Location: Playa Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Central America (San Jose Airport 5 Hrs, Tambor Airport 40 Minutes) View Map
Accommodations: House, 3 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 3 Baths (Sleeps 7-8)
Keywords: House & Guest House
This gorgeous, new, contemporary property was designed to be eco-friendly while also giving you all of the comforts of home. The large sliding doors and windows lining the walls of both stories make use of the ocean views and breezes and make you feel like you are nestled within the surrounding trees and flowering plants. This home was built with an attention to detail to western amenities. The entire house and cabina are situated facing the West/Ocean, giving you views from every room of the many local trees and foliage, with glimpses of the glassy ocean crashing in the distance. Both levels have large patios and covered balconies allowing you to take full advantage of the indoor/outdoor spaces. We have retractable screens on all doors and windows, and ceiling fans throughout the house (even in the large bathrooms) and over the patios outside to make your lounging times pleasant, even long after the sun goes down on those warm Costa Rican days.
This property is located 100 meters from Santa Teresa beach with only a grove of Pochote Trees standing between you and the white sand beaches, incredible surf, and tide pools. Heading out the other direction on the beach access road and bordering the rear of the property, you find yourself along the main road in town, full of superb restaurants, fresh fruit and fish markets, shopping and nightlife. Just a few yards down the road are numerous cafes and restaurants offering superb meals and service as well as a number of large grocery stores full of fresh local fruits and produce. Also a few steps away is the Spa Natural which offers a wide variety of spa services and morning and sunset ocean front yoga classes. We can guide you towards whatever you are looking for, and if you prefer, can arrange for any of these services to be brought to you.
This property works in a number of ways to accommodate your stay. There is the two bedroom, two bath house which sleeps up to 6 people comfortably. The house can be rented alone or along with the separate, free standing, pool-side Cabina on the property, which sleeps 2.
In the main house, the two oversized bedrooms are separated for privacy and each offer king sized beds with highest thread count bedding, as well as separate seating areas, treetop and partial ocean views. Both rooms are similarly large in size, face the ocean, and sliding glass doors lead out to the oversized covered balcony stretching the full length of the upstairs. Sit and enjoy your morning coffee, or in the evenings enjoy the ocean breezes while watching the rain fall and spectacular lightning shows. The second bedroom also boasts an additional daybed/seating area which can convert to a full size bed for additional guest. Both rooms have AC units as well as ceiling fans and screens on all windows and doors.
Downstairs, the open floor plan of the kitchen, sunken living room and large outdoor patio area blur the lines between an enjoyable outdoor and indoor living experience. There are ceiling fans throughout the entire living space as well as over the outdoor dining tables. Again, all doors and windows are screened for your after dusk comfort as well, and to take advantage of the naturally cooling ocean breezes. The kitchen is fully equipped with all new top of the line appliances, including a chef's stove/oven. If your interest is simply in blending the margaritas, we can arrange for you to have a local private chef come to prepare you a scrumptious feast for your enjoyment outside under the stars. The sunken living room boasts a built in, oversized couch with loads of comfortable pillows to lounge on and read your favorite book, listen to music, take a nap away from the sun, or sit and watch the surroundings.
The free standing Cabina offers comfortable accommodations on its own. Overlooking the pool area and with partial ocean views, you will find a comfortable king sized bed, AC unit, ceiling fans, private closet and safe, kitchenette, large full bathroom, and separate patio.
The beauty of this property stretches from the indoors-out. The pool is the gem of the outdoor area. Large enough to swim laps, dive, play, float or simply lounge in large, umbrella covered, shallow seating area, this pool offers a fantastic relief from the heat. It is surrounded by trees and tropical plants, as well as an outdoor seating area
We have a local property manager to make sure that you are greeted and well taken care of. We are also available to assist you with recommendations for restaurant reservations, baby sitting, surfboard rentals and/or lessons, canopy tours, airport transportation/transfers, horseback riding reservations, local flights, car rentals or tours, fishing excursions, massages/spa treatments, yoga, Pilates, or anything else you can think of!
