Ojochal is a small multinational community right off the Costarena Highway and Lee Ann’s beautiful garden home is just a few kilometers from the stunning Pacific coast. The kitchen is fully functional (no microwave, but I didn’t miss it), the beds are comfortable, the shower is great by Costa Rican standards (plenty of hot water!!), and the hammocks looking out on the garden are equipped with lighting.
There are many rental houses in Costa Rica, and I’m sure most of them are nice and well-priced. I stayed at another rental property that met my expectations, and so did other travelers I met. So let me detail how this property and its owner exceeded my expectations.
Lee Ann answered many questions for me prior to booking, answered follow up questions on a range of topics - running the gamut from transportation to activities both local and in other regions. And anything she didn’t know, she offered a different resource. Sonia Leon at the Uvita Information Center is a gem. Most importantly, I never once felt like i was wearing out my welcome with my questions.
Once I arrived, there was a bounty of information in a binder she keeps at her kitchen table. This details her impressions of the nearest beaches, good restaurants, activities, and some of the services (tour companies, transportation companies, etc) she has used.
I found a car EXTREMELY helpful in Ojochal. You can walk to some things (grocery store, restaurants), and there is bus service, but it’s not a walking friendly area like the bigger towns in Costa Rica.
In addition to the great hospitality and charm of Ojochal, I found the location perfect for my needs. Ojochal is about 45 minutes north of Sierpe - a great place to see wildlife. Uvita is about 15 minutes north, and Dominical another 20 minutes, and those are nice beach towns. I was also totally content to hang out in Ojochal.
I strongly recommend La Escapada and Ojochal. The house offers modest but complete accommodation, the location is close to destinations as disparate as Sierpe and Manuel Antonio, and the hospitality is second to none.