Vacation Rentals by Owner

An oasis in an oasis!

Guest: Beagle (Toronto)
Date of Stay: 12/28/11 Review Submitted: 01/22/12

December 28, 2011-January 7, 2012 What a magical part of the world and in a very beautiful, comfortable house. Our very first morning brought us a sloth as we walked to the waterfall right on the property. We’ve seen so much wildlife since. We’ll never get over the sound of those howler monkeys each morning! By the end of our 10 days, the drive up the road even seemed routine! Thoroughly enjoyed all the movies on a few rainy afternoons in the rainforest. Great mangrove boat tour in Sierpe, hiking and zip-lining at Hacienda Baru, and snorkeling at Marina Ballena. Mostly wonderful to connect with our busy family in such an amazing spot. Thank you. The Hayes Family

Owner response:Carol and I are delighted you guys had a great time in our home!

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

Nothing will ever compare to your Home. Wish it was ours. No doubt, the very best home is C.R.

Guest: helen19 (Greeley, CO)
Date of Stay: 11/17/11 Review Submitted: 01/11/12

November 17- 25, 2011 Thank you for letting us stay in your “knock-out-gorgeous home”. We had a great time. The only problem is, our “standard” is set really high now, and I don’t think anything can come close to your stunning home. We got really good at spotting toucans. The howler monkeys scared us right out of bed one morning; it sounded like they were just outside, past the swimming pool. The next day, the white-faced monkeys showed up. We had blast here. Did zip-lining, scuba diving, white-water rafting, horseback riding; and the funnest-ATVing. Went with a company – Diamenta Verda Tours – Carl is the owner. The very best. Thank you for sharing your lovely home. With much thankfulness. Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011 Paiges 16th Birthday, November 21, 2011 Mike and Helen Crews Kyle 17; Paige 16; Daniel 14; Michael 12. Colorado

Owner response:Many thanks for the kind words! Doug & Carol

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

Outstanding Property...

Guest: Smith Family4 (-)
Date of Stay: 08/07/11 Review Submitted: 08/19/11

We know that you must hear this a lot, but we had to write and say "Wow." Simply put, your Jungle House was the most beautiful house we've ever seen, and staying there for 8 nights was pure heaven. We loved the view, the jungle, Otis the cat, the pool, the birds and butterflies...even the driveway! With 3 teenage boys and an adventure-loving husband, the bumps and hills in 4 WD were thrilling - especially in the rain. Your collection of books, CDs and DVDs were so fun to browse through and enjoy, and all of the open spaces were just what we needed. It was wonderful to never lock a door or close a window! Coffee by the pool with Otis for company each morning was delightful, and we cooked in your terrific kitchen almost every night, and ate at the table by the pool. The one night we did go out to dinner, we couldn't wait to get back to the house! Thank you for making this lovely property available to rent - we will never forget our week under your most magnificent roof. Well done! P.S. We stayed barefoot all day at home today, but know we have to put on shoes again soon...

Owner response:Many thanks for all your nice comments! We also love it here - upscale but off the 'beaten path'. Doug & Carol

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

Our August 2011 Stay at Casa de la Selva

Guest: Rhegan (Savannah, GA.)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/11/12

August 6, 2011 Dear Carol & Doug: It was an enchanted week in your blissful jungle retreat. The weather was lovely; cool and refreshing after steaming Savannah. We loved our walks down the side of the hill with rambunctious and devoted Khalua. So many beautiful spots but Manuel Antonio Park and beach was our favorite. All your recommendations were spot on and helped us enjoy the full flavor of what this amazing country has to offer. We are already combing through our diary to fill in a return visit. Rhegan Clemm-White Savannah, GA

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

Costa Rica, Dominical. Outstanding, 5* plus, very private luxury jungle home in a great location.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/20/11 Review Submitted: 08/03/11

Doug and Carol, we are so glad we chose your rental home for our first trip to Costa Rica & our first south of the U.S.A. It is in a brilliant location & our stay more than exceeded our expectations. What a joy to stay in 5* plus accommodation, truly surrounded by more wildlife than we found in the nature parks. You set the gold standard other rental homes should aspire to. One of the things that attracted us to your beautiful home was that unlike others, you had resisted the temptation to ‘tame’ nature & create a ‘garden’ round your home. The clearing & planting has been very sympathetically done, it is simply stunning & full of wildlife. As well as a gorgeous infinity pool there is even a waterfall in the several acres of grounds, which took a considerable time to explore. We thought we should visit some of the parks & went to Hacienda Baru (close & our favourite), Manuel Antonio National Park (more tourists than wildlife), San Gerado de Dota Valley (incredible scenery but no Resplendent Quetzales, best chance is to stay overnight) & Reserva Biologica Los Susingos, owned by the late Alexander Skutch, co author of ‘A Guide To The Birds of Costa Rica’ (expensive & not very organized, we only saw an unidentified snake & an Agouti). None of the parks we visited compare to Casa de la Selva. There you can watch wildlife in comfort & luxury! We saw (& heard) troops of Howler monkeys, white face Capuchin monkeys, Kinkajou, Peccary, a Sloth, Amazon parrots, Mot Mot & were regularly entertained by Fiery-billed Aracari & Chestnut-mandibled Toucan. Plus too many more birds to mention here; numerous butterflies including the incredible blue Morpho & something more spectacular than fireflies at night. The home was immaculate, extremely comfortable & had everything we needed & then some. Such attention to detail & so many thoughtful touches are rarely if ever seen in rental homes. The separate laundry & drying room was so useful & the kitchen has everything you need to cook up a storm if so inclined. There are several supermarkets & great places to eat nearby & a brilliant farmers market. One favourite & closest restaurant, was Cuna Del Angel Hotel; part of the same group as the stunning hotel we stayed at in San José. Your recommendation of the ultralight flight was one of the highlights of our stay & a good way to get a feel for the area. Having Canadian born Leife & his family close by was very reassuring. We loved every minute of our stay & hope to return soon. x

