Itza's Enchanted Manuel Antonio Luxury 4 Suite Home, Pool , Wi Fi!

• Luxury Home in REAL Costa Rica

  Luxury Home in REAL Costa Rica

  • Guest Scott R.
  • Date of stay 03/09/13
  • Review Submitted 03/18/13
  As others have said, the pics are accurate. So are the animals, and so is the "setting." While each visitor deserves his/her own opinion, anyone who was not enchanted by this property or its setting really doesn't belong anywhere but in a resort or a hotel room. Itza is everything you could expect in a hostess/concierge. She was at our disposal all day and all night, doing what we asked of her without being "underfoot." If you asked her to come an hang out with you for a few hours a day, she'd probably do that, too. Considering the openness of the main floor, the proximity of sand and jungle, the home was clean and appropriate. It is beautifully-decorated and very comfortable. A home this large in a country like Costa Rica is a leap-of-faith in itself. The environment is hard on appliances and services, and in the few respects that we were affected, Itza (and the people who work with her) resolved our concerns immediately or made sure we were accomodated. All things considered, what more could you ask of a hostess/owner? Itza did her very best for us regardless of our wishes, and made every effort to see that our needs were always met. Her recommendations (side trips, etc.) were fantastic (go sailing for a morning or a day--you'll love it). Her advice regarding "where" to buy grocies was great. She'd have done more for us if we'd have asked. The home is a bit off the beaten path but, if you're going to the trouble of getting deep into Costa Rica, why not see some "reality" while you're there? It's no different than staying in a high-end home in the Colorado mountains, as long as you're outside a gated community or a resort; your going to get some "real" with you fairytale vacation. Getting used to the home's location is quite necessary; getting around is something you'll need to get the hang of if you're going to have any fun in this part of the country, and learning your way from the house down to Quepos or the Manuel Antonio beach from the house is a good start. The home is well-protected and safe. The restaurants were, on the whole, fantastic. There are great souvenir shops in either of the towns below the home's location. The beaches were good, fun and interesting. More important to us (a party of nine) than a "perfect" house is was the degree to which we were "accomodated," and Itza and her staff were truly perfect in this respect--the first reason I'd go back. Thank you, Itza, for everything.

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• Jungle atmosphere, ample room, responsible owner..

  Jungle atmosphere, ample room, responsible owner..

  • Guest Patricia L.
  • Date of stay 02/23/13
  • Review Submitted 03/11/13
  Although the owner Itza made an error regarding our arrival date (she had confirmed our change from Sunday to Saturday but forget to make the change on her calendar), she & her daughter Abby, with their local connections in being residents of the area, quickly found us very suitable accommodations for our late arrival on Saturday night. We then easily moved to this lovely & spacious home Sunday morning and Itza & Abby even offered us complimentary massages later in the week as an apology-they were great! The house descriptions & pictures are very accurate, and there is very ample space for eight. We have rented in this El Lirio neighborhood previously, & find it very convenient and among friendly locals. However, once you enter the gated area of Itza’s house, you are convinced you are deep in the jungle, with lush foliage & animal sightings & sounds surrounding you (one exception being the barking dog next door). We had housekeeping services twice during our 6 night stay. Access to the pool –down a picturous but unevenly paved rock stairway- could be a bit difficult for those not physically fit & not all the lights at the adjacent barbeque area were working. We noticed some other minor maintenance issues & a the kitchen supplies were a bit light on cooking utensils, but we overall had a very enjoyable stay in this well-designed & furnished home. We would not hesitate to recommend it to friends.

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• Paradise!

  Paradise!

  • Guest JM
  • Date of stay 12/29/12
  • Review Submitted 01/08/13
  I can’t say enough about the house, the wonderful hostess, and the country in general. The pictures are very accurate in depicting this most beautiful home. We had a wonderful time here. I can honestly say that I haven’t enjoyed a vacation this much in a long time! We were 7 adults with plenty of room and privacy for all for 6 nights. The property is beautiful, the monkeys plentiful,( please don’t feed them though, it’s not good for them..and they don’t normally eat bananas) the neighbors were very friendly. We were here in the busy Christmas season and were warned to be careful (as you would anywhere there are many tourists) We felt very safe at all times, although of course we watched our belongings on the buses and at the beach, just like home. Itza arranged a park tour, snorkeling, canyoning and surf lessons (from her son David) for us. All were amazing. The only thing we didn’t fit in were the massages. We’ll have to come back for that! Although the kitchen stove/oven was not working properly,Itza was aware and we were happy to grill on the outside deck. When we went to the public beach, we walked and took the bus back. Itza can show you the short cut..not a bad walk at all..just hot. Transportation to and from Manuel Antonio and Quepos is very easy on the public buses, but they don’t run as often in the eveing, so you may need to take a cab after 8pm.There is a small grocery store just up the block, and a larger one on the main road a few minutes walk away. I couldn’t imagine a nicer hostess than Itza and thank you also to Peter (Petes Place) who arranged a delicious New Years Eve dinner for us at Kapi Kapi. El Avion had great sunset views, and don’t miss the coffe and any meal at Cafe Milagro. Again, Itza thank you for your hospitality. When (not if) we are in the area again, we will look to return here. Pura Vida!!!

