Beachfront Punta Uva: a Storied Location with Modern Amenities

• Great for a getaway!

  Great for a getaway!

  • Guest Jenn C.
  • Date of stay 05/11/13
  • Review Submitted 05/20/13
  I enjoyed my stay at Casa de la Musa. I stayed here with my boyfriend and his brother's family (all costa ricans). The trundle bed was great for the two kids who were with us. Everyone was impressed with the home. Air conditioning and hot water are amenities not found in traditional costa rican homes and so it was truly a vacation for them! There were a couple small things that could be improved...I wish there were better bed linens/pillows. In the pictures, it shows white linens, but we got very old blue-ish plaid linens and pillows that had seen better days... The upstairs shower hot water is unreliable and is lukewarm at best for the first couple minutes, but then gets cold. Honestly, it was so hot, the cold shower was refreshing - so i didnt mind. The downstairs shower does have very hot water and is very reliable. Evi was very helpful, did a great tour of the home when we got there and introduced us to the groundskeeper - joanna. She does your laundry for you, which was nice not to have to worry about it! She even hand washed a dress of mine because she said it was delicate and didnt want to put it in the washer! I would stay here again!

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

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• Best Ever !!

  Best Ever !!

  • Guest maggie
  • Date of stay 09/16/12
  • Review Submitted 10/26/12
  Our eight day stay at Casa De La Musa was the high point of our two week vacation in Costa Rica. This history laden home is only 4-5 hours from San Jose but a world away from the commotion of "city" life. If you tend to favor the unspoiled ( as opposed to the regimented, all-inclusive type of) destination, then Punta Uva is for you. Transportation is no problem, U.S. currency is accepted, and the Costa Rican people are extremely friendly and welcoming. This very comfortable house is accurately described in the listing, and is indeed just a few steps from a really beautiful, pristine, definitely uncrowded beach. The home is well screened although insects were absolutely no problem during our stay. In fact, we never had to use repellant -- even in the jungle ! Having air conditioning that worked so very well was a big advantage for us. If you tire of sun and sand , there are plenty of activities in the area to break up your day: a fascinating jungle tour with Guyla, offshore fishing with Lazlo, and the Jaguar Rescue center just to name a few. Another factor to consider when choosing a destination of this type is the quality and expertise of the folks supporting your stay. You will not find any better than manager Evi, and the caretaker couple Carlos and Yolanda. They all went out of their way to ensure that we enjoyed ourselves and made us feel really welcome. We arrived as strangers, but left as friends. We cannot thank you enough !!!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

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• Perfect location, best service, super clean + friendly !! we love it!!

  Perfect location, best service, super clean + friendly !! we love it!!

  • Guest sziszi
  • Date of stay 10/14/12
  • Review Submitted 10/22/12
  Perfect location, best service,super clean + friendly !!! we love it !! we are a married couple and have been traveling with my mother in law and her sister - so we were a bit concerned about traveling through costa rica - but here you have absolutely peace of mind. the house is located just steps from the beautiful beach of punta uva - the beach extends to both sides endless walking without meeting anybody....perfect. beach chairs , mats and bbq are at the house so we spend the most of the time on the beach. the house has everything you will need to relax in this paradise. the manager evi was very friendly, kind and helpful with any questions we have. she provides us with maps of the area, descriptions and recomendations of tours and restaurants. at the house there is a local phone which you can use for any reservations at no cost. the house has his old charme of an autenthic caribbean wood house but with all the modern comfort. very clean and new kitchen with all appliances you will need. the alarm system gave us the peace of mind to leave our luggage and electronic devices in the house and even if you want to you can activate the alarm system if you are in the house. also the careteaker family living beside in the little house have been very friendly and helpful in whatever we needed. the A/C in both sleeping rooms which are to use individual, great. the inscreened porch to sit outside without bothering bugs, which really we havent had at all. nearby you will find restaurants with delicious food, breakfast place and sushi bar - also fresh baken bread every morning in walkin distance, snorkel and bicycles to rent , you even dont need a car. all over we loved it - we will certainly come back and can highly recomend the house, the location and the manager and caretakers have been lovely and taken care of all of our needs. thank you so much we have had a wonderful holidays.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, tourists without a car.

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• Did not meet expectations, would not stay here again

