Vacation Rentals by Owner

La Patita de Manzanillo

Guest: L&G (United States)
Date of Stay: 06/28/11 Review Submitted: 02/24/12

La Patita de Manzanillo, on our first visit, became one of our favorite places in the world. To be in that beautiful, open, wooden house, with those trees towering above and the howler monkeys calling is paradise. We felt completely connected with the jungle there. The house's site, green and replete with colorful flowers and a host of birds and lizards, is so appealing that it was often hard to leave. It is even more appealing than pictures can show. When we did manage to pull ourselves away from La Patita, we relished the magnificent beaches where we could snorkel with angelfish, tangs, parrot fish and eagle rays on the reefs just off the shore. The La Patita caretakers were wonderful and introduced us to Omar, whose knowledge, keen visual senses, and humor make him a spectacular guide. With him, we discovered sloths and an array of beautiful birds, even toucans and a myriad of tanangers. For us, the atmosphere in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica was ideal: remote, relaxed, lush and gorgeous. We cannot wait to return there, to the unforgettable La Patita. And we also look forward to seeing Congo, who we absolutely adore!

Owner response:I am so glad you had such a good time!!! It really makes me feel good inside that you enjoyed our home and the area! Sita

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

A True Paradise

Guest: Daniel (Santa Cruz, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/23/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/11

Our stay at La Patita was by far the highlight of our month in Costa Rica. The house was a masterpiece of construction and design. It was difficult to leave the grounds sometimes because the feeling of peaceful relaxation and beauty was so satisfying that we didn't feel the need to go elsewhere! Some of the best bird and animal sightings occurred in our own yard. Fortunately, we did go exploring and the surrounding beaches were truly magical. The people, towns, shops, and restaurants so charming and exquisite that we often just spontaneously burst out laughing at just how good this place was. The owner Sita was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. The caretakers William and Danya were so available, competent, and friendly. I would highly recommend La Patita de Manzanillo to anyone!

Owner response:Hi Daniel, Thanks for your feedback about our home and your stay there. I am really pleased you had such a fabulous time! Sita

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

A Wonderful Retreat!

Guest: Kat (Santa Cruz)
Date of Stay: 02/23/11 Review Submitted: 03/25/11

We had an amazing stay at La Patita and I truly hope that someday we'll get to go back. The house is in a wonderful natural setting but not too secluded from towns nearby. I loved the openess of the home. I felt very connected to nature and myself there and would just sit on the deck many times throughout the days to quietly observe birds, butterflies, monkeys and even a few very zen sloths! The beaches are gorgeous, and it's not hard to find a mostly secluded beach if that's what you're looking for (and we were!) The owners and caretakers of the home were very available and helpful in making sure we felt comfortable during our stay. This place overall felt very dear to me and it was such an big highlight of our trip. Very grateful for our experience there... thank you Sita and Tom!

Owner response:I am so glad you and Daniel enjoyed our home, Kat, and all the wildlife and gorgeous beaches. Hope you get to go back soon!! Sita

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O'Shea Family Trip July 19 thru July 29th 2010...

Guest: Patty O'Shea (California)
Date of Stay: 07/19/10 Review Submitted: 07/29/10

Just left La Patita house yesterday morning to head to San Jose to catch our plane home today. It was a wonderful trip full of lots of adventures! The house offered so much relaxation and wildlife that surrounded us every day. We enjoyed horseback riding with William to Punta Uva, we zip lined in the rain forest which was awesome, and river rafted down the Rio Pacuare. What a amazing trip! One of our favorites was the neighbors dog Congo who visited us daily. What a sweet and loving companion. He has so much to offer, and made our trip even that much more enjoyable. Leaving him was the hardest part for me, and I think it wasnt so easy for him as well. I hope all that stay at your home treat him with kindness and enjoy him as much as we all did. Thank you for an memorable trip and sharing your home with us. Hoping to visit La Patita again, as well as seeing Congo. Patty O'Shea and Family

Owner response:Hi Patty, I tried calling you and never got you in, so I am really happy to hear you had such a good time. I am especially happy that you fell in love with Congo. We love having him around when we are there, as we miss our own dogs and he is such a sweetie. Hope your daughter's graduation went well and that she enjoyed her time at La Patita. Also hope that re-entry goes well! Pura Vida, Sita

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

Guest: Ema7 (London, UK)
Date of Stay: 03/01/10 Review Submitted: 03/01/10

This place is utterly enchanting - we loved it from the moment we arrived. There's loads to do nearby, but even just swinging in the hammock is doing something as there's so much wildlife going by. Having the bikes provided made all the difference, especially as we didn;t have a car, and going to Puerto Viejo was quite the event. The place was spotless and William and Dania, the caretakers, were really helpful, and patient with us non-Spanish speakers too. Horse riding along the beach was one of the highlights of my trip.

