Rainforest delights

Guest: M. (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 11/20/10 Review Submitted: 11/01/11

There is much to enjoy on the property: we saw a three-toed sloth, an iguana, many toucans and other birds, and cool insects. We cooked with fresh ginger and culantro harvested in front of the house and relished the homegrown bananas shared by hosts Pamela and Carter. It rained a lot on our visit but the house is a comfortable place to relax and stay dry while watching the tropical deluge. The natural woods used for the house and furniture are beautiful and unique. Pamela and Carter were so friendly and helpful, meeting us when we arrived, making arrangements with excursions and transportation, and waiting when we departed. Thanks for a wonderful stay!

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

A wonderful corner of paradise!!

Guest: Louise - Serdar - Zeynep - Alex (Istanbul, Turkey)
Date of Stay: 06/26/11 Review Submitted: 07/21/11

We spent the most incredible six nights at The Bird House. On arrival Pamela and Carter were there to meet us and show us around their fantastic property and grounds. We spent our time exploring the area - diving - fishing - beaching and just enjoying the whole atmosphere. Our first visit to Costa Rica is definitely going to be one of many - and we look forward to coming back. We even wished we could make our stay longer instead of the planned 10 days after Costa Rica in Orlando!! With huge thanks to Pamela and Carter for sharing their corner of paradise and making it so easy going and comfortable.

Owner response:Thanks you so much for your kind words. It was nice to have met you and help you enjoy your holiday. Hope all is well back home and we'll see you again someday. Pura Vida, Carter and Pamela

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children.

Livin' Large : "Perfect Storm" at the Birdhouse

Guest: Steve, Martha and Sam (laPorte, Indiana, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/19/11 Review Submitted: 03/07/11

My wife Martha, 23-year-old son Sam and I just returned from 5 weeks [1/18/11 to 2/25/11 in the Birdhouse at Loco Natural. . .in flight from unrelenting northwest Indiana winter. Our stay at the Birdhouse was a "perfect storm" of better type. . .sounds of snowplows replaced by the patter of birds and distant calls of howler monkeys. . . and winter white and gray given way to the "sweet greens and blues" of lush tropical foliage surrounding the Birdhouse. . . handsome and well-maintained hardwood structure asaccurately depicted above. The open-aired kitchen and living areas [bedrooms are enclosed for sleeping] allowed us views of the abundant hummingbirds, toucans, and stunning Morpho butterflies that frequented the property, as well as the everblooming and diverse foliage which owners Pamela and Carter have skillfully cultivated over the 15-some years. Those treats we enjoyed from the breakfast table, while checking e-mail via wireless high speed internet service, . . or hanging out in the hammock with a good read. "Location, location', as they say. It was a 5 minute walk to the palm-lined empty beach [Playa Negra, a 15-20 minute beach walk to Puerto Viejo with its amazing diversity of cuisine [Traditional Costa Rican, Jamaican, Italian, Vegetarian, Pizza, etc.] . . yet discretely located in a way tht gave u a sense of privacy and security. And it sits amidst the 20-25 kilometers of Carribean coastline/tropical forest that stretches from Cahuita to Manzanillo. . .with national parks/refuges at each end and diverse tropical experiences nearby [e.g.,botanical gardens, zip lines, snorkeling, kayaking and surfing--our favorite: whitewater rafting on the scenic Rio Pacuare.] We found, however, that we had rented not just a place. . .but also the insights and acuired wisdom of our owners' many years in the Puerto Viejo community and larger Costa Rica. .places to eat, things to do, safety considerations,and local color. Both Pamela [a native Chilean] and Carter [a Michigan man] often reached out to make our stay more enjoyable. . Pamela dropped off home-grown bananas and personally assisted on several occasions in arranging travel to distant points. . . Carter gave informal tours of the grounds . . .an accomplished percussionist, we hit a couple of his gigs at local haunts. Very naturally we became friends with both. Loco Natural was, in short, a great natural experience. Pura Vida! Steve, Martha, and Sam King

