Oceanfront Condo Nature Lovers Paradise with Abundant Wildlife

• Very nice beach condo in Costa Rica.

  Very nice beach condo in Costa Rica.

  • Guest Mike
  • Date of stay 03/14/13
  • Review Submitted 04/08/13
  The four of us really enjoyed our stay at your condo at Playa Panama. The accommodations met our needs perfectly. Your two condos with the adjoining door made it perfect for our two adult couples. The condos are extra spacious, comfortable and clean. The private beach at the resort makes for a nice variety of beach experience as compared to the more populated beaches at Playa Hermosa (a five minute drive) or Playa Coco (fifteen Minute drive) which has more shops and restaurants. We had fun catching fish on our 4 hour excursion and having the resort restaurant prepare them for a really wonderful meal. We will return!

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

  Owner response: Hola Mike, I am happy to hear you all had a pleasant vacation and the accommodations were what you expected. Being 850 square feet a piece, there is plenty of room to enjoy the condos. More then double the size of any hotel rooms. The adjoining doors between the 2 condos is a bonus, especially for 2 couples or families with kids so everyone can have there privacy! I love hearing others enjoying it as much as we do! It is a great place, full of nature and natural beauty. Our private beach is the best, most times when we stay there the private beach is all ours, nobody around. It makes for a very nice romantic setting. Playa Panama's big beach is also nice, you can walk the entire beach for 45 minutes, and only see a handful of people, unlike the other beaches in the area. The reason is this area is protected by the Mangrove Forest that is a preserve. The chef at our restaurant if fantastic, he cooks up some great meals with fish. We caught some Mackerel last month and he cooked it up 3 different ways without us asking so we could try each. Everyone of them were delicious. I am glad you got to try out the fishing with Luis and eat the freshest fish possible! (I love Red Snapper) Take Care, Scott P.S. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, just let me know.

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• Wonderful Vacation

  Wonderful Vacation

  • Guest Paul
  • Date of stay 03/19/13
  • Review Submitted 04/07/13
  This was the first trip to Costa Rica for my family. We had a fantastic time at Bahia Vista. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful, and the unit was very clean and comfortable. The howler monkeys, iguanas, and various birds were abundant on the premises. The pool and the playita were quiet and relaxing. We went for a sunset cruise and the Palo Verde tour as well as some zip-lining at the Congo Trail - all were conveniently arranged by the staff. We stopped into the busier area of Playa Coco, but we especially enjoyed the relaxed environment of Bahia Vista. The restaurant on-site had wonderful food. The owner, Scott, was very helpful in providing local information and answering questions we had. We would highly recommend Bahia Vista for families or couples seeking a relaxed environment with an abundance of natural beauty.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Hola Paul, Amazing, it sounds like you had a ball, I love that! It is a great place, full of nature and natural beauty. Being your first time in Costa Rica I glad your family enjoyed it. Our first time was about the same so we decided to purchase down there for our vacation home. It is always nice to see the wildlife in the resort without having to go anywhere. The reason is when the condos were built they did not clear cut the land, unlike all the huge resorts do. This way all the wildlife stayed on the premisses. I am glad to here you had a great time at our resort home in Costa Rica. It is always nice to hear our guest enjoy it as much as we do. The resort staff works hard to make your stay perfect as usual. They are all great people. The all work hard to keep the place clean and help with any issues that arise, be it tours, advice on shopping Etc. Our restaurant, "Papillon", is one of the 5 star restaurants in the area. Luis is one of the best chefs and has been working there for years. He cooks up all the fish I catch and has never made a bad meal. We eat there at least 2 time in the week when we stay there, if not more. Between the abundant wildlife on the ground and in the air, the private beach and being in a preserved area you can not get a more relaxing vacation environment. I am happy to help plan your perfect vacation. Thank you for the kind words & Take Care, Scott P.S. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, just let me know.

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• Wonderful vacation-relaxing and adventurous at the same time!

