Vacation Rentals by Owner

Recent Guests loved Casa Selva!

Guest: Victoria
Date of Stay: 04/15/12 Review Submitted: 05/01/12

Just got back from a wonderful trip. Casa Selva is an amazing retreat into the jungle, yet only a short drive from San Juan Del Sur. It feels like you are in middle of nature yet have all the luxury amenities such as wi-fi, fully equipped kitchen and an infinity pool to cool off in after a day at the beach. If you are lucky the monkeys will make an appearance & watch you swim! Mandy (our concierge) took care of everything for us, arranged surf lessons, massages etc. 24hr guards made us feel very

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Perfect getaway!

Guest: David L.
Date of Stay: 01/05/12 Review Submitted: 01/16/12

My wife and I just returned from 2 weeks in Nicaragua, 4 days of which were spent at Casa Selva. This was easily one of our most memorable experiences. Perched up on the hill overlooking the Pacific this location is tough to beat. Its close enough to San Juan Del Sur (about 30 minutes) to benefit from the restaurants and shops but far enough away that the beach just down the road is quiet, clean and spectacular. The house is exactly what we were looking for. It was spacious, clean, has a great kitchen, TV to watch movies on (no Cable), Wifi, two beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms, and its open air concept was literally a breath of fresh air (no glass windows, just screens). The mountain air rolls through day and night and is just amazing. Owner Laura was a huge help providing us with info before our arrival and putting us in touch with various options for car rental (you'll need a 4x4 to access the house). Gabby who helps manage the property in Nicaragua, met with us, showed us around San Juan Del Sur and escorted us to the house. She was just amazing. If you are looking for a beautiful spot that offers both jungle and beach combined with the frills of modern living, then Casa Selva is tough to beat. The infinite pool overlooking the Pacific isn't too shabby either. Always cleaned by the local security guys (super friendly), it makes for a nice dip after a day at the beach. Truly a unique experience my wife and I will not soon forget. Dave & Julie Montreal

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A visit we will remember forever. Rejuvinating and

Guest: Vicki
Date of Stay: 08/10/11 Review Submitted: 09/09/11

So glad we chose Casa Selva for the Nicaraguan portion of our trip. Located in a jungle, surrounded by howler monkeys, minutes down a four-wheel drive road to a (virtually) private surfing beach with all the comforts of home and the amenities of a five star resort. Do connect with the owners prior to arrival and take them up on their helpful advice...how to shuttle from the Costa Rica border, who to rent a 4x4 from on Sjds (though you could equally forgo the 4x4 rental and use Iskra's shuttle on the days you want to go into Sjds - this would mean you would make a 10 - 15 minute walk to the beach on foot, not a bad option for the adventurous) Gabby arranged massages for us, had someone stock our kitchen prior to our arrival, and offered someone to cook for us for $15/day (though we did not use the cook.) We felt absolutely safe and comfortable in what our kids affectionately called our 'tree house'...and the sunsets are amazing!

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Happy Honeymooners!

Guest: Kyle and Grace
Date of Stay: 07/14/11 Review Submitted: 07/20/11

My new wife and I spent our honeymoon at Casa Selva. What a great place to experience a tropical paradise. Not only was the house awesome, the location and accommodations were excellent. The security guards were very helpful and courteous. If you are coming to surf, it will be hard to find a better place to stay. Playa Madera is right down the mountain. Joel and Laura are such great people that make sure every question or concern you have is answered. Couldn't have been happy with our choice. We will be back!

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Wonderful Adventure

Guest: Shelley P.
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 07/29/11

My adult son and I had the pleasure of living in the jungle of Nicaragua, in Casa Selva, for 7 weeks. The experience will be remembered for a lifetime. The length of the stay enabled us to make Casa Selva our home, and we became intimately familiar with life in the jungle from a place of comfort! The house is gorgeous, the pictures are 100% true. The home is spaceous, impeccably clean and well kept, and provided the conveniences of very important items like several styles of coffee pots, a well-equipped kitchen (pots and pans, dishes and small appliances), and two types of filtered water. The fridge was large enough for us to stock a weeks worth of groceries, no problem. The house is well screened (many windows) and it feels as though you are living outside ... the sounds of the jungle are with you in the comfort of your bedroom! The monkey sounds became an expected and familiar part of every morning, as did the parakeets' squabbles. The lightning and thunder events could be watched from the living room, and the sunsets were spectacular. The other conveniences were much appreciated ... back up power, WiFi, hot showers, a cool swimming pool after a hike back from the beach! The cleaning service was amazing, laundry service too. The location was isolated enough to feel apart from civilization (a welcome break, especially for two writers), but close enough to Sjds to enjoy the conveniences of grocery stores and restaurants. We rented a vehicle for the first 2 weeks, and then opted to have a driver/4x4 vehicle pick us up and drive us to town for our supplies once a week. Thank you so much, Casa Selva, for providing us an amazing home base for our jungle experience!

