Location: Dominical, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Central America (3 and 1/2 hrs from San Jose; 25 min inland from Dominical)
Accommodations: House on 50-Acre Property, 4 Bedrooms + Loft, 2.5+ Baths (Sleeps 12)
"Your house is phenomenal- the layout works for privacy and the common room brings all together . We did the horseback falls, rain forest zip lines, swam in the Pacific, skinny dipped in your jungle pool, drank much too much, ate like royalty and read 12 books collectively. Absolutely wonderful. For sure a return trip in the future." B. Given
"We had a wonderful week: your house is delightful... This was one of a few vacations that I was not looking forward to going back home.' D. Sidney
"We had an awesome time. Your place is beautiful (jungle pools are my new favorite) and we found all to be in good order. If any problems arose, M and J were quick to fix and very pleasant. We would love to have them here on a daily basis! " M. Lotte
"We cannot possibly describe the magnificent time we had at your home. We were completely spellbound by its beauty and by your touch and details. I hope to bring my brother, the real birder of the two of us next year for his 50th birthday. I know I will never see him as he will be up at dawn and not back till dusk.(I spent hours birding myself!) We saw and confirmed 42 bird species from your deck including a pair of laughing falcons. WOW!" S. Mooney
***
Very private, exotic house with spectacular view over valley to the sea. Very romantic. Unbelievable sunsets. The house is a labor of love, but the spot alone makes living here delicious.
Perched on the edge of a 50-acre tree farm, the deck is a great place to watch falcons, kites, toucans and chattering flocks of parrots. Hummingbirds visit nearby flowers (arbors and pergolas make plants part of the architecture), and butterflies occasionally fly through the house.
Because of the elevation, biting insects are almost nil. Days are hot but there's always a breeze; nights are fresher and good for sleeping. Unlike lower elevations, the area stays lush and green all year.
Bougainvillea, palms and other tropicals share the stage w/ azaleas, tree ferns, and jasmine, which rambles up the outdoor showers. The gardens have been planted with perfume in mind. Mornings ring with birdsong and are a good time for a hike. Afternoon heat is beat by a 5 min ramble to the waterfalls- great for rainforest exploring and skinny dipping. A little dam creates a 30x40 ' jungle pool. The water is clean and cool, the site wild and beautiful. Or you can go to the beach. ..
Well-situated between Dominical, one of CR's premium surf havens, and San Isidro, a bustling little inland city. We're 30 min from each.On the way to Dominical, reserve for a 1-day horseback trip to Nuayuca Falls, a spectacular cataract and swimming hole. You stop halfway there for breakfast and halfway back for lunch at the family ranch w/ resident toucans and scarlet macaws. Dominical is a bit of a scene; you'll find several restaurants and nice surfer atmosphere. There are nature reserves w/ wildlife tours, zip-lines through the canopy, deep-sea fishing packages (some of the best in the world), and tennis at Rio Mar. 15 min south is Ballena National Pk, a gorgeous string of beaches.
San Isidro is the place to shop for food and anything else you might need. We try to time our errands for Thursdays & the huge open-air market where you find everything from organic arugula to sugarcane. The well-stocked supermarket La Corona has good wines and delicious CR beer.
At the farm , be greeted by a lovely Tico couple who caretake; their home is a sort of gate house. Jose is very responsible and handy, Maria can be hired by the hour ($3) to babysit, housekeep or do laundry. Both are wonderful and trustworthy. About 1/4 mile past their house and into the farm is our home. The floor plan consists of 4 separate structures to provide maximum privacy:
The main house is open on 2 sides (unless you prefer to close the accordion wood doors), and has a beautiful hardwood ceiling. A kitchen with every possible accessory (we love to cook!) gives onto the dining area, where a hardwood table seats eight, ten in a pinch. The LR boasts a bamboo daybed, coffee table, and 4 teak lounge chairs. Finally, there's a module housing a fortified storage room, pantry, and a BR with toilet + Mexican ceramic sink/vanity. A ladder climbs to the top of this module, where a loft sleeps to 4 kids
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Right of the main house, separated by a flower-decked wall, is the master cabina. A smaller version of the main house w/ hardwood ceiling and accordion doors framing a similarly gorgeous view, it holds a queen bed w/ lge custom mosquito net, bamboo armoire, and closet. An outdoor shower and sink framed by jasmine and orchids + a small private garden and seating area provide charm and intimacy.
