Vacation Rentals by Owner

Best Possible Vacation House

Guest: Ken (Bremerton, WA)
Date of Stay: 02/25/12 Review Submitted: 03/09/12

Seven of us just returned from a week in paradise in total agreement that this house is as good as it gets! Spacious, clean, air conditioned bedrooms, well-kept pool, and within walking distance of the beach and great "local" eating places. For the flavor of uncrowded ocean side towns with more "locals" than tourists. This is where you want to be.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.

Exotic and Peaceful Slice of Heaven

Guest: BostonFamily (Winchester, Massachusetts, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/21/12 Review Submitted: 02/26/12

We are a famiy of four with teenagers and spent four heavenly days at Casa Sevana, a beautiful contemporary home overlooking Carillo Beach. The beach is about a 10 minute walk away, but we only had to share this beautiful stretch of sand with a handful of people at the most. There is absolutely no development along the beach -- pristine and gorgeous. Shallow, no rocks, gentle surf in the morning that picks up in the afternoon with exciting waves. A car would have been very helpful to get back and forth to Samara where there is more activity (7km distance), like souvenir shopping, bars, restaurants, etc., but for a few days, there were plenty of little places to have dinner/lunch and buy groceries just minutes walk from the house. It is really too far to walk regularly to Samara -- we did it once. Tourist buses run back and forth between Samara and Carillo, but not on a regular schedule and not at night. Also, a car would have been convenient to travel to and from the area because bus connections are not convenient (we ended up hiring a private car to take us here and back to the airport). Aside from the beach, we went horseback riding (beautiful vistas) at sunset and snorkeling (a little murky because of the waves, but hear it can be good when calmer). We didn't have time to do a nature tour, sport fish, surf, or visit the local preserve, but heard they are good. Very easy to organize these activities at the tourist office at the bottom of the hill (5-10 min walk) and fairly priced. The home itself has every amenity: Kitchen stocked with pans and utensils for real cooks, pool, outdoor shower and grilling space, laundry, lovely balcony and porch, comfortable beds. The home itself is gorgeously designed and decorated. We saw howler monkeys, parrots, humingbirds and numerous other birds from the balcony. Internet connections were great (for those who really have to bring work with them). We felt very secure all of the time here. If you want to get away from it all and visit a Costa Rica that still has incredible local charm, but has many comforts of home, this is the place to go. Thank you to Herbert and Sevana for sharing their paradise!

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

Attention to Every Detail ! An Outstanding Vacation Home

Guest: Elizabeth (Kingston, Ontario, CANADA)
Date of Stay: 02/16/12 Review Submitted: 03/10/12

My husband and I have worked and travelled extensively throughout the world, often using VRBO and long term rentals. Casa Sevana ranks as the best we've ever enjoyed. A truly world class accommodation. It suited our exacting (but not opulent) standards perfectly. The proximity to nature, a short walk to beautiful Carrillo Beach, and the delightful garden and pool area were terrific. I appreciated the ease of self catering (wonderfully equipped kitchen, nearby markets) and the excellent range of dining options within walking distance. Check out the "guestbook" for lots of great hints, and join the ranks of the many admirers of Casa Sevana. We loved the Pacific sunsets from the balcony, the view of fishing boats in the harbour, and the biodiversity at our door. Don't forget your binoculars: the birds, vegetation and monkey antics are wonderfull. The house itself is second to none: well furnished, NO clutter! carefully appointed, comfortable, very secure and squeaky clean. I cannot emphasize enough that attentian has been paid to every detail: in the design, maintenance and upkeep of this property. Casa Sevana: well designed, superbly maintained, ideally situated and guaranteed to provide you with a tremendously happy holiday. I would highly recommend this special villa, we definitely plan to return.

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

Pacific Paradise

Guest: Fitz Family (United Kingdom)
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/20/12

We have just returned after a wonderful short stay at this fantastic house. The house, pool, gardens and location were all we expected from the description. We especially loved the wildlife - monkeys in the trees at dawn and dusk, vultures overhead and myriad birds coming and going. A flight of brightly coloured parrots often shot over the garden while we sunbathed. The kitchen is a delight with all you could need for your stay. The bedrooms were comfortable and well furnished as were the bathrooms. The nearby beach is superb and the bathing was excellent. I would highly recommend this place and would dearly love to return for an extended period in the future.