  Wonderful vacation-relaxing and adventurous at the same time!

  • Guest Meagan
  • Date of stay 02/22/13
  • Review Submitted 03/14/13
  My boyfriend and I visited Playa Panama the last week in February. We had a wonderful time! The staff was great, very helpful and accommodating. The condo was clean, safe, a good size and exactly as depicted in the photographs. The bed is very comfortable! We had perfect weather, high 80's and sunny. The small beach was our favorite, very private and relaxing. Overall, the resort was quiet. The pool was also nice, we hung out there a bit, easy access to the bar for some refreshing cocktails. We had breakfast at the resort everyday, which was very tasty. Dinner was also very good. We went fishing and caught some red snapper that the restaurant cooked up for us. While we went fishing, we also went snorkeling and toured some private beaches which was awesome. We also did a full day of adventure at hotel Guachipelin, which was a distance away, but we rented a car. Definitely would recommend renting a car so that you can drive to neighboring towns. We zip lined, tubed, rode horses, saw a waterfall and visited hot springs. It was SO much fun. We also visited Playa Coco to do some shopping and experience the bar scene. We went to Playa Hermosa to food shop and check out some restaurants. The food overall was great and we loved our vacation! It was very relaxing and tranquil, but if you are seeking adventure or nightlife, that is available as well and not too far away. Thanks Joan and Scott!

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

  Owner response: Meagan, WOW, what an experience, it sounds like you had a blast, I love that! You did a lot in 1 week (more then we do!). I am so happy to here you had such a wonderful time. It is a great place, full of nature and natural beauty, not like the typical huge resort places. I dislike the resorts that clear cut the side of a mountain and then rebuild to make it look real. The landscapes never look natural and the animals never come back. When we found this place we fell in love. It is always nice to hear that the resorts staff is still working hard to please as usual, they are all great people. When you eat the fish you catch, you can't get any fresher then that! You are making me jealous. We love the privacy of this area, you usually have the beach to yourself. I will have to try Guachipelin, my wife and I were on our way there last week but never made it, we figured we started out to late to enjoy the entire adventure so we wound up just finding another private beach to relax. We went to Buena Vista Lodge in Rincon last year which was also fun. One of the scariest but thrilling watersides I ever been on! Thank You for the kind words & Take Care, Scott P.S. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, just let me know.

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• Wonderful location and resort staff but kitchen had no cooking appliance, $25/day resort fee charge

  Wonderful location and resort staff but kitchen had no cooking appliance, $25/day resort fee charge

  • Guest LC
  • Date of stay 01/18/13
  • Review Submitted 02/22/13
  We really enjoyed Playa Panama and the area, especially hiking in Rincon de la Vieja and snorkelling. We liked the resort, the staff were wonderful, the location is ideal. The condo was wonderful EXCEPT the kitchen was inadequate. It did not have a two burner hotplate or toaster oven as advertised, or pans to cook with even if there had been a hotplate. There were not 4 place settings, not even a knife sharp enough to cut cheese. Another couple in a different condo found the same thing with their condo. We blew our tight budget for the trip on having to eat dinners out in the most expensive area of Costa Rica. Had I known in advance I could have booked any of a number of other places for a slightly higher rate and more than made up the difference by saving on food. Beware of the additional $25/day resort fee charged upon check-in. The resort fee does not provide any benefit as far as we could tell - one has to pay additional to rent kayaks, many of the items we asked for were not available (I could not even get a kettle to boil water for tea). So in summary, wonderful place but resort management needs to buck up or there will continue to be unhappy clients.