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

  Owner response: Thank you so much Jeanne for your wonderful review. It makes me so happy when my guests have a great vacation. I apologise about the stove thingit is being taken care of, the tropics are hard on mechanical things, with the moisture and salt in the air, but I am glad the BBQ worked to save the day. I'm sorry I could not fit in that other massages, in the busy season I need more than one days notice to arrange it as I have appointments I book before, I promise you one when you come back. It makes me happy when people come to my house and love it, I work hard to make it and when the people are happy I am happy. Have a great year and I hope to see you again soon Itza

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• Great house, very spacious, lots of monkeys

  Great house, very spacious, lots of monkeys

  • Guest TravellinMommy
  • Date of stay 11/17/12
  • Review Submitted 12/06/12
  Our group stayed in Itza’s House for 4 nights and we had a great experience. We were three families with a total of 4 young kids but I feel the house will be a great fit for travelers of any age. The house is situated in a local neighborhood a few blocks from the main road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio. It is only a 10 min drive to Manual Antonio national park and the beaches. The architecture of the house is amazing – it backs into the rainforest and the entire back wall of the house is made of windows allowing for spectacular views from both the living room and the terrace. There are three levels – one is the main level which has the open plan living room and kitchen as well as one bedroom. The second level has the master bedroom and a nice terrace facing the rainforest and the third level has two bedrooms. Each bedroom comes with a bath and everything is very modern and clean and very airy. House is super spacious and allows for several families to share with no problems. Air conditioners in every bedroom as well as ceiling fans. Very large verandah off the living room with comfortable seating – we ate all of our breakfasts there and loved to have late night drinks and listen to the sounds of the rainforest. It is very easy to see monkeys especially if you leave a banana on the balcony – one morning we had 10+ monkeys right on the railings of the terrace to the delight of our kids. But you do need to wake up early to see them – they are usually there between 6 and 8 am though Itza says they also come in the afternoon. We also saw some birds in the trees behind the house. There are stairs from the terrace leading down to the pool and hot tub. Both are very nicely landscaped and there is a gazebo with a gas grill next to the pool. Our only disappointment was that the hot tub was freezing cold and we were told this cannot be fixed so it was unusable and so was the pool because of the very cold water. But the weather was pretty hot and the beaches were close so it was not a big issue. The house has parking and a locked gate so there is no issue for the safety of your cars. There is also a supermarket within walking distance that delivers though prices are quite expensive (as we found out is the case with many of the local grocery stores). Itza and her daughter Abby give great massages and we took advantage of their services one night – it was pure bliss to get a massage with the screen doors open listening to the sounds of the rainforest.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Thank You so much for your wonderful review. We are so happy you enjoyed your stay with us and that everything was as you expected it to be or nicer. As to your only complaint, about the coolness of the water in the pool Jacuzzi and the pool itself. Our green season extends from August to December, and during that time we experience many cloudy days and this year especially, quite cool nights. As a result, the water is cooler than normal as it receives less sun to warm it up. As well the Jacuzzi is just that, a jacuzzi, not a hot tub and that is the way the pool came, therefore it;s water will be no different than the pool ( unless of course it's summer and because it is shallower it's water is generally warmer than the pool). We are sorry if you were under the impression it was a hot tub, but I am sure we never gave the impression it was heated. We are in the process of thinning some of the trees that shadow the pool as to let more sun get to it. Again, thanks for your wonderful review and we hope to see you again in the future. Itza

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• Great spacious and modern house, monkeys galore

