An Absolute Paradise

Guest: Ruben R.
Date of Stay: 03/27/11 Review Submitted: 08/28/11

Although a bit late, we wanted to submit our experience at Villas Escondrijo. We visited the Villas back at the end of March, beginning of April and we got to meet Dean, his wife and son. It was definitely a pleasure! They are very nice people. Staying at the Villas was a true adventure. The view is absolutely gorgeous and we really enjoyed the animals, flowers and nature that surround them. The Villas are very clean although you do need to watch out for tiny friends (ants) that will come visit when you leave any food out. Also, it was a bit difficult to sleep at night due to the toad orchestra that showed up almost every single night. Hainer, the gardener, was a very nice man that was willing to help and assist in anything and at all times. We do regret not having met Rosemary and not having her as our hostess We read in previous reviews that she was a very nice lady and a big help when it came to tour suggestions. Unfortunately, I think there was a lack of attention from our hostess and no suggestions or guidance was given. Being our first time in Costa Rica, it would have been nice to have received support in this aspect. Nevertheless, our experience at the Villas was pleasant! A couple of suggestions are: roundtrip transportation from the airport to the Villas (we got a bit lost in our way there), a restroom upstairs and a restroom outside by where the pool area is, some lighting thru the front yard by the pool and, last but not least, having the option for tourists to pay extra to have a person cooking for them. Overall, we would definitely recommend the Villas, especially if you are an adventure seeker. Thank you Dean and family for the opportunity to use your beautiful Villas.

Owner response:As a property owner, we are always happy to hear that people enjoyed thier stay at our Villas, and welcome comments about their adventure. March, 2011 was our new manager's (Martin) first month, and being new, wasn't sure about that "fine line" between giving guests their privacy, and seeing to their needs. We have received great comments about him from recent guests! Being a "rental home" we can not offer some of the services of a Hotel, such as airport pick up, or cooked meals, instead, we provide a true "Costa Rica" experiance that you will not get staying in a hotel. Cheers, Dean. www.villasescondrijo.com.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

Costa Rica Paradise

Guest: Clint (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/23/11 Review Submitted: 05/05/11

This was an amazing and beautiful way to introduce ourselves to Costa Rica. The Villas are incredibly beautiful, clean and well equipped. We found everything to be better than advertised, from the views, the wildlife, activities available, and amenities. Simply outstanding. After an easy 3 hour drive from San Jose, we met Martin at the Roca Verde (excellent beach location & food) for the short but steep climb to the villas. He introduced us to the amenities and the general layout. Martin proved to be very helpful yet unobtrusive. His recommendations for local activities were excellent. The villas themselves are immaculate, clean, and remarkably well stocked with basic provisions: coffee, barbecue, pool, laundry etc. There is a television, but I don't know if it works; too much other stuff to even care! The kitchen is small, well-equipped and very useful. Shop at the local mercadito for basics, travel 10 kilometers south for a larger and better stocked store with an actual meat counter. Dominical is a funky and fun place to surf, drink, and hang. Try the seared tuna (tuesdays) at Tortilla Flats, very tasty if a bit more touristy than the local Sodas. Highlights of our stay: the flora and fauna! (Don't forget to have binoculars!) Stunning views from every vantage of the house, frequent visits from Toucans, monkeys, iguanas, and amazing frogs serenading us to sleep every night. We spent time at Hacienda Baru for jungle walks, butterflies and orchids as well as an educational and fun afternoon on the zip-lines. The horseback trip to Nauyaca Falls was outstanding. Great food, and a gorgeous waterfall and swimming hole. Take Eric up on his offer to climb the falls and leap into the pool, you won't regret it. Overall, this is one of the most fun and beautiful places we have ever visited. The Villas are outstanding! Beautiful and friendly folks wherever we went. Many many activities and lots of time spent just enjoying the house and pool. Thanks Dean, Jay and Martin for a memorable stay. We can't wait to return. Glowing recommendations to everyone we can share with.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Villa Escondrijo ... a true paradise

Guest: Linda & Doug (Castle Rock, CO, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/24/10 Review Submitted: 02/02/11

