The pool and steps into the upper garden. The pool wall color changes often!
Location: Dominical, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Central America (3 hour drive from San Jose, 30 minutes to local airport)
Accommodations: House, 1 Bedroom + Convertible bed(s), 1 Bath (Sleeps 2-4)
Keywords: Villa, Home, View, Pool, Garden, Private, Internet, Privacy, tropical, paradise, private, bird watching, monkeys close at hand
Now with internet access!
You'll want to look at our web site for a more complete description and so many more pictures: the link is below. Meanwhile, here is a brief look at Villa Helena.
Villa Helena, a privacy-lover's dream home, is nestled on a lush hillside just a half mile inland and 1000 feet above the Pacific Ocean in the midst of amazing jungle wildlife: birds of every size and description, wandering troupes of howler and white faced monkeys, three toed sloths, brilliantly colored tree frogs, and a great variety of tropical butterflies.
This unique one bedroom home has over a thousand square feet of tropical luxury and features an tall and airy vaulted ceiling, terra cotta floor tiles, Costa Rican Indian artwork, the rich and brilliant textiles and crafts of nearby Guatemala and Panama, and locally crafted furniture and fixtures.
Just minutes from the villages of Dominical and Uvita are several lovely, nearly deserted beaches. Villa Helena offers the best of all worlds. Stay at home to enjoy the gardens which are full of fruit trees, flowers, hummingbirds and butterflies, walk through the forest alongside the creek, laze by the pool on one of two terraces, and cook to your heart's content in the fully-equipped kitchen. You might even arrange a private massage on the balcony: birdwatch at the same time!
Villa Helena is a bird-lover's paradise and not just in our gardens. The incredible nature reserve, Hacienda Baru, is just 15 minutes away and has a bird list of over 350 species. Of course, our home isn't anywhere near the size of Hacienda Baru which stretches from the sea to the mountains. We haven't had a formal survey done but we have seen over 125 types of birds from the balcony while casually birding. Hacienda Baru and other local reserves have many wonderful guided tours available.
Or you might choose to wander into one of the nearby towns to one of the great restaurants, do some craft shopping or stock up on locally caught fish and locally harvested tropical fruit. The beaches and beach activities are plentiful and uncrowded. Take a guided walk through one of the nearby private nature reserves, visit the stunning 215 foot tall Nauyaca Waterfalls by way of horseback, venture out to Caño Island for snorkeling or out for deep sea or inshore fishing. If you are an avid hiker you can take a trip through the mountain trails to one of two great waterfalls and swimming holes. It's always fun to drop into Dominical and watch the surfers: heck, you can take a lesson right there!
In this nook of Costa Rica, the temperatures are usually in the low 80s during the day and around 70 at night. The hillside location lets us take advantage of the gentle breezes which make Villa Helena so comfortable. While we love playing at the beach every day, we also love to come back to our cool paradise!
WHY CHOOSE VILLA HELENA OVER OTHER SIMILARLY SIZED HOMES IN THE AREA?? There are lots of choices in the area for places to rent but none of them has all the things that Villa Helena has to offer. The "beachside" places are all crowded in with other rental units so you have no privacy and much of the wildlife is scared away. By law, nothing can be built right on the beaches so there is still a walk to the ocean and once you get there, these places almost always have rocky shores where it is is difficult to get into the water! There isn't much air circulation and with the nearby standing water, there are lots of bugs and humidity. We rarely even seen a mosquito up at Villa Helena. Also, almost all of the waterfront places are just feet off the main, noisy highway and the places have varying degrees of success with dealing with that noise. Up in our area or in other places above the coast, most of the houses are built right on the road so you contend with periodic car noises and the noise of people chatting while they walk by. Our driveway drops you well away from the road into privacy so complete, you could sunbathe or swim nude and not have any worries. We know of no other rental home that includes a seasonal stream through the property which further enhances the ambiance for both you, the guest, and provides another habitat for the birds and other wildlife. We regularly have a dunk into one of the little natural pools in the clear stream.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning : Large ceiling fans in bedroom and living room, several speeds and the ability to reverse flow so air moves up and around instead of directly on you.
- Linens Provided
- Washer : Unlimited use, detergent provided. For sole use byguests of Villa Helena
- Dryer : Unlimited use. For sole use by guests of Villa Helena.
