Casa De Mono-Ocean View, Cool Sunsets, Walk to Surf, Private!

• Sunsets, Stars, Hikes and Great Meals-all while overlooking the Ocean!!!

  Sunsets, Stars, Hikes and Great Meals-all while overlooking the Ocean!!!

  • Guest CPS
  • Date of stay 02/05/13
  • Review Submitted 02/20/13
  Where to begin on such an amzing expereince? Lets start with our introduction to San Juan Del Sur. This town is super laid back, easy to drive around, impossible to get lost! We were introduced to the fish market which is at the end of the beach where the shipping and fishing boats are. WOW, anything you want for next to nothing. Then we loaded up at one of the MANY bakeries in and around town. Produce can be purchased at a little market in town or off one of the many trucks driving around with a loud speaker. We then proceeded to the grocery store " Pali" which is basically at the dirt road that leads you to Casa De Mono. Finally, all loaded up with food, fish, and all the supplies to enjoy some great meals while relaxing. From the grocery store, it is about a 15min 4x4 ride to the house. You will pass a zip line adventure on the right within the first few hundred yards. 16 zip lines through the tress with the howler monkeys. Alas, we have arrived! We enter the door to the property.......speechless. This house is perfectly situated on the hills, with the most amazing view of the ocean! The focal point is the outdoor living space with the infiniti pool. I now realized that I am going to be spending the next 5 days in the most practical outdoor living space designed. There is a sheltered area to dine, sit and read. Then you have the pool to enjoy the sun and lounge around. Then, i slide open a wall that is on a track. KITCHEN! The kitchen is now part of the outdoor living space and I feel like I shoulkd be on TV cooking outdoors in this paradise. The two bedrooms are huge, both with full bathrooms. If you want a hot shower, wait until 5pm so the solar heats it up. I prefered the morning with room temperature as it gets very warm during the day. Another building with a TV ( which was never turned on) couch and some great board games. There is nothing more I need for the next 5 days. The beach is an easy walk down the dirt road and is a must to go to for sunsets. You will run into howler monkeys at some point. Sit down and watch them, they are adorable. Once the sunsets and you are back at Casa De Mono, turn out all the lights. Stare up........the most amazing stars I have seen. I have been to 5 continents and over 30 countries. The pool was cleaned daily, the manager of these properties always asked if there was anything we needed when we went into town. We were well taken care of, nothing more we needed!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: Hi Colin, I'm happy you enjoyed your stay.. and yes, the stars at night are the best. One of our favorite things at night, turn out all the lights and look at the stars. Once again, glad you enjoyed and come back and visit Nicaragua soon. Carol, Dave & Ed

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

• All The Raves Are True!

  All The Raves Are True!

  • Guest nickandnora
  • Date of stay 01/29/13
  • Review Submitted 02/12/13
  There is not much I can add to the other reviews- Everything they say is true! We were there for eight days, didn't want to leave and can’t wait to go back. And as great as the pictures are, it is even better than that. The house itself is perfect. Not too big, not too small, super-comfortable, very smartly laid out, with the indoor/outdoor feeling that is integral to the Central American experience. And beautifully designed and appointed. (the owners are to be commended for doing such a smart and wonderful job). We loved everything about it. Coffee in the morning watching the clouds, sitting in the pool watching the butterflies, sipping wine under amazingly starry skies. Of course we spent long wonderful days at the beaches, surfing, body-surfing, exploring, taking hundreds of pictures. Found an outstanding surf instructor, Norwin, at the shop in town called Arena Caliente, where the also have the best selection of boards to rent. (same price everywhere- $10/day- you can rent at the beach at Playa Maderes but not at Playa Remanso ) Although we fixed dinner at the house a lot (great grill) we also had very good meals at restaurants nearby and in town (lobster everywhere!) . Our favorite place might be the deceptively simple looking Rancho Las Marias, on the road to town, where we had the best Arroz con Camarones imaginable and outstanding Lobster al Ajillo. Binoculars are strongly suggested; birds, monkeys, beautiful vistas- all from the comfort of the shady, poolside veranda. Equalling entrancing are the sounds of the dozens of song-birds, parrots, monkeys and the breeze through the graceful flowering trees. We saw and heard ZERO mosquitos. I got a only a few bites of some kind, unlike the hundreds (literally) I've gotten in Panama and Belize. I should briefly mention that we also spent 3 days in Grenada at the start of our trip and a day in Managua at the end and had a great time everywhere. In our brief experience, Nicaragua is a wonderful, vibrant country of wonderful surprises, great food and super friendly people.

