Vacation Rentals by Owner

Gorgeous Ocean Views! Parrots, Toucans and Tropical Breezes! [#362443] | View Property

Uvita
House, 1 Bedroom + Detached Unit, 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 2-4)
From $600 - $750/wk or $125 - $150/night
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Traveler Reviews (15)

• When can we come back?

  When can we come back?

  • Guest Angeline D.
  • Date of stay 02/23/13
  • Review Submitted 03/25/13
  This modern home is set high on top of the mountain, and the view of the whale's tail is great. Jacqui will advise you on what vehicle to rent to get up this mountain - take her advice! We saw smaller SUV's struggle up the mountain. The drive is worth it, the home is in a quiet area, in fact we ate in most of the time and read books on the deck. At night, we slept with all the windows open so we could let the cool mountain breeze flow in. We found that we were in bed early, and up at dawn. It was never to warm in the house with cool breezes coming in. We could hear howler monkeys, we saw the neighborly toucans, and occasionally a lizard in the yard. The house is immaculate, cozy, warm and inviting. Jacqui was fantastic in prepping us for the trip and giving advice, ideas, do's and dont's. Thank you much for allowing us in your beautiful home, and we hope to be back some day. When we see the images, we long to be back, our vacation was too short!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

• Best Vacation Ever!!!

  Best Vacation Ever!!!

  • Guest CanadianClair
  • Date of stay 01/14/13
  • Review Submitted 01/29/13
  I visited many parts of Costa Rica on my 3 vacation and this place I will defiantly be coming back to. This home has it all. The kitchen was fully stocked and the local stores just down the hill have everything needed to create fabulous meals and drinks. Its comfort, view, internet, and location all combine to provide an exceptional stay in Uvita. We spent many wonderful, relaxing hours on gorgeous patio. The views, sunsets, birds…AMAZING! The grounds and landscaping are magnificent. Thank you Jacqui and Randy for recommending your friend for our finishing adventure. It was so much fun and catching 3 Yellowfin tuna didn't hurt! I can't say enough wonderful things about Bambu. I would highly recommend it on your stay in Uvita. Thank you Randy and Jacqui for creating and sharing this beautiful and tranquil property. PURA VIDA!

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

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

• The Great Escape

  The Great Escape

  • Guest Broadview
  • Date of stay 01/04/13
  • Review Submitted 01/27/13
  Having travelled throughout various regions of Costa Rica, and experiencing it twenty years ago, the south west coast is truly a gem of an experience. Pura Vita!. This property is a real joy! Situated high above the town of Uvita, with stunning views of the Whales Tail and the sunsets over the Pacific this is a bird watchers paradise. The trees around the house are covered with exotic birds of all varieties. We enjoyed a schedule of early rising with the howler monkeys and early to bed after cooking great meals in the fully loaded kitchen. A casita provides additional accommodation, great for a second couple or mature kids (with kitchenette). Due to its high elevation, the breezes are cooler then in the Uvita below allowing for a cooler end to the day after checking out all the activities in the area. We noticed a 5 degree difference on some days. We travelled south to the Osa Peninsula (mangrove tours) and back in an easy day trip; as well as spending time in nearby Dominical (fishing), Manuel Antonio (hiking), the farmers market in San Isidro del General in the inland valley. As well, the Marino Bellenna National Park is right in Uvita, with the amazing beaches of the Whales Tail. This is a great, central location from which to plan your activities. We had a 4X4 vehicle that allowed us to come and go as we pleased, but there are taxis in the town that will also drive you up the 15 minute route from central Uvita. This is a piece of the old Costa Rica that I remember from earlier trips (unlike the north coast that is developing much quicker) However, the new highway 27 from San Jose, and 34 down past Quapos did not exist in '93 when I was in Costa Rica last time. It was a breeze of a drive! The hillsides are still accessible by dirt roads and the extensive communications infrastructure investments by the Costa Rican Government means that you can access 3G cell connections everywhere! great for sharing with folks at home. Bambu is a lovely property with stunning views, with all the comforts of home. It is built on a hillside, so there is a bit of elevation and stairs to the property (like many homes in the coastal mountains) but the views are worth it! The wildlife is everywhere to be experienced as the deck is like a tree house looking directly into the canopy. Check out the pictures. It is a bird watchers dream. Pura Vita it truly is!

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

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

• Guest Book Comments!

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Guest Book Comments!

