Paradise, Pool and Views! the Best of Mal Pais!

• Look no further...

  Look no further...

  • Guest Yuri
  • Date of stay 03/10/13
  • Review Submitted 05/20/13
  We booked Casa Blanca for my 40th on recommendations from a friend who lives locally and they could not have made a better suggestion. Honestly, the minute we walked in the door everyone's jaw just about hit the floor. I believe the comments started something like this; "You have got to be kidding. We're staying here? For two weeks? Oh, it's on!" All kidding aside, this has got to be one of the best properties in the area. Mike, you have pulled together an absolutely amazing home. Originally we questioned whether or not we wanted to be that far out of town (1.5KM), but after a day or two, we were so happy we made that decision. All details were very well thought out, from the overall design of the home, to the surround sound, movie room, rooftop patio, pool, etc. Top that off with unbelievable views and no neighbors, what else could you ask for? We simply can't say enough. Our next couple of weeks were blessed with uncrowded overhead surf each morning, followed by some sort of afternoon adventure; horseback riding, quads, ziplining, hiking, beach days, etc. For those who plan on coming down, here are a few suggestions for your trip: - Go for a surf with Jobbie. Just go into town. You'll find his shop near the crossroads. One of the best humans on the planet. - Zip line in Mal pais, rather than Montezuma. The lines are longer and the guys were more fun. Less touristy. - Go hike to the waterfall in Montezuma. - Go horseback riding with Veronica or Pabro from Sapoa Adventures. Actually, do anything with these two for that matter. They are amazing people. Our girls (ages 8 & 12) couldn't stop talking about them. - Buy fresh fish (from the local fishman's village down the road) for the bbq or ceviche. - Eat, at least once, at the following places - Koji's (sushi), The Bakery (Breakfast), Brisas del Mar (Breakfast or Dinner), Las Piedras (Dinner), Ritmo Tropical (Dinner), Mary's (Dinner), Playa de los artistas (evening drinks), Ylang Ylang (evening drinks). Finally, Habaneros sucks!!! (For what it's worth) Don't go there. They get the spotlight for the worst service, worst drinks and most overpriced meal of our trip. On a final note... Mike, thank you for being so easy to work with. We will absoluetly be back down to join you again. This has been one of the best family trips which we've taken and we have built memories which will last a lifetime.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• WOW, just WOW!

  WOW, just WOW!

  • Guest Melanie
  • Date of stay 05/05/13
  • Review Submitted 05/16/13
  Casa Blanca provided a beautiful setting for the vacation of a lifetime. Exactly as described and pictured, the home was spectacular in every way. The views of the hills and ocean were breathtaking, especially during the sunset hour, while the sounds of local wildlife lulled us to a restful sleep each evening. My favorite spot was the hammock with its gentle breeze which afforded some much needed rest and time for personal reflection. The owner provided assistance for months prior to our arrival through the day we had to return to the "real world." He answered every question I asked (there were many) and helped arrange last minute transportation when we needed to return our rental car a day early. If you are looking for a place to get away from it all, while still enjoying luxurious accommodations, this is it!

  Owner response: We are so happy to have had you and your family with us and to deliver to you what you expected :) Thanks so much. Mike and JC

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Next level Experience

  Next level Experience

  • Guest Mike
  • Date of stay 11/10/12
  • Review Submitted 05/16/13
  Go to vimeo dot com and search for Jeff Dowling. We have posted a video called Costa Rica pura Vida. check it out Really can't describe how incredible this setting is. Perched perfectly in the hills, spectacular views of the ocean. Nature fills this house with beautiful sounds to compliment the picturesque setting. We had a group of 8 that slept comfortably for the week. Lucked out with amazing weather and had all we needed. Found ourselves missing the house when we were in town which made it all that much better coming home in the evenings. Great indoor kitchen for cooking, outside kitchen for grilling. Whenever we had a question/concerns, we were promptly helped. Check out the video at the bottom. It will give you a little taste of everything. Great shots of the house in action and everything it has to offer. My suggestion for transportation is that everyone rents ATV's. Makes it so easy to get into town from the house, cruise around, and get back up. It would be a pretty long walk. Cars also work fine but everyone in our group thought the ATV's were the best choice ( we didn't rent until the end of the week)

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Absolutely WONDERFUL

  Absolutely WONDERFUL

  • Guest Joanie R.
  • Date of stay 02/17/13
  • Review Submitted 03/04/13
  All I can really say is "WOW." I've been to Mal Pais three times now and this is by far the best house I've had. The owners were ALWAYS willing to answer questions and addressed any concerns immediately. The onsite caretakers were wonderful as well, helping out with anything we needed. The location is perfect, assuming you aren't scared of doing a tiny bit of four wheeling on the dirt road to the house (nothing the local 4x4 rentals can't handle). All part of the charm of Mal Pais! If you're trying to decide where to vacation in CR, choose Mal Pais if: 1) you either surf or want to learn (I fall in the latter category) 2) you like yoga 3) you don't mind frizzy hair due to humidity 4) you want a place that feels off the beaten path, but with AMAZING restaurants (I argue that Koji's for sushi is one of the best places on the planet (have the snapper carpaccio)! I will most certainly be looking to book the house again, the sooner the better! Thanks to all for making the stay in Mal Pais wonderful!