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

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• costa rica beach front condo

  costa rica beach front condo

  • Guest User
  • Date of stay 02/04/13
  • Review Submitted 02/17/13
  if your a person looking for relaxing, nature, quiet, secluded, beautiful private beach area, away from the hussel and bustle of life this is the condo to rent in costa rica. the condo was spacious for two or four people. a great little kitchen to cook your morning breakfast and have your coffee. a nice size refrigeratior for your snacks fruit and a quick dinner later if you like. we would recommend the great local resturants around thou for your dinners. the food is excellant and going to a third world country you need to leave your american appitite at home and enjoy the local foods. the ride from the new airport in libria is wonderful and short about 25mins. if you life monkeys, iguanas, birds of many colors you are going to enjoy this location for sure. i would truly recommend this great place to any one.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, sightseeing, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: Hey John & Miriam, WOW, it sounds like you had a blast, I love that! It is a great place, full of nature and natural beauty. Thank you for the kind words. I am glad to here you had a great time at our home in Costa Rica. It is always nice to hear our guest enjoy it as much as we do and to hear that the resorts staff is still working hard as usual. They are all great people. I am happy to here the public transportation works so well, I have some guests inquiring about it but I could never give them an opinion since I didn't know much about it. You did the same thing we did, fell in love with it the first time down. We purchased the the condos that same year we first went down. Maybe some day we will run into each other down there. Take Care, Scott P.S. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, just let me know.

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• Quiet Paradise Retreat...

  Quiet Paradise Retreat...

  • Guest Dave E.
  • Date of stay 06/01/12
  • Review Submitted 06/14/12
  We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this Playa Panama hideaway. Condo was very large and clean and was only a short walk to the water. A/C was very cold and showers were nice and hot (a luxury in some tropical areas). The wildlife is in abundance, from the Howler monkeys and Lemurs in the trees outside your door to the Whitethroated Magpie Jays sneaking fruit from your plate at the breakfast. The restuarant onsite offered exquisite meals with a Peruvian flair (the Ceviche was AMAZING). If you're looking to have a nice relaxing hideaway this is the place for you. We made the drive (about 30-45 minutes) over to Tamarindo to vist the tourist areas and I quickly appreciated not having stayed there. It really detracted from the peacefulness of the surrounding countryside, but offered several little shops for buying the sought after Mango Wood trinkets. There are, however, several small villages and communities within driving distance from the condo which I would highly recommend stopping in. I will most definitely return and have already recommended this place to friends and coworkers. Pura Vida!

  Owner response: We are so happy to here you had such a good time! We just love the wildlife around the condo. It definitely beats the typical large resorts the clear cut the grounds and kill off any type of natural wildlife that is in the area. When they built this condo resort they placed the buildings inside the forest so not to disturb the wildlife so you get to experience it all without leaving the resort if you choose. The food is amazing there, we always live on the seafood while down there, Ceviche is a staple for us, we try it in everyplace we go! If you every need anything please let us know we are here to help. Regards, Scott & Joan

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• Scott offers a trustworthy experience in Playa Hermosa