  • Guest Bambu Guest Book
  • Date of stay 12/30/12
  • Review Submitted 01/16/13
  After returning to our property in December 2012, we were delighted to read the following comments left in our guestbook from recent visitors to Bambu: Wayne and Lisa from Alberta wrote: Thank you so much for letting us stay in your wonderful casita! The views were breathtaking and the memories priceless! Can’t wait to come back! March, 2012 Meghan and Erik from the USA wrote: We love! la pura vida! Our highlights: Morning coffee on the porch with breathtaking views. Playa Hermosa at sunset. Hiking to Nauyaca Falls. Our fishing tour from Rio Sierpe and casting into sardine schools. Riding ATV’s. Jerk Chicken burritos at The Dome. Watching storms roll over Uvita…and much, much more! April, 2012 Judah and Erika from Georgia, USA wrote: This was our second trip to Costa Rica – the first being in the Arenal region. We couldn’t be happier that we picked Uvita and Bambu for our second stay. Jacqui was very informative and easy to contact. Trina (our contact person in Costa Rica) was super nice, helpful and responsive to our needs. We would definitely suggest a stay at this place to our family and friends. A cup of coffee on the veranda in the morning or a glass of wine at night, the views, sights and sounds were spectacular. Hearing the birds and howlers each morning and night was magical. My husband and I were very impressed also with the spices on hand for cooking and with all the little amenities that were considered and included; yoga mats, beach chairs, coolers, boogie boards, internet and cell phone. Thank you Jacqui and Trina for your hospitality. September, 2012

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

• Tree house luxury with an unbelievable view

  Tree house luxury with an unbelievable view

  • Guest Tanya
  • Date of stay 10/05/12
  • Review Submitted 12/24/12
  Casa Bambu is tucked into the trees but still has a clear view of the Whale's Tail. The bird life is amazing and you don't even have to leave the comfortable deck to see it all. The house is small but designed for comfort. The pictures don't do it justice! Everything opens so you can enjoy the cool breeze coming up the mountain. And you have a lovely view from every window, including ones that just look out on the hillside behind the house with it's bright green ground cover and flowers. The galley kitchen is wide enough for two adults and a dog to easily move around. The half-bath upstairs is a real convenience because you spend most of your time upstairs. The bedroom downstairs doesn't have AC so this is where the fans, altitude and breeze really matter. And the bed is amazing -- most comfortable bed we've slept in since we got to Costa Rica 6 months ago. The cabina and your parking are straight up a steep (but thankfully not too long) staircase. The cabina is cute and separated enough from the main house to give a sense of privacy. Be prepared for the drive up the mountain from Uvita. You must have 4WD and you'll be happier if your car has 4WD low. You won't be taking a quick trip back into town if you forgot your milk. The area is safe and gorgeous though and the few neighbors are friendly. There's great hiking, on the main road and off the side roads. From the road we saw an anteater, lots of howler monkeys (including babies), a tayra, an opossum, and tons of birds including yellow-headed caracara, laughing falcons, tucans, roadside hawks, and crested caracara. The tucans and parrots had a regular evening squabble in the trees near the house. There is internet -- wifi from a 3G modem. I was getting up to 1.3 Mbps down, which is great for email and limited web browsing. We did stream a movie (although it really wasn't sufficient for that). When I needed to do something more intensive I headed into town to the Jade Cafe at The Dome. We loved Casa Bambu and would definitely stay there again!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

• Incredible Location

  Incredible Location

  • Guest The McKeevers
  • Date of stay 07/16/12
  • Review Submitted 12/21/12
  Wow! What an awesome place. The views are incredible and the toucans & aracaris were fun to watch. We enjoyed their daily visits. The views just enticed us to sit and relax which is something we don't do easily. The kitchen is very well stocked with all the cookery needed for any meal preparation down to the blender for our daily pina coladas. Thanks for recommending Playa Ventana's. What a gorgeous place and the best beach for boogie boarding. If you are looking for serenity, this is the place. Hope to return someday. In regards to the road to the house, the key is the four wheel drive vehicle that is rented. If you can get a 4x4 vehicle with four wheel hi or lo, the drive will be easier. We had rented a little cracker box called a GoBe and it had issues of having enough horse power for the climb. The road is not scary in the sense of a narrow road, cliffs etc., it is just steep and rough and having a good four wheel drive with enough horse power is key.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Ahh!! the road…the road! As this guest states…”it is not scary in the sense of narrow and cliffs”. It’s one of many roads in Costa Rica that has a couple of steep sections. It is bumpy…hello Costa Rica!!! We learned on our very first trip to Costa Rica in 1993 – roads were the common discussion between visitors, residents, and tourists alike! The roads are a common folklore…Every road has a story to go with it and, almost always there is excitement in the storytellers voice! Bejuco Road is one that that brings out that endearing quality; as it winds up the mountain introducing you to jungle, a possible sloth sighting in the trees, coatis by the roadside, a jaguarundi darting across the road, capuchen monkeys in the trees near the community water tank or howlers near the waterfall. Not to forget to mention the toucans and parrots that are abundant. It is in the jungle that you find these amazing creatures to which we all seek while in Costa Rica…and it is along the Bejuco Road where you just may be checking off something that is on your bucket list! Regarding vehicles: Bego’s and Terios are smaller SUV’s which are fun to drive and can be adequate for a couple. They don’t have much power and are quite small in the interior. Check into a Toyota RAV, Toyota Fortuner, or the Mitsubishi Montero – which are great alternatives for a more reliable vehicle while traveling around Costa Rica. As a road update…over the past year the community has invested in substantial improvements of this road, and it continues to get better and better. And a property update…the Avocado tree, lemon trees, pineapples, papayas, bananas, plantains and the mandarina trees are all blossoming or beaming with fruit! The gardens are lush with tropical flowers of Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Ginger, and Helliconia. It’s colorful and alive! Muchas gracias for another 5 star review!