Owner response:We're always delighted when Guests find our home as enjoyable as we do! Thanks for visiting our home! Doug & Carol

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

Beyond Compare!

Guest: GPH (Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 04/01/11

Hello Doug, I'm sure that you've heard it all countless times before but I'd just like to convey how much our party enjoyed our stay at Casa de la Selva. Beyond the obvious superlatives of the surrounding jungle, as a fellow design professional, I found myself as enthralled with your extraordinary architectural creation there. From the elegantly simple structural massing down to the exquisite details...like the remarkable lighting scheme or the hand painted elements. As well, all of us were impressed with how completely provisioned the property was...need a flashlight, a candle or just about anything else?...no problem. Amazing to have such trusting absentee hosts. You should also know that Leif was quite charming and helpful...as was Otis. We only hope that you don't sell it so we can come back! Best Regards, Gregory Heil

Owner response:Greg: we're delighted the you and your family had such a great time at Casa de la Selva! Come back any time! Regards, Doug and Carol

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

You won't be disappointed!

Guest: chad (Pittsburgh)
Date of Stay: 02/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/02/11

Mine and my brother's families just left there and had the best time. The split house setup is perfect for separating families or kids from adults. The area is so laid back and beautiful. Great sun, surf and activities. Cannot recommend enough!

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

This house had EVERYTHING you could need and more!

Guest: AnnW (Lee, NH)
Date of Stay: 07/30/10 Review Submitted: 08/22/10

My husband and two children just returned from a vacation in Costa Rica where we stayed in this amazing home. The location was gorgeous and in a part of Costa Rica that allowed us to enjoy the ocean, the mountains and the lush rain forest. We could keep ourselves busy with canopy tours, the beach, horseback riding, surf lessons, or whatever. Alternatively, we could hang out by the infinity pool and watch the monkeys jump from tree to tree. There was no end to the wildlife we saw just hanging out at "home". Coatis came to eat the bananas that the caretaker hung on the trees near the pool, Toucans and other colorful birds would keep watch, and the butterflies and hummingbirds would come close enough to touch. One day I spent almost the entire day watching a sloth move from one tree to another. It was fascinating! I loved this house and I loved Costa Rica. We hope to return some day!

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

Guest: Susan Larkin (Orono, MN)
Date of Stay: 01/05/10 Review Submitted: 01/05/10

What a wonderful jungle home! It was everything we wanted and more - so comfortable, well designed and perfectly situated in an ideal setting. Doug and Carol, you were so hospitable that we felt you were hosting us, not just renting to us. We hope to return soon.

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Guest: Debbi, Terry, Wayne, Linda, Billi (Cramerton, NC )
Date of Stay: 06/25/09 Review Submitted: 06/25/09

We did something different almost every day and night. The house, the style, the design, the accommodations....everything was perfect. Your home was as comfortable as our own. We so appreciated the aid and friendliness of your caretaker, Leif and his family. We celebrated our upcoming 20th anniversary by doing all the adventuresome activities we desired! We zip lined twice, took a wonderful ATV tour for almost 5 hours, horse backed twice (once to Nauyaca). We enjoyed your waterfall and the short hike to it, after a particularly heavy rain it was lovely. The white faced monkeys were the best entertainment. I do wish I could say the same for the howlers....we are still catching up on sleep lost due to them! Your resident coatis remind us of course of our (Carolina) raccoons, but more relaxed. Speaking of wild life....Otis (the cat)....I’m sure we are not the first to enjoy his company. We have never seen a cat so oblivious of his jungle surroundings. On evenings we were not sure what we wanted to eat Bar Jolly Roger came in handy for wings and beer. Your home and the pool provided such a wonderful base for all these activities ......, once at your home we never had to go far to do anything we desired. Thank you for the 5 star jungle accommodations.

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Guest: Cristina3 (-)
Date of Stay: 05/08/07 Review Submitted: 05/08/07

We've never felt so "at home" on vacation and the attention to design is impeccable. Every architectural design and home accent compliment the surrounding beauty. We took full advantage of the "backyard" and most of our wildlife spottings took place on the property. We were lucky enough to spot a troop of howlers and a troop of white faced monkeys crossing the rain forrest below the pool. Other creatures we saw at the house were coatis, countless toucans, the most beautiful blue mot-mot, a laughing falcon who perched himself on a single branch across the jungle for nearly an hour, a sloth, a poison dart frog, some sort of nocturnal kinkajou/tarsier-like creature, geckos and several impressive insects. The ecological experience at the house alone was amazing and we were lucky enough to enjoy the waterfall after a full night and day of rain. This is a five star rental, if there were such a thing,and I highly reccommend staying here for those who are looking to experience a luxurious rainforest retreat!