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

Costa Rica Holiday

Guest: Matt Fitz (London. UK)
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/20/12

When writing a review you want to ensure you cover the key points good and bad....in this case I could not find a bad point if I tried.. - the view - the accommodation - the amenities - the responsive contacts / owners - the weather (ok can't always account for that !) - the company - yes we did supply that one too - but they were good. Overall I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who wants a beautiful, relaxing, idyllic place to chill watch monkeys (with their babies!!) and the sea in the distance. It was a pleasure to share and experience the wonderful house that is Casa Sevana I and my family had the best time and would certainly be making plans to return. If you are coming this way...make a stop and visit this heaven on earth !

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

Wonderful house in a magnificent place. We will come back

Guest: Andre (Berlin, Germany)
Date of Stay: 01/16/12 Review Submitted: 01/30/12

Everything as described! The house is well designed and cozy. My mother in law enjoyed very much that she was able to step in in the swimming pool without any difficulties. The sorrounding areas had plenty of monkeys and all sort of birds. We enjoyed very much the magnificent view and sunset from the second floor. In addition, we were very happy to have small market 5 minutes from the house, where we found all the basic needs. The staff were extremely helpful and the owner responded immediately to our needs. We recommend to see the sunset from Playa Carrillo as you can see many Ticos families celebrating the end of the day. My cousin from Costa Rica who visited us is telling everybody in San José about the house and they are already planning to go fishing from Puerto Carrillo Beach. I recommend this house without hesitation.

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

Beautiful home & perfect location

Guest: meg_np (Ma, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/11/12 Review Submitted: 02/09/12

We rented Casa Sevana for 5 nights in January and had a wonderful time. The house is beautifully designed with lots of outdoor spaces to enjoy the view of the ocean in the distance and the monkeys in the nearby trees. We enjoyed having the pool all to ourselves too. The location was perfect for us. We had a rental car and spent one day driving 2 hours south, and then beach hopping our way back. The next day we did the same thing but drove north. We also enjoyed Playa Carillo which was just a 5 minutes away. We saw some of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen sitting on Playa Carillo surrounded by many Tico families also enjoying the beach. The house is a very short walk to some great restaurants and a small grocery store. We really liked feeling like we were far enough away from the tourists, but still close enough to the amenities like shops, restaurants and beaches. The house was very clean, easy to use, and includes air conditioning and free wifi. I highly recommend Casa Sevana and we hope to return again some day!

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

highly recommend Casa Sevana

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/07/12 Review Submitted: 01/21/12

We stayed here for 4 nights of our Costa Rica vacation. The house is amazing - open terraces, nice pool with private backyard, howler monkeys/iguanas/coati to see, walk or drive to the most beautiful beach in the world - white sand, flat (not slanted) so good for walking/running, good waves, ocean not cold. Two good restaurants down the street - El Colbri and Hula Jungla, small grocery, church (mass is Sat, not Sunday). This area is very NON touristy, which we loved. We hiked up hill, kayaked, and relaxed. The house has good security and wifi. I would highly recommend Casa Sevana!!

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

Another wonderful stay in paradise

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/25/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

This was our second trip to Casa Sevana, and hopefully will not be our last. It really is a perfectly situated and designed house for a week at the beach. Melissa, the property manager is a treasure. As we were arriving on Christmas day, she took a grocery order for us, and we arrived to a fully stocked refrigerator. She also gave us wonderful advice on where to go, what to see, who to contact for tours and where to get the best fresh fish locally. Zulema, the housekeeper was also incredibly friendly and helpful, and has the house spotless for new arrivals. For turtle lovers, the Cameronale refuge is only about a half hour drive away. We lucked out and got to see a 1000lb Leatherback lay eggs on the beach. Carrillo Beach is confirmed as our favorite beach of all time. We are from Australia and now live in California so the bar is set high for this one. The Northern end of Samara beach was great for snorkeling, with a good array of interesting fish. The house is truly remarkable, and if we are ever in a position to build a home we would want Herbert and Sevana to design it. Everything is optimized and easy to use, but with no sacrifice of form for function. We have now stayed in a large number of VRBO homes in different countries and four others in Costa Rica. None of them come close to the beauty, simplicity, convenience and safety of Casa Sevana.

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

Great Time!

Guest: Chance W.
Date of Stay: 12/01/11 Review Submitted: 12/14/11

I have a wonderful time! Cant wait to come back.