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Guest: Nancy138 (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Date of Stay: 02/11/10 Review Submitted: 02/11/10

We left cold, snowy Nebraska for Costa Rica over our Christmas break 2009 - what a complete joy to call La Patita home for 8 days! We are a family of 6 and were so comfortable in the home, on the beach, in the village of Manzanillo - absolutely loved every single day of our adventure!! Tom and Sita, thank you!!!!

Owner response:Hi Nancy, I am so glad that you and your family had such a good time! I know you were looking forward to getting away from the cold and having an authentic Costa Rican vacation! Sita

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Fantastic stay with friends

Guest: Ema7 (London, UK)
Date of Stay: 02/04/10 Review Submitted: 03/03/10

This place is utterly enchanting - we loved it from the moment we arrived. There's loads to do nearby, but even just swinging in the hammock is doing something as there's so much wildlife going by. Having the bikes provided made all the difference, especially as we didn;t have a car, and going to Puerto Viejo was quite the event. The place was spotless and William and Dania, the caretakers, were really helpful, and patient with us non-Spanish speakers too. Horse riding along the beach was one of the highlights of my trip.

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/06/10 Review Submitted: 01/06/10

I have stayed here many times and it continues to be my favorite place in Costa Rica. Nowhere else is there such a peaceful beach that is so close to amazing places to eat. The beach that is only a short walk through the jungle is how a beach should be. The jungle comes directly up to the beach giving it the appearance as though you are in a remote location far away from people. In reality Manzanillo and Puerto Viejo are popular places for people wanting a relaxing beach and jungle experience away from the busy Pacific side resorts. There is also very good snorkeling in and around the town of Manzanillo. There are also great trails throughout a nature preserve that goes along the beach. There are many markets that you can buy food and cook it yourself. I usually cook breakfast and enjoy lunch and dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants in Puerto Viejo or Manzanillo. You really can’t go wrong.The property is a beautiful jungle paradise. There are many flowers to watch the hummingbirds and butterflies flying about. Every day you can hear and usually see howler monkeys in the trees. This place is great for nature lovers or for people who just want to relax. You will not be disappointed. I recently took my parents there who usually go to Caribbean Islands on vacation but said that all in all this was the best beach they have ever been to.

Owner response:Thanks for this comment! I just want to clarify that the walk to the beach is on the road alongside the jungle.

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TRANQUILO IN MANZANILLO

Guest: watergoddess (california)
Date of Stay: 12/13/09 Review Submitted: 01/05/10

La Patita in Manzanillo is AMAZING & was the perfect place for me! It is as local & jungley as it gets, yet only a short distance to more touristy & bustling towns, like Puerto Viejo. The nearby beach is, in fact, nearly deserted, & the paths getting there are full of monkeys, sloths, blue crabs, heliconia, ginger, butterflies, palm trees, & more. The open air design & natural woods throughout the home were just gorgeous, & the multiple hammocks were useful in this tranquilo spot :) The howler monkeys were like nothing I've ever heard before & I loved being in the jungle! William took me horseback riding through the beach & jungle & we saw all kinds of animals & lush landscape. He & Dania were very welcoming & went out of their way for me. I ate at El Refugio & Arricife in Punta Uva & both were Soooo yummy! I rafted the Pacuare & loved that, surfed at Playa Negra, zip lined at Almonds & Corals, & swam in Manzanillo. I used La Patita's bikes & rode them around town. I used the well-equipped kitchen, loved the comfy bed, & enjoyed hot showers, which are hard to find in CR. There's even an outdoor shower for those beach feet! The accomodations & surrounding jungle/yard at La Patita were beyond what I expected, & I feel very honored to have spent one of the best weeks of my life there. The owners, Tom & Sita, are exceptional people & their home reflects this. Pura Vida!