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

Semana Santa Guests

Guest: Pete
Date of Stay: 04/20/11 Review Submitted: 05/28/11

Casa Selva was a spectacular get away in an absolutely beautiful part of Nicaragua. The house is at the top of a ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean. About a mile away is a very private beach with a wonderful cabana. The beach is gorgeous and is a short walk north from Playa Medera, one of the best surfing beaches on the Nicaraguan Pacific Coast. San Juan Del Sur is a 20 minute SUV ride down the mountain and we enjoyed several dinners there. The food was outstanding and the town was very entertaining since it was spring break there and they had about 50,000 more people in town that normal. We really enjoyed the wildlife including the monkeys, birds, and iguanas.The monkeys come very close to the house and are so entertaining to watch. The roads are not good so you need a 4 wheel drive to get around. Casa Selva is in a gated community and there is security always nearby. We felt very secure and the guards were all very helpful and friendly. Great trip and we would absolutely stay at Casa Selva if we have a chance to visit Nicaragua again.

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Wonderful !!!!

Guest: Maria Camila (Honduras)
Date of Stay: 04/17/11 Review Submitted: 01/16/12

We stay in Casa selva the last year during spring break. The house in the photo wasn't available so they rent us another one just like Casa selva. Everything was amazing! The views, the house, the staff. We have 2 kids and they had a great time. The beach is 2 minutes down the road by car, and you can walk to another 2 beaches near by, all of them wonderful white sand and clear blue ocean. The house is very beautiful and comfy, we had ocean breeze all the time, so although the house doesn't have air conditioning is really fresh. We can not wait to come back there. I'm sorry it took so much time to writte this review !!!!!

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

melanie and randy

Guest: mel (delta, bc, canada)
Date of Stay: 03/25/11 Review Submitted: 04/03/11

Casa Selva is a haven on the hill. The home is so beautifully designed.Cool polished cement floors,beautiful wood accents and beams and no glass windows but mesh screens with shutters all thru the house. Air conditioning is not needed as by opening all these shutters you get an amazing breeze running thru the house and enables you to hear the outdoors. And boy do you want to hear the outdoors! The birds sing to you , the howler monkeys laugh at you and the crickets just happily chirp to you. We were blessed to see families of monkeys, complete with their tiny babies travelling on their backs, two sloths (one right behind our house), parakeets, vultures,eguanas, gekos, and some really cool bugs.No scorpions or tarantulas but I know they were out there .The security guards are so nice and Gabby (the concierge) was just a phone call away (with the cell supplied at the house). We ran out of propane one night at 8:00pm and in less than half an hour Gabby had one of the guards there changing the outside tank. The pool is pristine. Watching the red glow of the sun dip below the horizon from the pool was magic. Most times we had the pool all to ourselves. Very private and a few paces from the house. One evening we even had a vulture come to the edge of the pool for a drink. It was like he was saying, "You're in my house now.." and apparently if you want to see more monkeys at dusk/dawn, just splash....they like to watch humans swim. I guess we are as unique to them as they are to us. We also rented a must needed 4x4 Jeep , rented surf boards, took lessons and headed off every day to be a local. We are a family of 4 (kids 14,16) . We must have looked the part , in our rustic jeep, boards on top, bathing suits on. We even had a surfer dude come up to us in town to ask some advice about the waves as he was new in town. We have never been so sweaty, dusty, tired (from surfing , sun) and simplistic.....and never been happier. We met some amazing people; from the couple who we rented the jeep from (the wife gave us our surfing lessons) , to Gabby and her sweet daughter who showed us what tamarands were, to a neighbour in the Balcones,( who very hospitably invited us over one night for a BBQ on their huge beautiful deck while we sipped a cold one and watched the sun set) and finally, to every face that would smile at you if you tried your spanish..no matter how bad it was. Thank you Joel and Laura for generously sharing your home with us. Melanie and Randy