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Guest: Joseph F. (-)
Date of Stay: 05/17/06 Review Submitted: 05/17/06

doug, what a great job of construction. architectural digest work in the primary forest. amazing. wonderful home on the most beautiful stretch of coast line in the country. hopefully a longer stay next time. regards, jay

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/24/06 Review Submitted: 02/24/06

This is an absolutely amazing place to stay. Everything you could ever dream of a Costa Rica vacation is here...monkeys waking you in the morning, lush lanscaping, open floorplan, plenty of wildlife all around you, wonderful hospitality, safe, and down to native plant books and misc dvd's. ABSOLUTELY A DREAM HOME! Doug, you guys did an incredible job on the building and set up and we are so greatful that we found this place. THANK YOU!!

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Guest: Various 2005 guest book entries
Date of Stay: 12/20/05 Review Submitted: 12/19/05

Comments from 2005 Guests:“ . . . . this dwelling is so perfectly designed to complement the amazing flora & fauna, treating us to a truly unforgettable experience”. Gary & Roz, Wisconsin“ . . . so many things come to mind: we wanted to spend our 20th anniversary in a place with natural beauty and we did just that . . . you home is beautiful and feels like part of the jungle. We loved it!” Gwen & Bruce, Texas“ . . . thank you for sharing your home for our family reunion . . . spending the week together in paradise – it doesn’t get any better than this . . . it’s easy to see why people fall in love with the area, the people and your magnificent home.” Sue, et al, Florida“ . . . thank you for creating such a comfortable place to experience the jungle habitat . . . this morning a band of white-faced monkeys dropped in for a visit. Spectacular! Shawna, NYC“ . . . the Jungle House ‘breathes’ life right back into you and this trip will be remembered forever. I’m now a Costa Rica Addict and will visit again.” Lauri, NYC“ . . . thank you so much for allowing us the use of your beautiful and relaxing home – your pictures on the Internet were nice – but they barely convey it’s beauty or peaceful feel.” The Graff family, FL“ . . . Wow! What a beautiful house! We brought my parents here to celebrate their 50th anniversary . . . I could not think of a better place than Costa Rica and your beautiful home.” Preston & Sally, LA“ . . . What an amazing place! Do we have to leave? The house is absolutely perfect. We couldn’t have asked for a better stay. Thanks for the hospitality! Tom, Kim, Mikki & Katie, CA“ . . . Besides having a little piece of paradise here, you’ve provided the setting for an incredibly enriching and educational experience for my 2 girls” -- (from the kids): “Fantastic! This is my best vacation . . . beautiful house and pool!” and, “this was the best house I’ve ever lived in. I wish I could stay here longer. Having animals right outside my window was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!” The Olnick family, CA“ . . . We absolutely loved staying here in Casa de la Selva. The house is truly amazing! The attention to detail blows away even my overly-attentive mind.” Eric, Kate, et. al, CA

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/11/05 Review Submitted: 05/11/05

Our family's stay at Casa de la Selva was extraordinary - that once in a lifetime vacation with countless indelible moments. We had all the comforts of home in the middle of the jungle. The owners were immensely helpful, supplying all the information one would need for a smooth trip to a foreign country. Sue & Tom, Cape Coral, Florida

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Guest: Various
Date of Stay: 02/02/05 Review Submitted: 02/01/05

Abstracts from our guestbook: " . . . seeing monkeys here on our last morning was a special treat!" Jon & Michelle, NJ " Casa de la Selva is a magical place!" Susan & Randy, NJ " . . . from the minute we pulled in the driveway until the day we left, each and every experience was amazing!" Ben & Robyn, Brooklyn, NY " . . your house is so thoughtfully built and perfectly detailed, it is as if we dreamed of a perfect vacation house and woke up to find it when we arrived at your door". Ron, California " . . . this is paradise". Joan & Peter, Chicago " . . our 3 kids loved the pool . . we saw amazing wildlife: 2 kinds of Toucans, a Sloth, Morpho butterflies, praying mantis, red-legged crabs, to name a few". Francois/Marie, San Francisco " . . you design and sensitivity to nature makes your home an aesthetic delight". Gary, New York ". . while we were here, we were married at sunset on the beach. We had a wonderful stay in your Jungle House". Rich/Molly, Colorado " . . all of our expectations were surpassed by the beauty of the house and surroundings . . the wildlife was as if we were in our own private zoo". Mike, Jelane & Isabel, New York " . . Thank you so much for sharing your architectural wonder in the jungle. The harmony of the jungle and the beauty of the home gave us a most memorable vacation". Kevin, et el, New York " . . it is our dream house embodied - down to all the small details". Rebecca & Dave, San Diego

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