Villa Encantada stay was terrific

Guest: ticoatheart (Tampa, Florida)
Date of Stay: 03/01/06 Review Submitted: 08/22/06

Our family spent 7 wonderfull days at Villa Encantada. Not too far away from Nuevo Arenal a quiet little town which we all enjoyed visiting. Villa Encantada is close to, and has a spectacular view, of Lake Arenal. The owner (your host) also has a pontoon boat available for fishing trips. Or, in our case, for sight seeing cruises. We were in awe of the beautiful Volcano Areanal. Our trip on the boat was so enjoyable and relaxing. Speaking of relaxing. From the moment we arrived at the Villa we felt at home. The Villa is everything we had read about prior to selecting Encantada as our vacation destination in Costa Rica. Honestly Encantada is everything it was to be and MORE. The Villa has a beauty and warmth you can feel the moment you see it... Not to mentiion how one feels upon walking in the front door. Of course you will have to tear yourself away from the spectacular view of Lake Arenal, from the front porch, in order to enter the Villa. Walking into the Villa you immediately have a view of the back porch and the garden paradise which is your backyard. The pond and island are the center piece of the back yard and garden. You will want to walk across the suspended bridge to the island where you can enjoy feeding the fish in the pond. A daily task my Granddaughter gladly took on and which we all enjoyed sharing with her. There are 4 Kayaks available to use in the pond or take down to the hill to Lake Arenal. My granddaughter and I tried our kayaking skills in the pond. She took to it like a duck takes to water. And, I can attest to the fact the water in the pond is clean, clear, cold and drinkable... As I swallowed half the pond before I mastered the art of getting onto the Kayak. Another fond memory from our stay at Encantada. The nature trails created by the owner are maped out for your review. Or, as wek did, you can begin exploring them on your own. Getting caught up in the beauty of the rain forest, following the flowing creek up to the water fall and beyond... An enjoyable time was had by us as we explored the gardens and trails of Encantada. Every morning we were awakened by the Howler Monkeys in the rain forest. Once you have heard them you are not likely to forget it. Even better than hearing them was seeing them one morning from the back porch of the Villa. Watching the amazing variety of birds eating from the bird feeder and taking a whole bunch of pictures... Most enjoyable! And, if you don't have a camera I seriously doubt if you will soon forget the first time you see the Toucans. We enjoyed the variety of restaurants which are easy to get to from the Villa. We found them to be clean, reasonably priced and the food and service was very good to terrific. Eating "Tico" is most enjoyable, and we would recommend the pleasure that can be derived from eatiing "Tico". The canopy tour is most enjoyable and only a short drive from the villa. If you want to see the rainforest try seeing it from the Top down... Very impressive. Our host, guide, skipper (on our boat tour of Lake Arenal) and new "Friend". Made our stay at the Villa truly and Enchanted vacation. You can not ask for a better host anywhere. We will return again to visit paradise at Villa Encantada. It is everything it was said to be... and more!! If you are going to Costa Rica you do not want to miss out on staying at Villa Encantada where you can experience the gem of Costa Rica... Lake Arenal, and the crown jewel Arenal the Volcano

Recommended for:

Lake Views, Wildlife, Horticultural Paradise, Waterfalls, Trails, Clean, Modern, Incredible Place

Guest: Eric (United States)
Date of Stay: 01/22/12 Review Submitted: 02/02/12

First off, Glenn is the man. I can't tell you how helpful he was during the seven days we stayed at Villa Encantada. Glenn went above and beyond the call of duty. I lived in Central America for almost three years so I have a good take on expats abroad and whether their rental property is legitimate. Glenn surpassed all my expectations. In regards to the property, I can't even begin to explain it without photos. It is like its own national wildlife refuge. There are countless trails, immaculate landscaping that rivals that of some of the best resorts in Costa Rica, a massive pond, waterfalls, and plenty of wildlife. The views...? Incredible. The weather...? Perfect. The location...? Just a few minutes from Arenal where you can get whatever you need whether it be grocery stores, a clinic, a pharmacy, bars, restuarants, etc...I preferred Arenal over the much more touristy La Fortuna. The locals in Arenal, expats and Ticos, were all friendly and a pleasure to be around. I have traveled all over Central America and I can honestly say that Glenn's place completely blew me away. The house is in excellent condition and we didn't have to worry about a thing. If I go back to Costa Rica I will be staying at Glenn's again.

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

Lush Tropical Costa Rican Villa!

