Casa Montezuma: Spectacular Almond-Wood House with Canopy View Deck

• casa montezuma

  casa montezuma

  • Guest mtparis
  • Date of stay 12/11/12
  • Review Submitted 12/23/12
  This is a beautiful house in a gorgeous setting, with unexcelled service. The house is solidly built with fine detailing, especially the wood materials. It is clearly an architect designed house. There are 2 "living rooms," which are open terraces on the first and second floors. There is an observation station on the 3rd floor. All of these spaces bring the immediate tropical landscaping and the just removed jungle right to you. It's beautiful and it's peaceful. You spend much of your time awaiting the animal visitors, when you aren't luxuriating in the vegetation. We never failed to get excited about the howler monkey sound show. The coatimundi came onto our terrace every morning. The agouti were wandering about off and on all day. The big treat was the capuchin monkeys, and their arrival was always heralded by some thrashing of jungle branches. The birds were exotic to us. The flowers a special treat. It is peaceful back from the beach and road, but 3-4 minutes walk to the beach. You are away from the noise and kid/backpacking scene of Montezuma and other tourist towns. Cabuya is a small town with good food and easy access to that day's fish from the fishermen who caught them. Donna added a great deal to our stay. She is an American transplant and she and her husband Tito know everyone and everything about them. They are interesting and intelligent people, and Donna helped us in little and bigger things. She made all the arrangements for a car rental when I asked, down to details of delivery, costs, timing; and this had nothing to do with our house rental. We were left to our privacy and quiet, but she and Tito live on the property, and she was readily available for requests and questions. She even provided us with a loaner cell phone. There were no disappointments here. We want to return. We want to stay longer, maybe very much longer.

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

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• Pura vida means pure life!

  Pura vida means pure life!

  • Guest Ryan Barth
  • Date of stay 09/07/12
  • Review Submitted 11/10/12
  We arrived at Casa Montezuma and were instantly surrounded by what the Ticos call Pura Vida. It means PURE LIFE and it was just that. The house is nothing short of amazing, with beautiful and charming architecture, location and landscape... but it's the surrounding life that makes you feel at home (Heaven on Mother Earth) We were able to cook and barbecue, and walk to the beach in the moonlight. We saw Monkeys, Humming Birds and Agoutis everyday. It was like staying in a national park... as every day we say new animals. If you are visiting Costa Rica to see National Parks, you should stay here. We saw more wildlife from our observation deck over morning coffee than we did in any of the parks we visited. We had the most authentic experience from a local perspective. Much better than a hotel. We rode the on premise bikes to get fresh caught fish, delicious bread, pastries and coffee, and to the national park. Aside from all of this things that we did or saw on our honeymoon, we felt an overall sense of peace that was unlike anywhere else we stayed during our month in Costa Rica. The property is safe, serene, and perfectly designed for the tropical climate (plus it's in a blue zone where people typically live to be over 100.... likely due to the purest and best tasting tap water ever!) It is close enough to wonderful adventures like Tortuga Island, but away from the hustle and noise of hotel/hostel living. Casa Montezuma was hands down our favorite place we stayed during our month long honeymoon in Costa Rica. We had the best time even without a car..! (And we only used one of the three gorgeous bedrooms) We are looking forward to our next visit as soon as possible. Our only word of advice... Enjoy!

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

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• Paradise Found.

  Paradise Found.

  • Guest Damian
  • Date of stay 04/12/12
  • Review Submitted 04/29/12
  Our group arrived by two separate methods on 4/12, and as soon as we entered the gate we knew this was the right place to stay. The grounds are well manicured without taking away the natural feeling of the jungle around. The property is very welcoming and you instantly feel like you're at home. The home is beautifully constructed with ample space for six with a great layout. Despite no A/C the rooms remained cool and comfortable for sleeping, and visitors of the insect type were surprisingly minimal. The walk from the home to the beach is a non issue and just created new opportunities for seeing wildlife and experiencing the area. I'd suggest visiting the beach at low tide to scope out where the rocks are and to see where the good sand clearings are, once you figure out where to swim it's wonderful and exceptionally beautiful. We consistently used the bus to and from town and taxis are easily available after the bus stops running. Montezuma town center has a positive vibe and a charm that I haven't experienced anywhere else, plenty of shops, access to tours and places to eat as well as two supermarkets and the occasional farmers market make it easy to prepare meals at the house. The provided bikes were very handy for our fish buying excursion and exploring in general. The owners were extremely helpful from first contact about the property to arranging our taxi back the the airport. They are never intrusive but always available. I feel fortunate that we were able to spend our vacation in such a beautiful home, but the icing on the cake was the wonderful service and care shown by it's owners. I have already recommended it as a vacation destination to friends and family, and hope to return as soon as possible.

