Unique Carrillo House--Super View--Pool--Walk to Beach & Restaurants

• Spectacular!

  Spectacular!

  • Guest Hanna R.
  • Date of stay 04/06/13
  • Review Submitted 04/16/13
  The home was everything we hoped for and more. We are a family of 5 and stayed 8 days. The home had every amenity needed and then some we didn't expect like beach and pool toys. The home is uniquely designed for the elements with a very well maintained pool and landscaping. The woman that manages the property for the homeowners called us and kept in contact to ensure we were never in need of anything and there was never a problem. We never ate a meal indoors with such a wonderful view and the whooping of howler monkeys in the trees across from us. We never had to rent a car because everything is within walking distance and most adventure activities included pick up and delivery. The homeowners have pages of suggestions on their website that we copied and took with us. We delighted in every activity we participated in. The homeowners ask that guests sign a book at the end of their stay with comments and suggestions of their own. We found these very helpful as well. Our kids favorite activity was surf lessons from Elder, Nick, and John who run a little stand at the north end of Playa Carrillo beach. The charge was $35.00 for a 3 hour lesson and the board is yours to use for 3 days. For my husband and I it was the hike recommended by the homeowners through the mango plantation to the top of a hill for a stunning view and down to the tidal pools along the cliffs. We zip-lined with Wing Nut Canopy tours (#1 family rated by us all), they built it themselves and it is extremely unique, horseback riding with Luis to the beach and into the mountains, fishing with Marco who taught us how to hand line, (we were the only ones catching fish), eating at Soda and the Brazilian steak house. There is so much more! I have already recommended this to my family and friends and we are hoping to return soon.

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• Comfortable Stay in Beautiful Setting

  Comfortable Stay in Beautiful Setting

  • Guest Karen
  • Date of stay 02/02/13
  • Review Submitted 04/01/13
  We spent the first half of our month long stay at Casa Sevana. What a pleasure to work with Sevana and Herbert who are absolutely the best owners we have ever rented from. They tirelessly answered our many questions and took the time to ensure all was well both before and during our stay. The house and grounds are exactly as they appear in the photographs. It is an amazingly restful experience to be at Casa Sevana. The home is located down a dirt road not far off the main road to Carrillo town. We quickly settled into our routine -- morning coffee and reading on the upstairs porch taking in the beautiful views and frequent monkey and bird sightings. On to the beaches in the afternoon (we explored several in addition to enjoying the beautiful and shady Playa Carrillo) and then back to Casa Sevana for a swim followed by dinner at one of the many good local restaurants in Carrillo and Samara. (We didn't cook dinner in too often, but enjoyed having the well equipped kitchen for breakfast and lunch.) The house is extremely well built, clean, and secure. In fact, if there is a negative in that statement it is the need for the security of iron bars and sliding gates and the ritual of having to ensure all is locked when leaving the house or going to bed in the evening and then unlocking everything in the day time to take in the views and breezes. There were times unfortunately when I felt a bit like a prisoner looking out at the bars securing the porches and patio. That being said, we never felt unsafe in the house and we had no instances here or anywhere we stayed in Costa Rica with crime of any kind. You will find as we did that the house functions extremely well with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and the laundry room on the ground level and the main living areas upstairs. While it did get very warm outside (we were frankly surprised by the intense heat) the overhead fans and the room air conditioners do a good job of maintaining a comfortable temperature, particularly for sleeping purposes. We did lose power for short periods on several occasions, but generally it and the wifi worked well. While we enjoyed that this area is not overly developed and touristy, potential travelers should be aware that the Samara-Carrillo area is not geared for travelers wanting luxury accommodations, amenities, and food. However, it does give a view into typical Costa Rican life and Casa Sevana itself is a most comfortable environment for enjoying your time here