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

• What an awesome place!

  What an awesome place!

  • Guest Charlotte
  • Date of stay 03/18/12
  • Review Submitted 04/07/12
  My husband and I had to pleasure to enjoy our honeymoon at Bambu a few weeks ago. We had such an incredible time! The house is absolutely adorable architecturally and the interior design is really nice and functional. Everything was immaculate and clean and the landscaping was beautiful. We got a midsized SUV to get up the mountain and man oh man I have never in my life seen anything like that mountain road! The first time up was a little bit scary but by the end of the week we felt like pros. I liked to hang my head out the window and spot howler monkeys (btw if you howl at them then they will howl back!!) Up on the mountain there is a nice cool breeze so we left the doors and windows open all day and really loved feeling like we were apart of the rainforest. The wildlife was so much fun to watch!! Birds were everywhere! There were Toucans and Aradaris that landed in the tree right next to the porch and hummingbirds were so plentiful you couldn't go five minutes without seeing one. We heard the howler monkeys everyday but they were off in the distance so we never saw them by the house. There were also lots of frogs at night and they made the funniest noises. We spent most of our week lounging around the house drinking coffee and admiring the view, and we did cook several meals. We ate at Citrus in Ojochal twice, WOW it was incredible food!! We planned on eating at Exotica but didn't make our reservation early enough, apparently you need to call a day in advance. We also ate at La Parcela in Dominicalito and it was also very good. It's on a peninsula so you can view the ocean from both sides of the restaurant. We went on the Hacienda Baru canopy tour and had a really fun time! I'd never been on a zip line and I'll admit I was really nervous but it was so easy and so much fun! The guides brought a monoscope and showed us a few sloths up in the trees. We also went on Don Lulo's Horseback riding tour to Nayuca Waterfall. That was probably my favorite thing that we did all week. The waterfall was breathtaking and riding the horses up the mountain was an adventure. Jacqui was beyond helpful and nice while we were planning our trip and her property manager who lives down the street was awesome! She has two little girls that we visited with and they had to be the cutest girls I've ever seen. I would so highly recommend Bambu to anyone thinking about visiting Costa Rica! There is no way that anyone could not fall in love with all of it. Thank you so much!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

• Wonderful Stay Overlooking the Spectacular Whales Tail in Uvita

  Wonderful Stay Overlooking the Spectacular Whales Tail in Uvita

  • Guest Angela
  • Date of stay 02/16/12
  • Review Submitted 03/11/12
  We absolutely loved our stay at this property. When we arrived we were met by two of the most wonderful individuals we had encountered on our travels. They welcomed us into their property and offered us whatever we needed. The house was in immaculate condition. It was clean, well maintained and in an ideal location. The views were spectacular, the human neighbors were quiet and the only noises we heard were the sounds of toucans, howler monkeys and cicadas. As accurate as it was, the listing could never show exactly how beautiful the property is. The landscaping was gorgeous and well maintained. We just can't get over the views! As I mentioned, the owners were wonderful. They offered us all the information we needed about the area and even gave me an ATV ride to see the undeveloped properties. Among other things they had laundry, boogie boards for use at our leisure (which we used daily) and a Bose sound system to plug in our Ipod. There is no television in the house but with all the views and wildlife, there was absolutely no need for it. It was actually very nice to just relax and watch the humming birds feed. The bedroom has an alarm clock but we had no use for it. The wildlife woke us up at dawn every day. The property's location is far enough away from the main town to feel like you're living in a small secluded jungle community, yet it is only 10 minutes away from town. There is a grocery store, many restaurants and all the activities you could imagine within a 30 minute drive. We suggest a 4x4 vehicle anywhere in CR including here. The drive to the property is fun, exciting, gorgeous and safe. I would not only recommend this property, I would encourage anyone to stay and experience this wonderful location. That being said, I hope it doesn't get too popular. I'd love to come back one day and be able to get a reservation!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Generally, we arrange for our property manager to meet and greet our guests and get them settled in. It was a rare opportunity for us to be in town at the same time, giving us the chance to spend a couple of hours with these guests last month. We are delighted that we could impact their vacation in such a positive way! We do have a fantastic property manager who lives a just few minutes away and provides excellent hospitality, support and advice. We are confident that she will make all future guests enjoy their stay as much as this couple!