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

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• Fabulous Jungle/Beach Experience

  Fabulous Jungle/Beach Experience

  • Guest barryo
  • Date of stay 01/21/12
  • Review Submitted 04/08/12
  We spent four weeks beginning mid-January 2012 in Casa Montezuma. Donna and Tito were excellent hosts; helpful in getting us to their location, generous in sharing their knowledge of the area wildlife and in accessing resources needed to make our stay memorable. The house is fabulous; well designed, constructed mainly of lovely wood and well maintained. The kitchen is fully stocked with appliances and cooking utensils. The property is located far enough from the beach and main road to be peaceful and completely private yet close enough to make the five minute walk to the magnificent beach or to the bus stop for travel to the nearby towns of Montezuma or Cabuya easy (10 minute $1.50 ride). It is also beautifully landscaped with tropical vegetation and abutting natural jungle affords plenty of amazing bird and animal viewing from your doorstep. We highly recommend this lovely property for a wonderful tropical experience/ vacation amid lush grounds and bountiful jungle. Casa Montezuma has the peacefulness of a rural setting with easy access to shops, restaurants and markets of the nearby towns. And the ocean. So fun.

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

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• This property provides the most unique experience for anyone who loves wildlife and the outdoors!

  This property provides the most unique experience for anyone who loves wildlife and the outdoors!

  • Guest Marcia E.
  • Date of stay 03/01/12
  • Review Submitted 04/02/12
  We saw more wildlife (howlers and white-faced monkeys, agouti, coatimundi, iguana) here than all the other locations we visited in Costa Rica together (6)! It’s also a birder's paradise! Anyone wanting more of a nature experience will love this house. It’s well-equipped and an architectural oddity making the stay even more interesting. The owners, Donna and Tito, are wonderful hosts. They know the area well, from secret beaches to buying fresh fish! The location is great—just a short walk across the road to the ocean and just 3 km outside of town. We had a wonderful, unforgettable experience in Montezuma!

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

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• A Magical place

  A Magical place

  • Guest Mike
  • Date of stay 10/26/10
  • Review Submitted 11/17/11
  This two-storey home is magical throughout the entire day – starting with early morning coffee on either the lower or upper patio, watching the rising sun shafting through the trees and playing on the riot of multi-colored foliage of the shrubs and flowers; watching the parade of wild-life, like coatamundis, agoutis and raccoons; humming birds, doves, parrots, trogons and a host of other birds; to the almost deserted surf and fishing beaches barely 5 minutes walk away; and through to the tropical night, glittering with stars that you may never have seen elsewhere, because here there is no streetlight pollution to interfere with this stunning view of the universe. Then drift off to sleep with the soothing ripple of the nearby stream and the distant surf for a background. Every window provides a colorful view of tropical plant life; the forest backs right on to the garden, providing views of howler and whiteface (Capuchin) monkeys going about their business in the branches, and occasionally dropping down to ground level. The second floor bedrooms, all equipped with fans, are cool and comfortable and their windows and the upstairs patio look out over luxuriant foliage and several coconut palms where birds, red squirrels, monkeys and coatamundis climb and feed. Every window and door was screened and designed with maximum ventilation in mind. The ocean breezes helped to cool the house night and day and it was a pleasant surprise to find that there were hardly any bugs! The house is situated halfway between Montezuma, a small tourist center with a wealth of bars, restaurants and things to do, and Cabuya, a sleepy fishing village, with two surprisingly good restaurants (and bakery), plus several places to purchase fish freshly taken from the ocean that day. Both villages are within easy walking distance (about 1.5 miles), with much interesting scenery on the way. Donna and Tito, the owners and your hosts, provide a couple of bicycles and are very generous with their time and copious information about the area. The kitchen is very well-appointed and although Donna and Tito live only a short distance away, the visitor enjoys complete privacy and peace in this tranquil and interesting haven. I give it a 10!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car.

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• Warm hospitality, beauty & comfort

  Warm hospitality, beauty & comfort

  • Guest Mort
  • Date of stay 09/27/11
  • Review Submitted 10/28/11
  Last month, my family and I traveled to Costa Rica for the first time. We discovered Casa Montezuma on line and were immediately attracted by the beauty of the almond wood structure that is so well integrated into the tropical flora all around. I made contract with Donna, who, from our first conversation was very well informed and helpful. Not only did she answer my practical questions, (what to bring etc.)but also arranged for a private shuttle van from Alejuela, near the San Jose airport, to her door. The driver was from the Montezuma area, bi-lingual and very knowledgeable. The five hour drive, including the ferry ride across the Gulf of Nicoya, was delightful. When we arrived at Casa Montezuma. Donna warmly greeted and oriented us toward our vacation home. The beauty of Casa Montezuma, in its natural setting, exceeded our expectations. The rooms, the kitchen, the patios and viewing decks are designed for comfort. The attention to detail was impressive, to say the least. We met Donna's husband, Tito, who offered the mountain bikes that are available for guests and useful information regarding beaches, and the Montezuma water fall near by. They both are very knowledgeable about, and caring for the plants and animals of the region and are happy to share their nature wisdom with guests Donna and Tito's home is located a few steps down the path and they were always available to answer to assist us in any way. Our first trip to Costa Rica and Montezuma was wonderful, largely, because ot he beauty, comfort and warm hospitality we enjoyed at Casa Montezuma. Pura Vida!