Owner response:Randy and Melanie, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, your pictures were fantastic, and we are so genuinely happy you enjoyed our home and Nicaragua as much as we do! What really made us happy was that you were able to feel as though this was your home while you were there, and not just a place you slept. Happy Travels, and hopefully you'll return to stay with us again at Casa Selva in the near future! Joel and Laura

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

Amazing honeymoon

Guest: Leanne and Jen (Toronto, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 02/18/11 Review Submitted: 03/11/11

My wife and I just got back from staying at Casa Selva. We had such an amazing time there and fell in love with the house instantly! We've been to several all inclusives but this was the best trip by far! We rented a 4x4 to get back and forth to town-which we would recommend. San Juan is a friendly little town, full of Central American culture and even though we didn't speak a lot of Spanish we were able to get by. The sunsets were breath-taking, which we enjoyed from the beach and from the house. The howling monkeys had us up earlier in the morning which was great because we didn't want to miss anything! We did some surfing at Managua beach (first time ever), the zipline canopy tour and went for a tour with our guide Francisco to Grenada to see the active volcano (amazing!!) and to check out the local market (souveniers etc.) We also went to El Gato Negro the local coffee shop in town and picked up some coffee beans for our morning coffee. The photos of the house are accurate. It was really refreshing to feel the breeze flowing through the house and the concrete helps to keep the house cool. The guards were friendly and helpful although most of them only spoke Spanish "no problemo" we used our trusty spanish dictionary which was at the house. All-in-all the best trip ever. Very safe and a great return for your dollar! Go check it out!!

Owner response:Leanne and Jen! We are so happy to hear your first experience off a resort was so positive! We are always glad when guests step outside the comfort zone of the "all inclusive" for a little soft adventure. You were both a pleasure to assist and we hope to have you back at Casa Selva in the near future! And I promise to have a talk with our monkeys about the early wake ups, but they just don't seem to listen to my requests!

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

Nicaragua at its Best

Guest: Julie (Omemee, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/24/10 Review Submitted: 01/12/11

Casa Selva was a dream home and was a perfect place to spend a vacation. We were in walking distance to the some of the best beaches for surfing and for relaxing and the house was a perfect retreat away from the urban chaos. In the heat of the day, the house stayed cool because of the breeze that flowed through. Monkeys greeted us in the morning and entertained during dinner. The bedrooms were modern and spacious and the house had a great open concept. We loved the fact that Balcones is ecologically conscious and felt a little more comfortable knowing that our footprint in Nicaragua was smaller than when staying at a resort. The employees at Balcones treated us like family. They helped us with everything from getting home on New Years Eve to greeting us with a flashlight when we arrived home late. They were friendly and positive, and worked so hard at making our vacation the best it could be. Laura and Joel went above and beyond to get us prepared for our trip and helped us make the most of the area. San Juan del Sur is a cute town with all the amenities needed… café, grocery store, spas, tour centers, restaurants, market with fruit, vegetables and fish, and of course a beach. What more could anyone ask for?

Owner response:Julie, It was such a pleasure meeting you and your group and assisting you with sorting out your plans in the months leading up to your stay at Casa Selva. Wishing you many adventures to come, and we would love to host you all in the future again in Nicaragua!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

awesome stay

Guest: dan faulkner (toronto ontario canada)
Date of Stay: 12/06/10 Review Submitted: 02/27/11

My girlfriend and my recent stay at Casa Selva was absolutely amazing. I was so excited to take my first trip to Nicaragua and the owners answered all our questions and helped us in so many ways. This house is straight out of architectural digest with the views of the ocean from the house that are picture perfect and sunsets that are stunning. For me, one of the best parts of the stay was the proximity of the beaches and that i had a choice of 3 to go to each offering a different waters. There is a beach with waters great for swimming, another with smaller waves for fun and one with huge waves for surfing. I finally learned how to surf and boogie board. The infinity pool at Casa Salva was also a bonus, it was so nice to wake up and take a dip in the pool, relax, while watching monkeys swinging in the trees around us. And zipling in town was amazing too. We rented 2 vehicles during our stay in Nicaragua. We got ourselves a Hilux from Dollar to explore the north of the country and switched over to the landcruiser when we got to the house. These landcruisers are fantastic, not much luxury, but great fun on those dirt roads around the house. Awesome time and I can't wait to go back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