Guest: LMOnline (Atlanta, GA USA)
Date of Stay: 12/18/11 Review Submitted: 01/22/12

We stayed at Villa Encantada for a week last year for Christmas. Villa Encantada has lush, beautiful grounds! Glenn is the best! He recommends the best locations, provides directions to you, recommendations when to go (go Zip Lining in the morning if you can as the afternoon you are more likely to get rain). He’s knows the people and the area and his advice is always spot on. Nuevo Arenal has some great resturants. Las Delicias has GREAT food. Luck Bug Gallery is amazing and so is the restaurant. At the Villa you can have someone come cook for you an amazing, authentic Costa Rican dinner. The Villa has beautiful hardwood doors and furniture throughout the house. We thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing vacation!

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

A Must Stay for the most magical Costa Rican experience!!

Guest: harmonichart (Brookdale, CA/USA)
Date of Stay: 12/04/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

We made a wise choice when we found Villa Encantada in the Lake Arenal area. Every amenity that was advertised was there and then some. The host/owner made sure that any request we had was fulfilled within hours. He did not live on the property, but still arranged everything to be managed efficiently. The property itself offered everything that Costa Rica is famous for: waterfalls, swimming, wildlife, well maintained hiking trails, etc. Simply Gorgeous!! The amenities offered included wireless internet for us and our friends, a grill overlooking a spectacular pond, satellite TV, access to free DVD rentals, full working kitchen and supplies, full working everything. The owners of this Villa thought of everything and truly put their hearts into caring for the home and all your needs. We can’t say enough good things about the owner, Glenn. Knowing that this vacation was to celebrate my husband’s 60th birthday, my birthday, and our 27th anniversary, Glenn was very helpful with planning the activities. Glenn was able to suggest the best deals, times, and tours. It all emanated from his desire to ensure our vacation was the best ever and it was!! Glenn even arranged to have a chef come to the villa and prepare a 5-star incredible dinner and desert. The chef even did all the dishes! Glenn also surprised us further with a delicious Birthday cake. One of the highlights of our Lake Arenal trip was actually on the premises of Villa Encantada itself. We took a nature walk around the enchanted property guided by the best and most patient tour guide. He waited for us around every turn and made sure we went the right direction. His name is King Kong and he is the resident guard dog. King Kong would adjust his tour depending upon our choice of direction. He was a canine GPS system! King Kong led us along the river trail opening up to a breath-taking beach upon Lake Arenal. At night, King Kong also provided an extra level of security, as he would make his rounds around the house ensuring each entrance was monitored and safe. We have done extensive world-wide traveling staying in fine luxury homes, but with all the things Lake Arenal area has to offer, the magical setting of Villa Encantada, the amenities provided, and the pure heart of the owners, this vacation was the most memorable.

Owner response:Dear Justin and Maya, Truthfully, I'm humbled by your incredible guest review and thank you both for taking your valuable time to express your feelings on your vacation to Villa Encanatada. Reviews like yours give me a sense of success at what I attempt to do for our guests... to make your vacation hassle free, and give you an experience that is long lasting and memorable. Thanks for letting us be of service and I'll be looking forward to seeing your smiling faces again as soon as you can come back for a return visit. Hasta Proximo Amigos (Until next time my friends) ~~ your host, Glenn... PS King Kong sends a big WOOF!

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

Amazing Property

Guest: Gary (Austin, Tx)
Date of Stay: 12/27/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

My family and I stayed at Villa Encantada over the New Years holiday. I can not say enough about how great our stay was. First off the house is beautiful, very well kept and layed out perfectly. The views of the lake and surrounding property were something you would see in a postcard. The owner Glenn has spent a lot of time and money in making his property the best in the area. The landscaping was amazing, the pond in the backyard is really cool and the well manicured hiking trails and waterfalls with ponds are something you will never see anywhere else. We did not know what to expect when we arived at Villa Encantada, having never been to Costa Rica before. I can tell tell you that the pictures that Glenn has on his site do not do the property justice. You really have to see it in person. Glenn went out of his way to help us in any any way he could. He booked our tours, made our New Years Eve dinner reservations at the Gingerbread, (which was also great), and even arranged for a private chef to come to the house two nights to cook for us. The chef Tyrone did a great job and cooked amazing meals at an incredibley reasonable price. The eight of us who ranged in age from 14 to 78 all had a great time. We have traveled all over and have stayed at some pretty amazing places and I can tell you that Villa Encantada was one of the best. I would highly reccomend you chosing this house if you decide to go to Costa Rica