  Great spacious and modern house, monkeys galore

  • Guest TravellinMommy
  • Date of stay 11/17/12
  • Review Submitted 12/06/12
  Our group stayed in Itza’s House for 4 nights and we had a great experience. We were three families with a total of 4 young kids but I feel the house will be a great fit for travelers of any age. The house is situated in a local neighborhood a few blocks from the main road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio. It is only a 10 min drive to Manual Antonio national park and the beaches. The architecture of the house is amazing – it backs into the rainforest and the entire back wall of the house is made of windows allowing for spectacular views from both the living room and the terrace. There are three levels – one is the main level which has the open plan living room and kitchen as well as one bedroom. The second level has the master bedroom and a nice terrace facing the rainforest and the third level has two bedrooms. Each bedroom comes with a bath and everything is very modern and clean and very airy. House is super spacious and allows for several families to share with no problems. Air conditioners in every bedroom as well as ceiling fans. Very large verandah off the living room with comfortable seating – we ate all of our breakfasts there and loved to have late night drinks and listen to the sounds of the rainforest. It is very easy to see monkeys especially if you leave a banana on the balcony – one morning we had 10+ monkeys right on the railings of the terrace to the delight of our kids. But you do need to wake up early to see them – they are usually there between 6 and 8 am though Itza says they also come in the afternoon. We also saw some birds in the trees behind the house. There are stairs from the terrace leading down to the pool and hot tub. Both are very nicely landscaped and there is a gazebo with a gas grill next to the pool. Our only disappointment was that the hot tub was freezing cold and we were told this cannot be fixed so it was unusable and so was the pool because of the very cold water. But the weather was pretty hot and the beaches were close so it was not a big issue. The house has parking and a locked gate so there is no issue for the safety of your cars. There is also a supermarket within walking distance that delivers though prices are quite expensive (as we found out is the case with many of the local grocery stores). Itza and her daughter Abby give great massages and we took advantage of their services one night – it was pure bliss to get a massage with the screen doors open listening to the sounds of the rainforest. Itza is a supe

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• Awesome Stay!

  Awesome Stay!

  • Guest Pam A.
  • Date of stay 08/13/12
  • Review Submitted 08/24/12
  Our stay at Itza's place in Manuel Antonio, CR, was amazing! One step inside and we were overwhelmed at the beauty of the expansive, open architecture. Each room was welcoming and comfortable, and we were so glad to have so much room to spread out. The deck made us feel like we were right in the jungle, and the pool & surrounding landscaping was beautiful. We decided not to rent a car, and we had little problem getting around, because we love to walk and don't mind public buses. Buses were a convenient way to get to the beach. We did walk to the beach one day - a 25 minute downhill hike which we enjoyed. But we took a bus back home. We walked up hill once, over half way back, and it was very tiring. Great exercise and view though! Taxis seemed over priced. - $6 for 1 km! Manuel Antonio is good for those who have traveled internationally before or are somewhat adventurous. We met many local people who were nice and we always felt safe, but I don't know if we would have felt so comfortable if this was our first overseas trip. This is not a resort. You are in a local neighborhood and the short road to get there is like an alley. Once you are inside the property gate, you feel very secluded. The pool & decks are very private. There is some noise from neighbor dogs and occasional happy children playing ball.. Lots of monkey chatter and cricket/frog sounds. Some monkeys playing in the trees now and then. There is no road noise - unlike most other areas of Manuel Antonio. We LOVED the food! The restaurant prices are similar to US Midwestern cities. Itza's kitchen is well-equipped, but we only ate in for breakfast and some lunches. The market in town is overpriced. Itza gave us directions to a better market (like a Walmart in Quepos) but we never went, since we didn't want to take the time. The little market close to Itza's is great for bananas, pineapple, etc. All restaurants we tried were very good; tops were: La Luna (in Gaia hotel), Victoria's, and Canopy - great value there. Service at Kapi Kapi was great. Don't miss Itza and Abby's massages - totally awesome & worthwhile! Itza was so friendly and helpful, honest and caring. Her English is so good, and she will help you with orienting yourself and planning things. We took the Canyoning Tour - waterfall rapelling - an awesome, indescribable adventure! (8am-1:30, incl lunch.) The national park was fun - nice beaches. Saw a few monkeys and a sloth.

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• This house is amazing

  This house is amazing

  • Guest L J.
  • Date of stay 01/21/12
  • Review Submitted 02/17/12
  If you are trying to decide where to stay in the Manuel Antonio area, look no further. Our travel group (2 families with children aged, 5, 9, 11) loves to book a private home so we have our own pool, our own bedrooms and our own kitchen. At Itza's we never once worried about security or the quality of our accomodations. The house is beautiful. It is tucked away off the main road amongst the local housing and it is very close to town. Walking distance to the grocery store (or, they deliver!) and a short cab ride to the beautiful beaches. The jungle behind the house is astounding. Monkeys, bats, toucans, etc. were abundant. In fact, we made a point of coming home every day at "monkey time" to watch 6-25 white faced monkeys dancing on our roof and skylights. Itza, Abby and David are amazing. Whatever you need, they help. Even if you don't need, they offer. The massages in the house were A+ and the beach surfing through David was superb. On our 4th trip to Costa Rica I can honestly say we have never been treated better. They really care.

