of Ojochal is the Boca Coronado. This little restaurant is Tico but run with a french accent! Not to be missed is a trip to Hacienda Baru just north of Dominical for a canopy zip line tour. Similarly, do not miss Don Lulo's horseback trip to Nauyaca Falls. It is located in Plantanillo, just 5 minutes north of Dominical on the road to San Isidro. Finally, spend plenty of time at Playa Ventanas, just 1km north of the entrance to Cinco Ventanas. Park your car in the private area and pay 75cents/hour to have your car watched. Short palm tree lined walk down to the beach. Do not miss it. It is closed Wednesday. For the surfers, Playa Ventanas has a small beginner's surf break if the tide is coming in. The real surfing takes place at Dominical beach, 25 minutes to the north. Enjoy your vacation and tell us what we can do to make it better! Jay Friedman and his partners.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Vacation Rentals by Owner

Ocean View/Ac in All 3 BR & Waterfall / 20% Discount! [#114883] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (48)

From the Rocky Mountains to the Rainforest

From the Rocky Mountains to the Rainforest

Going Back Someday, Come What May!

Going Back Someday, Come What May!

1st Anniversary & 2nd Honeymoon

1st Anniversary & 2nd Honeymoon

Handsome Vacation Villa

Handsome Vacation Villa

A great week in a beautiful place!

A great week in a beautiful place!

Perfect location and layout!

Perfect location and layout!

Beautiful place with awesome views

Beautiful place with awesome views

Adventures, Relaxation and Heaven

Adventures, Relaxation and Heaven

Casa de Ventanas

Casa de Ventanas

Family Adventure/GetAway

Family Adventure/GetAway

2011 Family Vacation

2011 Family Vacation

Leaving is so hard!

Leaving is so hard!

A Perfect Month at Casa de Ventanas

A Perfect Month at Casa de Ventanas

A Wonderful Place!

A Wonderful Place!

AWESOME house in Costa Rica!

AWESOME house in Costa Rica!

Honeymooners

Honeymooners

Wonderful Green Season in Ojochal.

Wonderful Green Season in Ojochal.

Beautiful home, great view, lots of wildlife

Beautiful home, great view, lots of wildlife

Casa De Ventanas - Amazing house with beautiful views!

Casa De Ventanas - Amazing house with beautiful views!