Owner response:Dear Gary and Family, Thanks so much for your vote of confidence and allowing us to host your family at Villa Encantada, arrange your tour activities and make new friends in the process. Our Chef, Tyron gets rave reviews every time he comes to cook for our guests and we're glad you enjoyed the service. Even though your family was on the go alot, I'm glad you found time to enjoy the miles of manicured hiking trails and waterfalls on the property, use the kayaks on the ponds and fire up the BBQ for some much needed R&R. After 15 years, our gardens are still a work in process and I'm always looking for unusal plants, orchids, flowers and ways to improve the grounds. It's a labor of love, and ALOT of work and maintenance to keep them in top shape (2 full time gardeners make the difference)... and at the end of the day it's all well worth the effort for the smiles and peace the gardens and grounds bring to our guests. Thanks for allowing us the opportunity to share our slice of paradise with you and your lovely family and as 'Ol Vern says .. "we'll keep the lights on for ya partner". Hasta Pronto Amigo ~~ Glenn

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

Wonderful Family & Friends Vacation Rental - AGreat and Unforgettable Experience! - Thank You Glenn!

Guest: Tony (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 11/05/11 Review Submitted: 12/15/11

My family of 9 visited Villa Encantada 6 years ago and had such a wonderful time that this destination has never beenfar from our collective minds, so we decided to make a return visit to Villa Encantada and Costa Rica. And our return was nothing short of Spectacular. It was just incredible to see the changes that the owner Glenn has implemented over the years. If you'v taken time to read the extensive Guest Reviews on this VRBO site, you'll see that everyone raves about the manicured gardens, ponds, waterfalls, and exquisite nature right at your fingertips... the miles of manicured hiking trails and the waterfalls, fishing in the stocked ponds and river on the property and kayaking on the pond and Lake Arenal just a few minutes walk from the villa. It's just so exciting and really renews one's scenes of being. We used the huge BBQ on numerous occasions and thoroughly enjoyed this awesome setting in Paradise. We stayed 7 nights and are already planning another visit. As I said, we were at Vill Encantada 6 years ago and this property was so impressive that we've never forgotten it, but we were able to see so many improvements inside and outside the villa and in the gardens and Rainforest. Glenn has created virtual heaven on earth. The villa itself is just impeccable and while it can accomodate large groups, it's also ideal for a smaller group ( there were 4 of us on this visit). The villa is laid out in such a manner that you don't fell that it's too large. Every detail on the interior has been so well thought out. The interior design is elegant, but not overbearing and in some ways rustic. The bedrooms and bathrooms are huge, the bedrooms with brand new beautiful hand carved Queen beds that are super comfortable with new bed spreads, linens and towels that will make you think you're staying at a 5 Star Resort ( this was better than that actually). This place has it all, and is so unique and charming that you fell right at home. The kitchen has all new appliances, and the villa appears as thought it's brand new. I could go on and on, but will sum it's review up by saying that our visit couldn't have been better. Glenn, the owner is very attentive, without being overbearing. He lives only 5 minutes away and helped us with our tour activities, letting us know which tours could be done on a walk up basis, which left us some much needed spontaneity. We booked some tours in advance ( Canopy, Rafting and went fishing with Glenn on his Pontoon

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

Best Vacation to Costa Rica, excellent property

Guest: Scott Curtis (Albuquerque, NM)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 08/01/11

I spent a week at Villa Encantada in July and had the best time. I travel to Costa Rica at least once each year and have stayed in different vacation rentals and this was by far the best experience ever. It was just my girlfriend so the place was bigger than we needed but the outdoors was just paradise. Once you are at Villa Encantada there is no reason to go see the jungle, you are in the best part of the jungle. We could sit outside and have coffee and watch Toucans’ fly by as well as many other birds would stop and eat some of the fruit left out for them. There are Howler monkeys around the property and we were able to watch up close several of them. I have seen monkeys before but to have them that close by was special. Lake Arenal is on one side of the house and there is a small river in the back. We played in the large pond with the kayaks and went to the swimming pools at the small river. One of the pools is deeper and more natural, the second pool is 4’ deep with large boulders but has a concrete bottom which makes it nice for walking. There is a waterfall that was fun to sit under. The open space around the house is what makes this place so special. Gorgeous views from every direction. Glenn is a great host and knows about the region. He has a fishing boat and one day we went fishing. Lake Arenal is beautiful and just perfect for fishing. Glenn had us on the lake early with breakfast and provided excellent fishing gear with multiple types and color of lures. He provided tips on where the fish are and what works best. At the end of the trip, he fillet the fish and we were able to eat them that night. A memory that will last forever. The house is set up for larger groups with 3 large separate bedrooms and another larger loft with several beds. The different patios offer special places to be in solitude with nature or get together and raise a little fun. All of the amenities worked just perfect, nice beds, lines and the kitchen is ready for anything. With just the two of us, we did not feel overwhelmed but were in awe of the large natural tree in the center of the house that is the structural support for much of the house. You will enjoy.

