Vacation Rentals by Owner

FEEL AT HOME ON VACATION

Guest: Frederick W. (Atlanta, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 05/03/12 Review Submitted: 05/17/12

Talk about breath taking.....gasp!! I was in "awe" from the moment I walked through the doors of Villa Mariposa. Not to mention the beautiful coastal drive from San Jose to Ventanas. The 4 x 4 Montero Sport came in handy. The website shows and gives details about the property and it looks exactly as it shows, very nice and clean. Loved the privacy! Joan I must say that your website is very detailed and gives the much needed information for vacationers from dining, shopping to the tourism. The Dome restaurant was a favorite, we dined for breakfast and lunch. We missed the farmer's market but still had the opportunity to enjoy some fresh lobster and shrimp. We tip our hats off to "Mau" the property manager he was very attentive with accommodating all our needs, our car battery went dead and Mau was there for us immediately to help us get the car running again, what a cool dude!!! We did the ATV bike mountain tour in Uvita. What a thriller! We also enjoyed the Nauyaca Waterfall tour and lunch at Don Lulo's home. The boat ride from Sierpe to Cano Island was nice too. Oh how we miss waking up to that beautiful sunrise looking out at the ocean and watching the sun set after returning from our daily outing. Not only would we revisit this villa but we would "absolutely" recommend it to family and friends. This will be a vacation we'll never forget or the occasion. Fred reached his milestone here by celebrating his 50th birthday. Thanks for sharing your home away from home with us. Fred Williams & Kim Way Atlanta, GA

Owner response:Thank you so much for your review, Fred and Kim. So glad you had a great trip. What a wonderful way to celebrate your 50th birthday. Ellen

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Paradise in the "Jungle"

Guest: Kim W.
Date of Stay: 05/03/12 Review Submitted: 05/17/12

Talk about breath taking.....gasp!! I was in "awe" from the moment I walked through the doors of Villa Mariposa. Not to mention the beautiful coastal drive from San Jose to Ventanas. The 4 x 4 Montero Sport came in handy. The website shows and gives details about the property and it looks exactly as it shows very nice and clean. Loved the privacy! Joan I must say that your website is very detailed and gives the much needed information for vacationers from dining, shopping to the tourism. The Dome restaurant was a favorite we dined for breakfast and lunch. We missed the farmer's market but still had the opportunity to enjoy some fresh lobster and shrimp. We tip our hats off to "Mau" the property manager he was very attentive with accommodating all our needs. We did the ATV bike mountain tour in Uvita. What a thriller! We also enjoyed the Nauyaca Waterfall tour and lunch at Don Lulo's home. The boat ride from Sierpe to Cano Island was nice too. Oh how we miss waking up to that beautiful sunrise looking out at the ocean and watching the sun set after returning from our daily outing. Not only would we revisit this villa but we would "absolutely" recommend it to family and friends. Thanks for sharing your home away from home with us. Fred Williams & Kim Way Atlanta, GA

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Paradise found

Guest: Pura Vida (Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/24/12 Review Submitted: 04/03/12

Truly a visit to paradise. The villa is perfectly located in the rainforest with stunning ocean views and tropical breezes. Well appointed with attention to detail, this property is perfect for a couple(s) or families looking for a vacation in paradise.

Owner response:Thank you for the kind words, Charlotte. Yes, it feels like paradise every time I am there. Ellen

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

very nice house, view, and pool

Guest: Joel S. (Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 03/07/12 Review Submitted: 03/26/12

My group of 4 adults enjoyed our week stay....we wish we could have stayed longer. The house is in very good shape and had all the amenities one could want while on vacation in Costa Rica. The surrounding wildlife, views, pool are lots of fun. We really enjoyed the farmers market in Uvita, especially the fresh tuna. The owners and property management are all very easy to work with, and answer any questions or concerns in a prompt mannr. Do rent a 4 wheel drive as the road up to the house from the main highway is a mix of gravel, and rock and is very steep in places. We had a Toyota rav four 4 wheel drive vehicle, and the drive up the road to the house took between 10-12 minutes, and the drive down took between 8-10 minutes. Many of the roads in the area are gravel/dirt roads and some are very steep, so be prepared. We felt it was worth it to be in paradise, and we felt as if we were in paradise while staying at villa mariposa. We would stay here again and would recommend villa mariposa to our friends and family.