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

• Peaceful Getaway

  Peaceful Getaway

  • Guest Clare
  • Date of stay 01/09/12
  • Review Submitted 02/05/12
  I really loved my time spent here. The owners are knowledgeable, helpful and generally wonderful people and the view from atop the jungle mountain is stunning. Riding up the road I would not have guessed that such a community existed there, but was pleasantly surprised to find myself surrounded by friendly and welcoming neighbours, despite feeling totally tucked away from it all. I even had the pleasure of making a delicious ceviche with one of the neighbours, who runs fishing expeditions and had fresh catch perfect for such activities. This property provides a peaceful getaway with a great view where reading books, playing scrabble and swinging in a hammock are all in a hard days work. With a trip down the hill, however, you have restaurants, island tours and and beach days that are easily accessible. I stayed in the newly finished casita above the main house and found it the perfect spot for 1 or 2 people. Basic but stylishly so and totally clean and welcoming, outfitted with all that you need to be comfortable. The hot water shower is a great bonus too! When the sun goes down over the beautiful ocean view, the sounds of the nighttime jungle come out to help coax you into a blissful slumber before the howler monkeys and other daytime jungle sounds wake you up again not long after the sun. You definitely need a car (or a quad) for this property as you are up the mountain along a groomed but still somewhat bumpy and adventurous road. A huge bonus to the adventurous road, that I found, was the opportunity to spot the local fauna along the way, like the 3-toed sloth I was so lucky to get up close and personal with on one trip. Also lovely along the ride is the little waterfall and all the beautiful jungle flora! Special thanks to Jacqui and Randy for their wonderfully warm and welcoming way and all the help they are always happy to provide! Can't wait to return for some more relaxation and exploration of both the lush mountain jungle that surrounds them and the stunning coastline that sits down below. Pura Vida indeed!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

• Amazing house... but was mislead and ultimately disappointed...

  Amazing house... but was mislead and ultimately disappointed...

  • Guest Jason
  • Date of stay 12/06/11
  • Review Submitted 12/16/11
  First, the owners were a really nice and helpful couple. They would answer all my questions and really made our trip to Costa Rica enjoyable. I hate giving them a less than stellar review, but unfortunately we encountered several issues during our stay. The Good: The house is amazing and in great condition. Everything is new and clean. Juan the caretaker of the property is super nice and willing to help you with whatever. The views are spectacular. Alot of thought went into the design of the house. The Bad: This ad is misleading about a few items. The ad states you are 10 minutes from Uvita and the beaches. But in reality it takes at least 25 minutes to get to the nearest beaches. The road up the mountain is in bad condition and takes about 20 minutes to get up. You will not want to make this drive up and down multiple times during the day. The ad also describes birds singing and relaxation. Both are hard to enjoy when there are sounds of construction going on. Unfortunately there is a small boutique hotel being built about 200 yards from this property. Every morning around 6am the circular saws and hammering started, and they ended around 6/7 pm at night. I was very disappointed that we were not informed of this before arriving. Finally, my last gripe. The pictures fail to capture the other property sitting just below the sightline of the bedroom views. While this property doesnt look into the house or obstruct any views, you should know there is another house about 150 ft below. Based on the description i expected seclusion, but that is not necessarily the case. Before you rent this property, ask about the status of the hotel construction. If you dont mind a little background noise other than birds and monkeys, this is a good property for you. I would rate this property as 5 stars if we didn't have to deal with the bad road conditions or the construction. I really do hate giving a negative review because the owners were so nice. Once the construction is over and the road conditions improve, jump on this property. Until then, make sure you know what you are getting into.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: These comments are fair and reasonable and we do appreciate the overall 5 star comments about the property, had these renters not encountered the two problems during their stay. Even though their issues were not something we could control, we did provide these guests with 30 percent refund within 12 hours of their arrival. As well, we gave them the option to relocate with a full refund - with or without our assistance. They chose to stay! The construction noise of a neighboring property was in the final stages. It was to have been completed several months ago - unfortunately the extensions continued and were out of our control. We are happy to say that their final construction is December 28th, 2011. This small hotel will be providing exclusive, ecological, high-end services to a maximum guest count of 12, and will not bear any impact on our property. This year, the Southern Zone of Costa Rica experienced an extended rainy season that still continues. The rains normally taper in November and then, the road is restored. With this extended season – it was just too wet for the road work to be done any sooner. Grading and repairs are scheduled in the next week, which will return the typical drive to town to 10 minutes and the beach another 5 minutes. Costa Rica is known for “it’s roads”, which contribute to the adventure of this country. We always suggest a mid-sized SUV to ensure comfort and confidence on the roads here. Our rainy season rates are discounted, taking the road into consideration. Please feel free to request the status of the road as well as any other questions that may come up for you as a result of this review.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/4