  Recommended for: Age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

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• Paradise in Carrillo

  Paradise in Carrillo

  • Guest A & D & the twins
  • Date of stay 02/18/13
  • Review Submitted 03/30/13
  Our family of four (with seven year old twin boys) stayed at this wonderful house for two weeks in late February. The house and yard are beautiful with fabulous landscaping and an amazing ocean view. We enjoyed many visits from Howler monkeys and iguanas. The pool was a perfect size and so refreshing on hot days. The house was ideal: awesome views from the patio and balcony, large kitchen, spacious bedrooms. The breezes from the many windows kept it comfortable. Casa Sevana is on a very quiet street and a short walking distance to three great restaurants (El Colibri, El Tucan, and Hula Jungla). El Colibri is a must! There are two grocery stores a block or two away. Best is Playa Carrillo, the beach that is just down the hill from this home. It's lined with palm trees for shade, the sand is soft and the beach is wide. It is just so beautiful - much nicer than the beach in Samara. The waves are perfect for kids and the crabs at the end of the beach are fun to watch. We have rented homes in Maui, California and Florida and this was by far our best experience. There was so much to do (ziplining with Wingnuts, hiking with Alvaro of Samara Trails, a boat tour in Palo Verde) and it was lovely coming home to the peace of this house. We highly recommend it! Samara town is seven kilometers away so is a short drive to do banking, souvenir shopping or just to relax over dinner and drinks on the beach (El Lagarto was fabulous). Thank you Sevana and Herbert for sharing this piece of paradise with us.

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

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• simply beautiful

  simply beautiful

  • Guest BERTIE
  • Date of stay 03/06/13
  • Review Submitted 03/21/13
  This house is a gem, a real paradise, with the terraces, the large rooms, the superb equipment , the garden, the pool, the view. We enjoyed everything and had one of our nicest and most relaxing vacation of the last 5 years at Casa Sevana. One regret: 3 Nights were not enough . One hope: to come back and spend more time in this lovely place! Thanks again to Sevana Evelyne Louise and Bertrand

  Recommended for: Age 55+, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, sightseeing.

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• Return to Paradise

  Return to Paradise

  • Guest Elizabeth
  • Date of stay 01/13/13
  • Review Submitted 01/31/13
  My return to Casa Sevana exceeded all expectations. The VRBO website conveys a VERY accurate description of this lovely well appointed home: the serenity, security and attention to detail are evident throughout. The property is IDEALLY suited both to adult getaways (my last visit) and family oriented holidays (this visit). My grand-daughters LOVED the pool, the monkey sightings, the parrot flocks. We all appreciated the conveniences and comforts of "home" in Paradise. The owners are so helpful in communicating suggestions and information to ensure a flawless visit and the local staff are exceptional in their response to inquiries and upkeep of the property. The house sparkles, the pool is well maintained and the gardens are a showpiece. (During our stay a minor power cut, caused us to lose water pressure and the manager had the problem fixed within 30 min. Remarkable!) Beyond the amenities of Casa Sevana itself, the location is ideal. We took full advantage of the delicious local Pizza for take out and the acclaimed Argentinian Steak house for a family celebration. The local Saturday farmers market and the availablity of fresh fish was all we needed to prepare fabulous meals in the well equipped kitchen. MMmmm! The spectacular view from the balcony, is matched by the fabulous Playa Carrillo itself. What a stunning stretch of sand and gentle surf. I'll be back to Casa Sevana again and I am envious of those who will savour Sevana in the interim, Enjoy Pura Vida!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, sightseeing, tourists without a car.

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• Beautiful house, amazing beach

  Beautiful house, amazing beach

  • Guest Mara V.
  • Date of stay 01/04/13
  • Review Submitted 01/14/13
  Playa Carillo is such a spectacular beach. There's nothing but palm trees, sand and surf. Perfect for small children and anyone who likes the beach without the scene. We went several times (by car and on foot) over the course of our one-week stay. We also spent a morning at Leyenda Restaurant/Resort and a morning at Islita - both of which were nice ways to break up the week, but the beach was definitely the highlight. The house is thoughtfully designed (eg, living space on the second floor to take advantage of the sea view) and very well equipped. Just as an example, when faced with squeezing a dozen limes to make ceviche, I was thrilled to find a juicer in the kitchen. The manager Melissa was super responsive. We couldn't get the internet to work when we first arrived and she had the technician out there to take care of it even though it was 7pm on Friday night. We enjoyed the view from the terrace, the swimming pool and the daily visits from parrots and howler monkeys. The only thing that was a little off-putting was the level of security required (bars on windows, gates on the terraces, etc). I guess we should be appreciative that those measure are in place; but it's just a shame that crime seems to be such a prevalent problem throughout Costa Rica. Overall, I highly recommend Playa Carillo and this property. I hope to have the chance to return!

