Vacation Rentals by Owner

Casa Camaleon - Quaint Affordable Cabinas Steps from the Surf [#380464] | View Property

Playa Grande
Apartment, 2 Bedrooms + Other (See Description), 1 Bath (Sleeps 4-5)
From U$35/nt
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Traveler Reviews (14)

• really good time, really good place

  really good time, really good place

  • Guest Karine
  • Date of stay 03/04/13
  • Review Submitted 04/05/13
  Casa caméléon is really a wonderfull place. I definitely recommand this casa where you can enjoy the amazing beach and the beautifull nature in a quiet area. Sharr and Terry, the owners, are really helpfull, nice, relax and pleasant. The wild beach, the leather back turtles, the nices waves and the incredibles sunsets are some of the reasons why you have to stop in Playa grande. If you don't have car you can take a taxi boat to Tamarindo( where you can find all the restaurants and groceries stores) whiches only 1$ but the last ride is at about 4:30 pm. After 4:30 you have to take a regular taxi whiches around 25$. So if you wanna get something a little bit appart of the noisy urban life that's your spot.

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

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• Review of Casa Cameleon, Playa Grande

  Review of Casa Cameleon, Playa Grande

  • Guest Bella
  • Date of stay 10/01/12
  • Review Submitted 11/12/12
  Sharr and Terry are a lovely couple who made me feel very welcome. The property itself is good value for the money, and includes air conditioning and WiFi which are essentials for me. As I went in the rainy season, it was very difficult to find restaurants and groceriy stores within walking distance, so be sure to take this into account when you plan your vacation. If you want mod cons on your doorstep, I would advise going to Tamarindo instead. But Playa Grande is gorgeous, precisely because it is remote, just be aware that it's not so easy just to pop out and get a beer, for example. During my stay it rained so heavily that I was unable to leave the room for several days and Sharr was kind enough to purchase groceries for me, as she had a car. A car would have been useful here, but one would need a 4 wheel drive as the roads are not the best. If you just want a chilled out, bare bones surf vacation, you cannot do much better than this.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Tucked Away...

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Tucked Away...

  • Guest Sean G
  • Date of stay 08/23/12
  • Review Submitted 11/10/12
  My girlfriend and I stayed at Casa Camaleon in late August and had a magnificent time. The place is very quiet and tucked away in a little community. We were looking for a relaxing getaway and this was the perfect location for it. There are just a few amenities around - like 2-3 restaurants and bars and a small market within walking distance - but we loved that! We cooked meals at home at the apt every day and lounged on the beach. There are a few activities if you're into that as well. We took a surf lesson, went canoeing in an estuary, and walked for 5 hours along the connected beaches. We felt like the whole coast was ours because the community is far enough away from the more touristy Tamarindo (though we could have easily headed there via a small ferry if we wanted to). Sharr was also a perfect host- helping us with all our questions and setting us up with the activities we wanted. Oh and don't miss the Fruit and Veggie Truck! Pura Vida!

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• Quaint.

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Quaint.

  • Guest Tony L
  • Date of stay 08/15/12
  • Review Submitted 11/10/12
  Sharr and Terry were very friendly hosts! We were given lots of good advice on the area. Casa Camaleon is very quaint; I would definitely recommend staying there!

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• Relaxing.

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Relaxing.

  • Guest Joanna B
  • Date of stay 06/04/12
  • Review Submitted 11/10/12
  Sharr's place is awesome and relaxing. The town of Playa Grande is very quite and small, but the waves are big and there's plenty of nature. The space itself is really well kept and Sharr and her husband are very warm and interesting people that are there to help when you need it. I give this place two enthusiastic thumbs up!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Perfect Introduction to Costa Rica : Casa Cameleon

