Eco Mountain Retreat - the Real Costa Rica!

• Thatched Roof Cabins

  Thatched Roof Cabins

  • Guest cheryl c.
  • Date of stay 02/12/12
  • Review Submitted 03/02/12
  We had a great time at Rancho Tranquilo! We are avid campers and we loved the idea of staying in a thatched roof cabin. The cabin is cozy and there is a porch area to sit and enjoy the views right outside your room. ( We never saw a mosquito or fly our whole visit) The kitchen area is about 50 feet from the cabins and has a counter space, a two burner stove and a sink. There is also a gas grill and a pantry cabinet. You will need a cooler and ice if you plan on doing much cooking. The small bathroom is about 100 feet from the cabins and there is one shower under the first cabin. There is another shower next to the bathroom but it is not private. On the last day we were there they were preparing to start on the new bathroom shower complex so that will be very nice and it is close to the three cabins. The property is well maintained and clean and very beautiful. As other reviewers have commented, we saw wild life and there are two good hiking trails. We enjoyed cooling off in the stream, that cuts through the trails, after our hike. Carlos and Oscar are very good hosts and very helpful. Owners Aileen and Fritz don't live on the property but drove in to see if we had everything we needed and gave us restaurant recommendations. They do have wifi so you can get online if you need to. The Manuel Antonio park (a must see) is about an hour and a half away and it has three great beaches in the park. We snorkeled in the first beach and saw quite a bit of marine life (best seen closer to the rocks, it is clearer there). The only down side of our stay was the drive on 239, it is very rugged and is 11.5 miles from Hwy 39 to the Rancho.

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• Amazing & Highly Recommended!!

  Amazing & Highly Recommended!!

  • Guest Courtney K.
  • Date of stay 09/11/11
  • Review Submitted 10/11/11
  We cannot say enough wonderful things about Rancho Tranquilo and our time there. We stayed at the property the entire 3 days (without leaving to sight-see or do other things), and loved how we were able to get away from everything and enjoy nature --- we even became birdwatching converts while we were there. We saw an incredible array of wildlife - 2 different types of monkey troops several times in the nearby trees performing acrobatics for us, blue morphos floated past, and it became an exciting daily tradition to get up early in the morning and wait in the afternoon for our private "bird shows" - different varieties of toucans, the white hawk--just unbelievable. The accommodations were great; we loved the outdoor kitchen/common area, which had gorgeous locally made wooden furniture. We have gushed about our time at RT over and over to friends and highly recommend it to others!! It was such a peaceful, relaxing and rewarding experience - we felt grounded and one with nature - such a fabulous place!--we only wish we could visit more often! We were in Costa Rica 3 weeks and stayed in a wide-range of landscapes and accommodations but our rewarding and absolutely gorgeous experience at RT was unparalleled. It was by far one of our top Costa Rican highlights and favorites!!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/6

• A Truly Unique Experience

  A Truly Unique Experience

  • Guest Lorne C.
  • Date of stay 07/04/11
  • Review Submitted 08/04/11
  Had an amazing time at Rancho Tranquilo. Wanting to escape the tourist traps and experience the true Costa Rica, we got more than we could have expected here. The first morning we awoke to monkeys playing in the trees, right next to our cozy little rancho. The next morning we saw a toucan while having breakfast. The place is beautifully rustic and remote but also has enough creature comforts to make it a relaxing experience. This is truly a special place. Every day that we ventured off the mountain we kept just wanting to get back and make a rum drink with the fresh fruit all around and just lay in a hammock until it was time to throw some fresh fish on the grill.  Oscar the caretaker was very  knowledgeable and helpful. As publishers of a green publication, it was great to see the owners had such an appreciation for nature and taking care of it as best as possible.  There is a beautiful waterfall that is just a short hike. And Alex's Rustica Bar &Grill is a very cool little spot for a cold Pilsen or some great Tipico food.  We feel very lucky to have had such an unique experience by staying at Rancho Tranquilo and are  already plotting when we can get back, --Lorne & Lindsey Charleston, S.C.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

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• Simply Stunning!

  Simply Stunning!