In response to the water issues in the area, this property was built around an eco-conscious rainwater usage system. This means that all of the water used in the house is primarily stored rainwater or well water. After it is used, it is then recycled in a self contained system and used again in the irrigation of our property.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us via email.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning : AC in Bedrooms and Cabina
- Linens Provided : High Quality Bedding and Bath towels provided
- Washer : Available upon request
- Dryer : Available upon request
- Off Street Parking : Gated Parking on Property
- Beds
- King Bed (3) : King Bed in each bedroom and in Cabina
- Convertible Bed : Daybed that coverts to comfortable Full Sized bed in Second Bedroom of house
- Crib : Pack N Play Available
- Entertainment
- Private Pool : Gorgeous, large swimming pool exclusive to property
- Shared Pool : House and Cabina share large pool
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : Chef's Kitchen in house, equipped with all modern stainless appliances. Cabina has it's own equipped Kitchenette. Both contain Bottled Water Dispensers.
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Catering Available : A number of wonderful chef's are available for booking to cook for you at the house.
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio (2) : Large Deck extends the length of entire house with stairs leading to pool area. Cabina has its own patio. There is also a seating area adjacent to the swimming pool area.
- Balcony : Large, Covered Balcony running the length of the upstairs with access from both bedrooms
- View/Location
- Beach View : A grove of local Pochote Trees between you and the Ocean/Beach.
- Ocean View : Through the trees, catch views of the waves from Bedrooms, Living areas, Decks and Cabina
- Communications
- Telephone : Local Service
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Hammocks, Umbrellas, Alarm System, Concierge Service, Local Property Manager
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly : Pack N Play available for use
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Boating
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Horseback Riding
- Shelling
- Hiking
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Other Activities
- Chef can be arranged for in home meals, Baby Sitting, Surf Lessons, Surboard Rentals, Nearby Spa also offers Yoga and Pilates, In Home Massages Available
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
2 Bd House Only .. $375/night (3 night min) .. $2400/week .. $7500/month
Contact for Green Season rates, May-October
Contact for House + Cabina rates, or Cabina only rates
Contact for Holiday season rates (Christmas, New Years, Easter Weeks)
50% deposit to hold reservation via wire transfer or cashiers check/money order
Balance due 3 weeks prior to arrival. 45 day cancellation policy for full refund
Additional charge for additional guests at owners discretion
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Gorgeous Home 100m to Sand - Now Renting for Spring and Easter
Year Purchased: 2009
Why the Owner Chose Playa Santa Teresa
Once we found Santa Teresa, we fell in love and knew that this was where we would build our 'dream house'. It took us many years to design and redesign this house, and our dream finally came alive in 2009 with its completion. After exploring many properties in the area, we focused on designing a place that would have all of the amenities we always looked for in a rental, but couldn't seem to find all in one place. We focused on creating those little details and knew that this would not only be apparent and special to us, but to everyone who stayed there. Our love of the environment influenced the eco friendly design and amenities. We collect and store fresh rainwater, which we then use throughout the house in the showers, sinks, and toilets. We then have a three step system that treats this used water, refreshes it and gives it back to the landscaping. It was very important to us to create as sustainable of a house that we could in this gorgeous environment.
The Unique Benefits at this House
We are in a wonderful area of the town of Santa Teresa - More specifically, we are located in the small stretch of beach known as Playa Carmen, within the Santa Teresa/Mal Pais area. We have created surroundings that focus on comfort as the number one priority from the time you wake up in the morning until you sleep at night. We know how important it is to start your day with a glorious sleeping experience. Fantastic bedding that will make it a challenge for you to get out of bed and wander down our beach access road for 2 minutes to check the glassy surf and watch the fog lift from the beach. From there, after your surf, you can enjoy a day at the beach or lounging around the house and gorgeous swimming pool... Many days you may not even want to leave the property. The day is made complete by watching the sunset at the beach or through the trees from one of the many patios/balconies at the house, and then dinner at a neighboring restaurant or in the outside dining area of the house. There is no way to describe the beauty of your stay at our house!
Owner's Map of Playa Santa Teresa
We are a vacation-loving couple from the beach area of Los Angeles, CA, whose dream was to find a place like Santa Teresa. When we have blocks of time off from work, you will find us in Santa Teresa, which, you will soon see, instantly begins to feel like your home away from home.
