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SUMMER SPECIAL MAY 15-NOV 30 $65 PER NIGHT
| Sleeps | 9 |
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Bathrooms | 3 |
| Half Baths | 1 |
| Property type | house |
| Minimum Stay | 2 nights |
Overview
House, 3 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 3.5 Baths, (Sleeps 6-9)
After an exhaustive search of the Costa Rican countryside I selected this location to build a home uniquely situated near some of the country's best parks. The house is located in the small town of Navarro, which is about 2 miles off the main highway and sits about 100 feet off the road. The location is very quiet,nestled between an orange grove and pasture land with several coffee farms nearby.
Temperatures are very comfortable, with averages in the low 70s year-round. The house and location are perfectly situated for bird and other nature lovers in search of hiking, butterflies, trees and flowers. There's little to no traffic noise and the typical nighttime sounds are birds like the Tropical Screech Owl, Common Parauque or Blue-crowned Motmot.
As a retired person, I find Costa Rica a perfect escape from the cold of North American winters and this location is ideal to experience what it would be like to retire in this beautiful region.
I hired local construction workers and furnished the house with custom-made furniture from
Sarchí, the woodworking capital of the country, and realized my vision for a custom-built home. The look and feel is very relaxed and welcoming with an abundance of natural woodworking. Each bed is fitted with Queen-sized mattresses with trundle beds underneath for children or young adults.
The front porch is sizeable, measuring 10 feet by 30 feet and is large enough for dining outdoors. The balcony is similarly sized and enclosed in wrought-iron - a perfect viewing spot for viewing the surrounding mountain ranges and an ideal perch to enjoy a glass of wine and watch the sunset.
The property measures about a half an acre and was formerly a working farm. Native trees remain with many orange, lemon, banana, fig and 'Flames of the Forest' as well as a variety of other trees and flowers, that attracts an abundance of birds,and butterflies.
In addition to a fully appointed kitchen, there is a washing machine.
Keywords: House,Birds,Butterflies, Coffee Farms
About David Wolfe
About the owners: We, Dave and Nancie Wolfe, recently completed construction of the house. Dave fell in love with Costa Rica after his first visit in 1999 and spent several other trips looking for the ideal place to build a home. Once he visited Navarro he knew he had found the perfect spot.
David Wolfe purchased this house in 2009
Why David Wolfe chose Costa Rica
Why visit Orosi? The Orosi Valley is a landscape of topical hues. The rainforest of Tapanti and the Alto Cedral Cloud Forest paint a background of various shades of green, teeming with wildlife. Located south of Cartago, the Orosi Valley is a true jewel. Famous for its beautiful views, colonial churches, coffee farms, white water rivers, hot springs and Lake Cachí. Horse back riding, hiking, water rafting, and other interesting activities to keep active during the day. We will provide you with places to visit or consult a good guide book such as Lonely Planet. Orosi Valley Self Guided Tours The Orosi Valley and surrounding areas have many different tours, which can take up to a week to see all of the local attractions. Birders and hikers will enjoy a visit to Tapanti National Park and the Irazu volcano. The Guayabo Monument, just outside of Turrialba, is a well-preserved native village. The famous Lankaster Garden is just minutes from the house and is the orchid research center of the University of Costa Rica.. Not to be missed is Finca Christina, about 25 minutes from the house and just outside of the town of Paraiso. This is an organic, shade-grown coffee farm that is owned by two Americans. They give guided tours and you learn the production process for coffee. The farm is also home to over 300 species of birds. If their son Ernesto is available he may be able to help you identify the various resident birds. There is a fee for the tours. Coffee is also available for purchase. The small town of Orosi is home to a colonial church and in Ujarrás there is the vestige of a church built by the Spaniards around 1693. Cartago, the first capital, is home to the famous Basilica. The faithful believe that the water there has curative powers. In August, more than a million pilgrims gather there to pray to the Black Virgin (La Negrita).
What makes this house unique
Tranquility of living in the country yet within 20 minutes to shopping, banks, medical facilities, restaurants. Very close to two national parks. Birds and butterflies are easy to locate.
Guestbook comments from the owner
Just FYI, my friends and I were very pleased with your home - it was a
lovely place to stay. Heriberto and his wife were also very wonderful
and extremely helpful. Heriberto took great care of the house, yard,
and us.
Amenities
Cartago House Accommodation and Amenities
- house
- Guests provide their own meals
- Max. occupancy: 9
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- children welcome ...
- pets not allowed
- non smoking only ...
- Monument View
- Mountain View
- Village ...
- Away From It All
- Family
- Romantic
- Tourist Attractions
- Clothes Dryer ...
- Covered Parking
- Hair Dryer
- Internet ...
- Iron & Board
- Linens Provided
- Parking Off Street
- Telephone ...
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machine
- Coffee Maker
- Cooking Utensils
- Dishes & Utensils
- Kitchen ...
- Microwave
- Oven
- Pantry Items ...
- Refrigerator
- Stove ...
- Toaster
- Dining Area
- seating for 6 people
- 3 Bathrooms,
- 1 Half Bath
-
Bathroom 1 -
Bathroom 2 -
Bathroom 3 -
- 3.5
- 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 9
- Queen size Beds (3), Twin or Single Beds (3) There is a removable Trundle bed under each Queen bed.
- Books ...
- CD Player
- DVD Player ...
- Games ...
- Music Library ...
- Television ...
