Beachfront Private Retreat in Punta Uva W/ Gazebo, Jacuzzi, River, Lush Gardens

• Rejol De Arena

  Rejol De Arena

  • Guest monte
  • Date of stay 01/24/13
  • Review Submitted 02/23/13
  Rustic cabin like setting with awsome wildlife on property especially the Monkeys and Sloths. Loved the garden areas and bird watching lots of humming birds and tucans. Many lizzards on property!! Very short walk to the prestine beach. Close to good restaurants and bars!! Punta Uva Restaurant and Bar is good for the Pizza and Homemade Pastas. The Labiela in La Chiquita was good eats too!! Bike Rentals a must to get around. Not many taxis in Punta Uva they have to come from Puerto Viejo.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children.

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

• A True Representation of Costa Rica!!!

  A True Representation of Costa Rica!!!

  • Guest Andrew S.
  • Date of stay 06/01/12
  • Review Submitted 08/09/12
  Reloj de Arena is exactly as advertised: rustic, spacious, tranquil, and amazing. Exactly how Costa Rica should be!! I was fortunate enough to be invited along for a journey to this little piece of paradise as some friends were heading there for a long weekend. We were immediately greeted by the property caretaker, Cruz, who showed us the property and ensured we felt at home. The property itself is very spacious and has an easy access point to a nearby beach, Punta Uva. Punta Uva itself is a rather remote beach that provides a great location to relax outside of the hustle and bustle of Puerto Viejo. In my opinion, there is nothing more relaxing than being able to take a morning walk on the beach with only your thoughts and the rising sun. Futhermore, Reloj de Arena is a short drive from Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo, another town close by to the south. leaving endless options to dine-out or buy food if you prefer to cook your own. Additionally, the property provides a great out-door deck for dining or a gazeebo and grill to cook if you prefer this option. Though Reloj de Arena is not a 5 star resort, it fulfilled every need and provided a fantastic landscape for a great experience. I do hope to return in the near future.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Review of Listing

  Review of Listing

  • Guest Susan
  • Date of stay 01/27/12
  • Review Submitted 02/10/12
  This property was everything that was described in the listing. The caretaker Cruz was a wonderful chap who was very helpful and enjoyed company. Juanita was there every day as promised. I would visit next time in October/November or May/June as in Jan/Feb the sea is too rough and we were unable to snorkle. I would also give better directions and a GPS is VERY helpful. It is hard to find and a much longer drive from San Jose. It took us at least 5 hrs. All in all, I would recommend this to friends.

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

  Owner response: We're very glad you had a great time in Reloj de Arena! The ocean varies all year round, but has increased visibility and very tranquil waters from September through November, which is great for observing the coral formations on both sides of Punta Uva. We have included updated directions with GPS codes in our guidebook, and hope to have you back very soon!

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

• Stunning location and very cozy for family of 9

  Stunning location and very cozy for family of 9

  • Guest Eric F.
  • Date of stay 01/02/12
  • Review Submitted 01/11/12
  Despite a few rainy days, our 4 day vacation in Punta Uva was a real joy. It's been one of our few vacations with my two year old son and 10 month daughter, and I'm so glad we picked a spot which was so private and comfortable. The house, as described by the owner and other reviewers, is a bit rustic. However, it is clean, dry (very important!), and all the appliances (hot water heaters in the showers, microwave, large stove, etc.) worked perfectly. Despite all the humidity, it didn't smell moldy at all and the sheets and bedspreads were all new. The housekeeper Cruz and the cleaning ladies were extremely helpful and Cruz in particular had a lot of colorful stories to share about the area. He was also very thoughtful in pointing out a plant on the edge of the property that we should keep away from the kids, and one afternoon he opened about 15 coconuts for us and filled a whole pitcher with "agua de pipa"... delicious! We enjoyed spending afternoons and even evenings in the jacuzzi, which is not heated, but you get used to it in a jiffy and it is actually what you need in that balmy weather. The dimmers on the lights let you set the mood just right. We also used the grill for a cookout and enjoyed playing board games in the gazebo. The short trail to the beach is beautiful, and there's kayaks available for rent to explore the river upstream. So convenient not to have to get in the car to go to the beach! The beach itself is picture perfect. I recommend the quieter far south corner of the beach (about 5 minute walk) if you have small kids like ours, as the waves are smaller there, plus there's a wonderful estuary. The road to Reloj de Arena, all the way from Limón, has been fixed up and barely has a single pothole (very different from a visit to the area two years ago!). The restaurants nearby are absolutely fabulous. Don't miss La Pecora Nera and Koki Beach if you get a chance. Overall I would highly recommend Reloj de Arena for large groups that value the convenience and privacy of an authentic costarrican home in a stunning jungle and beach location.