- Covered Parking : Right at the front door of the house, no going through a rain shower if that happens during the stay!
- Beds
- King Bed
- Convertible Bed : Two convertable beds 1 meter by 2 meters, about 39 inches wide, 78 inches long. Full linen sets on site.
- Entertainment
- CD Player
- Music Library : Many tropical music CD's and an iPod dock.
- Private Pool : Total privacy in the pool area just as in the rest of the property. Lovely view of the gardens, forest and ocean from the pool and both pool decks. Lounge chairs, chairs and tables to use.
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill : Charcoal is readily available at nearby stores.
- Deck/Patio : Two pool and patio decks with views of the gardens, forest and ocean. Lounge chairs, chairs and tables.
- Balcony : Large covered balcony the entire length of the house with two hammocks, a table and chairs with an excellent view of the forest, the gardens, the wildlife and the Pacific Ocean.
- Lanai
- View/Location
- Ocean View : Nice view of the Pacific including sunset views. Close enough that we have watched whales play, though that was a lucky sighting.
- Communications
- Broadband Internet
- Other Amenities
- Cd Player with dozens of CDs, all cooking utensils provided including sharp (!) knives, linens and towelsand beach towels provided, large covered balcony, hammocks, TOTAL privacy, maid service, tropical gardens, creek and creek trail on property, wildlife viewing. Great internet access with your laptop.
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Parasailing
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Horseback Riding
- Rafting
- Shelling
- Hiking
- Other Activities
- wildlife observation, art and craft shopping, swimming in the 80 Degree (F) ocean or in the private pool, sea kayaking, boogie boarding, beachcombing, birdwatching, rainforest canopy exploration, zip line travel through the rainforest, jungle waterfall enjoyment, natural tropical pool swimming (seasonal), rainforest trail walking right from the house, deep sea fishing
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
HIGH SEASON: December through April .. $150/night (3 night minimum)
$950/1 week ..$1900/2 weeks .. $3500/1 month.
CHRISTMAS/New Year's Holiday: no increase in rates, same 3 night minimum stay
GREEN SEASON: May through November .... $100/night (3 night minimum)
$600/1 week .. $1200/2 weeks .. $2000/1 month.
Payment by check. 100% refund if property is rerented. Ask about full policy.
$250 totally refundable deposit: we have NEVER in 15 years had to use this as
people come to love Villa Helena as they would their own home.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 1995
Bruce and I stumbled across this piece of paradise by accident and are we ever glad that we did! We come from the cool Pacific Northwest where we lead pretty fast paced lives but do enjoy gardening and bird watching. Villa Helena lets us have a totally relaxing break, full of privacy. Being at Villa Helena has really deepened our gardening and birding horizons.
Why the Owner Chose Dominical
We knew we wanted something very private yet not totally isolated. We have great neighbors at Villa Helena but the properties are large so we don't look onto anyone and no one sees us. We thought about an ocean side location but decided to be up on the hill. This decision gave us a great view, the wonderful gentle breezes, lots more privacy and really great access to all the birds, butterflies, monkeys, sloths, etc that we get such great enjoyment from watching. From our balcony we've even watched a mother humpback whale and her baby in the ocean below. We love being close to all the services of a couple of small towns but didn't want to be right in the midst of them. This part of Costa Rica is unique in that it has great, uncrowded beaches and also has the lushness of the tropical rainforest which the more touristed areas of the north lack. This really has turned out to be Paradise.
The Unique Benefits of this House
Villa Helena really is such a wonderful experience. There are so many places to wander through the gardens and stream bed where you can sit or stand and watch all the wildlife around you and enjoy plants you might not normally see on a daily basis. We have a couple of fruit trees which are full of bromeliads, ferns and two types of native orchids. The birds and the monkeys eat most of the fruit that grows here: mangos, guava, bananas, starfruit, cashews and they'll even eat the sour oranges! That's fine because we enjoy having the amimals up so close and there are great sources of local fruit so close to us. Our mature garden really sets us apart from most other rentals in the area.
Everything is so close at hand to us at Villa Helena and yet we are still so private and close to nature. We can walk to a couple of restaurants (one serving quite a gourmet brunch on Sundays) and drive a few minutes to all the services of the neighboring two small towns. The beaches are just minutes away. There are such great restaurants so close, serving local fare and all sorts of others. How do they serve such great international food in the middle of the jungle?