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

Wonderful Caribbean Vacation

Guest: Debbie & Bruce (Everson, Washington)
Date of Stay: 06/29/10 Review Submitted: 09/27/10

Lucky us!! Rented both Casa Mambo and the Birdhouse for the the month of July. If you want a jungle experience that both delights and refreshes you, you've found it in Loco Natural. The houses boast the use of exotic tropical woods and bright Caribbean colors, clean and fully furnished. Delight in the jungle sounds as you wake and as you drift off to bed, and, with a bit of luck, you just may sight toucans, agoutis, sloths, dart frogs, iguanas and more! Certainly try your hand at ziplining, surfing or scuba diving but when you're finished for the day, you won't find anything more enjoyable than slipping into a hammock and letting the sounds of the jungle soothe your soul. Need anything? Pamela and Carter are friendly, helpful and totally enjoyable. Whether you go by foot, bike or car, town is easily and quickly accessible -- Saturday Public Market is a great place to find fresh native fruits, veggies and hand-made items; Live music, great food, outdoor movie theatre, local venders are all nightly activities to enjoy. Pura Vida!

Owner response:Thanks Debbie, we are happy that we met you and your family, it was very nice for us to have you and we hope you the best of lucks, mucha suerte y pura vida, Pamela y carter

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

Easter week 2010 in the Bird House

Guest: csv1 (Detroit)
Date of Stay: 04/03/10 Review Submitted: 06/14/10

Our family never stays in one place on vacation but this year we stayed a whole week in the Bird House. The setting is nothing short of exotic, especially when you are from the midwestern US! Every day we were noticing new plant species not noted the day before. The grounds were lush and incredibly beautiful! The home was comfortable for the four of us and could have accomodated more people. PIt was easy to prepare food there. The home is a work of art with the use of local hard wood and tasteful tiling. Despite the beauty of the homes and the environment, the best feature of Local Natural is its host and hostess: Carter and Pamela who are sincerely warm and helpful people dedicated to facilitating a great experience for their guests. It was easy to walk to the beautiful ocean beach. The water was warm and everyone loved to play in the waves! The hightlight for our kids (13 and 17) was learning to surf. We would highly recommend a vacation here and we hope to return one day.

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

A wonderful visit in The Bird House

Guest: Steven D. (Toronto, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/12/10 Review Submitted: 04/05/10

I want to thank Pamela and Carter for a lovely stay in The Bird House two weeks ago. Our family enjoyed ourselves and felt so comfortable there…we could not have asked for anything better than our time lying in the hammock watching the butterflies and hummingbirds. We enjoyed a nice chuckle listening to the howler monkeys seemingly tease the dogs with their yowling. The Bird House provided the setting for a wonderfully relaxing vacation. Again, many thanks.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Can't wait to Go back!!

Guest: CMAE (Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 05/15/09 Review Submitted: 04/01/10

Loco Natural was everything we hoped it would be. We stayed in the Bird House, which was a perfect size for our family of four. We spent a lot of time out on the porch and on the grounds- we lived in paradise for the 10 days that we were there! Our boys (ages 2 and 4) did a lot of playing and exploring on the grounds, and my husband and I were able to relax on the porch and drink coffee and smoothies while we watched them. Puerto Viejo is definitely a rustic-tourist destination, which was perfect for us. We were there during the rainy season, and it was VERY hot and buggy, which made it uncomfortable at times. But we wouldn't have traded our trip for anything. We are so glad we did it. There is so much to do, and we walked almost everywhere we went. We walked to the beach and to town at least once a day. But we found that we loved the house so much, that we stayed there more than we had anticipated. I loved bird watching right from our house. While I did dishes on the patio, I'd look out and see an amazingly beautiful bird or look at the fruit trees. Pamela and Carter were very helpful and sweet the entire time. While we were there, our little boy got sick, and they reassured us that they would help us in any way they could if we needed it. They told us a lot about the area, were fun to talk to, and offered a very handy laundry service, which is something we really needed. I love Puerto Viejo and can't wait to go back!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.