Owner response:I am so glad you had such a good time, Julie! Thanks for sharing your experience. Sita

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

Guest: Melissa143 (Ypsilanti, MI)
Date of Stay: 05/29/09 Review Submitted: 05/29/09

My boyfriend and I stayed at La Patita the first week of May on a vacation that I took as a college graduation gift to myself. We enjoyed everything about the house and the area! While at the house, we spent most of our time relaxing on the deck in the hammocks watching the howler monkeys, lizards, tucans and capuchkins play. The second night was so nice that we went down to the Manzanillo beach, where my boyfriend subsequently proposed at sunset. The entire area there is just so romantic and beautiful. The almost deserted beaches were amazing and the food down there was the best we have ever had. I would definitely recommend Maxi's, a Manzanillo restaurant, where we had a celebratory dinner. We actually ate there twice on the trip because it was so good and price was very reasonable! Getting to the house was a little tricky given that the city of San Jose is very large and does not have marked roads. I would definitely recommend having a GPS on the trip if it is your first time there. We had a map but were still lost for many hours trying to find the highway. Also, make sure that you have a very good grasp of the Spanish language as almost no one there speaks English that we ran into, including the caretakers of the house. We also did a hiking tour of the rainforest and Indian reserve where we were able to see a beautiful waterfall and swim in the river. I would recommend looking into the different tours that are offered in Puerto Viejo. Manzanillo is a place for people who want a break from the city life and truly appreciate nature and the land at it's finest. I would recommend La Patita to anyone who wants to just get away from it all and take the time to slow down and appreciate life. :)

Owner response:It is so cool that you were proposed to on the beach. How romantic! Thanks, Melissa, for sharing about your time. Pura Vida, Sita

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/10/09

Our stay at La Patita was awesome. We loved the location, the wildlife, and the house was clean and functional and the craftsmanship, beautiful! It rained most of the time, but we biked in it, hiked in it and did what we needed to do to have a smile on our face the entire time. We had one afternoon of sun where we hiked to Punta Uva to swim. We spent a lot of time in the kitchen and on the deck watching wildlife. We enjoy bird watching and we saw many cool birds! We also had a baby sloth in the front tree. Of course the monkeys woke us up every morning, along with the birds and frogs but we absolutely loved waking up with the wildlife. We spent some time on the yoga platform-both practicing and viewing, sitting, listening to the rain. We cooked most of our meals. The caretakers were helpful and William took us to Punta Mona on horseback-an adventure we'll never forget. We hated to leave. I would recommend it to anyone seeking a similar retreat!

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oh! how Relaxing it was!!

Guest: one frog (Rivière du Loup, Québec, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/24/08 Review Submitted: 02/10/09

It was really really really nice and relaxing. There was no stress at La Patita! Everything was just fine and relaxed. I was there with my parents, my sister, her husband and their kids. There was enough place for the 7 of us. We enjoyed a lot the open air kitchen and dining area. I just loved waking up in the morning and sip a coffee on the bench, watching nature and waiting for hummingbird or blue morpho to pass by! The toucans would make their tour during morning too and of course, sloth and howler monkeys. All nature around, no need to run to see it! The place is clean and well maintained. The caretakers are just great. William took us for horseback riding in the jungle one day and explained us the trees and pointed us the surrounding wildlife on the way. Dania is really doing nice work and it was nice talking to her. To me, the place is romantic and should be great for a couple searching for a peaceful retreat. As I said, it's perfect for family too. The way to Manzanillo is short by feet and we used to walk to the beach afternoon with the kids. The long walks on the beach really worth it. It’s almost deserted at some point during week days! Beautiful! The beaches are alternated with beige and black sand and nature, at that time of the year, is luxurious until the water edge. There are some small but surprising activities around Manzanillo and it worth taking time to discover some and to get used to the life beat of the place. Not expecting too much of anything made me enjoy everything I did and appreciate all the great and huge effort native (and adopted native) do to make their place welcoming and interesting. People in the shops and restaurant around are nice and really open to discussions and they do smile quit easily. I had a surprise every single day during my trip to Manzanillo de Talamanca and my time passed in La Patita was only positive. Thanks for all Sita! I wish only best ;-)

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/09/08

We just returned from an entirely too short 4 days at La Patita and had a wonderful time. The house is beautiful, very clean, and blends so nicely with its surroundings. In short, it met our needs perfectly. There's is lots of wildlife at La Patita or nearby. The howler monkies are up early every day...one morning we spotted around a dozen of them feeding in the trees immediately around the house. The caretakeers, William and Dania, live nearby and are very attentive and just wonderful people. As others have commented, Manzanillo is a perfect destination for those wanting to really drop off the radar screen. It has beautiful beaches, a few great restaurants, and is truly unspoiled. With the bumpy roads, it takes a bit of effort to get there, but it is certainly worth it. We're already planning our return visit!