  Owner response: Joanie: We loved having you with us. And we thank you for your response. We hope to have you back again :) Mx

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Perfect getaway

  Perfect getaway

  • Guest Virginia M.
  • Date of stay 02/02/13
  • Review Submitted 03/02/13
  We wanted an unusual location for a birthday celebration and family reunion, somewhere where we could all enjoy a stress-free time in a luxury setting. Villa CasaBlanca delivered all this and much more...it is a dream home in a perfect setting, with all mod cons and views to die for. From my first contact with Mike, he was responsive and unfailingly helpful in making sure we got all our travel arragements coordinated. We were a bit surprised that it was literally off the beaten track, a 10 minute drive up a very steep rough road above the coast road, but we did eventually get used to it. The roads generally in Costa Rica are pretty hair raising and at the moment very dry and dusty so travelling anywhere is not that pleasant. But the villa's slight inaccesibility means that when you get up there, it literally is away from the crowds. With 8 of us, it was anyway more enjoyable to cook at home in the wonderful open plan, well-equipped kitchen and eat outside in the informal dining area by the BBQ. Having said that, one of the highlights was having a personal chef come in to cook my birthday dinner, one of the most amazing meals I've ever eaten. Another highlight was the early morning fishing trip with a local fisherman which gave us a great catch to put on the BBQ, and relaxing massage sessions on the cobana.The staff were unobtrusive but always there when you needed them. It would be an advantage to have some command of Spanish though to communicate with everyone in a more friendly way! Mal Pais is a laid-back surfer dude spot with rough and ready places to eat, but obviously great for keen surfers! I would definitely recommend this place as the perfect holiday location for those who really do want to get away from it all.

  Owner response: We wanted to thank you and your family for this response. We enjoyed having you with us at Casa Blanca and we hope it made your birthday just that bit more wonderful. We look forward to having you back again. All the best from all of us :)

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• “Great place to unwind!”

  “Great place to unwind!”

  • Guest Jesse C.
  • Date of stay 07/04/12
  • Review Submitted 11/28/12
  This was our second trip to Costa Rica and the Mal Pais area, and by far, Casa Blanca left us speechless. The pictures do not do justice for the house or the awesome views. The owner Mike, personally, worked with us in making our stay at Casa Blanca one that we will never forget. Eduardo, Lourdes, and his family were wonderful. Even though my Spanish is very limited, Eduardo explained how to work everything in the house and TV/Media Room. We were looking just for rest and relaxation and found it and more at Casa Blanca.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Spectacular

  Spectacular

  • Guest ChrisD
  • Date of stay 08/12/12
  • Review Submitted 11/26/12
  This is a fantastic property with a wonderful view. The drive up the hill is intimidating at first but then becomes part of the joy of the rental. Inside everything is in great shape and the design of villa accentuates the beauty of the location and the jungle and ocean. Been lucky to have rented lots of nice places over the years but Casa Blanca is truly special.

  Owner response: Thanks Chris... we hope to have you back again soon :) All the best from all of us at Casa Blanca

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Truly awesome!

  Truly awesome!

  • Guest Kebede
  • Date of stay 06/15/12
  • Review Submitted 06/28/12
  This house is absolutely magnificent! It far exceeded our expectations. From the fantastic views to the exquisite amenities and the remarkable landscaping, there is nothing better we could have hoped for. This is truly paradise tucked away in private little setting where you can forget the rest of the world even exists. The caretakers of the property were outstanding. They made everything easy and comfortable, such a pleasure to meet them. The details of our of our stay were handled flawlessly due to the much appreciated help of the owner. The chef he recommended for our in house dinner was spot on perfect. We will indeed recommend this rental to others and hope to visit Casa Blanca again. A truly awesome vacation experience.

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

  Owner response: Hi Karla :) It was a pleasure to have you with us. Eduardo and Lourdes were happy to help with your trip. We hoe to see you again soon. All the best from Team Casa Blanca

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• PURA VIDA in CASA BLANCA

  PURA VIDA in CASA BLANCA

  • Guest Edward F.
  • Date of stay 06/05/12
  • Review Submitted 06/14/12
  Truly a magical and beautiful place! The drive alone to the house on top of Mal Pais was such an adventure. Steep, rocky and with sharp turns but well worth the trip to be in paradise. Perfect place to go and bring a few close friends to celebrate your bday ;) or just relax and enjoy the beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean by the infinity pool or even from the room or roof top. The cabanita tucked on the side of the house has a hammock and provides a intimate spot to read a book or enjoy the view. The caretakers of the house were very accommodating and kept the place very clean. This was really such an experience and a great one to share with friends. I look forward to returning to this place and highly recommend it!! Pura Vida!

  Owner response: It was a pleasure to have you and your friends with us to the Villa. And again we hope your Birthday was the best. Warm wishes from all of us.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/5

• Fantastic place to relax in paradise

  Fantastic place to relax in paradise

  • Guest Si T.
  • Date of stay 04/16/12
  • Review Submitted 05/02/12
  From morning hops off my balcony into the pool to midday siestas in the massage and relaxation cabina to nights falling asleep listening to the waves of the ocean, my experience at Casa Blanca was a fantastic opportunity to simply rest and enjoy the beauty all around me. The house's clean modern design always feels cozy and comfortable, and yet can be completely opened up to invite in the cool breeze and the quiet sounds of the environment. The view is extraordinary, with unobstructed view of the ocean on one side and lush forest on the other. The area around Mal Pais offers many beautiful beaches and trails to explore, although if you are like me you might prefer to relax around the house occasionally enjoying a mango or bite of ceviche made from the freshest catch you can buy from the local fishermen. The house provides all the amenities one would hope for, always feels clean, and is well-maintained by the helpful staff. My family and I had a fabulous holiday at Casa Blanca, and would absolutely recommend the house for anyone wanting a memorable vacation in paradise. We hope to return soon!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

Additional information about rental rates

2.5% Surcharge on Credit Card/Pay Pal Payments.