  Scott offers a trustworthy experience in Playa Hermosa

  • Guest Huminbird
  • Date of stay 02/22/12
  • Review Submitted 04/01/12
  Some pros: Only 5 min drive from the dive shop (Diving Safaris) that I got certified from, great location for access to Playa Panama and Hermosa; The monkeys hanging in the trees by the condo and the condo grounds themselves, very well kept; The staff at the Monarch were very nice, helpful and they put on a little happy hour with some sample foods and local music; The condo was safe, clean and had air conditioning, yeah!; Scott and his wife are very helpful and trustworthy, I felt confident about our interactions and sending them money. Some Cons: The kitchen was missing a lot of items, limited cleaning and cooking tools. I was hoping to cook more there, but it's really not set up for cooking, more just using the fidge for basics since it's only the burners and one pot. We had to ask them for several basics as the unit was missing a knife, can opener, wine opener, sponge, dish soap, etc. The $25 daily fee is only for the daily cleaning of the room (kayak rentals are extra) and it's not optional. The restaurant food and drinks at Monarch are a bit expensive (but then again, most of Costa Rica was a bit more expensive than I anticipated) Overall, a good option for the price and location.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: I am happy to hear you had a pleasant vacation. It is a great place, full of nature and natural beauty, not the typical huge resort places. I dislike the resorts that clear cut the side of a mountain and then rebuild to make it look real. The landscapes never look natural and the animals never come back, that is why the families of monkeys always come back and hang out in our yards. When we found this place we fell in love. It is always nice to hear that the resorts staff is still working hard as usual. They are all great people. You are not the first to mention the utensils in the kitchen. It is limited and I am up front about that. It has to do with the resort/hotel rules. I stocked our condos with dish racks, nice wooden utensils ETC. the first year because we also like to make dinners and breakfast ourselves every so often. But the next time we came back, it was all missing. The rules of the condo/hotel state each room needs to be exactly the same, even down to the forks! Each room has settings for 4 people nothing more nothing less (1 pot, 1 pan, plates, coffee cups, glasses, utensils ETC.). Kinda crazy but rules are rules. Sorry about that. I will pass it along to the new developer, he is always acceptable to our comments. At lease the staff fulfilled your request for all that you asked for, thats why they are there. Things do get stolen every so often and the management needs to be aware, thank you. I understand the pricing/cost of goods issue, one would think the cost of food and drinks would be less then here but since the area is getting more popular, the prices are moving up as well. You can always find a low cost meal but you need to find them scattered around the area. Most ocean front restaurants and finer restaurants are going to be higher priced. The new developer implemented a 25 per day resort fee for everyone (even the owners). The 25 per day fee is for the cost of the Wi Fi, Cable TV, Beach Towels, Pool, Electricity, Management Services, Parking, Security, Daily Maid Service, Golf Cart transportation to room, Deep Cleaning at end of stay ETC. The management must have just started to charge the fee for Kayaks because they used to be free, sorry about that. I did check and they said it is 10 for the entire day. Once again I am glad you enjoyed your stay.

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• Great Natural Landscape Condo!

  Great Natural Landscape Condo!

  • Guest sara
  • Date of stay 02/13/12
  • Review Submitted 03/06/12
  We had a great stay at this condo! The landscape was so natural, so we saw lots of monkeys and wildlife right off the balcony. It was quiet, relaxing, clean, a short walk to a couple uncrowded beaches. We felt like we were the only ones there. The front desk and owner were extremely helpful in local things to do and restaurants to try. We loved Ginger which was about a 5 min drive to Playa Hermosa. We also went scuba diving right in Playa Hermosa which had great diving, with sea turtles, rays, sea horses, scorpion fish. Rincon is only about an hour and a half away, which had great hiking, beautiful waterfalls you can swim in and gorgeous views of the pacific. Playa Coco is not too far away as well for a night out, good restaurants, beach and shopping. The condo was great because there was lots to do in a short distance away and was a low key quiet place to read, relax by the pool/beach or watch a family of howler monkeys jump from tree to tree this was the place for us!

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

  Owner response: Sara, We are so happy you enjoyed your stay at our condo. Everything you described is exactly why we purchased in this area. The tranquil atmosphere is perfect for a vacation getaway! If there is anything I could do for you in the future just let us know. Regards, Scott & Joan