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

• Disappointed

  Disappointed

  • Guest Lynn
  • Date of stay 11/16/11
  • Review Submitted 12/28/11
  We came for Thanksgiving Holiday. Our party was large, 12 people. The place was rather dirty and in need of repair. The jacuzzi had a broken heater so it was cold. The cleaning person did not clean very well. The caretaker was filthy and had a dog that crapped all over the yard. I love animals, but this dog was part of the vacation, like it or not. We would come home and the dog would be in the house..in the garbage. The water tank over flowed and made a muddy mess in the yard. The sewer was very smelly. I was not clear if there was a washer and dryer. With 12 people in the house you really do need one. NO they are not for the renters use. (It was broke for 6 of the 8 days that we were there, but we could not use it any way.) I don't mind roughing it, but for the price we paid you shouldn't have to.

  Owner response: I regret your unpleasant experience at Reloj de Arena. Our property is located in a wildlife refuge and is not for everyone. It caters specifically to the eco-tourism traveler. As stated in our listing and our pre-arrival guide, we do not offer air conditioning, cooking service or a washer and dryer, all of which can be found at the nearby town, Puerto Viejo. Regarding the water tanks, our maintenance crew fixed the issue immediately after it was reported, and we have implemented measures to prevent future occurrences in the rainy season. We take all comments very seriously and I am certain that future guests will be more than pleased. Luis Morales – home owner.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/5

• Location, Location, Location!

  Location, Location, Location!

  • Guest CJ
  • Date of stay 07/08/11
  • Review Submitted 07/16/11
  Having just returned from a wonderful stay at Reloj de Arena, I wanted to let others know what a great rental this is! While it is not the Ritz Carlton, it is very comfortable in a rustic setting with all the comforts needed to completely disconnect from the rest of the world! The location is perfect...just steps away from the beatiful beach at Punta Uva. Awake to the sound of howler monkeys and birds of all kinds. The property is well cared for and the caretaker (Cruz) will show you some of the fauna/flora and keep you supplied with fresh pipas de cocao (coconuts). There is plenty of room for a large family or group. We had 8 persons in our party and between the outdoor gazebo (EXCELLENT area to chill!) w/ hot (cold) tub to having coffee on the spacious patio outside the kitchen. You really need to have a car in this area if you want to see everything. It's a short drive from the house to Manzanillo or Puerto Viejo...there are many, many restaurants to choose from (don't miss Chile Rojo in P.V.) or choose to cook in your own kitchen. There is no better house in the area for a large group...most others are only 2 or 3 bedrooms, so having this much space really makes this a unique property and the location? None better. This is NOT for the person looking to have their hand held and pampered by a hotel staff...this area is off the grid, laid back atmosphere with a a Carribean/African/Jamaican vibe that puts you at ease. After a couple of days you find yourself immersed in the local feel. There is a little store just a few steps down the road owned by a gal from Germany (who speaks perfect English, German and Spanish)...so getting supplies is easy or you can make a run into P.V. and go to either Old Harbor or Mega Super grocery stores. Rent kayaks, go fishing, have a cerveza and enjoy! Cost Rica & Reloj de Arena will make you wish you lived there! Pura Vida!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/8

• A great place to relax - sun, beach and Jacuzzi

  A great place to relax - sun, beach and Jacuzzi

  • Guest Mediamark
  • Date of stay 01/21/11
  • Review Submitted 05/17/11
  I have spent a week at Reloj de Arena in Punta Uva this January with a bunch of friends and had a really good time. The main street from Porto Viejo has a lot of potholes, so drive carefully. We arrived at night and it was still safe to drive, albeit more slowly. The house itself is quite big and most of the rooms are arranged around a central living room area with the kitchen next door. We spent quite a bit of time there cooking and eating together. Reloj de Arena offers enough space for everyone to relax and the big terrace at the rear of the house is a good place to read, sunbathe etc. The real attraction from my point of view is the gazebo with the jacuzzi, though. We spent almost every evening there and a few times the housekeeper Cruz came over to play a few songs on his guitar for us. With the lights on at night, the place has a really special athmosphere to it. You should definitely bring insect repellent, especially around dusk, to be able to have a good time outside, but that's to be expected. I would definitely recommend a car to explore the surrounding area and beaches - there are a number of good restaurants, snorkel spots (especially in Manzanillo off the beach by the transmission tower) and beaches you will miss otherwise. There is a scuba dive and snorkel place right next to the house and I can recommend the sloth sanctuary - really cute animals and the canal tour is definitely worth it.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, girls getaway, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/9

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