Recommended for:

So much more than represented

Guest: mike t.
Date of Stay: 11/13/11 Review Submitted: 12/12/11

First, the listing was not at all accurate; this house is much more than represented on the website. It has everything you need and the owners have gone to great lengths to make sure you understand the house and the surrounding area. The house is very clean, tight and functional. The pool and landscaping are well kept. Everything works. The house is within easy walking distance of some very good restaurants, a couple of markets, a liquor store and the beach. Playa Carrillo is a picture perfect beach with gentle waves and little to no rip. It's the perfect place to learn to surf or let your young ones boogie board or swim. I would definitely recommend this house to anyone looking for a quiet place to stay and if you need a little nightlife, Samara is only a ten minute drive away.

Recommended for:

Perfect place for a perfect holiday!

Guest: Michele (Quebec, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/05/11 Review Submitted: 08/26/11

We had a fabulous time at Casa Sevana and at playa Carillo. The house was just a paradise, it is just perfect. Everything is so well designed, perfectly maintained. We also felt that the house was very well equiped, we just had everything we needed to cook, go to the beach, even the book on birds of Costa Rica was a nice treat for us, we enjoy bird watching so we made good use of it. And having howler monkeys coming in the nearby trees so that we could watch and hear them was very exciting. We were particularly happy to find the luxury of Casa Sevana after spending 2 weeks travelling with the local buses and spending nights in "budget" hotels! Our girls (11 and 13 years old) were just astonished when they visited the house, with its large rooms, beautiful bathrooms, incredible patios with the ocean view and the pool, oh what a pool! What a nice treat after coming back from the beach! The beach was reached after a 10-15 min. walk, no car needed while staying in Carillo. We also truly appreciated the peacefulness of Playa Carillo, and were very happy to have chosen this location instead of the nearby Samara where the beach is not so nice and the little town seems to have grown too quickly to respond to the tourist demand. Finally, we need to say a good word for the owners which were very helpful in answering our questions before coming and by providing useful information once at the house. We felt very welcomed. We can only highly recommend this wonderful house, it is THE perfect choice to enjoy Costa Rica beaches and relax.

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

Can't wait to return

Guest: jane propsom (bloomington,mn)
Date of Stay: 07/12/11 Review Submitted: 07/31/11

This was our second visit to Casa Sevana and it won't be our last. We spent 10 wonderful days enjoying the house and the beach. Of all the VRBO rentals that we have been to, this is by far the one that has the most complete website with the best recommendations and the best ideas of what to do. The house itself is amazing. I went for a run one morning and was lying on the floor stretching and enjoying just how the ceiling is put together. It's such a unique place. My favorite part of the house is the second floor balcony. There are two ceiling fans so no matter how warm it is we enjoyed the view, the howler monkeys, the parrots, and a good book. Carrillo beach is a blast. The waves are great. We brought our boogy boards from home and road waves every day. If you're looking for a lot of fun and a beautiful place to stay, I would definately recommend this home.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Incredible, better than pictures and descriptions!

Guest: William G.
Date of Stay: 07/04/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

Our stay at Casa Sevana defies description! This house is beautifully designed with every possible comfort in mind, and it is impeccably maintained to the very last detail. My wife, our four children (ages 8-16) and I recently spent 8 immensely enjoyable days at Casa Sevana, and we were all very sad to have to leave. Where does one begin describing the many ways that this house more than lived up to our (high) expectations? At the beginning. Sevana was extraordinarily helpful from the outset. She answered our many questions very graciously, and it was very clear to us from the get-to that Sevana's primary goal is that her guests have an enjoyable stay in all respects. She provided so much information, and we thank her for that! Casa Sevana overlooks the picture-postcard beautiful Playa Carrillo, one of the finest beaches I've ever seen in my many travels, and certainly the most beautiful we've seen in Costa Rica. The home's second-floor balcony gives an expansive and breathtaking view of Playa Carillo from a small hill overlooking it. This balcony became our place of choice each morning, as we watched and listened to the birds and monkeys begin their morning adventures. In the evening the balcony became our hideaway again, from where we watched the incredible sunsets over the ocean. The in-ground pool (with a view of the ocean) was our childrens' favorite place in the lazy afternoon hours -- they spent hours of fun, even if it rained a bit! This home is immaculately maintained, and the owners have made good local contacts to provide a flawless 'checking in' process. Every room in the house is larger than what it appears to be in the pictures. The home is in a safe, secure area (although I believe that can be said about this entire area of Costa Rica), and we felt 100% safe at all times. We were also very happy with the cooking of Zulema, Casa Sevana's housekeeper, with whom we had made previous arrangements (via Sevana herself) about cooking some meals for us. Her 'arroz con pollo' is out of this world! In short, we would go back tomorrow. We checked out many possible home rentals before deciding on Casa Sevana, and we are glad that we did so. Everything about it is relaxing, comfortable, spacious, and super, super clean. I would highly recommend this house, and we wish to thank Herbert and Sevana for sharing their little paradise with us!! Bill and Marlene