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

  Owner response: Thanks for taking the time to write such a warm and lovely review! It makes us very happy to hear that you enjoyed your first visit to beautiful Costa Rica.

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• Amazing in every way!!

  Amazing in every way!!

  • Guest Ilana
  • Date of stay 09/05/11
  • Review Submitted 10/11/11
  My husband and I stayed here for 2 weeks on our honeymoon and we are already planning our next trip back! The house and property is beautiful and comfortable and the owners are accomodating and helpful. It is close to the beach, waterfalls, local shopping and restaurants and awesome hiking. We saw so much (friendly) wildlife and the locals were all super friendly and helpful too. I cannot say enough about our entire experience and what a terrific, relaxing time we had.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners.

  Owner response: We are looking forward to seeing you again! SO glad to hear that our house helped make your honeymoon trip special and memorable.

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• Luxury Camping!

  Luxury Camping!

  • Guest Beth
  • Date of stay 06/21/11
  • Review Submitted 07/28/11
  This house is really unique and cool, bringing nature to your doorstep. While there, we fed capuchin monkeys (with Donna's assistance) right off the deck, had a little rodent buddy who visited the deck every morning, bats, butterflies, lots of crazy insects to observe, and many lizards/geckos. Donna even let my kids pet her adorable outdoor tortoise. So if nature is your thing this will be a dream for you. Donna and her husband Tito were incredibly kind, flexible, and SO helpful in planning our trip, communication was fabulous. Things to consider when renting the place: Pros: Really unique experience House has great architecture and simple, rustic beauty so close to nature Wonderful and kind hosts available for any questions at all times Nice short walk to beach (with large waves, not really for swimming) Cons Not the best house for small children due to three levels of steep stairs. Kids 5-6 years and up should be fine. 10 minute drive into town in very BUMPY and jolting (although I was 6 months pregnant at the time! ) Tide at beach can be intense, we were there during big storm so maybe it was worse for us. You must be ok with lots of insects sharing your space :) If you are an adventurous type you will really dig this spot. The town of Montezuma had some cool restaurants and shops, albeit on the pricier side. Check out the neighboring town Carillo for a more "authentic: costa rican experience.

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

  Owner response: Nothing makes us happier than to hear that our guests enjoyed their stay! We are always striving to improve our property, and your feedback gives us the opportunity to do that. Casa Montezuma is located in a rare and unique ecosystem, and we enjoy lots of wildlife on the grounds- glad you got the chance to see some of our fauna. We hope you will visit us again! Correction: Just to avoid confusion, the name of our neighboring town is Cabuya, not Carillo.

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• Tropical garden oasis.

  Tropical garden oasis.

  • Guest Fruitygal
  • Date of stay 01/11/11
  • Review Submitted 02/18/11
  Though Donna and Tito's web site goes into some detail about this rental house, it in no way can speak to the beauty and tranquility of both the house and the location. It was just marvelous. The bedrooms are spacious and well ventilated with screened windows on 2 or 3 walls. Powerful fans keep you plenty cool at night. The kitchen is well stocked with everything that you need to make any meal imaginable, and the friendly house gekos keep the mosquitoes down. The house itself is actually 2, 2 story buildings joined by covered decks. The whole structure is topped with a 3rd story observation deck. Why would you need an observation deck you ask? When the hooting howler monkeys wake you up in the morning, trust us, you will want to rush up to the observation deck with your camera and coffee. In our 3 weeks at the house we had families of both howler monkeys and white faced monkeys passing by the house every second day. Rare bell birds in the surrounding trees making their unmistakable calls, and toucans looking for ripe bananas amongst the nearby plantation. Hummingbirds fought over the feeder that hung near the ground level deck, and agoutis made daily visits as well. We saw bats, armadillos, lots of lizzards and pizotes (Coati Mundis). If you really and truly want to experience Costa Rican nature and tranquility, this is the place for you. Just a short 300meter walk down the road to the beach to swim, fish or to watch the brown pelicans diving into the water for sardines. The house is spotless, well kept, charming and so wonderfully unique. No, it doesn't have a pool or an ocean view, but it and the gardens have so much charm and personality we would stay there again in a heartbeat. Located halfway between Cabuya and Montezuma, you can grab one of the house bikes to cycle to the Cabuya bakery in the morning to grab a fresh hot baguette, or to the fisherman's house to get some snapper. The local bus (which costs 300 colones) travels from Cabuya to Montezuma and back again about 5 times per day. I walked to Montezuma on numerous occasions before we rented a car, and I was picked up by friendly drivers several times along the way. The house is beautiful, the gardens impossibly Costa Rican and your hosts Donna and Tito are an interesting, intelligent, caring couple who we enjoyed inviting over for supper. They really made our stay so incredible.

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

  Owner response: One of the best parts of our rental business is having the chance to meet interesting people from all over the world. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit at Casa Montezuma! It was a delight to meet you.

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High Season ... Dec-Aug .. $125/night .. $870/week .. $2600/month
Green Season .. Sep-Nov .. $110/night .. $750/week .. $2000/month

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

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