100% Relaxation

Guest: Ashley (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/07/11

This was my second time travelling to Nicaragua, and prior to arriving at Casa Selva my boyfriend and myself travelled to a few other places in the country. Some of the things that stand out about Casa Selva, compared to the other places we've been are: 1) not needing bug spray, the constant gentle breeze and the ceiling fans did wonders in that regard. 2) not being too hot, again, being situated on top of a hill there was great air flow, and the pool was right there, it was always a refreshing temperature and had the same amazing view of the ocean (and sunset!) as the house. 3) hot water. it may not seem necessary but sometimes after a day of surfing when it's already dark out, hot water feels good. As soon as we arrived we were struck by how much more spacious the house seemed than in the pictures. we were also blown away by the attention to detail, like the perfectly outfitted kitchen for whatever you'd want to make (i had paninis for lunch on a regular basis and my boyfriend loved BBQing fresh meat on the deck) and all the information at hand on the house, the town of San Juan Del Sur, and the country of Nicaragua. Everything was spotlessly clean and very comfortable. There was always a member of the staff near by for security or to lend a helping hand. We felt totally away from it all yet with the knowledge if we needed help, it was right there. we never once had a problem with the wireless internet while there, i could use my iphone to check the weather, confirm our flight home, and keep in touch back home. While neither of us know how to drive standard, we did rent a 4x4 automatic truck through Dollar. You really do need a 4x4 on the roads, especially as we were there at the end of rainy season. the good news is, it's easy to rent one. We picked up our truck from the airport in Managua, and returned it in SJDS. (after 3 or 4 days there is no added cost to return a vehicle to another location with Dollar) After trying to find our way out of the capital, driving the vehicle back the day we left was not an attractive option, and Laura and Joel were helpful in arranging a shuttle through Izkra Tours in SJDS so we were able to pick up some of the amazing coffee at Gato Negro (next door to Izkra) then go directly to the airport in a quiet van with A/C. We also met Laura and Joel's friend John who rents vintage Land Cruisers in Nicaragua. we rode in a few of them while we were there and if you can drive standard, this is definite

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Peaceful getaway

Guest: Kate (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/20/10 Review Submitted: 12/04/10

Not quite knowing what to expect, I arrived at Casa Selva and was greeted by friendly maintenance staff. I left the cold drizzling rain at home to arrive to a pleasantly hot and humid lush jungle. It was just the end of the rainy season for Nicaragua, so all of the foliage was lush, green and beautiful. The house itself is very comfortable; I wasn't used to screens for windows! But quickly understood why when it allowed for a much needed breeze throughout the house. Duvet covers are provided if you get cool at night! It would have been very easy to have stayed at the house the entire length of my stay; however, the impeccable beaches (the best one just minutes away!), the day trips, and 2-3 day trips in the area were too good to miss! The closest town of San Juan del Sur has everything you need. I suggest renting an all-terrain vehicle and knowing how to drive standard transmission for the freedom to move about! Otherwise, bring your camera, hiking shoes, sunscreen, beach towel, and a good book! This is the perfect getaway if you are looking to relax and enjoy hearing nature's jungle sounds!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Unforgettable Vacation!!

Guest: jennifer (canada)
Date of Stay: 11/12/10 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

Wow, I don't even know where to begin, what an amazing vacation! Situated in the luscious jungle amongst the curious wildlife, breathtaking sunsets, and beautiful beaches, Casa Selva is pure perfection. The house offered all that was expected but more. Being woken up by a cool fresh breeze and the smell of rich Nicaraguan coffee was the most perfect start to the day. Then choose from 3 nearby beaches each with its unique character. We rented a vintage 'Landcruiser' for the week which added nothing but adventure and a pure 'local' feel to our stay.....highly reccommended. The staff at the Balconnes were both professionnal and friendly, could not have felt more at home. When visiting the nearest town, San Juan Del Sur, make sure to hit Gato Negro, the local coffee house. They have superd homemade food and offer lots of reading material to pair with your morning java. Zip lining at 'Da flying frog' is also a must, and the perfect way to see the most beautiful, untouched scenery in the country. My boyfriend and I stayed for 1 week, but I wish it was longer, we will most definitely be making more trips back. Casa Selva...every elemnt of a perfect vacation.....couldn't have asked for more!