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

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• Thoughtful Design and Great Location

  Thoughtful Design and Great Location

  • Guest Kate La Gringa
  • Date of stay 12/09/12
  • Review Submitted 01/02/13
  We had a wonderful stay. The house is so thoughtfully designed that you are as comfortable as you would be at home, if not more so! Fabulous view down to the ocean - great pool which is a good size and kept very clean. The house stays cool so we only used the a/c occasionally in the bedrooms. Monkeys in the trees visible and photographable from the house. We had postcard-perfect Carillo beach to ourselves, and its a nice walk down there. Thoroughly recommend El Colibri - a restaurant up the road - a nice quiet stroll up there for wonderful food. We also like driving to Samara on occasion to eat lunch on the beach. Our kids loved the space in the garden and the pool. Thoroughly recommend.

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

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• Great house in a wonderful location

  Great house in a wonderful location

  • Guest Bill and Diane
  • Date of stay 11/10/12
  • Review Submitted 12/13/12
  Casa Sevana is a lovely spot! The clever design, splendid execution, and amazing location combined to make it one of our all time favorite vacations. There are amazing views of the Pacific and jungle/wildlife from the back yard and upper deck. The howler monkeys put on a great show almost every day. One of my favorite activities was to gently sway in the hammock, reading and listening to the bird concert at anytime of the day. We observed 47 different species of birds; they were beautiful to see and amazing to hear. The house is as solid as a rock and is built with a high level of craftsmanship. Many local hardwoods were used. The spiral staircase, the ceilings, the large built in butcher block, the bedroom cabinets, etc. are all fine examples. The house is a short stroll to a pristine beach, grocery shopping and fabulous restaurants but secluded enough to enjoy the delightful garden, pool, and spectacular sunsets undisturbed. We especially appreciated the attention to detail put into the design, appointment and upkeep of the house and yard. The beds are very comfortable, the linens exquisite, the kitchen well equipped, the seating very comfortable, the pool an absolute delight at any hour of the day or night. We highly recommend Casa Sevana as the place to stay in this beautiful area of Costa Rica!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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• Perfect Honeymoon

  Perfect Honeymoon

  • Guest patrick
  • Date of stay 08/13/12
  • Review Submitted 08/30/12
  My new wife and I stayed here for a week in August of 2012. It was fantastic! The house is beautiful and has everything you need. We read and drank coffee on the second floor porch while looking out at the Pacific every morning and ended every day with a dip in the swimming pool. Each morning we saw howler monkeys and green parrots come through the yard which was a great experience. The house is an easy walk to Carillo beach which is sparsely used and postcard picturesque. The house is also within walking distance of several great restaurants. We rented a car which made trips to Samara to check out restaurants or surf very easy. We also walked to Samara one day which was very pleasant, you can do the entire walk on the beach except for perhaps 1/4-1/3 of a mile. We also loved using the outdoor grill at the house to cook fish we caught! To top it all off the owners were incredibly easy to work with and very gracious in dealing with our late arrival (as we missed a connected in the States). We'd recommend it to anyone!

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

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• Costa Rica Experience

  Costa Rica Experience

  • Guest Schuylkill
  • Date of stay 07/29/12
  • Review Submitted 08/14/12
  Fantastic Costa Rica experience. Saw Howler Monkeys, Humpback Whales, dolphins and turtles. Carrillo Beach is amazing and a nice beach for families. Casa Esmeralda in Samara is a wonderful restaurant. Casa Sevana was warm and welcoming just like its owners. Sevana was always on top of answering questions and extremely helpful.

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

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