  Did not meet expectations, would not stay here again

  • Guest Mike
  • Date of stay 10/11/12
  • Review Submitted 10/17/12
  While the primary value of this property is the fact you can walk to the beach, it still fell short of my expectations. The main reason was the house was just not clean. The upstairs bathroom was really dirty - the three little mats on the floor were filthy with stains, the floor itself was dirty and all the doors looked like they hadn't been wiped down in ages there was so much dust on them. The lower lever bathroom did not have hand towels or soap in it. The kitchen was also dirty, with spider webs around the dishes and pots and pans. I had to turn over 4 or 5 coffee mugs to find one that was clean, along with several plates. The listing said there was a small bbq grill, but there was not one there. The listing also says the house has wi-fi and warns that it is slow but still works - but every web page I tried to load timed out. Evi the property manager made a point of telling us not to arrive after 9pm if possible, so I drove fast and made it there at 8:40pm. When we called upon arrival she then said she would come by the next day to show us everything and had the caretaker let us in - but the caretaker does not speak English very well. Also, in my emails with Evi to confirm my reservation, she stated there was a 5% discount for paying in cash. But when I asked her the day before I arrived if I had calculated the proper final payment she told me the 5% discount only applied to the 50% balance due after the deposit, not to the total amount. I kind of thought that was nickel and dime-ing us. I just never got a warm and fuzzy feeling from Evi, as she seemed the most concerned with making sure we turned on the alarm system all the time, even while we were there. When I told her that I live in Costa Rica and was not that paranoid, she kind of blew me off and stated that most Americans wanted alarms all the time. And if she rents a house that is just not clean, that is a red flag on a variety of levels. Either she doesn't really care, doesn't check the condition of the house before rentals or doesn't check properly. So again, the value of this property is being able to walk to the beach, and to hear the beach from the house. That indeed was wonderful. But they fell short on the other items that truly make your stay enjoyable and I would not return or recommend this house to others.

  Owner response: We’re very sorry to hear that your experience at Casa de la Musa fell short of expectations. We strive to keep the house fresh and clean, so we will look again at the floors, mats and kitchen supplies. We also apologize that the downstairs bathroom did not have fresh soap and towels. Being in the jungle, the house constantly requires cleaning and refreshing (it is cleaned and inspected about twice per week), and in the event that guests have concerns about such issues, we try to address them right away. We’re also sorry that you did not have a warm feeling from Evi. While she is one of the kindest and most responsible people that we know, perhaps she could have done a better job for you. She mentioned that you were not interested in doing the full house tour (during which she gives instructions for the BBQ grill, wi-fi, etc.), so it seems there was some unfortunate miscommunication right from the beginning. With regards to the 5% discount for cash or Banco de Costa Rica final payments, we apologize if we did not communicate the policy clearly prior to your arrival. We send all guests the house payments & policies prior to the initial deposit, and while this is the first time we’ve had such a misunderstanding, we’ve revised the text a bit to avoid any future issues. All in all, we are sorry the house did not meet your expectations. We genuinely want all guests to have a great experience. We wish that you had informed us about your concerns during your visit so that we could have addressed them right away, but we will try to make the necessary improvements so that other guests do not have similar concerns in the future. Sincerely, Jeff and Carrie

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• Steps away from the beach!

  Steps away from the beach!

  • Guest kaycee
  • Date of stay 05/23/12
  • Review Submitted 07/27/12
  My bf and I stayed at this wonderful house for 8 days! Where do I start... after 16 hours of travelling - flight + 4.5h bus ride to Puerto viejo, we were greeted by Evi who drove us to the house. On the way we stopped at a grocery store so that we could stock up on food without worrying how to transport them. When we arrived at the house we, were given a quick tour by Evi. There were no details that were left unaddressed. Something as trivial as flashlights, a local cell phone for use, safes for valuables in the rooms, etc. - all essentials but would not necessarily be provided everywhere. This is a MAJOR PLUS in my opinion! The house itself is beautiful and TRUE to the pictures posted as well. And as others have mentioned it was nice to have the option to sit outside in the screened area without worrying on insect bites or stay in the room to cool off with A/C. Another luxury of this property is the location - it's probably a 2minute walk to the beach and 15-20minute walk to great restaurants. Once you get to the beach, it is very secluded; at most we saw 10-15 people total over 8 days. The sand was soft, water was warm, and the waves were not strong either. If you're looking to relax, have more of a local feel, and wanting to be away from crowds then this is your place! For any of my friends travelling to this side of Costa Rica, I'll definitely recommend it.

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

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• Would stay here again!

  Would stay here again!

  • Guest Mars
  • Date of stay 06/04/12
  • Review Submitted 06/13/12
  No issues at all! Me and my teenage son stayed here for a week and enjoyed every minute of it. Great set up with house, you can enjoy the outdoor space and bottom floor or enjoy the AC in your room. Bike rentals are 2 minutes away, Puerto Viejo is about a 20 minute bike ride away. I would recommended water shoes and inspect repellent in general for the area. Punta Uva is 50 meters away and the waves a night a very soothing to fall asleep to. Evi was extremely helpful with everything!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

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• Our stay at Casa de La Musa

  Our stay at Casa de La Musa

  • Guest ingridsons
  • Date of stay 05/01/12
  • Review Submitted 05/07/12
  In few words Secure, comfortable, close to everywhere.....everything is as in the photos. Thanks Evi, Mónica & Juan

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

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• A Little Bit of Paradise !!

  A Little Bit of Paradise !!