- Video Library ...
- Balcony ...
- Deck / Patio ...
- Lawn / Garden ...
- Outdoor Grill ...
- 4 garden chairs
- Long-term Renters Welcome
- wheelchair accessible
- botanical garden
- churches
- cinemas
- restaurants
- ruins
- bird watching
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
- wildlife viewing
- ATM/bank
- fitness center
- groceries
- hospital
- medical services
- cycling
- fishing
- hiking
- mountain biking
Reviews
Wonderful!
4.9/5 -
(30 traveler reviews)
What ever you do, don't forget your binoculars...
....a camera, and your own Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica because the bird watching from the second floor porch every morning is absolutely incredible and the view of the cloud covered mountains in the distance is magnificent.
The villa is half way between Cartago and Paraíso, out of way from the hustle and bustle of both towns. A 4x4 vehicle is almost a must to have for the road to the villa and for some of the National parks in the area.
The house 2 stories and can comfortable sleep 6 and max out around 10 people. It has a full kitchen and dining area, laundry facilities and everything else you might need for a relaxing, quiet vacation. The caretaker comes over almost every morning to put out food for the birds, their favorite is bananas, and she even brought us breakfast one morning.
This is a get-away spot, far, far from crazy San Jose but that's why you come here, for the peace and quiet.....
Calm Paradise
We stayed 4 days in this beautiful house. It was in perfect distance to different sightseeing tours at valle central, if you have a car. We made tours to Orosi, Lake Cachi, Volcan Irazu, Lankaster Gardens and Caffe Christina (coffee tour). After all these sightseeings we were glad to come back and relax on the terrasse with its view over the valley and drink a beer or a nice glas of wine. We always made dinner and ate on the terrasse. The equipment was just great, the beds comortable and each room had its own bathroom with shower. Heriberto the caretaker was so lovely and by the time we were there, he had new born dogbabies ... The kids loved them ... All in all we really can recommend this place! Pura Vida!
Costa Rica Perfection...
Our group of 8 people ranging in age from 5 years to 75 years all found this beautiful home and surrounding area to be absolutely perfect! The views were spectacular, and listening to the birds singing and watching them fly and perch on the grounds was a daily treat. We took many cherished photos of flowers and trees on the property. All of the amenities of home are included, and the owner has taken great care to provide all the necessary information to identify birds, plan day trips, and maximize the opportunity to be here. The on-site caretaker (and his wife) are superb, and daily conversations with him (in Spanish) are something we treasured. We know people who recently took tours to Costa Rica, and they were jealous of our photos and stories, since we made many memories here, "off the beaten path," that are not available when staying in resorts or traveling with a tour group. We would definitely stay here again if we returned to Costa Rica!
Away From It All
January in the north. You know what that is. We longed for a change, a different environment, someplace quiet. We found it here. We are a senior couple. Skydiving wasn't in the cards for us. This house sits up upon a hill with a view to die for. In the morning the mist drifts across the mountains. In the afternoon the sun blazes. Birds are everywhere, growth is everywhere. The house is nicely appointed with a grand veranda for dining, entertaining or simply absorbing the ambiance.. The kitchen is well equipped, hot water is abundant and the quiet is sooooo refreshing. We stayed for ten days. Town is a short drive away. We used a local cab which was reasonable. There is a well stocked Palí in town and a larger community about 15 minutes away with a Wal*Mart etc. We did not venture out as we have visited Costa Rica many times. This time we wanted peace..... we found it here!
Bird-watcher's Heaven!
My family only stayed two nights and I wish it had been a month! The balcony has a breathtaking view, and the colorful and varied birds that flock to the fruit laid out by the caretakers are incredible. Truly addicting to watch and take photos. We saw more birds off the balcony than anywhere in the forests. And the sunsets were spectacular! The gardens are lovely, as well. It is very clean, spacious, homey, and with the nicest touches, including spices for cooking. Dave, the owner, was a sweetheart and called after we arrived to make sure we were settled in. Caretakers Ana and Heriberto were a delight, and went to great lengths to help us get our flat tire fixed on a Sunday when most garages were closed. If you're lucky enough to stay here, make sure you sign up for many nights!
Perfect! Perfect!
We only had 5 days to stay here but wish it had been 50! This place is in perfect condition, furnished with nothing but the best, a spectacular kitchen (and ALL the amenities) and an amazing view on the huge upper deck. The huge locally-made natural wooden doors throughout make it seem like a castle.
The owner is a bird watcher and he gave us much information and photographs to identify the many birds that come to the feeder. We loaded the feeding platforms with plantain and bananas each morning and they would be empty by nightfall.
This is a very peaceful place with access via good roads (can't always say THAT in Costa Rica!). You will need a car. Shopping is nearby and the elevated Walmart is the biggest we've ever seen.
We will definitely return some day, and likely with our daughters and grandkids -- there's room for everybody!
Map
Photos
Rates & Availability
- Available
- Unavailable
Additional information about rental rates
| Cleaning fee 5+ persons | $65 |
| Cleaning fee 3-4 persons | $55 |
| Cleaning fee 2 persons | $45 |
| Refundable damage deposit | $250 |
Posted rate is for the first two persons. There is a charge of $10 for each additional person.
Personal check, Money Order, PayPal. There will be an additional fee of $10 if using PayPal. Deposit is non-refundable if cancellation is within ten days before arrival.
Owner's Cancellation Policy
Request to Book