Great Pool, Great Views, Great House - Great Vacation!

We were impressed with the overall design of the property and the way it looks out over the landscape to the ocean beyond. Large glass doors gave an open feel to the main area as well as the master bedroom. Would we return? Certainly!

Overall, we loved our time in SJDS. The house is in a good location, just a short ride outside of town (we had rented a 4 wheel drive pickup - which I'd recommend). It was a good size for our family of 5, and we really enjoyed the pool and relaxing in the hammocks. The house is also near very nice beaches and local zip line attractions. There were a few things we were surprised by, but they weren't really the fault of the house. For example, we were without power in the house almost every night. It wasn't related to the house, but it would have been nice to know that this happens. Not only is it quite hot at night, but the air conditioners in the bedrooms also help to mask the dogs barking, roosters crowing, or horns honking. I don't know if power outages occur that regularly, but they did the week we were there (one for about 11 hours). A suggestion we'd give would be to provide a cell phone and internet service for an additional fee. A cell phone is provided upon arrival, but it worked sporadically (and ultimately not at all) and I ended up using my own in order to get a hold of the property manager. Internet is also provided, but it requires a trip into town in order to provide a router number, purchase airtime, etc. We tried on a couple of different occasions, but were never successful in getting wifi. Again, not the end of the world (it was actually nice to be disconnected) - just a suggestion that we'd have been willing to pay more to have this set up. Also, there is a care taker on site which can throw you off a bit at first, but we really appreciated having him there. He was very nice, very helpful, and we appreciated his service.

Overall, we really enjoyed staying here. It was a very private location, a nice house, and and it provided our family with a vacation we are sure to not forget. We would definitely consider staying here again if we visit SJDS in the future.

I stayed here in January 2016 with my husband and our four young children, and when we arrived our jaws dropped. Gorgeous though the photographs are, believe me, the house and grounds are even more magical in person.

John and Stacia provide loads of information about the area (I printed it out and consulted it daily - better than a guidebook!) And William is awesome to have around, a really lovely guy.

The house is outfitted to the hilt - lots of towels and bedding, games, a bunch of great movies and a shelf of fantastic books, plentiful cookware, you name it.

One piece of advice: walking to town or to the beach from this property is not realistic, at least not for most people. Definitely plan either to rent a car or hire Elie to drive you places! We arrived without a clear sense of just how far away the beaches are, and while renting a car ended up being very expensive, it was well worth it so we could explore more of the countryside.

The bats in the roof were very much a presence, especially toward the end of our stay, but as other reviewers have pointed out, they really do keep the property insect-free! I don't think we saw a single mosquito. And the pool, oh my goodness, there are no words. Just book it!

We stayed at the house over new years break and really loved it. The central location is great as it's a short drive to town but also close to the beaches (Maderas, Marsella). I wouldn't say it's an easy walk to town however and likely a bit longer than 15 minutes. But if you have a car, this location is perfect.

It's a very private property, William is there when you need him, but out of sight otherwise. He was very good to us, has a fantastic smile, and is definitely a bonus to the property.

We cooked most of the nights, kitchen has everything you need, plus the grill works well. The power did go out once or twice (for the entire area including all of SJDS) but this really wasn't a big deal. And yes there are a good amount of bats... which is GREAT. We didn't even need bug spray to hang out outside at night.

We did contact Ellie for one boat trip to Playa Blanca, I believe we went with "Captain John" and it was great. We caught a fish that they filleted for us. We took it home and grilled it and it was delicious. Other than that, we just loved driving to the different beaches every day and surfing/relaxing, then coming home to watch the beautiful sunset.

If I had anything negative to say it would be the dogs at night. There's probably nothing the owners can do, but they are very persistent the whole night. So if you are a light sleeper, bring earplugs. Other than that, everything was perfect.

I would recommend to anyone and would stay here again.

My husband and I traveled to SJDS for the first time this September. We had planned the trip with 6 months in anticipation. Initially, I had thought I booked with another party, but as I went to tie up details of our trip, I found out that our deal was never sealed (not really sure how this all happened) and I was left scrambling. I anticipated a mess, and made a few inquires, with Tortuga Azul being first to respond. It was meant to happen. Not only was the house available, but John offered up many ideas as to how to get our vacation started with ease. I agreed with John's recommendation to have Elli shuttle us from Manauga to SJDS. It was a seamless process, with us connected to the fact that we had selected a great way to start. The trip to from the airport to the coast was great, and once arriving to SJDS and the house, the great experiences continued. We found the house to be AMAZING. I was comfortable, well equipped, and left me feeling connected to the rest and relaxation that I had needed. The home is beautiful, and while the little luxuries of home were found, the expansive views, the colorful sunsets, and nicely appointed home was all we really needed. The home is nestled in a private community, quiet, and well cared for. The home's caretaker is in premises, and helps to make sure needs are met. Would I recommend TA to others, without question! As a matter of fact, we will be back in July, for and 3 weeks this time, because a week was just not enough! We will be traveling with our 3 year old and my folks, and have complete trust in the area, the home, and the fact that our experiences can only be more amazing that the first! John's input and the work put into ensuring a great stay are invaluable. I am not at all sad that the initial rental fell through, as this allowed the opportunity for us to discover TA. One thing -- An SUV is advisable as you will want to explore the area, and doing so in a "regular" car is not recommended. Enjoy, and as you prepare for your travel, keep Tortuga Azul at the top of your list for a stay.