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

  Owner response: Hi guys, We're glad you enjoyed Nicaragua and Casa de Mono!! Thanks for the compliments on the house :). Yes, Maria's is one of our favorite restaurants as well, always a must on the trip. Thanks again for the nice words and come back and visit us again. Hasta Lluego, Carol, Dave & Ed

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

• Even better than the pictures!

  Even better than the pictures!

  • Guest Marissa
  • Date of stay 01/09/13
  • Review Submitted 01/25/13
  My husband and I and another couple were at Casa de Mono for a week in January and absolutely loved it! We highly recommend it and hope to go back one day. We had been in Nicaragua for a week already visiting Granada and Ometepe Island, so when we reached this piece of paradise we felt like we were in heaven! The house is absolutely beautiful, and the beaches were really quiet and we always got a spot in the shade even though there were only a few. We would hang out at the house in the morning to enjoy the pool and eat, then head down to the beach in the afternoon, often until sunset. We rented boogie boards at Playa Maderas (5$ a day. They let us take them for 3 days if we left 1 piece of ID) to enjoy the waves at the beach.We had eaten out so much in our first week we just stocked up on groceries and ate at home while we were at the house, so we could enjoy the space as much as possible. We did grab some incredible nachos and fish tacos when we returned the boogie boards to playa maderas though. Worth a visit to check out the surfer scene. In San Juan del Sur, the "Pan de Vida" bakery is great, and going to the fish market early in the morning is really worth it to get fresh, affordable fish. A stroll through the market is a nice colorful experience and a good spot to get fruit and veggies. At the house, the setup is perfect. we loved the open kitchen and dining area, and there was a great collection of movies, books and games for entertainment. We really appreciated that the kitchen was well stocked with utensils and dishes, and that there were several coolers to use to bring drinks and snacks to the beach (buy bags of filtered ice at the Pali). The pool is essential and the outdoor shower was great to wash off the sand from the beach. Internet access was available the whole time which was great, and all of the electronics worked well. The beds are super comfortable and it was great to have cleaning service twice a week. All of the staff in the community were very nice and helpful. The whole rental process was really easy and I have never felt so well informed and taken care of when travelling in another country. Starting from the escort from town by Gabby, to organizing our shuttle back to the airport and all of the other recommendations. It is a wonderful place to stay to appreciate the beauty and nature of Nicaragua.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: So glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip Marissa! We love to hear from our guests and I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed our casa, the beaches and Nicaragua. Come back and visit soon! Hasta Lluego, Carol, Dave & Ed

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

• Christmas Vacation at Casa de Mono

  Christmas Vacation at Casa de Mono

  • Guest Lynda B.
  • Date of stay 12/16/12
  • Review Submitted 01/01/13
  This was our first trip to Nicaragua and we were accompanied by our two college-age “children”. Not really having any idea what to expect we were very pleasantly surprised by Nicaragua, the people we met and Casa de Mono. When we arrived in San Juan del Sur, we were met by Gabby, the concierge from Re/Max. Gabby took us on a tour of the town, and showed us many of the points of interest, before taking us to buy some groceries and driving us to the house. Gabby was truly an asset, and throughout our ten day stay, was constantly at hand to answer our questions, and point us in the right direction - nothing was too much trouble! When our daughter needed to visit a doctor Gabby arranged this immediately, accompanied us, and translated for us. She also arranged Francisco, our tour guide/driver for the day, who drove us to a coffee plantation, the market in Masaya, and Granada. Francisco was able to show us some great photo spots, and was an endless source of information – and the fact that we did not have to find and drive to these places made the day totally stress free. Casa de Mono is laid out around the pool and a seating area, which is a great place to sit and watch the beautiful sunsets and the abundance of wildlife – bring binoculars if you have them. The beach is a ten minute walk downhill, and a 15 minute walk back! If you aren’t feeling energetic you can take a two minute drive down the private track and park almost on the beach. The beaches are beautiful and on several occasions we walked the length of Playa Maderas to Tacos Locos, where we sampled banana pancakes along with homemade guacamole – definitely worth a visit! As SJDS is a twenty minute drive away, I would recommend stocking up with food, as some evenings we did not want to drive to town to eat, and preferred to sit by the pool, barbeque some chicken, and have a few Tonas (the local beer). On a few occasions we visited Mango Rosa’s (recommended for dinner and breakfast) which was a ten minute drive away. Manga Rosa’s is also good for booking activities and would highly recommend the sunset fishing/coastal sightseeing tour. The private guards that patrol around the house are friendly, and constantly on hand if you need help with anything. All in all we were very impressed with Nicaragua and Casa de Mono and hope to return some day!