A second cabina is perched above-right from the first, screened by a garden. It has its own deck and outdoor shower with great view, hardwood ceiling, screened windows. Inside is a queen bed, closet, and small bath with toilet + Mexican sink.
The 3rd cabina is left of the main house, down the deck through a pergola. It has an italian tiled floor and hardwood ceiling set upon four white columns. Locally-made bamboo blinds shield morning breezes. A fragrant hedge provides intimacy and frames a private garden with a table + 4 chairs in teak. Dble bed with generous net, armoire and chairs are all locally-made of bamboo, and a hammoc is slung between 2 columns. It too has a sink/vanity + shower and is very romantic!
Teenagers often stay under a huge canvas roof structure with a tiled floor over by the veg garden (fresh herbs, etc) It has electricity and water, dble & single bamboo beds/ custom netting, but is definitely more funky-perfect for them! Solar lights show the way.
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Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: washing and drying would be done by Maria (caretaker)
- Dryer: see above
- Linens Provided: 100% cotton, high thread count sheets. All towels also 100%cotton
- Wood Fireplace: An outdoor copper firepit (movable); also have grills
- Beds
- Queen Bed (2)
- Double Bed (2) : there is a second double bed to use in the tent area or in the sleeping loft
- Twin/Single Bed (3) : in sleeping loft, and in tent area
- Child Bed: a cot can be set up near the parents' bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: Sharp flatscreen LCD with region-free DVD (bring your own DVDs or rent some locally). Cambridge Sound HiFi stereo
- DVD
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library: approx 30 satellite radio channels of music available
- Private Pool: Exotic Jungle Pool
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: Gas stove, convection/microwave oven, toaster and toaster- oven, food processor, blender, etc.
- Cooking Utensils Provided: very well-equipped, no aluminum or teflon
- Refrigerator: standard, good-sized fridge
- Microwave: with convection option
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill (2) : full-sized Weber grill + a small hibachi for smaller groups
- Deck/Patio: 4 teak chaises-longues and little tables; teak table + 4 chairs in rancho cabina
- View/Location
- Ocean View: plunging view over valleys to the sea
- Mountain View: huge, dramatic view over rainforest, then valleys to the sea--beautiful!
- Communications
- Telephone: cell phone may be rented
- Cell Phone
- Other Amenities
- Entrance with caretakers- housekeeping and baby-sitting, books on birds and wildlife, fabulous jungle pool,cell phone can be rented, 3 outdoor showers, tent area as "4th bedroom"
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly
- Wheelchair Accessible (may have limitations)
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Allowed: The house is so open that the line is blurred between indoor and out--it would never smell like smoke (we don't)
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Boating
- Shelling
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Surfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Rock Climbing
- Spelunking
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- Zip Lines, Ultra-Light Plane Riding, Bird (and beast) watching, Sea Kayaking
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Christmas holidays...$2,400/week
Second week of January to April 20 .. $1250/week.
April 21 to August 21 .......... $1050/week.
August 21 to December 20 ........ $ 950/week.
$50/week extra per person over 4 persons.Payment by bank transfer
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Property Photos
- view while cooking dinner in the mainhouse - Dominical, Puntarenas, Costa Rica - House Rental near San Isidro
- sunset from inside the master cabina - Dominical, Puntarenas, Costa Rica - House Rental near San Isidro
- Main house common space--you should see the view in the other direction! - Dominical, Puntarenas, Costa Rica - House Rental near San Isidro
- main house and master cabina on right
- to right of main house, bougainvillea-bedecked way to the master cabina
- Master cabina with private sitting area (outdoor shower is left of image)
- Master cabina's outdoor shower with jasmine trellis
- to right of master cabina (screened by a garden) is the 3rd cabina
- interior (we put screens in this cabina for those who prefer more "closure")
- bathroom with mexican sink, 3rd cabina
- 4 roofs= max intimacy. From right: 3rd cabina, master cabina, mainhouse, rancho
- left of main house, a pergola leads to the rancho cabina
- "rancho" with double bed: peaceful, private, romantic
- valley view from rancho
- a jungle shower in one of nearby waterfalls
- Jungle pool. Wild and wonderful.
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #17669
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This listing was first published here in 2002.
Date last modified - October 04, 2009