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

Wonderful Villa with Amazing Views!!!!

Guest: Meghan (Florida)
Date of Stay: 07/08/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

Villa Encantada we stayed there in early July we arrived at night and were unable to see what we were actually pulling up into until the morning. When we all woke we were amazed, this property is beautiful!!! We loved finding the waterfalls and all the hiking trails, we saw so much wildlife, frogs, birds and especially loved King Kong! :-) Thank you Glenn for being so accommodating to our needs, finding out information about excursions for us and helping us with our every need! We loved out visit and can't wait to come back!!!!

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

Jenkins Family and friends, Califorina

Guest: Cyndy (California)
Date of Stay: 07/10/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

Wow! I think that is the word that best describes our stay at The Villa Encantada. From the time we made our reservations to the time we had to say good-by, Glenn was terrific. He made reservations for our tours, gave us perfect directions and recommendations to the various places we wanted to visit and made sure the thirteen of us were comfortable and lacked for nothing at the villa. The pictures on the site do not do it justice. This felt like our home away from home. We'll be back.

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

Exceeded our high expectations!!

Guest: David (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 06/15/11 Review Submitted: 06/24/11

What a wonderful find! I would not only recommend this to a close familiy member or friend, my wife & two young girls (6 and 8) are already fantasizing about when we can return to this beautiful country and specifically to the Villa Encantada. This is a treasure that will continue to amaze & provide wonder to anyone who is lucky enough to discover it. The owner, Glenn, has created a gorgeous getaway, both inside & out. The villa itself is beautifully decorated, very spacious, & welcoming on all fronts. The various places you can sit & enjoy the view are each stunning in their own right. Wander outside & you will discover the most spectacular yard you have ever experienced. Lush & well manicured, with a path surrounding a large swimmable pond in the back is only the beginning. The property sits on 40 acres & Glenn has created multiple hiking paths that take you along the river, past waterfalls & swimming holes. Nature, both in its natural form as well as beautifully and architecturally rendered with levels & fresh water falls, is experienced here in its fullness. Glenn is a special kind of host. Not only will his talent for creating all this impress you beyond measure, he will treat you with kindness & support you in any way he can. Recommendations, making reservations, helpful hints...he is a gracious host going out of his way to make your vacation special. There are many terriific places to visit in the area, including La Fortuna and Monteverde. If you venture to the latter, be aware that the roads are a bit treacherous & signage not great; I'd recommned either renting a 4WD (we got a 2WD) or take Glenn up on his offer to help arrange a rental van for the day in which a local will take you there. In hindsight, we wish we'd done that. But it was still a great adventure. That's the thing: Glenn is modest with his suggestions and offers. He never wishes to come off as pushy or overly programmed; and yet, his suggestions & help are all on the mark. He is doing this because he genuinely enjoys seeing people fall in love with Costa Rica & the place he has built. My girls especially loved the peacocks Glenn has on property as pets (taken care of by the local he hires to maintain the grounds) & Glenn's dog who guides you along the various hikes you take on the property. There is no shortage of wonders to explore and discover at this villa & it's hard to imagine finding a more perfect place in which to enjoy this amazing and friendly country.

Owner response:Dear David and Family, First of all let me thank you for visiting Villa Encantada and for taking your valuable time to write such an informative and flowing review. Review such as yours are what any vacation rental owner strives for and are the envy of those that aren't lucky enough to receive one as special as yours.... and to receive this review is... well, very humbling indeed. My goal is to make my guests' special vacation a memorable and hassle free experience. One that they'll be able to look back on years from now and remember fondly their visit to Costa Rica and Villa Encantada. Like your family, I've traveled abroad and rented vacation rental properties (mostly through VRBO) and for the most part, the owner or manager is always friendly and helpful, but in many instances I've felt that the owner could have been more helpful in either the planning stages or being a bit more "hands on", but still respecting that fine line of guest privacy. So, this adventure of being an Innkeeper has been a learning experience, and now that I have 15 years in performing this service I feel that my participation with my guests is really what this is all about. Helping my guests "hit the ground running" as it were makes a HUGE difference in helping them have a vacation that surpasses their expectations. My reward is seeing your smiling faces, enthusiasm and knowledge that I really have made a difference in your special vacation. This is an opportunity and responsibility that I take very seriously that is both satisfying and rewarding for me personally. Getting to meet families such as yours David, and forge lasting friendships is what it's really all about for me. At Villa Encantada we do get our fair share of repeat visitors, or direct referrals from past guests and we'll keep the light on for you and hope you'll find your way back to our "little slice of Paradise" as soon as time allows. Pura Vida ~~~ Glenn

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.