Location: Ojochal, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Central America (Ojochal 25Km south of Dominical)
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms, 1.25 Baths (Sleeps 4-5)
Unique and beautiful, sustainably-built earth bag home in a supremely serene and private rainforest setting. Just a half mile inland and 800 feet above the Pacific Ocean, this enchanted sanctuary sits nestled on a ridge in the small village of Ojochal, a friendly community with an international flavor.
La Casa de Tierra is a perfect place for conscious, health-full, ecologically-minded folks desiring a peaceful and regenerative vacation. Here, you can delight in the daily presence of families of white-faced and howler monkeys, a preponderance of toucans and other birds, colorful tree frogs, butterflies, and a bounty of other rainforest creatures.
Designed with comfort and natural beauty in mind, La Casa de Tierra’s open floor plan, sustainably-harvested local hardwood accents, loft, and tall ceilings create a sense of spaciousness and earthy elegance. Its thick walls, ceiling fans, and ocean breezes coming up the ridge keep it refreshingly cool inside even when it’s hot outside.
La Casa de Tierra is located in Ojochal, also called Playa Tortuga (Turtle Beach), on the southern Pacific coast in Costa Rica. It is thirty-five kilometers south of Dominical and twenty-four kilometers north of Palmar Sur, on the east side of the newly paved Costanera Sur (Pacific Coast Highway). Getting to any of the major points of interest in Costa Rica usually requires a bit of a drive, and the roads can be rough in many cases, but the landscape is luscious.
La Casa De Tierra offers:
Complete privacy and quiet (other than the natural sounds of the rainforest)
A luscious jungle setting with lovely mountain and ocean views
2 bedrooms, including a loft bedroom, both with queen-sized beds and gorgeous views
A giant, hand-sculpted tub, which can also serve as a dipping pool
2 deep window seats for reading, gazing and napping
Tasteful, artful décor and locally-crafted furnishing
A fully-equipped kitchen (including blender, juicer, toaster, coffee maker)
High-speed ceiling fans
Screened windows and doors 2 half baths (one with shower/tub & sink, one with toilet & sink)
Hot water Linens and towels
AC electricity (110 volt)
An outdoor patio for enjoying yoga, meals and mountain and ocean views
A double hammock in a sweet shady spot
A three-minute walk to breath-taking, expansive views of the Pacific coastline
55+ acres of private primary and secondary rainforest estate to explore
Proximity to fantastic beaches, waterfalls, mangroves & Corcovado National Park (Costa Rica’s largest of primary forest preserve and “The Amazon of Costa Rica”
Activities
The Osa Peninsula is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, perfect for the eco-traveler, nature-lover, and outdoor enthusiast. There are no high-rise hotels, Club Meds, or 4-Star Golf Courses anywhere near here. Instead, visitors can enjoy an astonishing variety of possibilities for adventure, discovery and relaxation…
On site or within 10 minutes:
Several secluded beaches
Snorkeling
Sea and river kayaking
boogie boarding
bird watching
rainforest walks
refreshing waterfalls, rivers and natural pools
riverboat tour
horseback riding
fresh water fishing
excellent restaurants
souvenir shopping
relaxing in a hammock
internet café
Within 15 minutes to 2 hours:
World class surfing
diving off Cano Island
the incredible Nauyaca waterfalls
deep sea fishing
kayaking through the largest mangrove preserve in Central America
dolphin and whale tours
organic perma-culture farms
more excellent restaurants
Boruca Indian Reservation and artisan crafts
Corcovado National Park
zip line tours through the rainforest canopy
hiking on 12,000-ft Mt. Chirippo and soaking in its hot springs
and much more…
Getting There
Once you fly in to, San Jose, the capital, you can either drive to Ojochal (through Quepos or San Isidro de el General, a 3 1/2 – 4 1/2 hour drive, depending on traffic), or you can take a secondary 45-minute flight to Palmar Sur (a twenty minute drive from Ojochal). There are many major airlines that fly in to San Jose. If you choose to fly in to Palmar Sur, there are daily flights, and the cost is around $75 each way.
Car Rental
All the major car rental companies are located in San Jose, along with some smaller, Costa Rican companies. We know of two rental car companies that charge considerably less money for their fleet of used cars. If you choose to fly in to Palmar Sur, you can arrange to have a rental car delivered there.
We recommend visitors rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle (like a Toyota Rav-4 or something larger, depending on your taste and desire for comfort), especially if you plan to do any sightseeing. Many of the roads in Costa Rica are unpaved or full of potholes, and in the rainy season, they can get quite muddy. The roads from San Jose to Ojochal, via the mountain pass, are paved and mostly quite good, with dirt roads only in the town of Ojochal, making this trip fine for a front-wheel drive vehicle in the dry season.
Reservation and Payment Policies:
Payment may be made by cashier's check or via Paypal in US Dollars.
Upon Booking: Deposit of half of the rental fee is due.
30 Days Prior To Arrival: Remaining balance is due.
100% Refund If Cancelled 90 Days in Advance.
50% Refund If Cancelled 60 Days in Advance. No Refund After 60 Days in Advance.
100% refund if property is re-rented for the cancelled period, minus processing fee of $50.00.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Linens Provided
- Beds
- Queen Bed (2)
- Entertainment
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- View/Location
- Ocean View
- Mountain View
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Restaurants
- Rafting
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Parasailing
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Surfing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Horseback Riding
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
High Season: Dec 01-Apr 30 ............................ $ 750/week .. $2100/month
Low-Season: May 01-Nov 30 ............................ $ 500/week .. $1200/month
Holiday Weeks (Christmas, New Years, & Spring Break) .. $1000/week
Additional $75.00 cleaning fee per rental.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Property Photos
- Living space - Costa Rica Vacation Rental
- Loft bedroom - Costa Rica Vacation Rental
- Bedroom #1 - Costa Rica Vacation Rental
- View from property
- House
Guest Comments (7)
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #85301
There have been 10378 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2006.
This listing was first published here in 2006.
Date last modified - October 07, 2009
Positive Rating
“Wonderful, wonderful! Great hideaway with a beautiful view. Butterflies. Grasshoppers, frogs, toads, beetles, spiders, birds… paradise to us northerners (once we accustomed ourselves to the flora and fauna). Don’t forget bats. The beaches are fantastic. Loved the Playa Uvita for open unpopulated stretches of clean sand. Ventanas for the surf and beautiful rocks. Caught Tortuga at sunset with flocks of egrets, each beach lovely in its own right. Recommend the bread from the French boulangerie and Exotica of course. The sun, the rain…We loved it all!”
Positive Rating
“I can’t tell you what a wonderful time I had here in Costa Rica and La Casa de Tierra! A much needed vacation that I will never forget as long as I live. The house was perfect for the four of us. Very comfortable. Views and people are amazing. I hope to come again.”
Positive Rating
“What can one say… The house is great and very comfortable. The seclusion is priceless! We had a great stay and the experience of a lifetime…I will never forget!” Months later, Steve M. emailed this to us: “We often talk of the epic events that filled our week at La Casa de Tierra. But what really happened was that the activities on Pura Vida time quelled the pressures of home. The experience of enjoying your property, and the locals near by, has changed our outlook on our lives and our everyday routine. We are more relaxed and calm. If that changes, back to La Casa de Tierra for another reminder of the why we should take a breath and enjoy. Without people of vision, the opportunity of experiencing the world in its ‘pristine’ state, would be only viewed on films. You three have created a sort of "retreat preserve" that people need to vacation from ‘the everyday grind’ of the real world. In actuality, your home in the jungle is the ‘real’ world and it is relaxing. We are grateful to you for sharing your home and hospitality.”
Positive Rating
“This was a wonderful gem in the jungle…toucans, morpho and other various butterfly, monkeys, birds, frogs, geckos! We took a trip to the waterfalls and fish farm. The fish was excellent! All in all with 2 teenage boys, no computer, phone or TV… It wasn’t even missed! We had a wonderful vacation. Beaches galore! Fabulous Fruit! All others that have this chance…enjoy!”
Positive Rating
“Lovely, peaceful. A beautiful opening in the jungle.”