  Perfect Introduction to Costa Rica : Casa Cameleon

  • Guest newmad
  • Date of stay 05/04/12
  • Review Submitted 05/19/12
  This was my first visit to Costa Rica and I could not have been happier regarding my choice in where to stay. Sharr and Terry (the owners) are awesome people and basically held my hand as I planned my accommodations. As soon as I landed in San Jose I followed Sharr's excellent directions to get to the house via taxi van (which she helped me arrange when I was still in the US) - when I arrived they were waiting for me to show me my room and make sure my needs were met and that I was happy. The unit itself was clean and more than adequate for my needs. I rented the studio but there are multiple options. Everything was well maintained and delivered on all of my basic needs and the price was excellent. It was quiet night and day, the hot water shower was in perfect condition and the AC unit was running perfectly. I work from my computer and Wi-Fi is extremely important to me - the wi-fi worked there to perfection. Sharr and Terry have been here for 10 years and had invaluable advice regarding any activity that I wanted to do during my stay. Any questions that I came up with (I had a lot!), they would have an answer promptly via email or in person. They had bikes and surf boards for rent at reasonable prices as well. I could go on and on but I cannot recommend this place high enough - especially for a first time visitor to the area, or to Costa Rica in general. If you are not new here - the stay was worth it simply for it's price, proximity to the beautiful beaches (which are much less crowded than Tamarindo), and the tranquility of the area (which is much more quiet and full of nature than Tamarindo). You will not regret landing here first on any trip to this area of Costa Rica :) Pura Vida!

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

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• Great retreat!

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Great retreat!

  • Guest Venetia
  • Date of stay 04/25/12
  • Review Submitted 05/18/12
  Sharr and Thiery were great hosts. They were super helpful with directions and anything I needed, while also giving me space to enjoy the remoteness. The beach, really close to their house, was STUNNING. You cannot miss a single sunset - they are just too beautiful. The beds were comfy and they have AC and wireless in the unit which was great. We could also rent surfboards and bikes for an additional cost, which we did. There are a couple delicious restaurants in town and a market nearby for all your needs, plus a quick boat ride over to Tamarindo, so you're not in the thick of everyone, but close enough if you want to go in for dinner and dancing. Only slight downside were there were ants that made their way into the studio, but it's just cause it's costa rica. The whole country is super natural and amazing and earthy. Plus the people are amazing too. Okay, I would definitely return again, and I miss it already just writing this.

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• Thank-you

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Thank-you

  • Guest Miko
  • Date of stay 03/29/12
  • Review Submitted 05/18/12
  Our stay at Casa Camaleon was what we had hoped for while planning our trip to Costa Rica... off the beaten path in the wonderful and tranquil Playa Grande community with the beach steps from our doorstep. Sharr and Terry were wonderful hosts and absolutely happy to help make our stay memorable with guidance and tips. The accomodations were clean, quaint and quiet in a great locatoin. We look forward to visiting again in the future.

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• Perfect for me. Travelling alone.

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Perfect for me. Travelling alone.

  • Guest Marc
  • Date of stay 03/19/12
  • Review Submitted 05/18/12
  If you’re contemplating staying here you’re dumb. This should be a no-brainer. I can honestly say that my stay at Casa Camaleon was probably one of the best experiences of my life. Right from the start Sharr and Terry were extremely friendly and helpful by answering any and all questions that I had. They made it very comfortable and easy booking with them, and once I arrived, welcomed me in like family. They even arranged transportation to and from the airport which was super nice and one less thing to worry about. The accommodations were perfect. The rooms have everything you need and are conveniently located in Playa Grande; close to restaurants and a small market. The beach is absolutely stunning, quiet and goes for miles. You can rent a board for the day (which they offer) or just take a long walk and appreciate the most beautiful sunsets. And you’ll also be within walking distance to Tamarindo if it’s nightlife you’re after. Do yourself a favour and book now. You will not regret it. I can't wait to return.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Loved it!

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Loved it!

  • Guest Alex
  • Date of stay 03/07/12
  • Review Submitted 05/18/12
  Our stay in the studip apartment at Casa Camaleon exceeded our expectations. The accommodations were in a wonderful location - only a short walk to the beach and in a very safe area. The apartment had mostly everything we needed - kitchen area was small but suited our needs and the bathroom was clean and functional. The hosts and other guests were very helpful in providing recommendations for our trip - we highly suggest the Friday night barbeque at the small restaurant in the neighborhood as well as sunset watching on the beach with a few "sun-downers." The most important pieces of advice I can provide for future travelers is a) pack light but bring beach towels, b) stop at the large grocery store in neighboring town of Juacas to pick up huge water supply and kitchen needs, c) stick around to meet the fresh fruits and veggies truck that comes Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays and stock up on the best local produce you could find, and d) stay at Casa Camaleon AS LONG AS YOU CAN!!!