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

Wild Honeymoon

Guest: Krystin Selfridge
Date of Stay: 09/12/10 Review Submitted: 10/20/10

My husband and I rented Casa Selva for our honeymoon a couple of weeks ago. We wanted something easy and laid back without going to an all inclusive. And we found it here. The house is absolutely beautiful and very comfortable. While we were there it was just about into the rainy season so a bit muggy or so we were told. We could not feel it inside the house. With the way the house is designed we got a constant breeze from both sides of the house and had the fans just in case. And the amazing pool was just a few feet away.The perfect spot to watch a sunset if you ask me. The beds were comfy, the kitchen was fully equipped for anything you might need. A set of instructions, information and contact numbers are provided in the house for any eventuality ( this includes maps, phrase books etc.)The staff on the grounds were very helpful, they even washed our truck for us and helped us with our bags. Oh and speaking of bags, my husband's did not arrive with us but the next day it appeared at our door. The airport had brought it to the concierge who drove it to the house for us. The concierge was fantastic as well. The day we arrived she had a driver meet us and drive us from the airport to town, took us for groceries and then escorted us up to the house. And was always available to us if we had questions or needs. In town the local culture is wonderful. Fresh fish almost everyday at the market, coffee , books and the best brownies in the world at El Gato Negro( the local coffee shop ..a must) The people are very nice, helpful , friendly and welcoming. All in all this is a place we will go back to. If you are someone who loves to travel and wants to stay a little off the beaten path this is the place for you. Trust us, those sunsets off the Pacific are not to be missed!

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Magical Vacation

Guest: Candice
Date of Stay: 08/22/10 Review Submitted: 09/02/10

This was one of the most magical vacations, the house, setting, sunsets, beaches were more beautiful than we could have imagined. Joel and Laura organized for a wonderful hostess to meet us and show us around town, and the security/staff at the place at the complex where the house is were all gracious, everything was very smooth. Thank you - We are already planning our trip for next year. I recommend this house and San Juan del Sur highly!

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An email from a recent vacationer:

Guest: Tara
Date of Stay: 08/20/10 Review Submitted: 09/12/10

We booked Casa Selva for four nights in August for our honeymoon and had an amazing time! The house is truly extraordinary and was fully equipped with everything we could possibly want or need and is close to the beautiful beaches. Laura was so helpful during the planning process (especially in making sure we rented a 4x4, which you will need) and the staff on the grounds went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure we were taken care of and comfortable.

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Adventure

Guest: Cailey L.
Date of Stay: 07/09/10 Review Submitted: 10/20/10

The beach, the house, the weather, the jungle sounds: all amazing! The house is beautiful feels like a natural extension of the jungle. Totally off the beaten path, in a good way. And in town and at the beach you definitely won't get a mob of tourists. There are several beaches to choose from, all with something different to offer; it's a perfect place for surfers of all abilities. For beginners (like myself), the warm Pacific was very forgiving. For those looking for a little adventure, this is the place for you!

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Gorgeous Place!

Guest: Chris and Nat D.
Date of Stay: 05/23/10 Review Submitted: 10/20/10

Beautiful house in an amazing setting. Very secluded, around 15-20 minutes drive from San Juan, very close to three great beaches; the two swimming beaches were all but deserted, the surf beach is busier but nothing compared to what we've seen in Costa Rica. Many other options within driving distance (4x4 is a good idea, especially if it's been raining!) House was very clean and well appointed; nice furniture, beds were fine, kitchen was well equipped, pool is close by. Staff on site were friendly and helpful. Except for the concierge who is fluent, not much English spoken. The design of the house is quite stunning: posted pics were accurate.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/25/10

We stayed just after new year 2010 and liked it very much. The house is beautiful, cool, and comfortable. Nice set up there too. We didn't have a car and just walked to the beach.

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