Property Photos
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- Exterior evening - Santa Teresa, Costa Rica Vacation Rental with Pool & Ocean Views; Short Walk to Beach
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- House and Cabina - can be rented together or separate - Santa Teresa, Costa Rica Vacation Rental with Pool & Ocean Views; Short Walk to Beach
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- Downstairs from kitchen towards dining/living area - Santa Teresa, Costa Rica Vacation Rental with Pool & Ocean Views; Short Walk to Beach
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- Downstairs from Living Room to Dining/Kitchen, with stairs in background
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- Bedroom #1 with access to large upstairs balcony, and fold down additional bed
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- Bedroom #1 with access to large upstairs balcony, views to ocean
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- Bedroom #2 with access to large upstairs balcony
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- Bedroom #2 with access to large upstairs balcony
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- Bathrooms are all large and airy... with ceiling fans to keep you cool...
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- Outdoor dining - either downstairs patio/poolside or upstairs both w/ fans above
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- Lounge/dine on the upstairs patio looking at the pool w views to the trees/ocean
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- View from Kitchen through dining and living room towards pool
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- Rent the Cabina by itself or with the house
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- Lounge outside in the evenings as well, listening to the surf
Traveler Reviews (13)
We'll be back!
Guest: Warren T.
(Georgia)
Date of Stay: 06/20/11
Review Submitted: 09/19/11
My family had a great time staying here. We have two children, ages 6 and 10, and we all had a great time. The area was great for beach play - LOVED the tide pools all along the beach towards the north - and spent a lot of time playing under the palms and other trees down at the end of the beach access road with the other kids in the area. The family friendly town was perfect for our trip. Took them zip lining, horseback riding, and "surfing" on some foam boards we got from Alex's Surf Shop. We also spent a lot of time at the house and in the pool, which was great. Pool/grounds guy kept the pool very clean, AC worked great to keep us cool, and all of the fans on the porch were awesome to sit outside too. Definitely recommend and we hope to be back.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.
Great Place, so-so Town
Guest: Jen W.
(Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 04/01/11
Review Submitted: 09/16/11
We had an overall great time. The house was great - beds are WAY better than the other places we stayed around Costa Rica on this trip, and the owners and people who work at the property were really helpful. The town is a little small and limited to surfing, swimming and just chilling out. That's fine if that is the kind of trip you are looking for, but we were hoping for a little more to see and do. We did the canopy/zipline tour, which was GREAT, and horseback rode on the beach one day at sunset, but other than that, definitely more of a place for surfers or people looking to hang out at the beach or the house. You can tell that the house was built with a big pool to make people comfortable enough not to want to leave. I would recommend.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.
Great Weather, Great Decision on Place to Stay
Guest: Chris
(San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/12/11
Review Submitted: 09/16/11
We stayed at this property while in town for a friends wedding, and we were so happy to have chosen it among the others that were recommended. It is so hard to judge off of a website, but the owners went out of their way to answer all of our questions, send additional photographs and explain exactly where to place was located. We wound up barely using our rental car except to explore up and down the coast on day surf trips, and our wives loved just lounging by the pool, taking yoga classes next door and of course the in home masseuse that the owners arranged for us. The property manager was lovely, and the house was beautifully decorated with flowers upon our arrival, very clean, and much more than we imagined for a 'beach rental' in Costa Rica. We followed all of the owners recs on restaurants, etc, and they didn't steer us wrong. The town was amazing, full of awesome expats living the dream. We will definitely be back and recommend to friends looking for a place to get away.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.