Help!!! I'm having a horrible time acclimating back to the Colorado winter!!!! It was such a beautiful and fun and wonderful Christmas week in Costa Rica!!!! What a great time we had. It was wonderful. The villas were beautiful and we had the BEST time ever!!! We couldn't have been more pleased with the Villas Escondrijo ... they were beautiful, and comfortable for our family's stay. I simply couldn't stop taking pictures of the gorgeous flowers and sunsets from the patio and decks. The pool was beautiful and a welcome oasis after a fun day of adventures. Rosemary was wonderful and very helpful as well. We would definitely recommend a stay at this oasis for anyone!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Awesome stay

Guest: Grace (Thousand Oaks, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 08/18/10 Review Submitted: 08/28/10

Dean, We would like to thank you for the most amazing stay at Villa Escondrijo! Your villas are beautifully decorated, the pool was such a treat, and we were in awe everyday of the wildlife that came to visit! We saw not only the howler monkeys, but a white faced monkey, a sloth, iguanas, toucans that fed daily, geckos, and quite a variety of frogs. It was every bit true to the description! We even had fun on the rope swing in the nearby waterfall. The boys surfed twice daily. We even experienced an outstanding zip line nearby. We hope to visit again very soon! Thank you for this amazing experience! Grace - Thousand Oaks, CA

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

We love Villa Escondrijo!

Guest: Kristen and Matt (-)
Date of Stay: 04/14/10 Review Submitted: 05/27/10

We love Villa Escondrijo!!! We will miss waking up each morning to bird songs and sipping our coffee while watching the ocean and the jungle. Absolute Paradise. A true escape from the "real world" Highlites, surfing, parks, sunset, surfers, food and just hanging out and reading in the Villa. We hope to be back again soon. Kristen and Matt, Washington DC (Just Married)

Recommended for:

We loved being there more than anything.

Guest: babybizliz (St. George, Utah, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/01/10 Review Submitted: 05/16/10

My husband and I took our two teenage girls to Costa Rica for a week of fun and adventure and we were not disappointed. They loved all of the adventure that was available close by Dominical, but ultimately they would ask, "When can we go back to our Villa?" They (and we) TOTALLY loved Villa Escondrijo! First of all, we were greeted by the manager, Rosemary, who showed us to the villa; where she had left us a huge plate of fresh fruit that we enjoyed throughout our stay. She was totally helpful in every way, booking tours for us and even helping us find a church on Sunday. She seemed very sincere in making sure we had a great vacation, but at the same time, respecting our privacy. When we walked into Monkey Villa, it seemed we were the first tenants to ever use it. It was so clean and new and the pool was crystal clear. It is every bit as beautiful as the pictures and more. We learned that in Costa Rica, it is essential to have your own washer and dryer because clothes can get ruined if they stay wet for more than a day. We were SO glad to have that luxury in the villa! The beds were comfortable. (a big plus) The upper patio is huge with an amazing view of the jungle and ocean! I loved that it was up the hill and into the jungle a bit. It made me feel very safe, but it is still only minutes away from groceries, internet cafe, post office and restaurants. We woke up each morning to hundred's of birds singing (howler monkeys sometimes) and went to sleep to the songs of frogs that sounded like wind chimes. Rafting the Savegre with "Iguana Tours" was our favorite tour. "Playa Ventanas" was our favorite beach (we rented boogie boards in town). The horse back ride to the Nuayaca Falls was really fun, but the horses were way broken down and I felt sorry for them. The tour is worth taking. I just wish they would get some new horses or use mules instead. It would also be a great hike. The falls are amazing! Mostly, we loved the flowers and beauty around the grounds of the villa. We got some great photos. Thank you Dean and Jay and Rosemary! We are already telling all of our friends about you and the villa.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Awesome Jungle Experience!