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

  Owner response: Hey Lynda & Family, I'm so glad you enjoyed Nicaragua and our home! Always good to hear from guests, about their experiences and that they enjoyed, so thank you! And yes, Gabby is wonderful and makes the guest experience that much better. Glad you all had fun in our little paradise. PS. We'll have to try those banana pancakes at Taco's Loco's...we've actually never been there so thanks for the tip:). Cheers, Carol

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

• You won't want to leave!

  You won't want to leave!

  • Guest Prince Darren
  • Date of stay 01/12/12
  • Review Submitted 01/25/12
  We had high expectations for Casa de Mono - all of which were met or exceeded! As other reviewers have mentioned, the views are majestic and the home is intelligently designed. Sure, it has a nice TV. But, who needs that when you go to bed with breathtaking sunsets and wake up with howler monkees? While it is close to town, we really did not want to leave to go out to eat. We often preferred cooking our own meals while listening to the birds sing (we even had an owl visit us one night). We walked around to see some of the other homes nearby and got the impression that this one might be one of the most private of the 11 homes in the Balcones community. There is one immediate neighbor, but you can’t see or hear them. If you are looking for a romantic getaway, there aren't too many places in the world that can compete with this. The secluded nature of this community is part of its charm. Along with that comes the need to adjust your expectations for the "exotic wildlife" that sometimes finds its way into the home. As long as you are prepared to deal with the unexpected, you won't be disappointed. I made a short video that may serve you well, depending on the time of year, should you decide to stay here [go to YouTube and search for "How to Catch a Scorpion in Nicaragua"]. The WiFi internet was slower than I had hoped, but generally worked well enough to fire off a few emails when needed. Gabby, the concierge, was extremely accommodating in helping us get to the home and showing us around town. She is an important asset that makes your visit to San Juan del Sur that much more comfortable and enjoyable. During our stay we went to Playones/Matilda beach twice. It is one of the best places to watch the sunset. There were only a few other people there and we felt like we had the whole beach to ourselves. We also went SCUBA diving with Neptune and took surfing lessons with Corey from Republika on Playa Hermosa (where they filmed Survivor). We also enjoyed a great meal at Colibri and consumed many a cold beer at places like Henry's Iguana Beach Bar, Republika Bar and others. In conclusion, I bestow the highest praise upon Casa de Mono. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has sense of adventure and a desire for a romantic getaway.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: Darren, So good to hear that you and your wife enjoyed your stay at our home and in Nicaragua! Wow, and you got see an owl? That's cool. I LOVE the scorpion video on you tube. You look like a pro at it, so funny. BTW, we brought one back in our luggage last May and it's still alive. So, make sure to check you're laundry/luggage :). He's a pet now and makes a great conversation piece when friends come over. Take Care and thanks for the great post!

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

• Love The Lush Jungle and Ocean View!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Love The Lush Jungle and Ocean View!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Guest Pokey
  • Date of stay 11/17/11
  • Review Submitted 01/15/12
  This was my first trip to Nicuragua and I was very taken back by its lush green jungle, wildlife , awesome sunsets and beautiful beaches. It was just my boyfriend and I at the house. We loved the layout of the house thats like an outdoor/indoor home environment which allows you to enjoy the jungle surroundings. The beach was a very quick , less than 5 minute drive through a cool scene of tree vines dangling down to the car. We could have walked (about 20 mins for us "out of shape" adults) but the road was kind of muddy from all the rain from October. The sunsets are a must on the beach!!!! Make sure to bring your camera and a cocktail. We spent the 2nd day on Playones beach relaxing with some reading material, beers, snacks, swimming and collecting shells and rocks on a gorgeous beach in which we only saw a handful of other people all day (blows away Cabo!! where we went earlier this year). We went to a neighborhood restaurant named Las Maria's with a Balcones homeowner couple we met. The restaurant was awesome and a family owned place with patio dining. Great food!!!!! I also recommend going to the "flying frog" zip line which is just before the school on the chocolate road as you head back into town. You have some of the best views of the San Juan bay up there. We did it on a clear , warm day so getting back to the house to jump in the pool and have a beer was icing on the cake!!!!! The staff at the gate are friendly and so is the private guard's they have who patrols around the house. He always said "hola" and offered to help us with luggage and groceries out from the car. You can hear the monkeys throughout the complex and saw them in the trees while walking the Balcones trails. It was very cool!!!!! We definitely want to come back to this house and loved the overall environment and people. Cant Wait!!!!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

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

• Awesome place and can't wait to return!

  Awesome place and can't wait to return!