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The best way to experience paradise

Guest: S & F (Santa Cruz, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/07/08 Review Submitted: 07/11/08

We visited Costa Rica for a week and were enchanted. Manzanilla itself is simply gorgeous, with lush vegetation, a layed back non rushed life style, wonderful happy people, beautiful almost empty beaches, and great food. La Pattita was the perfect base of operations for our visit. The house itself is set in the jungle, under the canopy of the forest. Most of the common spaces are open and outside, in the environment we had come to experience. The workmanship of the house is splendid, and we loved to return home to relax in such a lovely space.

Owner response:Thanks, Steve and Flow! We are glad you had such a nice stay and enjoyed the jungle and open environment of the living/dining areas like we do!! Sita and Tom

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Timothy Skaggs (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/17/07

First let's talk about Costa Rica. The people are amazing and go out of your way to welcome you. This is one of the few countries where I don't feel resentment toward America. Many people speak enough English to converse although I prefer to show respect by attempting Spanish. The Caribbean coast and the Pacific Coast are virtually two different countries. Going to the Caribbean is like stepping back in time and slowing down the pace to something more sane. If you want a five star hotel vacation this side of the country is not for you. But if you love a natural environment, don't mind bumpy gravel roads and appreciate a laid back lifestyle then come on down and chill. La Patita is like going to the end of the Earth. You'll go through Puerto Viejo on your way but we hardly went there except to get groceries. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I walked through the gates at La Patita. Everything is open air except the bedrooms and I love this. The hardwood finishes are beautiful and the kitchen is adequately stocked. We rode the bikes to Manzanillo a couple of times and there is a washing machine on premise. It is a short amazing walk through the jungle to the beach. The surf was calm when we were there but apparently sometimes it can be rough. OK, the best part of this is the monkies. We laid in the hammocks and watched them play for hours every day. The small town of Manzanillo was just right for us. Maxie's has good local cheap food, lots of beer and Wilbur the server was too much fun. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to step out of the rat race for a few days, a week, a month or who knows, maybe you'll just stay!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Catherine & Philippe (Montreal, Quebec)
Date of Stay: 04/01/06 Review Submitted: 04/10/06

A great find and a great bargain, my boyfriend and I stayed here for a relaxing week in mid-March. We loved our private house in the jungle, waking up to howler monkeys, having breakfast on the covered terrace, watching blue morphos flutter through the yard. The house is fully-equipped, located a short walk from laid-back Manzanillo and a short drive from hopping Puerto Viejo. The rainforest trek to the secluded beach is an adventure in itself. Housekeepers Dannia and William were very helpful, and the cottage was impecably set-up when we arrived. We were glad to have our 4X4 for easy trips to our favourite dinner spot at La Pecora Nera and grocery shopping in Puerto Viejo, especially on rainy days.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Caleb (Golden, BC)
Date of Stay: 04/01/06 Review Submitted: 04/02/06

My family and I stayed at La Patita for 2 weeks during Feb. 2006. We had a fantastic holiday and enjoyed the Manzanillo area tremendously. Never have I experienced such a collection of pristine near-private string of beaches. The entire coast around Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo is simply stunning. The tides can be a bit on the nasty side but one can always find a swimmable spot (near the reef on Manznillo beach was almost always good for kids) and if one is looking for a quiet and scenery, just start walking. Each point you round brings another gorgeous beach. The house itself served us well and is located in a lush jungle setting. We were kept company by a roving family of Howler monkeys, several large parrots, a wandering skunk, numerous butterfly's, toucans, a nearby sloth, several small frogs, and many insects. The hammocks were fantastic for reading in the morning and napping in the afternoon/evening. Its secluded location is perfect for those who want a relaxing holiday, near enough to amenities but far enough to have solitude if so desired. Tom and Sita are both very helpful and were very honest and forthright. I would highly reccomend both this home and this area.

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