Not Safe
Guest: Alexa
(Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11
Review Submitted: 08/23/11
We came to Casa Buena Vida with high hopes... but less than 36 hours after our arrival we got robbed. While we were out for dinner someone broke the lock to a sliding glass window and entered the house. Upon our arrival we discovered that the safe, which we were advised to entrust with all of our expensive belongings and cash had been broken into and everything was gone! The plastic knob was no deterrent for the criminals as is expected of a "safe".. We were not only robbed on the second night of our stay here, but were also terrorized on the last night when two men came up and tried to break into the front gate at 3am, possibly trying to sell us back some of our stolen items. Unfortunately, no one had told us that Costa Rica, and specifically Santa Teresa, is so unsafe. After the robbery we spoke with locals who shared with us that these kinds of crimes were commonplace and that we should be grateful that we were not violently accosted. In retrospect, we should have checked the US State Department's website where there is a travel warning for Americans traveling to Costa Rica. Provided that everyone is aware of such danger, we were surprised that the owners were negligent in taking safety precautions against said crime.. Specifically there is no ground security stationed at night. While all of the surrounding hotels and similar properties have security guards armed with guns and machetes, Casa Buena Vida provides no such protection for its residents. The owners will have you believe that the alarm is enough to keep you safe – it is not. The alarm is obsolete and though it calls an alarm company, no one comes to check on the house if the alarm is triggered. In addition, the locks on all of the doors and windows are low grade and do not protect against the high crime rate in the area. The imposingly massive gate will add to your false sense of security while the fencing surrounding the property is made of nothing but thin wire and provides no protection, as you would expect. The fact that there is no police station in town is in itself enough to leave any guest of this property feeling unsafe and discontent. Obviously there is a good reason that similar properties in the area employ ground security. Keep this in mind as you research vacation rentals in Santa Teresa. Renting a property without ground security like Casa Buena Vida will make you an easy target.
Owner response:We are always more than happy to answer specific questions from future guests stemming from a review like this. There is much more to this story than these guests have shared here, including many half truths and gross exaggerations about the area of Santa Teresa and the property itself. Please feel free to contact us directly and read the many other unsolicited reviews on our website and others in the area. We take the safety of our property and that of our guests very seriously and we have always informed all guests, as part of our rental packet, of the petty crime in the area and Costa Rica in general. We have never had a situation such as this one occur with guests who take the time to follow our safety recommendations, including the usage of the fully reliable and up to date Adt alarm system - which these guests chose not to arm when leaving the property at night. We do not believe in guns or other weapons on our property and choose to take other security measures that work when followed. We hope that any travelers reading this would take this review with a grain of salt and not ruin a potentially wonderful vacation to the area. We've been coming here for many years and the most that has ever gone missing from us is a pair of flip flops on the beach...Santa Teresa and Costa Rica, in general, is one of the most lovely places to visit, as thousands of visitors each year, and dozens to our property alone, can attest. Pura Vida.
Recommended for:
Absolutely Perfect!
Guest: Brittneykh
(Lake Oswego, OR)
Date of Stay: 08/02/11
Review Submitted: 08/22/11
We are three weeks into our 4 week stay here at this house and are loving it! We are so happy that we chose this particular house to rent - it has everything we could want. Super close to the beautiful beach (just a quick walk down the road about 50 meters and you can see the waves from the bedrooms), walking distance to many stores and fabulous restaurants (we didn't rent a car and have enjoyed walking around town very much), and so comfortable! The house is beautifully and simply furnished. Juan Carlo, the groundskeeper is awesome. Paula, the caretaker is very helpful, and a cleaning lady comes every other day or so! There is yoga just a few feet down the beach at Hotel Tropico Latino - Maria is a great instructor and also does wonderful massages! The people who live here are very friendly and it is an amazing town! So sad to leave in a week and can't wait to come back! Melanie has been great to work with. Thanks!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.
AMAZING!
Guest: Andrea
(Asheville, NC)
Date of Stay: 04/10/10
Review Submitted: 05/27/11
One of the most beautiful, modern and comfortable homes away from home you could ever find! The pictures of this property don't do it justice. If you've ever wanted to visit Costa Rica, this is the place to stay! We spent a glorious week here with our 4 1/2 year old daughter last year and couldn't have been more pleased. Gorgeous pool, short walk to a beautiful beach and amazing food in Santa Teresa and Mal Pais. Amazing smoothies at Zula's, incredible sushi bar in town and do not miss Brisas del Mar Restaurant - superb food accompanied by even more superb views. Oh - and make sure you have room in your suitcase for rocks...yes, rocks. Came home with the most beautiful shell and rock collection you could imagine. Our daughter still talks about our trip to CR with high hopes of returning some day soon :-) Her mom and dad feel the same way.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.