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

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• What a great vacation

  What a great vacation

  • Guest L J.
  • Date of stay 01/21/12
  • Review Submitted 02/17/12
  If you are trying to decide where to stay in the Manuel Antonio area, look no further. Our travel group (2 families with children aged, 5, 9, 11) loves to book a private home so we have our own pool, our own bedrooms and our own kitchen. At Itza's we never once worried about security or the quality of our accomodations. The house is beautiful. It is tucked away off the main road amongst the local housing and it is very close to town. Walking distance to the grocery store (or, they deliver!) and a short cab ride to the beautiful beaches. The jungle behind the house is astounding. Monkeys, bats, toucans, etc. were abundant. In fact, we made a point of coming home every day at "monkey time" to watch 6-25 white faced monkeys dancing on our roof and skylights. Itza, Abby and David are amazing. Whatever you need, they help. Even if you don't need, they offer. The massages in the house were A+ and the beach surfing through David was superb. On our 4th trip to Costa Rica I can honestly say we have never been treated better. They really care.

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• Wow with MORE wow!!

  Wow with MORE wow!!

  • Guest steve w.
  • Date of stay 01/28/12
  • Review Submitted 02/09/12
  We just returned after spending 2 weeks at Itzas' beautiful home...the pictures on the site actually dont even do this home justice...absolutely stunning...the owner (Itza) and her family go FAR above and beyond what most rental owners would do...a daily call to see how we were (7 of us travelling - 4 adults 3 children)...if we needed anything...where to eat...arranging tours for us or just getting us a taxi to the beach we've never in several vacation rental experiences had the attention paid with such attention to our comfort. The housekeeper/groundskeeper Ismail was not only thorough but HONEST...i had accidentally left about $100 US in local Colones in a pair of shorts and put through the wash...it was returned to me by the housekeeper the next day after he emptied the dryer!! unheard of in my books....the pool is cleaned daily (sometimes twice if leaves are in it) and despite what other reviews may indicate about the neighbourhood we walked to town many times and were always made to feel welcome by the neighbours (and their children)...dont miss out on one of Itzas' massages (or her daughter Abys') and if you need anything in town Itza, her son David or Aby will find you the best way to get there or arrange it for you. Dinner - Nicholas has best beef in Costa Rica that we've tried...lunch...Marlins or El Avion...ATV quad adventure is WELL worth the money. Snorkeling on the beach or close to the National Park was amazing!! Monkeys abound the house in early evening EVERY day and are a great source of amusement and better picture taking than you'll get anywhere else!!...couldnt recommend any higher...thank you Itza, David and Aby (and of course Scooby and Max!!). Steve,Nicole, Stephanie, Chris, Lisa, Curtis, and Vanessa - Toronto Ontario Canada

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• WOW with more WOW...

  WOW with more WOW...

  • Guest steve w.
  • Date of stay 01/21/12
  • Review Submitted 02/06/12
  We just returned after spending 2 weeks at Itzas' beautiful home...the pictures on the site actually dont even do this home justice...absolutely stunning...the owner (Itza) and her family go FAR above and beyond what most rental owners would do...a daily call to see how we were (7 of us travelling - 4 adults 3 children)...if we needed anything...where to eat...arranging tours for us or just getting us a taxi to the beach we've never in several vacation rental experiences had the attention paid with such attention to our comfort. The housekeeper/groundskeeper Ismail was not only thorough but HONEST...i had accidentally left about $100 US in local Colones in a pair of shorts and put through the wash...it was returned to me by the housekeeper the next day after he emptied the dryer!! unheard of in my books....the pool is cleaned daily (sometimes twice if leaves are in it) and despite what other reviews may indicate about the neighbourhood we walked to town many times and were always made to feel welcome by the neighbours (and their children)...dont miss out on one of Itzas' massages (or her daughter Abys') and if you need anything in town Itza, her son David or Aby will find you the best way to get there or arrange it for you. Dinner - Nicholas has best beef in Costa Rica that we've tried...lunch...Marlins or El Avion...ATV quad adventure is WELL worth the money. Snorkeling on the beach or close to the National Park was amazing!! Monkeys abound the house in early evening EVERY day and are a great source of amusement and better picture taking than you'll get anywhere else!!...couldnt recommend any higher...thank you Itza, David and Aby (and of course Scooby and Max!!). Steve,Nicole, Stephanie, Chris, Lisa, Curtis, and Vanessa - Toronto Ontario Canada

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

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Additional information about rental rates

Christmas Dec 15- Jan 5 $700.00 per day

Easter April 18-25. $600.00 per day

Thanksgiving Nov. 23 - Nov. 30. $500.00 per day

50% on booking 50% week before arrival.

Ask about out special discount for full payment in advance.

See prices below for Christmas - Easter- Thanksgiving

Additional Fees and Taxes:

13%