  • Guest Phil
  • Date of stay 11/10/11
  • Review Submitted 02/29/12
  We are a family of 5 ( 2 grandparents, a daughter-in-law, and 2 grandchildren ages 12 and 9). Having stayed in the area of Punta Uva the year before, we knew we wanted to return. After searching most houses on vrbo, we chose Casa de la Musa... and what a fine choice it was!! We wanted a secure location very close to the beach with 2 bathrooms. This couldn`t have turned out any better! There is a locked gate at the end of the driveway, and a door at the top of the second floor where the bedrooms are, which also locked , and a lock on each bedroom door. We slept without worries. And, although not really necessary in November, there was a/c in each bedroom! To go to the beach, we walked down the path a few metres... and there it was. The kitchen was well supplied. Every day on the patio we drank great Costa Rican coffee and feasted on the tropical fruit we had bought on the drive down, while we constantly kept looking around to see what bird, animal, or butterfly was going to enter our new world. Evi, the manager, answered all of our emails very promptly before we booked, met us when we arrived and gave us an orientation, and returned a little later in the day to answer any remaining questions after we did a little exploring. The location is also very close to two of our favourite restaurants, Pita Bonita and Selvin`s, which we had discovered the year before. Overall, we feel we absolutely made the right choice. Such great memories!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car.

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• Wonderful

  Wonderful

  • Guest Babs
  • Date of stay 01/20/11
  • Review Submitted 09/04/11
  This year I celebrated my 30th birthday - a big one, so expectations were high. We stayed here at Casa de la Musa and it was absolutely perfect. The house was breathtaking, as was the surrounding area. Plus, we met the friendliest people (locals, transplants, and fellow travelers) and we even attended two birthday parties (in addition my own)! We felt really lucky to have discovered this place and enjoyed every moment of our beautiful, off-the-beaten-path Costa Rican adventure. To paint a better picture, our days at Casa de la Musa went something like this: - Breakfast in the downstairs patio area, relax and take in the jungle surroundings - Stroll 20 feet down the path to enjoy a morning on the beaches (there are many within walking distance) - Hop on bikes and explore one of the nearby villages or national parks all afternoon - Return to the house for happy hour and reading in hammocks on the upstairs deck - Head out for dinner and spirits (there are many great restaurants in either direction) OR stay in for a quiet evening The house is in a wonderful location – it’s really up to you to decide how much socializing/seclusion or adventure/relaxation you prefer. We hope to be back soon!

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

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• Relaxing Vacation Where The Jungle Meets The Ocean

  Relaxing Vacation Where The Jungle Meets The Ocean

  • Guest Eliz
  • Date of stay 01/22/11
  • Review Submitted 08/25/11
  If you are looking to get away from it all, this property is fantastic, and definitely a bargain for the location and amenities. The house is in a remote area on Punta Uva just feet from a beach that is essentially your own. Yet you are in the jungle amidst howling monkeys, colorful birds and enormous trees that shade the home, keeping it naturally cool. The house is partially outdoors and partially indoors, which is a perfect balance. My husband and I enjoyed eating our meals outside and swinging on the hammock while listening to the monkeys, reading a book or checking email (yes, this house has wi-fi.) The internet was helpful to Skype and book taxis to get into town, although it wasn't a very far bike ride and we rented bikes just up the street. If you want to explore a different beach, there are two National Parks, Cahuita and Manzanillo, which are both worth the trip. One of them is just about 20 minutes down the road by bike. After a hike and a swim, head the other direction for a sweet chocolate massage at Pure Spa - well worth it for the chocolate lover! There are restaurants near both parks, in Puerto Viejo and some are within walking distance from the house. There was surfing, but we didn't try it. Like most of Costa Rica there was probably a zip line tour and snorkeling in the area for adventure seekers, but we opted to relax instead. At the house, everything appears to be newly renovated, with a stunning bathroom, AC, and sizeable bedrooms for a Costa Rican home. The bedrooms are basic, but the beds are really comfortable. I thought the photos honestly portrayed this property and the owner was great to work with. He answered all of our questions in advance, gave us some fantastic suggestions for restaurants, spas, hikes, beaches and tours. He also set us up with a local who picked us up from the bus station to bring us to the house and check up on us throughout our week stay. Unfortunately we had some rain on our trip, but we had no problem relaxing at this home. It is remote and not in the heart of the downtown, so make sure this style of travel is for you! Stock up at the supermarket in Puerto Viejo when your bus arrives. (We took the public bus from San Jose, which was fine. There are micro buses too that will take you right to the house.) Unlike other areas of Costa Rica, Punta Uva is not touristy. A lot of the restaurants are owned by ex-Pats, but you won't be with a heard of tourists. We would definitely go back and stay at this home!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, adventure seekers.

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Rates through March 2014 -- Discounts available for May & June!
1-2 people = $155/night or $930/week
3-4 people = $180/night or $1080/week
5-6 people = $200/night or $1200/week
$1400/1600/1750 per week for Christmas, New Year's, and Easter weeks.
Children under 12 stay free.
Payments can be made via PayPal, cash, or wire transfer.
Minimum stay 2 nights.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.