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

Five star hotel couldn't compete

Guest: Tony & Missy (Edgewater, FL)
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 09/22/11

This being our second year to Carrillo, we have found during this vacation it to be heaven on earth!!!!!!!!!!!!! We think what put it over the top was our stay at the most glorious place! Attention to EVERY detail was not only in the fact that everything we needed was at our fingertips but, the tranquil, peaceful oceanview! PURA VIDA!!!! We have decided at retirement we will make Carrillo our home. After visiting 3 other areas of Costa Rica, none can compare to this area. Can't wait to return. If you need a sanctuary to get away, Casa Sevana is a perfect diamond! A five star hotel couldn't even compete.

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

Amazing home, view and location!!!

Guest: TravelMama3 (Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 12/22/11

My husband, myself and my 3 children (5, 11, 12) stayed at Casa Sevana in June. Every part of a stay was incredible. Sevana was sweet and personable when making all of our arrangements. The house is a gem. Attention to detail is in every part of it. I learned a huge lesson on this trip, I will only stay in rentals that are considered a vacation home not just an investment property. This home is well maintained and cared for. I loved the private location, at the end of a short road but in walking distance to many restaurants. We felt very safe! There was no airconditioning upstairs, but it was not needed. The layout of the fans and windows upstairs allows the breezes to flow through the house. In fact, one night I was actually cold upstairs, which is amazing for June. We stayed for 2 weeks, at 4 different locations in Costa Rica. Casa Sevana was by far my favorite. It was indeed magical. One recommendation! Stock up on groceries in San Jose or Liberia. They do have grocery stores nearby, but the power goes off fairly regularly and the cheese and meat were a little sweaty. Thank you for our incredible stay!!!

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

Paradise!

Guest: Margareta & Barry (Mount Shasta, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/19/11 Review Submitted: 05/15/11

Paradise – How else can you describe this wonderful house and its location. Everything is just perfect. We spent four wonderful weeks there and included a drive to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. The ziplines were a real experience for us “old folks”; nine cables, the longest being 700 m. What a thrill! However, what we really enjoyed the most was just being in Carrillo & la Casa. To listen to and watch the wildlife from the upstairs patio was true entertainment. We read a lot, took long walks along the beach, swam in the bathtub warm ocean, hung around the pool and tried many of the local restaurants. A wonderful vacation for sure and we hope to return soon. Thank you, Sevana and Herbert; your home is lovely and as a Swede, like you Sevana, we truly felt at home.

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

Great house, great beach!

Guest: None (Connecticut)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

We - my wife and two boys -- much enjoyed our stay in the house and Playa Carillo. It's absolutely perfect for kids. The house was everything, and more, that was promised. And the owners were 100% responsive and helpful. We can't recommend it highly enough. Bob

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

So good, we came back for more!

Guest: Jeff Sala (Gig Harbor, WA)
Date of Stay: 02/20/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

Our first traveling experience to Costa Rica was last year in 2010. A part of our 3 week adventure included staying at beautiful Casa Sevana. When planning our vacation for 2011, we just could not think of a better place to stay - a beautiful home sitting atop a hillside in one of the best beach locations in all of Costa Rica. A place to sit out on the veranda feeling removed from the fast pace of life. A place to relax while viewing the ocean and surrounding flora. The continual sounds of natural fauna will engage your senses, often pulling your eyes away from your book. The house has all the amenities necessary to feel at home while on vacation. We were pleased to have made Casa Sevana our vacation destination once again, so soon after our first trip to this lovely country. You will not regret it . . . .

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

Wish we were still there!