Owner response:Joel, glad you enjoyed your stay in paradise and great feedback on avoiding renting a RAV4, we have had issues with those vehicles as well. We've had good success with the Daihatsu Bego and Toyota Prado with much faster and more comfortable rides up and down the mountain, usually about 8 minutes. By the by, our road is renowned as one of the best maintained gravel roads in the area. We are very fortunate that this spectacular, unspoiled southern Pacific Zone of Costa Rica is now easily accessible on a great new paved highway. Thanks for your positive review. Pura Vida, Ellen

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Villa mariposa is awesome!!

Guest: Jared R.
Date of Stay: 02/28/12 Review Submitted: 03/09/12

I couldn't have asked for a more professional owner and manager! The house was amazing! The view in the picture doesn't do it justice! I was impressed how many amenities were in the house. It was like I was staying at my parents house while they were away! Thank you Ellen and Mau!! I will be staying at villa mariposa again in the near future. Don't short cut and rent a car we got a 4x4 and it was needed. Thank you again! One love Jared

Owner response:Jared, thanks so much for your review. So glad you had a great trip and enjoyed your stay at our villa. And yes, access to our gorgeous mountains and pristine beaches in the southern zone is best with a 4x4. Great to hear you will be back soon. Ellen

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Enchanting Villa

Guest: Aiko .
Date of Stay: 12/20/11 Review Submitted: 02/16/12

We had a wonderful time in Costa Rica at Ellen's Villa. It was so beautiful and perfect setting for our family. The villa is situated in the middle of the jungle with beautiful view of ocean and greens. Each day, we woke up with only the sounds of birds and animals. It was a very peaceful and magical experience. She had everything we needed in the villa from beach gear to Wi-Fi. We really appreciated the high quality towels and linens. The villa is right near a charming little town called Ojochal. Even during the holiday season, the beaches nearby were never crowded, and it was the most beautiful beach we have ever been. We travel quite a lot to Asia and Europe but this was one of the most beautiful places we have seen. We were pleasantly surprised by the high standard of restaurants. We loved the French fusion and Italian restaurants in Ojochal. Home made pastas and 7-course dinner was amazing. We did Don Lulo's horseback ride to Nauyaka falls. It included breakfast, lunch, tour and horseback ride. it was a very memorable tour. We really appreciate Joan and Mau, the property managers there to answer any questions and offer suggestions. They came right over when we needed their help. We would love to come back again. Thank you for offering your place Ellen!

Owner response:Thank you so much, Aiko! It is an amazing place. So glad you enjoyed the villa and had a wonderful time. Ellen

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Paradise in the Jungle

Guest: Mike (Toronto, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 03/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/11/11

My wife and I recently spent two weeks at Villa Mariposa and would highly recommend this property. The house is immaculate and comfortably sleeps 6. There's even a 4th room (office) that can be used to sleep 2 more! The layout of the home is terrific with two bedrooms at one end of the house with a bathroom in between. The master bedroom is at the other end of the house with a huge ensuite bathroom. A perfect layout for two couples/families. There's even a small TV/DVD player, wireless internet and washer/dryer for laundry. Overlooking the pool you have incredible views of the Pacific Ocean including the Whale's Tail! Each morning the jungle comes alive with the sounds of birds and animals singing for about 30 minutes. We really enjoyed having our coffee each morning poolside and watching the birds and animals come alive. This home has it all including a barbeque and a complete kitchen. We spent all of our time sitting outside beside the pool......day and night! In addition, no detail was spared from driving directions to San Jose as well as recommendations / reviews of local restaurants. Our two favourite restaurants were Citrus and Exotica. In addition, the pizzas at Mamma e Papa were fantastic. The location is central to many activities in the South Pacific region. With the new highway recently completed, Manuel Antonio National Park is only an hour away. We would also highly recommend a trip on horseback to Nauyaca Waterfalls...... 30 minutes from the house. The golf course at San Buenas is only 20 minutes away. There are 9 holes open at this time and although course conditions are not the greatest, it certainly has the potential to be a good course once completed. Other than Manuel Antonio our favourite beach was Ventanas.....which also happens to be the closest to Villa Mariposa. At low tide you can walk through the caves! It is with mixed feelings that I post this review because selfishly, we'd like to keep this oasis as our own secret! This was the first time that my wife and I rented a home for a vacation and I can't imagine that we'll ever stay in a hotel again. Our stay was so enjoyable we are considering purchasing property in the area and plan on returning to Villa Mariposa again next year.