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• A Surfing Haven

  A Surfing Haven

  • Guest the chainbreakers
  • Date of stay 01/22/12
  • Review Submitted 10/16/12
  What can we say? We literally stumbled upon Shar and Terry's Casa Camaleon when our original housing fell through and immediately Shar was making arrangements on our behalf to help us get settled and on with our amazing vacation to Costa Rica. They know so much about the area and had connections with just about anything we wanted to do. The property is very clean and well maintained, as pictured, with beautiful plants and trees surrounding the property. It is a very short walk to the beach, which was all that we could ask for. It's located in a gated community with several restaurants and a great little market all within a 5 min walk, we didn't even need a car and felt very safe. It's peaceful and quiet with the hustle and bustle of Tamarindo only a short ferry ride away across the estruary. The owners are spectacular surfers (even if they don't admit it!) and helped us arrange surf board rentals and lessons, which was a major part of our vacation. They are very involved and take great care to ensure their guests have an amazing experience while visiting. We would most definitely recommend staying with them to anyone we know and we look forward to another chance to travel back and stay at the Casa Camaleon. Thank you so much to Shar and Terry!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Chill place!

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Chill place!

  • Guest Liliya
  • Date of stay 01/22/12
  • Review Submitted 05/18/12
  Sharr and Terry are awesome! The room was nice and clean, had everything you need in there. But that was only a part what made our stay nice. The other part was great help of Sharr to arrange our plans according to our budget and limited time. She gave so many good advices about everything we asked her, she arranged for us pick up from airport, late watertaxi to get us to Tamarindo and gave us a phone number of cheap taxi to get us back. Without her we would feel totally lost! Being so helpful, at the same time Sharr and Terry remained very chill, we felt at ease with them right away. Thanks a lot!

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• Peacefully Perfect

  Peacefully Perfect

  • Guest Maryse
  • Date of stay 12/18/11
  • Review Submitted 01/09/12
  We've just returned from 18 glorious days at Casa Camaleon at Playa Grande. Upon arrival we were greeted by the owners Sharr & Terry, who were gracious enough to wait up for our late arrival. The first thing I noticed was the sound of waves crashing on the beach! As we entered our new home away from home, I immediately noticed how clean and well cared for the suite was. The suite itself consisted of a sitting room, kitchen, bathroom w/large shower & bedroom-perfect for the 2 of us! Within a few minutes we were comfortably settled in our king size bed. We woke up at day break to a bright, sunny morning and before shuffling outside to listen to the birds we unpacked & got settled into our new digs: the kitchen was stocked with the necessary cookware, dinnerware & utensils. We had a fridge w/freezer, stove & sink, now we just needed supplies. The back door off the kitchen led to an outdoor sink which was perfect for rinsing out our swim suits & the owners were kind enough to put up a clothes line too! Oh yea, and there's an outdoor shower too! Since we had decided not to rent a car we went into Tamarindo to do our first grocery shop. We walked from Casa Camaleon to the estuary,(15 mins) took a boat across for only $1 ea and walked to the Auto Mercado to shop then returned to Casa Camaleon. There is a small grocery store close to Casa Camaleon that we used as well and the restaurant there serves the best pizza! The beach is only a 5 walk from our door, making it convenient for us to pop home for lunch or siesta before returning to the beach for sunset! We were so comfortable here that we did not stray too far...lol! The grounds of Casa Camaleon are clean & very well maintained. It is a very peaceful, restful place to stay. It was the best nights sleep I have had in several months! Sharr & Terry were very kind, hospitable and having them on site really contributed to our comfort & make our visit memorable. We were sad to leave, but so happy to know that we have found our own little piece of paradise that we will be returning to! Thanks again for everything! If you are looking for clean, quiet, comfortable accommodations in Playa Grande - this is it! Maryse & Dave, Gabriola, BC Canada

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/2

• Perfect Beach, Perfect Place

  Perfect Beach, Perfect Place

  • Guest Allie
  • Date of stay 12/02/11
  • Review Submitted 01/08/12
  The listing is very accurate and the property photos really reflect the warm look of Casa Camaleon. We loved the wireless in the rooms and having our own kitchen. The owners are wonderful people, and we would for sure stay in Playa Grande again at Casa Camaleon. Great value and just a very comfortable and affordable place. Thumbs up!

  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: 1/2