Property Photos
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- The pool and steps into the upper garden. The pool wall color changes often! - Dominical, Costa Rica Home Rental
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- The kitchen and dining area. Watch the hummingbirds while you eat! - Dominical, Costa Rica Home Rental
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- Living area with convertalbe couch. Door to lower pool deck and one to balcony. - Dominical, Costa Rica Home Rental
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- We often eat on the balcony so we can watch for wildlife and look at the ocean.
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- King sized bed with reading lamps. The louvered windows are totally screened.
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- View from the upper pool balcony out to the garden, rainforest and ocean below.
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- View of the dining room window from the upper garden steps.
Traveler Reviews (4)
Idyllic
Guest: Anna
(England)
Date of Stay: 03/03/11
Review Submitted: 03/18/11
Villa Helena is a wonderful home in a truly idyllic spot. Breathtaking views, tranquillity, wildlife: what more could one want? The best place we've ever stayed at and a bit of paradise on earth. Apart from its beauty, the accommodation is comfortable, well stocked, very homely and welcoming. Could happily have stayed a month or more!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway.
Beauty, Serenity, Adventure and Much More
Guest: Sue
(Northwest Montana)
Date of Stay: 03/05/99
Review Submitted: 12/10/10
Villa Helena offers guests a rich and varied array of gifts...beauty that takes your breath away...serenity that relaxes and restores...adventures that challenge, energize and inform. My husband and I spent two weeks at Villa Helena and enjoyed every minute! We walked in tropical gardens surrounding the home and swam in the private pool. We rested on terraces and verandas of the home cooled by fresh mountain breezes. We were treated to spectacular views of the surrounding rain forest canopy and Pacific Ocean as well as up-close-and-personal sightings of birds, monkeys, sloths, butterflies and other exotic insects. Not far from Villa Helena we hiked in nature preserves, learned about Costa Rican forests and wildlife, swam, played and kayaked in warm waters of the nearby Pacific. Villa Helena is a lovely, clean and well-maintained home with a fully-equipped and good, comfortable beds! The owners are friendly and helpful, providing guests with information and answers to any and all questions. Our stay at Villa Helena was everything and more than we hoped for!
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
A Bit of Heaven
Guest: Bob
(Seattle, Wa)
Date of Stay: 04/01/01
Review Submitted: 11/21/10
A truly wonderful, beautiful place! The pictures don’t do it justice. My daughter and I could have spent our entire week simply swinging in the hammock on the veranda looking at and listening to all the beautiful, colorful birds and animals in the surrounding jungle or relaxing in the pool. The sunsets over the Pacific seen over the treetops below the house were spectacular. The well manicured grounds felt like being in a botanical garden. Surfing lessons on the great beaches below, shopping and eating in the nearby towns did however get us out and about. We couldn’t more highly recommend this fantastic home and location for a vacation.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.
What a great place to vacation!
Guest: Leda
(Portland, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 08/02/10
Review Submitted: 11/05/10
My husband and I stayed at Villa Helena for two weeks and had the time of our lives. The friendly manager met us in Dominical and drove with us up to the house and showed us around. He later helped us with a reservation for a snorkeling tour of an island you can see from the balcony. The house was so much better than the pictures showed. While there are other houses in the area, none are close and you can see any from anywhere we could see on the whole property. We made "lemonade' from sour oranges from the trees on the property and picked ripe star fruit, too. The view from the balcony was wonderful and we saw two kinds of monkeys and lots of birds: hummingbirds, parrots, toucans, tanagers and lots more. We could see three sloths in the trees on different parts of the grounds. The garden was beautiful with blooming plants, even some native orchids. There was lots to do in the area. We were at the beach with Villa Helena's boogie boards every day and did two different nature walks at one of the nature reserves. Adriano, the manager, had lots of great suggestions for restaurants and we had some really great meals. Everybody should to to one called Exotica. Delicious food, excellent service in the jungle! We also bought fresh fish and had mahi and tuna a couple of times. I would highly recommend Villa Helena. It is a beatiful house, very charming and well decorated. The owners were very helpful in answering all our questions and making suggestions of things to see and do and also had tips of places to stay in San Jose and car rental ideas. We can hardly wait to go back, already have our reservations! I would
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #50321
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