Owner response:Thanks so much for your review Mike and Stoya. Yes, nature puts on quite a performance and morning is one of the prime times for birds and monkeys. It sounds like you experience the magic and have been captivated by the area as so many of our guests are. Pura Vida, Ellen

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

Relaxing Villa

Guest: Barfly (Vancouver)
Date of Stay: 01/15/11 Review Submitted: 02/11/11

We loved the feeling of being all alone in the rain forest. Watching the humming birds at the pool every morning quickly became a tradition. Our 4-wheel drive got us easily to and from the magnificent restaurants in nearby Ojahal and the wonderful nearby beaches. If you want to relax, eat well and walk the beaches, this villa is comfortable with great views while surrounded by the wonders of the Costa Rican rain forest. The Villa book contains lots of useful information. Unfortunately, wifi access was challenging.

Owner response:Thanks for your review, Yes, it is wonderful to be surrounded by the rain forest and a delight to see the hummingbirds close by. As to the Internet, maintaining a luxury property in the jungle does have its challenges, it is unfortunate I did not hear about the issue sooner, there was a change with the local ISP which caused the issue and you will be glad to know we have addressed it with them and added a new router which is making the connection much easier.

Recommended for:Age 55+

A gem of a villa

Guest: Kidlets3 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/25/11

The Villa Mariposa was even more charming than the descriptions and pictures posted on the internet. The property was lovely, set high up on a hillside (a bit of a rough road to get there, but we quickly got used to it in our 4 wheel drive) overlooking the ocean and surrounded by greenery and birdsong. Local stores supplied all of our grocery needs and we rarely strayed from the gorgeous pool and magnificent view. The wide range of movies and music supplied at the house were a delightful surprise and entertained us many an evening. The house was well laid out, the furnishings comfortable and the property exceptionally well cared for. Plush towels - both bath and pool - were a nice touch, as were the binoculars, bird books, poker chips and puzzles. The local restaurants were exceptionally good - 5 star and we visited a little French pastry shop several times for breakfast. The Mystic Dive shop in town provided our teenagers with scuba training and we saw sharks, lesser devil rays, schools of fish and dolphins on our day trip to Cano Island. The local beaches were beautiful - not at all crowded and excellent swimming. We plan to return in the near future as the property got two thumbs up from all three of our kids.

Owner response:Thank you for your comments. Sounds like you have fallen in love with the villa and the area as we have. You will be glad to know we and the neighbours have the road repaired annually so it will be smoother sailing next you are there.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Villa Mariposa

Guest: J&C (USA)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 08/28/10

The pictures of this beautiful villa are totally accurate, the view and house are outstanding, top notch. The Villa was very clean, comfortable and private, we were 2 couples. It was equipped with everything we needed. The owner and property managers were very helpful in arranging our trip and making sure we had a great time. We enjoyed the local zip lining, beaches, restaurants and little of town of Ojochal. It was an adventure and trip we will remember for a long time. The weather this time of year was not too hot or rainy and it was not crowded at all. We felt like we had the place to ourselves.

Owner response:J&C,Thanks so much for your review. Yes, the Green Season is is a magical time to experience the lushness of southern Costa Rica with a greater variety of birds, wildlife and blooming orchids. It's quite wonderful that most days start off sunny in the morning which is the ideal time for tours and activities. The rain is then usually conveniently scheduled for late afternoon's so you can have lots of adventures before a well deserved siesta followed by a gorgeous sunset. Pura Vida, Ellen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.

Villa Mariposa

Guest: . (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/22/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

We loved our stay. Every minute of our vacation was an adventure. The house was perfect. I've never slept so good. The trails and streams around the house provide great adventure and scenery (except for monkeys, which unfortunately we saw none). The view and pool were incredible. I would highly recommend a few activities to your future guests. The OSA Mountain Village Canopy Tour is only about 25 minutes from the house and Chris and Stephanie are fantastic. Their website is www.osamountainvillage.com. Also, we spent an entire day (7am to 5pm) fishing, snorkeling, lunch on the beach at Cano Island, more fishing, and then spotting the humpbacks with Aldea Del Rio guide service in Sierpe (www.aldeadelrio.com). Everyone caught a good fish and seeing the humpbacks was a perfect finish for the day. Then, we met Drew Mattison of Rancho DiAndrew while eating at The Dome, and he took us on a small waterfall tour in the mountains above Uvita where we could jump in the pool from above and swim the rapids. He does several longer tours, but we met him late in the afternoon and only had time for a short one. He also offers nighttime jungle tours with explanations of plants and wildlife. He's a great guy and his site is www.ranchodiandrew.com.