Great location and home
Guest: Artsage
(Manhattan Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/18/11
Review Submitted: 03/26/11
We just arrived home from a week long stay at this beautiful and private property located beachside. The contemporary house is very spacious, beach friendly, comfortable, etc. Plenty of fans inside and outside the house to keep the air flowing and AC in the bedrooms absolutely kept us content during a very hot week in Santa Teresa/Playa Carmen. The private pool was wonderful to take dips in throughout the day and particularly after a surf session; and fun to chill on the hammocks with umbrellas. Great surfing is a 2 min walk from the house and up and down the beach, pick your spot! Location to restaurants & shops was spot on. Housekeeping did a great job. Full kitchen was nice to be able to utilize. Vin, the groundskeeper, is wonderful (he comes each day in the afternoon to keep the grounds clean). Property manager/concierge is also available to help during your stay. The owner was responsive from my initial inquiries and throughout the trip planning, patiently and positively answering any questions I had. You can trust them 100% as what they state they completely deliver on. A few of our recs: Best Smoothie: Zula's (and delish falafel and hummus!), Best Pizza: El Pulpo, Best coffee/pastries/cafe: The Bakery, BBQ: Las Piedras, Surf Shop: Alex's or Kina. Best Mojito: Marys in Malpais. Gorgeous sunsets are waiting you :) We would absolutely stay here again and thank the owners for building this beautiful home to share.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.
An amazing house and experience!
Guest: Sundantz
(Los Angeles, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 09/08/10
Review Submitted: 09/22/10
Returning to Costa Rica for the second summer in a row, we had extremely high expectations and this place surpassed them all. We had not been this far south on the Nicoya peninsula but had heard really good things about Santa Teresa so we decided to check it out. We found Casa Buena Vida on VRBO and loved the pictures and location so decided to go with it. We were extremely pleased to find that the property was even more beautiful in person than in the pictures. The house, cabina, and pool were all immaculate, clean, and well maintained. The landscaping was completely gorgeous and really helped the property feel private and secluded. The property is also well lit with a privacy style fence which added a level of comfort and safety. Inside, we found that everything was found as listed, complete with all of the amenities we had been promised In particular, the wireless internet access was a comfort as we could check emails and keep up with the world without having to use our phones. The kitchen was gorgeous and modern and made for an easy way to prepare meals. The living room was large and could easily accommodate fun gatherings with friends. We loved that the beach was so close which made it easy to surf in the morning and return for sunsets in the evenings! The pool made for an ideal place to escape the humidity or relax with a book when we wanted to get away from the salt water and sand of the beach. Santa Teresa is a cozy little surfing village with a surprising amount of great restaurants to enjoy (the owners even provided a list of great places that were all spectacular - so ask) . We did a couple of day excursions down to Mal Pais and up the coast to check out the surrounding areas, but mainly we just enjoyed the peacefulness of Santa Teresa, the beach, and Casa Buena Vida. We would highly recommend this place to anyone considering the area. We will definitely be returning to Casa Buena Vida in the coming summers!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.
This place is Awesome.
Guest: Ellen
(Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/14/10
Review Submitted: 09/20/10
If you're looking to splurge on a great place, you cannot do better than Casa Buenavida. The house is beautiful. Spacious and open with great furnishings. If you want surf, a great break is only steps away. Or if you just want to cool off the pool is awesome. My favorite part is the beds though. The owners have obviously gone the extra mile here. Great quality king sized mattresses you don't often find in these parts, as well as fine bedding and high thread count sheets. It's truly the only place I've ever stayed in Costa Rica where I can sleep in a comfortable bed, in an air conditioned room, and thanks to the screens on every window, not worry all night I'm being eaten by mosquitos. Thank you, Thank you Thank you.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.
Unbelievable Place!
Guest: Kwjuno
(Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/23/10
Review Submitted: 05/07/10
This house is one of the nicest in Santa Teresa. It's conveniently located in the center of everything, and you can easily walk to both the beach and bars/restaurants from here. Brand new place with a great design and layout. The casita is nice for people who need to be separate from the main house. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and would gladly stay here again!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, families with teenagers, girls getaway.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #265238
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