Guest: Rondalyn (Millarville, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/17/10 Review Submitted: 05/08/10

We had a fantastic holiday at the Villas! They are well appointed and the Manager - Rosemary - is full of helpful information and assistance. There is much to see and do, and a lovely pool to relax by and just enjoy the jungle sounds. Beautiful birds and butterflies are plentiful, and even the elusive green tree frog is a "local resident". Be sure to watch for "lizzie" sunning herself on the edge of the infinity pool. These very clean Villas are just like the pictures, and all the information offered is a true reflection of what you will find. A definite recommendation for anyone considering a Jungle Adventure!! Rosemary will assist you in your choice of tours and restaurants, as well as beaches, markets, internet access, and any other questions you may have. Bravo Dean and Jay!!!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Best Vacation Ever!

Guest: Jemmasmom (Osprey, FL)
Date of Stay: 08/07/09 Review Submitted: 08/22/09

After a 4 hour ride through the mountains (not too difficult & beautiful views) we arrived in Dominical to find Gary and Donna waiting for us at the San Clemente to escort us up to the villa. Even the blinding rainstorm couldn't diminish the beauty of Casa Del Sonador. The pictures don't do it justice. We rented both villas for the week and I've never stayed at rental properties that were so well equipped. They've thought of everything. All those things you buy when at a rental and then throw away at the end were there: laundry and dish soap, coffe & tea, seasonings, zip lock bags, etc. Gary and Donna even had had fresh baked banana bread and chocolate chip cookies waiting when we arrived. The villas were spotless and really comfortable and the landscaping is gorgeous. It definately takes a 4X4 if you are staying here, but if you're in this part of Costa Rica you need one everywhere. We didn't spend much time at the villas though. So much to do in the area: zip lining, horseback riding, whale watching. We found our favorite beach, Playa Ventanas (just past Marina Belleno), and tried to get there for low tide to explore the amazing caves. We couldn't end our day without jumping in the "blue pond", a swimming hole at the bottom of a waterfall just down the road from the villa. Try the rope swing, it's a blast! We also spent a day at Manuel Antonio. Despite what all the guide books say, it is almost completely paved now and didn't take any more than 45 minutes to get there. We loved the wildlife in the park but were more than happy to leave this overbuilt, overtouristed area and head back to our bit of paradise. If you want to feel as if you're in an American resort area go to Manuel Antonio or Jaco. If you want deserted beaches and pristine rainforest, come to Dominical. That's not to say that you are isolated here. We found that Dominical and Uvita have just the right amount and type of restaurants to satisfy anybody: Thai, Italian, Mexican, Sushi, Burgers and Wings and of course lots of local favorites. We especially loved La Fogata in Uvita for the roasted chicken. I have to mention the wildlife. We woke up every morning to Toucans circling the villas and resting in the trees. In the hills all around the villas we found troupes of howler monkeys, a sloth and pizotes. Butterflies, iguanas and all types of birds are everywhere. It's definately a jungle out there! This trip is perfect for adults and kids.

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

Outstanding

Guest: Tim and Melanie (Charlotte, NC USA)
Date of Stay: 06/05/09 Review Submitted: 06/16/09

We have just returned from our trip to Costa Rica and our 1 week stay at the Parrot Villa. Words just really cannot express the beauty and serenity that we experienced. The description of the villa is really just a foregleam of what was to come. Every day was an adventure and revealed something new. We were impressed with the lush tropical landscaping which literally surounds the villa. It was a veritable private resort! Toucans visited the tree beside the house the first day as did a coati mundi. Howler monkeys were heard everyday and of course we would be remiss if we did not mention the gracious hospitality of our hosts, Gary and Donna. We hope to return soon and we tell everyone about our wonderful experience!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Fabulous Views, Privacy, Tropical Ambiance!

Guest: Buddy G. (Florida)
Date of Stay: 04/19/08 Review Submitted: 03/01/09

My husband and I stayed at Casa del Sonador shortly after its completion and we absolutely loved it. The views from the rancho were spectacular and we spent every day there enjoying the views, the birds and the monkeys in the hills above! We also spent a lot of time lounging in the beautiful infinity pool. We never wanted to leave. But when we did, we found so much to do in and around Dominical....the owners shared with us their favorite restaurants, shopping areas and excursions so we were never at a loss for what to do. The villa (we stayed in Parrot Villa) was spotless and beautifully appointed and I can recommend Casa del Sonador -- and Dominical -- wholeheartedly! I am ready to go back!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers.