Vacation Rentals by Owner

A true gem

Guest: Darlene (Algonquin, IL, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/26/12 Review Submitted: 05/02/12

We spent 5 nights at Casa Papaya and it was truly amazing. The house has everything you could possibly need to have a very relaxing vacation. The views were spectacular especially from the master BR private balcony. Every morning we would sit outside watching the birds and listening to the monkeys. We cooked the majority of our meals as the kitchen was well stocked with pots, pans, etc. The Pali grocery store in town had a good variety. Steve had a great tip for fresh fish very close by at the pescaderia and we grilled fish twice during our stay. We bought fresh fruit from the vendor outside the Pali as well. We ate very well and enjoyed many, many ice cold Imperial's laying in the hammock by the pool. We took Steve's suggestion to try Playa Carillo which was an absolutely gorgeous, practically deserted beach about 5 km south of Samara. We ended up spending at least 3 hours there everyday. The rest of the time we just hung out at the pool. It was very easy to slip into a routine of relaxing. We did have a rental car and that was convenient, but one day I walked to the main part of Samara along the beach and it took around 20 minutes. We did not do much in the way of activities but my husband and daughter rented an ATV for a few hours and did some exploring and really enjoyed that. And we took the sunset hike with Samara Trails that lasted 3 hours. It was very informative and we saw lots of birds and animals and of course a beautiful sunset. Our trip was great and we will definitely plan on returning someday for a longer stay! Thank-you so much Lavae and Steve!

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

beautiful week in Samara

Guest: laurenb (Pittsburgh PA)
Date of Stay: 08/11/11 Review Submitted: 09/04/11

We stayed in Casa Papaya with one other couple for one week of our three week stay. I found it to be just as described. The views are exactly as shown and the house is updated and well maintained as shown. The pool was a great place to relax in the late afternoon and into the evening. We saw howler monkeys on our way to the beach pretty much everyday and once on the property. Beautiful birds were everywhere. The arrival basket was a really nice touch and would have been even more appreciated if it had been our first stop in Costa Rica as it was some basic necessities for a light breakfast - perfect if you were getting in later in the evening and did not want to do grocery shopping that night. The housekeeper, who came mid week, was great. She even organized all of our snacks in the cabinet and made us an aluminum foil rose! Lavae was especially easy to work with in booking, and her and Steve were very gracious to us while we were there. Steve even glued the sole of my shoe back on for me after I asked them if they knew where I could find shoe glue! They have thought of so many things to add to the houses that really were "luxuries" to be able to use for the week but you would never have been able to pack - items such as beach mats, boogie boards, filtered water, lunch coolers, and ice packs. The only negatives (and I wouldn't even say it is a problem per se) is that the first floor bedroom is very small, not much bigger than the bed, which I didn't really get from the pictures. Given that we were two couples sharing the cost, it was difficult to figure out which couple got the tiny little bedroom and which couple got the huge one upstairs with the balcony. We ended up switching halfway through the week when the housekeeper came and it worked just fine. The other is that the beach is not that easy to get to if you want to spend a whole day there and you tend to take a lot of stuff with you. It is probably only ten minutes to walk to, but if you take mats, a packed lunch, towels, water bottles, a book, boogie boards, etc. the walk back up the hill becomes quite daunting. The benefit, however, is that you are in a much nicer area (a lot of the houses right on the beach looked kind of run down) and you have the beautiful views.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Samara casita

Guest: Gramma (Costa Rica)
Date of Stay: 06/28/10 Review Submitted: 07/06/10

A great place to stay and pretty much as described on the web site except that "walk to beach" was well more than 10 minutes for us and far more on the uphill return. A little crowded for 4 adults and 2 children but comfortable otherwise.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Guest: Regina
Date of Stay: 07/22/09 Review Submitted: 07/21/09

Dear Lavae and Steve, Just a quick note to let you know how much we enjoyed our recent stay at the Casa el Mango. We had a fantastic time there for the week, and we were sad to leave. The view was beautiful, the house clean and well taken care of. We enjoyed the swimming pool, all the wildlife we saw (and we saw lots!), and were just generally happy. All worked out great, directions were excellent, no problems anywhere. Thanks again for sharing your beautiful place with us! Best, Regina

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Guest: Yvonne & Jacques
Date of Stay: 04/21/09 Review Submitted: 04/21/09

Thank-you Lavae & Steve for the wonderful vacation we had at your Casa la papaya. We have enjoyed everything starting with the pool and the environment. You have been exceptional hosts and if we ever come back to Samara will sure try to stay in one of your nice casas. Gracias, Yvonne & Jacques

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Guestbook Comment

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

We stayed in both Mango and Papaya and really enjoyed both. There were two of us in Mango and it was perfect. Very clean, comfortable, and great patio and view. There were four when we moved to Papaya and it was also very nice. I would suggest Mango if only two guests. The pool and rancho were very nice. The hill seems daunting when you first arrive, but we walked to and fromSamara each day to attend classes and had no problem. The monkey action wasunbelievable. The owners and staff were great and very helpful. We had a wonderful 3 week stay.

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Guest: Jennifer
Date of Stay: 01/23/09 Review Submitted: 01/22/09

Buenos. Loved the cool off pool & outdoor living space. Did a lot of cool activities from the home base of Jesse’s gym and Surf School. We surfed high tide everyday/evening, rented their kayaks & snorkeling gear for a tour of the island, and took a few yoga classes from Jesse’s “wife”. Nosara & Playa Guiones was a great day trip. Rented boards from Harry’s and bar-hopped home from Largarta lodge. Food in town was great with many options. Samara is definitely PURA VIDA.Happy trails,DJ, JV,CW & CW

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Guest: the Legaults
Date of Stay: 12/26/08 Review Submitted: 12/25/08

The family stayed here for 2 weeks. We only had 1 day of rain. It was amazing. Surfing is available at a decent price and there are waves for all skill level. The pool is really refreshing and the beach is close. You cannot run out of things to do, this is a great location. Close to action but far enough to not have to hear it all night.Warning to keep things clean, no exaggeration. The ants are ready to pounce. And take the garbage out quickly. The heat will make it worse. Need better parking. Our poor car hurt.The help are great. Iris is friendly and comes around enough. The pool guy – you don’t even notice him, he’s quiet and quick.The Legaults!

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Guest: Tas
Date of Stay: 08/19/08 Review Submitted: 08/18/08

Star Date 8/19. Landed for a week at the hillside splendor of La Papaya - a fitting abode for earthly travelers. I immensely enjoyed the beaches Carillo and Playa Islita. The tuna in the bay were no match for this fisherman! The pool was cool and a welcomed oasis amid tropical flora plus the occasionaql passing howler monkey.

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Guest: Jeff and Maggie
Date of Stay: 06/28/08 Review Submitted: 06/27/08

Enjoyed our stay. Lavae was wonderful. Pool is refreshing for the afternoons. Spent most of our beach time at Carillo - beautiful and not very many people.Guatil is a great place to visit for pottery. Lagarto is a good place to eat.We had a very pleasnt relaxing saty and wish it was longer. We don't want to leave!

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Great Stay! Great Hospitality!

Guest: Mom23rugrats (Atlanta, GA, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/03/08 Review Submitted: 09/28/10

Although it's been since 2008, I just wanted to drop a note to you and let you know how fondly we remember our stay at Casa La Papaya. I noticed that you've updated the bedding and linens and appreciate that so much. The place looks great and it is clear that you continue to care for your property with the same love and care that we noticed when visiting. We have recommended your place on two travel websites. We hope this helps you continue to serve travelers who would greatly benefit from the experience you provide. We hope to see you again, hopefully sooner than later! With warm regards, Happy travelers

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

Guest: Sylvia, Rob and Lieke
Date of Stay: 08/17/07 Review Submitted: 08/16/07

Although we were in La Papaya at the green season and thus experienced many tropical rain showers, we really enjoyed being a guest in this wonderful villa, nice village of Samara for our first time in Costa Rica. We are grateful to Steve and Lavae who could explian many local specialties and kept us informed on eaasy trips since the roads were hard to travel with the rain. The Pacific was great in Samara but even more so in Carillo - what a fantastic beach! So back to the cold rain in the Netherlands. All the best to those who stay.

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Guest: Michael, Astrid and Gregor
Date of Stay: 07/12/07 Review Submitted: 07/11/07

Our stay here was great and relaxing. We enjoyed the comfort of the house - especially the washer and dryer. Our advice: do it like the Ticos - start early in the morning to the beach, bring your own hammock, luch box etc. and stay as long as possible - yo will have a great day!

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Guest: Andrew
Date of Stay: 07/07/07 Review Submitted: 07/06/07

We recently spent 4 days in El Papaya and had a wonderful time. The house, gardens, walkways and pool area were all well kept and comfortable. The views off to the south were fantastic, and Lavae and Steve were very pleasant. My wife are considering making this a regular trip and if so, we will likely go back to el Papaya. Andrew, Atlanta, GA

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Christine Parker_HAC97938 (Springfield, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/26/07

We spent almost 2 weeks at Casa la Papaya and enjoyed enjoyed every minute. The view from the pool and upstairs was great. The pool itself was indispensible for just laying in and playing around in. We ended up bringing my laptop and were able to send e-mails and photos home, as well as looking up more stuff to do on the internet. We took the kayak/snorkel tour from Tio Tigre Tours - it was a lot of fun, but just don't expect it to be like Hawaii, if you've ever snorkeled there. We also took a dolphin tour from Carillo Tours and didn't seen any dolphins, but saw several sea turtles and a manta ray, and by dragging fishing lines, we caught a mahi-mahi, 2 black tunas and 2 yellowfin tunas. It was fun but a bit expensive, and I think we like the Tio Tigre guides better. If you plan to drive anywhere other than between Samara and Nicoya (to other beaches, Nosara or Tamarindo even) I HIGHLY advise a 4 wheel drive vehicle, or at least an SUV with plenty of clearance. Watch the potholes that appear from nowhere out of the shadows. The only thing that could have been better about this property was if the bug screens were more secure, as we found rather large insects infiltrating the house occasionally. We just kept some of the windows shut the enitre time (those with larger gaps in the screens) and kept the lights off as much as possible, and didn't have a big problem. If you're going to go grocery shopping, be aware that the grocery stores stock different items, so visit more than one and you'll have a good selection. Eating out was easy and inexpensive compared to the states - our favorite restaraunt was El Dorado for their cheap and yummy pizza and fish, as well as very friendly owners and staff. All in all, Casa la Papaya was a great place to stay for it's very competitive price, great location and ameneties, as well as for it's very large visiting iguana, Fred. Thanks very much to Lavae, Steve and everyone for making it fun, comfortable, exciting and affordable for us to take my son to visit Costa Rica!! Christine, Tyler and Bradford (12)

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Guest: Mark and Taryn Reagan
Date of Stay: 05/29/07 Review Submitted: 05/28/07

Well, we certainly had the best honeymoon I could ever imagine here at Casa La Papaya. Where do I start? The food here in Samara is the best I've ever had. Take the time to eat out at places like El Lagarto, Coco's. My husband wants me to stop writing but I could go on forever. We will certainly come back with all our friends...

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Guest: Jennifer Glickman
Date of Stay: 05/08/07 Review Submitted: 05/07/07

This waas truly the trip of a lifetime... The house was amazing and very comfortable. Beutiful views and so nice3 to be close to town but tucked awaqy in the hills. Lots of wildlife sights and sounds from the cabana/pool. The monkeys entertainede us each day. We spent our time between sitting on the beach, by the pool and doing excursions. Our favorites: Guatil, Rincon de la Vieja, Tamarindo Estuary tour. We found all the locals to be super friendly. We would come back here in a heartbeat and are devastated to leave. Steve and Lavae gave us a week in paradise!

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Guest: Byron Thornburgh
Date of Stay: 08/26/06 Review Submitted: 08/25/06

Myself and 3 friends stayed at Casa La Papaya for the past 3 weeks and had the time of our lives. This was by far the most relaxing vacation I've ever taken. The pool, the patio and the view from Casa La Papaya are awesome! Lavae and Steve have built an absolutely beautiful property that I will always remember. We saw all kinds of fish...went kayaking to Isla Chora...beautiful sunsets at Playa Carillo...

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Guest: Bryon
Date of Stay: 08/26/06 Review Submitted: 08/25/06

August 19-26 2006Myself and 3 friends stayed at Casa la Papaya for the past week and had the time of our lives. This was by far the most relaxing vacation I have ever taken. The pool, the patio, and the view form Casa la Papaya are awesome! Lavae and Steve have built an absolutely beautiful property that I will always remember.Some of my favorite things to do while I was here were: - Rent sea kayaks and kayak to Isla Chora. We spent an entire morning on the island, snorkeling and exploring. We saw all kinds of fish and marine life while snorkeling. If you walk counter-clockwise around the island, on the north side there is this amazing spot where the waves are carving a cavern in the rocks. A great spot to sit and take in the view of Sámara and watch the waves crashing onto the rocks.- Drive towards Playa Carillo - after you pass the beach at the top of the hill turn right and there is this amazing spot to watch sunsets over Playa Carillo. There‘s an empty restaurant/bar there that has a patio you can stand on. Take your camera!- Walk to the west end of the beach in Sámara during low tide. There are tidal pools there that have all kinds of marine life in them.-- Go to the beach in the morning/early afternoon and come back and enjoy the pool and a nap in the late afternoon.- Meet the local and other travelers. They can suggest things that no book could ever tell you.

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Guest: Cameron (16), Grace (16), Taylor
Date of Stay: 07/26/06 Review Submitted: 07/25/06

July 13-26, 2006We love it here so much! The two weeks that we have spent here have given us so many amazing experiences that we will never forget.•Canopy tours – super fun and the guides were funny•Surfing at Jesse’s surf shop was fun, too, especially because the water was so warm.•One day we traveled into the hills to watch one of the weekly soccer games and ended up playing ourselves when they said they needed players.•We were also lucky that we here for the “anexion day” fiesta and we were able to go down & see & really experience the culture.•Another of our exciting adventures that we feel no person should be without is a Costa Rican bus ride. Our tips for a successful stay1.Wear bug spray.2.Don’t get burned – it’s unattractive.3.Try to make friends with the locals. You never know - you might end up playing soccer with them.4.Relax and enjoy!Cameron (16), Grace (16), Taylor (16), and Darrah (16)Kirkland, WA

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Guest: Scott and Darby Johnson
Date of Stay: 07/26/06 Review Submitted: 07/25/06

Hola! We love it here so much...The two weeks that we have spent here have given us so many amazing experiences that we will never forget...canopy tour, Jesses' Surf School, the local soccer games, night swimming in the pool The worst part is leaving

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Guest: Ken, Chuck, Joe & Sarah
Date of Stay: 04/14/06 Review Submitted: 04/13/06

April 9-14 2006We had a wonderful week in Casa la Papaya! What a beautiful home in a gorgeous place.We took advantage of a few tours including a kayak/snorkeling tour, a mountain horseback tour, and deep sea fishing with Carillo tours. The guides were great and gave us great input on restaurants and local information.The view from Hotel Guanamar’s (Carillo) restaurant is exceptional. The “Sopa de Mariscos” or seafood soup is delicious and a meal within self. We lucked our and got some fresh lobsters. There was no need for an alarm clock – the Congo monkeys give a wake-up call bright and early! Be careful of dropping any food – the ants will have their whole crew here before you know it. You will be amazed at what they can move! All in all, a great week!Ken, chuck, Joe, & Sara

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