  • Guest SurfMono
  • Date of stay 02/02/11
  • Review Submitted 04/15/11
  Casa De Monos is a beautiful home with absolutely amazing vistas. Also the rental agent and security guards are very helpful and friendly. My fiancé and I went during the month of February and enjoyed great weather. Being an avid surfer, it is perfectly located within a 20 walk of one of the best most consistent surf breaks in Nicaragua. Not to mention the consistent off shore winds made perfect barrels on every session! We also did some horseback riding, zip line tour, lots of swimming in the ocean and hiked. Tons to do for the active soul! The food was great everywhere we went and everything is unbelievably inexpensive. The house has an awesome open feeling and we spent every night enjoying a beautiful sunsets and local rum. It's just a 20 min drive out of San Juan Del Sur but still only a few minutes from a few local restaurants. We loved Nicaragua and it's people so much that we are getting married out there next Feb. And lucky for us we have go back to check out the wedding location and we are going be be staying at casa de monos again for sure! By far our most enjoyable, relaxing, adventurous and exciting vacation ever! And we still have so much to look forward to on our return. If it wasn't for this thing called work we would have never left Nicaragua!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/7

• The Monkey House

  The Monkey House

  • Guest Tarheels
  • Date of stay 01/22/11
  • Review Submitted 02/02/11
  Our stay at The Monkey House was wonderful! We rented a week in January 2011 and loved every minute of it. The home was comfortable and clean and lent itself to outside dinners, sipping coffee by the pool and beautiful sunsets. Playa Majagual was a spectacular beach! We also visited Playa Hermosa and Playa Remanso - both great surfing beaches. We had nice dinners at Joselins, Bambu and Calibri and loved our favorite bar, Republika. We took an afternoon/sunset sail with Second Wind Sail that was incredible. Shopping at the market in San Juan was easy and we enjoyed cooking local foods and drinking lots of Tonya! Definitely recommend renting a 4 wheel drive vehicle - we had a 4 door truck that was perfect for us. We're already planning our next trip!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

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

• Its like camping with full amenities

  Its like camping with full amenities

  • Guest LBC_R
  • Date of stay 11/13/09
  • Review Submitted 03/30/10
  I stayed there in November 2009. The location and home is incredible. I've been to other vacation homes where owners decorated the place with garage sale, 2nd hand junk but not this place. The home is decorated with newer appliances, mattresses and furniture. The security is there 24 hours every day, so we felt totally safe with our belongings. They’re very friendly and remember you as you go in and out of the complex. The pool is small but perfect for the amount of people who are staying. The beach was nice and private. There were two within walking distance. Because there aren’t many homes built, we were able to do our own hiking adventure through the complex. It’s a 20-30 min bumpy drive from the main road so you definitely need a 4x4 vehicle to go in and out (and sports bra if you’re a female LOL). When I was there, they were leveling out the road so maybe its gotten better by the time you read this. There’s a Pali (small grocery store) on the main road where you can purchase just about everything you need to stay there. There’s a TV, DVD player, washer/dryer, coffee maker, microwave, fridge and Wi-Fi (as long as the electricity is working). The city has scheduled blackouts but sometimes with the wind and for whatever other reason, the electricity is out for longer periods. It was out for 3 straight days while we were there. Fortunately, this place has battery back-up and with some conservation, we were able to survive (barely) until it came back up!! The place is very open, so you can’t have an a/c there. Be prepared to have some warm days and nights. Every room has a ceiling fan so it didn’t feel too hot. And if you stayed in the shade, it was comfortable too. The beds are super comfy. The pillows are thinner than what I like. I slept like 10 good, solid hours every night. I would have slept longer but there’s that thing called “sunlight” that woke me up! Some mornings, we could hear the howler monkeys. The divider between the bedroom and the bathroom doesn’t extend all the way up but it’s still very private. Just a couple of suggestions: mosquito net over the beds, extra pillows and brighter light in the bathroom (this is more of a girl thing, I think). If you stay at this place, I would suggest having dinner at Mango Rosa’s (about 10 mins away). Very tasty and inexpensive food! There are 2 other places to eat near the beach area, too. Don't forget your mosquito spray!!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 9/9

• Guest comment entered by owner

  • Guest Raquel
  • Date of stay 11/20/09
  • Review Submitted 03/30/10
  test

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

Low Season:  $175/night (5/15 - 10/31)
High Season: $195/night (11/1 - 5/14, except holidays)
Holiday: $250/night (Christmas week, New years week, Easter week -Semana Santa)
3 night minimum.  Holidays above may require a 5 night minimum

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