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• Perfect relaxing vacation

  Perfect relaxing vacation

  • Guest Tracy T.
  • Date of stay 11/26/11
  • Review Submitted 03/05/12
  We had a fantastic time this past week (11-26 to 12-3 2011), weather was perfect, staff was attentive, resort clean with natural surroundings and we caught some fish and had them cooked up at the Papillion restaurant at the resort. I brought my pole everywhere we went just in case, all beaches are public and offer fantastic surf casting fishing.The chef prepared the fish 2 different ways and both were incredible. The rooms are huge with kitchens, they are condos that they rent out as a hotel. We ate breakfast in our room every morning, the fresh fruit is the best down there, and their eggs for some reason taste better then ours. We used the boat tour guide from the resort, Luis, who was a great guide, he spoke fluent english. We asked if he could drive us around on his boat for 3 hours and he took us to 3 different beaches and we swam, snorkeled a coral reef across the bay, fished off the boat and enjoyed the ride on the waters. What a sight, we even saw a school of roaster fish hitting top water with the birds trying to catch them. The girls at the front desk were very, very, very helpful just ask for anything, they were there to help. We also used the spa they offer there and got side by side massages in the top of the pavilion (above the restaurant/bar). It was great, the breeze coming through the building was awesome. It kept us cool while birds were all around, chirping and I was in a state of bliss/unconsciousness. How peaceful it was. Anyway I definitely suggest the boat tour if you do nothing else. All the restaurants were exquisite in the area, I ate fish all week (fresh,fresh,fresh!). Being only 20 minutes from the Liberia airport you can not beat this area. They just built new terminals at the airport so the prices are dropping to get there. Also they built a new hospital 10 minutes away, this area is booming. All rooms are huge and pretty much the same, some with better views. I liked being closest to the restaurant, it makes it easier to get back and forth. It still is far enough away from the pavilion.

  Owner response: Tracy, We are so happy you enjoyed your stay at our condo. WOW, it sounds like you had a blast, I love that! It is alway great to hear everything went perfect. I also catch my own fish and the chef always does a incredible job preparing them. The boat tours are always fun, its nice to hear you got to get out on the water. It is always nice to hear that the resorts staff is still working hard as usual. They are all great people. Take Care, Scott P.S. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, just let me know.

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• Secluded, safe, and close to everything.

  Secluded, safe, and close to everything.

  • Guest Judith M.
  • Date of stay 01/30/12
  • Review Submitted 02/13/12
  My husband and I stayed for a week in Feb 2012. Everything was as described, clean and well maintained. The service at the restaurant and front desk was perfect, very polite, friendly and professional. We loved the privacy and the wild life. We saw many other condo resorts but none that had the natural forrest, wildlife and privacy.The pool is well appointed and on many occasions we had it all to ourselves.(pay an additonal $25/day at check in for use of all resort facilities)The condo was spacious, lovely verandah, ceiling fans plus AC. The moderate kitchen facility was fine for cooking breakfast and the odd light meal after a long day of excursions.The restaurant/bar has good food and a nice selection.Two mornings we walked the property before breakfast with our binoculars and spotted many birds as well as howler monkeys. (Costa Rican bird book purchased in Play del Coco). The weather was very hot and the trees at the beach provided a dappled shade. We had rented a car (which I think is a necessity at this resort) and had great meals at the various beaches close by: Coco, Panama, Tamarinda. We also took day trips to national parks with more birds and wild life (crocodiles, monkeys, coati, peccary). Hiking is best with mosquito repellant and lots of water. The resort location is close to main highways (15 min to the airport for e.g.) so it is easy access to various points of interest. The resort offers many options that we didn't get time for:fishing, snorkelling, boat trip, kayaking, massage etc. Next time! I would definitely recommend this condo for people looking for a natural environment, wildlife, privacy with all the amenities of a more mainstream resort. Judith, Niagara on the Lake, ON

  Owner response: Judith, WOW, it sounds like you had a blast, I love that! It is alway great to hear everything went perfect. You did a lot in 1 week. It is a great place, full of nature and natural beauty, not the typical huge resort places. I dislike the resorts that clear cut the side of a mountain and then rebuild to make it look real. The landscapes never looks natural and the animals never come back. When we found this place we fell in love. It is always nice to hear that the resorts staff is still working hard as usual. They are all great people. Take Care, Scott P.S. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, just let me know.

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Additional information about rental rates

May 1st-Oct 31st $70 per night /$480 per week/Nov 1st-April 30th $80 per night/$555 per week Holiday weeks are $110 per day. The new resort owner implemented a $25 per day resort fee for the cost of the Wi Fi, Cable TV, Beach Towels, Pool, Electric, Management Services, Parking, Security, Golf Carts to room, Deep Cleaning at end of stay ETC. I have access to 4 condos,so my calendar is usually open

Sorry this information is not available. Please contact the owner/manager for more information.