Owner response:Thank you, Good to hear you enjoyed the villa and had lots of adventures you can recommend. There is so much to do in the area and the new canopy tour is getting rave reviews. As to the monkeys, they came by in the early afternoon while I was there so they may have come by while you were fishing or snorkeling or swimming in waterfalls. Pura Vida! Ellen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

A beautiful, private retreat

Guest: lisa (Toronto, Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/14/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

Villa Mariposa is everything it promises: private, romantic, beautifully designed and exceptionally clean. Two things make this property a stand-out: one is the location, high on the side of a mountain, under a canopy of tropical foliage and butterflies with an ocean view just over the edge of the swimming pool, yet within short driving distance to exceptional restaurants, grocery stores and beautiful beaches. The other is the outside terrace, where day or night, you can lounge, entertain, enjoy delicious meals of locally caught fresh fish, swim - and even shower. The owners provide a detailed information package about everything related to the house: appliances, emergency contact information, recommendations on local activities and places to eat. Every aspect of booking, arriving and being in the property met my expectations for professional and curteous customer service. I have rented several exceptional vacation properties throughout the Caribbean and Latin America; Villa Mariposa easily merits its place on the top of my top-five list. Highly recommended.

Owner response:Lisa, Thank you, I appreciate all your comments. We do take a lot of care and attention to detail so our guests have a great experience when staying at the villa. Ellen

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Great Place to Enjoy a Relaxing Vacation!

Guest: Meg and Alex (Granton, Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/01/10 Review Submitted: 07/26/10

What a great place to stay with great friends! In the area there were so many activities to choose from and so many great restaurants to dine at, but we enjoyed Villa Mariposa so much we hardly left! Our days consisted of blending up a big batch of Pina Coladas, enjoying them poolside, and grilling on the BBQ almost every night. We loved all the birds we could see from the pool deck and the sounds of the monkeys every morning. I highly recommend this tropical home away from home!

Owner response:Thanks Meg and Alex, I am so glad you enjoyed your stay. The birds are quite something and now that the Butterfly bushes have grown, it's delightful to lie in bed after I wake up and and watch the hummingbirds right outside the French doors. Ellen

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

Guest: Bill76 (Hesperia, ca usa)
Date of Stay: 03/06/10 Review Submitted: 03/06/10

What a wonderful stay in costa rica...A true value for your Dollar..Nothing as peaceful as swimming in the pool, watching Toucans, as the stunning sunset reveals its self...Time to turn on the Barbque and sear fresh Mahi Mahi that was caught by the local fisherman at Playa tortuga that morning...Evening breezes, with bedroom doors open reveal the evening sounds of the Jungle for a sound nights sleep

Owner response:Thanks Bill, sounds like you really know how to appreciate paradise. Cheers, Ellen

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Awesome Villa!

Guest: Gail and Murray (Baden, Ontario. Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/13/10 Review Submitted: 02/24/10

We rented Villa Mariposa for one of our weeks in Costa Rica. It was everything the listing said it would be. A very clean, well maintained, high quality accommodation. There were four of us (two couples) and the villa layout worked well. The location is ideal for day trips to local beaches (which are very nice) or tours (we did Nauyaca Falls Horseback tour, ziplining at Quepos, and the guys did a fishing trip out of Uvita). There is good grocery shopping in Uvita as well as some interesting shops along the highway. The view from the outdoor living/pool area is spectacular (including the whale tail at low tide). We brought some music but I also enjoyed the cd's available at the villa. It was nice to open the french doors and let the mountain air flow through. The property managers were friendly and helpful. It was a great experience and a difficult location to leave!

Owner response:Thank you Gail and Murray, Glad you had a great time and enjoyed your stay at the villa and some of the many activities this beautiful area has to offer. Ellen

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: BryanRS (Toronto)
Date of Stay: 01/19/10 Review Submitted: 01/19/10

Really appreciated the 3G Internet service. I could sit out on the terrace looking at jungle and the ocean view and still be connected to the world. It was fun walking along the creek on the property - lots of different plants and butterflies. Great dining experience at Exotica and the Ventanas beach is really beautiful. Quite the find for a working vacation!

Owner response:Bryan,I am happy you enjoyed your stay and our new 3G Internet service worked well for you. I agree, Exotica is my favourite restaurant among so many exceptional ones. Thanks for all your comments. Ellen

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/19/10 Review Submitted: 01/19/10