Guest: Laurie and Alex (Milwaukee, WI, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 02/15/11

Casa Sevana is a beautifully designed home with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean surrounded by the lush, tropical paradise that is Carrillo, Costa Rica. Sevana, the home's architect, was most gracious and helpful in our vacation planning. Highlights of our stay include: * the chance to cool off after a day at the beach with a refreshing dip in the backyard pool! * the view of Costa Rican flora and fauna from the second floor deck * awakening at Casa Sevana to a visit from the howler monkeys.... Unbelievably loud and fun to watch! • jumping the waves and boogie-boarding at Playa Carrillo (tops on the list of our two 8-year-olds) * a drive to the nearby town of Islita -- fording a river, visiting the beach, lunching at the luxury hotel (what a view!), and viewing the town of Islita with its building murals and museum/art gallery It was our intention to stay in a house in town, rather than in a remote location, and to visit a less touristy part of Costa Rica. While tourists were clearly present in Carrillo, most of the beach-goers were Costa Ricans. We enjoyed the interaction with those we met! Pura Vida!

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

Casa Sevana, an amazing house in Paradise

Guest: Mick (Cornwall, England)
Date of Stay: 12/29/10 Review Submitted: 02/05/11

We stayed as a family, reaching a maximum of six adults for a short time. We found the house is set up as a family home. It lacks for nothing. Every conceivable extra is included, from in the kitchen, through the living room with the big TV and loads of channels, to the laundry and outside on the balconies. The local fishermen selling fresh huge jumbo prawns, lobsters, and red snapper are only a short walk away down a path where the monkeys swing in the tree tops. Captain Francisco, who's boat is down by the fishermen will take you out for a paid trip to see the whales and dolphins, or even swim with the dolphins. The sun sets are idyllic, when you relax on the upper balcony at night. The local shop is a short walk away, as are all of the local facilities. It is in a local place with local friendly people. Adolpho, the ever helpful taxi driver lives just up the road, and is to be recommended. Sevana, the owner, is sooooo helpful which rounds off a beautiful place for beautiful vacations.

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

Fabulous self catering home

Guest: Lucy (UK)
Date of Stay: 12/23/10 Review Submitted: 01/01/11

This home was in a great location. What made it so excellent for us was also the thoughtfullness of the contents and design of the home - eg. great kitchen contents and cool box for picnics on the beach Would recommend highly

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

Beautiful & Well Managed Home

Guest: fellers5family (Columbia, SC)
Date of Stay: 04/01/10 Review Submitted: 01/19/11

Casa Sevana is blessed with the most beautiful view in Puerto Carrillo. The town, a small beach community preferred by Costa Ricans for its natural beauty, is an excellent destination for rest and relaxation. The home is well appointed and benefits from its owner's detailed attention and upkeep. It is an excellent choice adult vacationers or families traveling with children.

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

Guest: Jeff Sala (Gig Harbor, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/22/10 Review Submitted: 03/22/10

INCREDIBLE! It takes only one word to describe Casa Sevana. The view was spectacular, the wildlife was entertaining, the home was amazing...it was altogether INCREDIBLE! We spent 5 days relaxing pool side at the home and beach side at Playa Carrillo. Both were breathtaking experiences. While beside the pool at the home we enjoyed watching many boats come in and out of the Harbor, Howler Monkey's swinging from the trees, birds flying to and fro, and sunsets that were breathtaking. While beach side, we were enamored by the warm bath like water that we played in, the soft silky sand that we drew names and made deep caves in, and the captivating palm trees that we found shade in. It was truly one of the most remarkable beaches we've ever experienced and just a skip down the road from our fabulous vacation home. The amenities themselves were beyond what we expected. The convenience of the home's location, the layout and furnishings were trendy and comfortable, the kitchen was equipped with all that we needed and more, the bathrooms and showers were spa-like, and the deck with view of the ocean was amazing. We experienced a very relaxing and enjoyable 5-days at this home-away-from-home. We eagerly await our return trip to Costa Rica, specifically Playa Carrillo and Casa Sevana! PURA VIDA! ! !

Recommended for:

Allan & Carolyn, Montreal

Guest: Allan & Carolyn (Montreal)
Date of Stay: 02/26/10 Review Submitted: 03/16/10

We had a great time relaxing in the quiet beachside village at the lovely Casa Sevana. Everything in the house and on the property was as advertised, and as someone else stated in a previous review, much better than the photos. The local restaurants were great; El Tucan for pizza/pasta, El Colibri for excellant steaks and Hula Jungla for pizzas, 'typical' meals and salads. Lots of quiet roads/trails for walks; we didn't do much else but beach, pool, read, siesta and eat - next time we will plan on more time for other activities.