  • Guest Jen & Dave
  • Date of stay 03/14/11
  • Review Submitted 05/27/11
  The name couldn’t be more fitting. Rancho Tranquilo is wonderfully relaxing and extraordinarily picturesque. We vacationed in Costa Rica for a week and spent our first three nights at the ranch. As soon as we arrived we knew we were experiencing the best first and that our subsequent lodging locations weren’t going to compare to the ranch and that turned out to be true. If you want to experience absolute natural beauty and serenity it can be found at Rancho Tranquilo. We enjoyed gazing at the scenery, spotting birds, hiking the trails and relaxing on the hammocks in the breeze listening to the gentle sounds of the nearby running river. The property is superbly maintained, decorated with beautifully handcrafted furniture and has an extensive array of vegetation including pineapple plants, lime trees, orange trees, starfruit trees, cashew trees, hibiscus and many other colorful plants. It’s not every day Midwesterners wake up and have freshly picked pineapple, plantains and starfruit for breakfast! Sleeping in the thatched roof cabin gave you the sense you were at one with nature (yet very safe) and was thrilling. We can’t wait to return someday and bring family and friends along with us!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: It gives us great pleasure to share our Rancho Tranquilo with visitors, especially those in search of what is the essence of this beautiful country. Jennifer has given us a wonderful review and we couldn't have said it better. Please join us as we share our slice of paradise...it's what you're searching for!

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• Relaxation in Paradise

  Relaxation in Paradise

  • Guest RattlerJen
  • Date of stay 03/21/11
  • Review Submitted 03/31/11
  This place absolutely exceeded all of my expectations. This is THE place to get away from it all. The water is sweet, the bed a comfy cloud, the kitchen cooks great, the toilet does flush and everything is nicely maintained. The ranchos are beautifully constructed little houses of teak and palm atop tall stilts to catch breezes and provide amazing views. A larger shelter of the same construction includes a kitchen, large dining, and lounging area. Great care in decoration has been taken throughout. Even the tables are extraordinary; massive slices cut from fallen Guanacaste trees surrounded by unique handmade chairs. We slept in luxury as a nearby waterfall and a cool night breeze lulled us to dreamland. The property is surrounded by stunning views of mountains and jungle among a lovely garden of flowers and fruit trees. We were treated daily to fresh star fruit, limes, pineapple, peppers, papaya, and more provided by the garden and jungle. Being a biologist, outdoor enthusiast, and amateur photographer, this was true paradise. You will be serenaded by the songs of small birds, toucans, frogs, parrots, and charming chirping geckos. You will see not one single tourist. If you feel the need to hit the surf, zip down a cable, or hang with the tourists: Several beaches, national parks, adventure thrills, shopping, and restaurants are a short drive from the Rancho. I suggest hiking on the property's many trails to sit under a small waterfall, enjoy a splendid sunset, or scout out local wildlife. For a real treat, chat up the caretaker of the place you are likely to gain new knowledge, great memories, and a lifelong friend. BE WARNED, you will likely forget what day it is.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, pet owners, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• Very tranquillo!

  Very tranquillo!

  • Guest A+P
  • Date of stay 12/23/09
  • Review Submitted 01/12/10
  "Tranquillo" is a word you hear a great deal in Costa Rica-- cab drivers chant it to calm down in traffic-- people use it to remind us to chill out, everything's fine. Staying at the ranch at the beginning of our trip was the perfect way to get into this mindset. We were away from phones, computers, view-spoiling electrical cables, and any connection to the daily grind. We spent most of our time outdoors, often sheltered under the beautiful thatching. We found local fish, meat and produce and had great barbeques to supplement the ubiquitous gallo pinto. Outdoor showers looking down on hawks flying in the valley below, waking up to mist over the mountains, swimming in a nearby waterfall pool-- this is "pura vida." If you want to really get away this is the spot. The pictures on this site show the views and some wildlife, but only as captured by a camera's angle. Imagine an upscale florist's most exotic selection-- and these are the common plants. Phrases like "oh look honey there's a toucan in the papaya tree" became common. This is a great place for those who want nature and privacy-- but you have to be okay with nature and privacy. Its a jungle mountain-- there are bugs. There are stairs and ladders to climb once you are there though you can 4-wheel up to the property. Email the owners while you are planning the trip, they were extremely forthcoming about what amenities are (or aren't) offered. Fritz and Aileen provided us with a great deal of information about getting around in Costa Rica. They arranged for a driver who met us at the airport and took us to Playa Hermosa, a beautiful beach town on the Pacific coast, where we stayed the first night. The caretaker's brother drove us up the mountain the next day which was fun and adventurous. The contacts they gave us helped us for the rest of our trip while getting around and staying in Costa Rica, as people are big on referrals. (Knocks a few bucks off hotel rooms as well) I hope to stay for longer next time we can go to the ranch, and I hope that wonderful people can enjoy it as we did. We went other places but our true and most memorable experience was at Rancho Tranquillo. Have fun, travelive.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, tourists without a car, girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 23/23

Additional information about rental rates

Traditional Tico breakfast with rich Costa Rica coffee included!

50% Deposit required to hold reservation. Balance due 30 days from date of arrival.

Additional Fees and Taxes:

All included