We spent a week in the villa and loved both the villa and this part of Costa Rica. The villa has a beautiful pool and outdoor dining and sitting area that overlooks the Pacific and sunset. We ate outdoors every meal at the villa even when it rained as the roof overhangs the sitting and eating areas. The villa itself is new and well equipped and beautiful but the outdoors beacons. There are three furnished bedrooms of nice size, two full and one ? bath plus an unfurnished room that can be used with a blow-up bed fi needed. All rooms except for one bedroom overlook the pool. The good and the bad depending on your point of view is that the villa is at least 10 minutes up a dirt road that is bumpy in places from the main highway. This is a problem if you want to go in and out frequently but nice once you are settled. We took advantage of the horseback ride to Nauyaca Falls which all five of us considered a highlight. We all did the Zipline, two a snorkeling trip and one took surfing lessons. All were nice but did not compare to the horseback ride. One morning two of us went into the forest near the villa and were able to see the monkeys high in the tree tops. The beaches are reached easily and we went to a number of different beaches even as far as Dominical (about 35 minutes). The coast and mountains are beautiful and the area is much less developed than further north. The restaurants were all good and most were in beautiful locations. The one bad part of the vacation came on the last day. We had to leave)))-:

Owner response:Thanks for your review. I am glad you had a great stay and enjoyed the villa and the monkeys. Just to clarify a typo. I think you meant to write the outdoors beckons. Yes, it does draw you out to the great views from the terrace and pool. You will be happy to know the mountain road has been graded to get the bumps out and one of my neighbours up the road described it as a thing of beauty. Most people find it takes 7 or 8 minutes to get to the villa from the coastal highway. Looking forward to your next visit, Ellen

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Enjoyed Everything

Guest: Murray&Pam (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
Date of Stay: 01/17/10 Review Submitted: 05/25/10

Ellen and Bernie, your home is lovely, you have done a great job of planning your Villa. We had a lovely stay. We enjoyed everything about your home and the attention to detail. All the little things were nice to have at our disposal. We appreciated the beautiful pool, the ocean view and all the birds. We will remember listening to Mozart while stargazing by the pool. You have excellent property managers with Joan & Mau. We have come to know them in our 8 years in the area and believe you have the best. This is our eighth year visiting this area and we never tire of it. Our 3 weeks went by too fast. We will certainly be calling you next time we are going to the area, and will recommend your place. Regards, Murray & Pam

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Guest: Helen99 (Oakville, Ont)
Date of Stay: 01/15/10 Review Submitted: 01/15/10

We had a wonderful week at Villa Mariposa. The house is fabulous, so well laid out and the décor is gorgeous. We loved the pool and spent so much time in it. It was so amazing seeing the Blue Morpho Butterfies fly right in front of the terrace almost every morning. We were so thrilled to see the Howler monkeys outside the gate and even one crossing the road. The horseback riding tour to Nauyaca Falls was one of the many highlights of the trip with so many wonderful surprises along the way and swimming in the jungle pool at the base was something out of a movie. Joan and Mau the property managers were so wonderfully helpful in arranging to get us to the villa and booking tours. We will be back to Villa Mariposa next year to enjoy this piece of paradise and we are recommending it to our friends.

Owner response:Helen thanks so much! I am glad you had such a wonderful trip and really enjoyed the villa. I look forward to having you back next year. Ellen

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Guest: OliverJ (Kitchener Ontario)
Date of Stay: 12/26/09 Review Submitted: 12/26/09

To anyone considering renting in the southern zone of Costa Rica.My wife and I along with her parents and our neighbour's just came back from our stay at Villa Mariposa.What we found was avery well equiped house that made for a very comfortable stay.The pool was a major hit that we all enjoyed on a daily basis.The house is spacious and therefor the flow worked really well.We found a very well stocked kitchen that had everything we required. All in all I can highly recommend this location for you vacation. Sicerely Oliver Jahn

Owner response:Oliver, Thank you for your kind comments. I am so glad you had a wonderful stay. Ellen

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A great time

Guest: Helen99 (Oakville, Ont)
Date of Stay: 12/06/09 Review Submitted: 02/04/10

We had such a wonderful time at Villa Mariposa. The house is fabulous, very well laid out with gorgeous décor. We loved the pool and spent a lot of time in it. It was amazing seeing the Blue Morpho Butterfies visit the terrace most mornings. Seeing the Howler monkeys outside the gate was a real bonus. We would definitely recommend the horseback riding tour to Nauyaca Falls which was one of many highlights of the trip. Swimming in the jungle pool at the base of the waterfall was bliss. It was also great o be able to see the Whales Tail from the villa and then be able to walk on it out into the ocean at low tide. The property managers, Joan and Mau, were such a pleasure in helping arrange tours and take us up to the villa. We would love to go back to Villa Mariposa next year and we are recommending it to our friends. Helen and Sam, Oakville, Ont.

Owner response:Helen thanks for your comments! I am glad you had such a wonderful trip with memorable experiences and really enjoyed the villa. I look forward to having you back next year. Ellen

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