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

Guest: Gary Durday (Washingon)
Date of Stay: 02/17/10 Review Submitted: 02/17/10

This is the second time I have stayed at Casa Sevana. The home is beautiful, well appointed, very well built, clean and well supplied with everything you need to cook in and enjoy Costa Rica. It is a great value and I intend to return. I have visited Guanacaste the last seven years and look forward to returning to Casa Sevana.

Recommended for:

Casa Sevana Is Paradise!

Guest: Jewels (Rumford, Rhode Island, US)
Date of Stay: 02/14/10 Review Submitted: 11/15/10

My friends and I stayed for 10 days in this beautiful home. We all fell in love with the pool and the set up of the home. Upon arrival the green parrot from the photos came right up to us to check us out. The sights and sounds from the yard are breath taking. At 5:20pm everyone grabbed their camera and headed for the back yard to watch and shoot the sunsets. Bird watching is great since there are so many different types of birds and they always have something going on each day. The howler monkeys can also be seen and heard from the house. We will be returning this year to this magical place. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to stay in this great house.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Sean Allen (Sanford, FL)
Date of Stay: 01/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/27/10

We spent the second half of our honeymoon at Casa Sevana, and there is not a better place we could have been. The house is even better than the pictures. The views are terrific. We were worried Carrillo would be too small and all our time would be spent in Samara, but all we needed was in Carrillo. We hope to come back again. P.S. If you want to go horseback riding, go with Luis in Carrillo. You can sign up at the little market on the hill by the beach. He's terrific.

Recommended for:

Guest: jane propsom (bloomington,mn)
Date of Stay: 08/03/09 Review Submitted: 08/03/09

we spent four wonderful days at casa sevana and it was not nearly enough. the pictures on the website so do not do this house justice. it is a beautiful house with an unbelievable view. i could have spent all my time on the upstairs deck just looking out at the ocean and been perfectly content. everything in the house is so great from the kitchen full of everything you would want or need to the airconditioning in the bedrooms which is blessing on those humid costa rican nights. we loved all the wildlife in the yard. it was great to have a beer and listen to the howlers argue or wake up with a cup of coffee and watch the parrots or toucans fly through the yard. i think the beach was a great hidden surprise. if you like the surf you'll love carillo. the waves are awesome. not so big so that kids can't enjoy them but pleny big for adults. we loved having the pool to cool off in after the short walk up the hill from the beach. everything was great except for leaving. we'll be back asap. thanks again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Jim Fatka/Sue Ellen Pabst (Greenville, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 05/22/09 Review Submitted: 05/22/09

We thoroughly enjoyed Casa Sevana. The house is roomy, beautifully laid out. The view of the ocean is great, and the outside, fan-cooled verandahs are perfect for reading, cards, cocktail hours, and conversation. The household amenities (washer/dryer, a/c, pool, coffee maker, dish washer, outdoor shower, blow dryer) all add to the pleasure. The written recommendations for restaurants, groceries, and activities are excellent. The next door neighbor's free bird parrot is entertaining, and the howler monkeys are delightful.

Recommended for:

Guest: Alan S. (Portland, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 04/26/09 Review Submitted: 04/26/09

My wife and I had a delightful 2 week stay at Casa Sevana in April, 2009. Though the house was bigger than we needed, we enjoyed it very much. The air conditioning in the bedrooms, and the pool in the yard were major benefits, since it was very, very hot. We spent a lot of time on the balcony, enjoying the view, listening to and watching birds and howlers, reading and relaxing. Our days included a morning walk and swim at Playa Carrillo and an evening walk and swim and a beer as we watched the sunsets. When the rain finally came on day 10, it was in a 2 hour storm complete with thunder and lightning - we loved it. We took one organized tourist adventure - a short kayak trip on the Oro River, to the mouth and then back to the drop point after a short stroll on Playa Camaronal. The guide was Rene. The trip was arranged by William at the Licorera on the hill into Carrillo from the beach. He can arrange whatever trip you want - arrivada, Volcan Arenal, Monte Verde, etc. We rented a car and used it to go to Playa Camaronal where we saw Olive Ridley turtles coming to lay eggs. Since we went in the daytime, we did not see a full arrivada, though we had free access to the beach and saw about 15 tortoises come up, lay their eggs and return to the ocean. Snorkeling was also great, at both ends of Playa Carrillo and also at the beach below Hotel Punta Islita. We did not need a guide for that. The house is comfortable. There is one neighbor who sometimes goes around his yard in the buff. We didn't mind or pay attention - just thought I'd mention it. We left a small boogie board in the house. It was fun but the waves can get big. The one addition I would suggest for the house, at least in the hottest times, is either a screen door or screen material on the front security door, to be able to get ventilation through the front door. Food - Soda Central, El Tucan and El Colibri(best) were all good in Carrillo. The Italian restaurant and Hotel Esperanza (?) where you turn to get to the house, were not good, though they were friendly. We will certainly consider this house again.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/28/09 Review Submitted: 03/28/09