• Don't walk.... Run to Uvita!!!

  Don't walk.... Run to Uvita!!!

  • Guest slamdunk
  • Date of stay 06/02/11
  • Review Submitted 06/14/11
  Waking up to the sound of the ocean and a view and seeing the 'Whale Tale' from my pillow I knew it was going to be a great holiday. A beautiful part of Costa Rica, wildlife in the trees right beside the deck as the sunset goes down. Both locals and visitors ALL have smiles on their faces. The beaches are amazing and close... one could lay in the warm water all day and then grab some lunch at a local 'Soda' down the road. Lot's of options as far as visiting local villages and festivals close by. Then back to the house near the top of the hill for a refreshing breeze and wonderful solitude to listen to the Toucan's and Howler monkeys. Friends don't let friends not experience this. A must!!!!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

• Falmouth Traveler

  Falmouth Traveler

  • Guest Fox On THe Run
  • Date of stay 03/01/11
  • Review Submitted 08/16/11
  We stayed at this property in March of 2011 and had a wonderful time. Waking to the calls of howler monkies and breakfasting to the tropical birds is somethign you will NEVER forget! The layout is perfect with a view of the "Whale's Tail" from your bedroom. The cool evening breezes flow though the screened windows. The upper deck puts you right in th etreetops with the birds. THe ammenities (grill, full kitchen etc) made our stay less like a rental and more like homw. We'll be back again and again!

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

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

• PURE JUNGLE PARADISE...QUE LINDO AQUI!!!

  PURE JUNGLE PARADISE...QUE LINDO AQUI!!!

  • Guest Mollie
  • Date of stay 01/27/11
  • Review Submitted 09/14/11
  What a wonderful retreat into the mountains of Uvita. A tropical jungle paradise where the animals sing all day and night and the hammocks and balcony overlook not just the beautiful Pacific Ocean but the unbelievable Bahia Ballena. The house is perfect for 2-4 people to escape the stress of everyday life. Enjoy the hot hot heat, the sunshine and even the jungle showers from this wonderful Oasis with a view to die for. If you need to relax and reconnect with the world this is the place to do it. The owners are two of the nicest people you ever will meet and very knowledgeable about the area and what it has to offer you by day and night. By night, let the sounds of the jungle sing you into a blissful slumber and wake to some of Costa Rica's finest coffee on the amazing balcony. The incredible hot water, feels like outdoor but it's indoor, shower is an amazing treat!! This house is the perfect mix of rustic and comfort. Not overdone, but also not missing a beat as far as the little luxuries of life are concerned. Simply put it's Pura Vida defined! What are you waiting for? Book it!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

• Paradise in the Jungle

  Paradise in the Jungle

  • Guest JC
  • Date of stay 11/04/10
  • Review Submitted 06/14/11
  This was an adventure-packed week and a peaceful place to wake up in the morning. I loved sitting on the deck and watching the parrots and toucans land in the trees. The wildlife is amazing and the home is modern, beautiful and well laid out. The ATV tour in the jungle, through streams and to waterfalls, was a highlight, although playing the ocean waves is always fun. We'll stay longer next time!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

• Stunning Getaway!

  Stunning Getaway!

  • Guest Mark and Robyn
  • Date of stay 01/10/10
  • Review Submitted 12/28/11
  My wife and I stayed here for four days while enjoying Uvita and Dominical. We had a small suv and the road was no trouble in fact it was a lot of fun! After our adventurous days, our highlights were reading in the hammocks while watching numerous toucans in the trees and wine on the deck with a breath taking view of the sunset. You truly feel like you're getting away from it all but still have all the comforts. The house is very modern, warm and immaculate with beautiful finishings and appliances. Very romantic and unforgettable.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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