Casa Sevana is an absolutely stunning house. The views onto the bay and the sunsets will make you want to stay at the house all day. Fortunately, the beach below is equally enticing and you'll have it practically to yourself. Carrillo and nearby Samara have a great blend of being authentically Costa Rican while still providing ample tourist infrastructure. Our week here was amazing. Thank you again.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/24/09 Review Submitted: 02/24/09

We had an amazing time in Playa Carillo. The house has everything you need in terms of commodity, the kitchen is well furnished, the pretty pool, the nice ocean view, the A/C, etc. We found that Playa Carillo was the nicest beach we saw in Costa Rica. The owners were very nice and helpful. We would recommand this house anytime and hope to go back one day.

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Guest: Gary19 (Silverdale, WA)
Date of Stay: 02/02/09 Review Submitted: 02/02/09

Herbert, your house made the trip for us. Comfort, style, amazing view, security, and location all were better than we anticipated. We look forward to renting this home again if it is available next year. Thanks - Gary

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Guest: gillian seale (quebec, canada)
Date of Stay: 01/13/09 Review Submitted: 01/13/09

Your house is absolutely beautiful and very comfortable. We thoroughly enjoyed our 3 week stay. The only problem was that we were not much motivated to leave there to do any exploring. We especially enjoyed sitting on the balcony looking out over the sea in the early morning listening to and watching all the beautiful birds. We often swam in the pool during the day and then watched the sunsets in the evenings. We also saw some howler monkeys across the road in the trees which was quite a thrill after hearing their awesome call several times without seeing them. All in all it was a fabulous place to stay and we came home with ideas on how to renovate our barhroom and change the lighting in our kitchen and living room. We would love to rent this house again next time we go to Costa Rica.

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Guest: Nina Robbins (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 06/16/08 Review Submitted: 06/16/08

We had a wonderful time. The house is a gem –its beautiful design (and the great pool!) made it feel cool even on hot days. And it’s perfect for a vacation because it had everything we could need. The location is great, close to the beach, which is beautiful and clean – wonderful for swimming and for long walks along the water. The village has a well-equipped market and several restaurants so we could have spent a wonderful week without ever leaving town, but Samara just a few miles up the road was great for a little more activity. We highly recommend your house – and we’ll be back, too.

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Guest: Jessica & Thomas Rutherford (Crested Butte, CO)
Date of Stay: 04/24/08 Review Submitted: 04/24/08

What a great house! The interior is very nicely decorated with all the amenities that you can think of. The pool is a great plunge pool to cool off, and good for kids. Carillo Beach is huge, beautiful and not crowded at all. A good area if you want relaxation, and not a lot of action.

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Guest: Bill & Jamie James (Boulder, CO.)
Date of Stay: 04/17/08 Review Submitted: 04/17/08

Best accomadation in Carillo/Samara area.Beautiful home with all amenities.Great views!

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Guest: Karl Klink
Date of Stay: 02/15/08 Review Submitted: 02/14/08

We had a great time – the house is very comfortable, clean, well-equipped and quiet. The kitchen is especially good with every gadget you could need. The laundry is a handy feature. We would highly recommend the house to others.

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Guest: Leah Cooke
Date of Stay: 02/02/08 Review Submitted: 02/01/08

The pictures on vrbo do not do your place justice. It is an absolutely beautiful house! I love the kitchen, my husband is a chef, so he is cooking right now. And all the detail of your house, the beautiful wood ceiling, the fans, very nice.

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