Entire home

Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde

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A yard for the kids to play in.
Fully equipped kitchen.
A great place to read a book.
The living room, breakfast bar, and kitchen.
Screen with Google Chromecast, great internet, movies from your personal device.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Barbecue grill
    A rare find - perfect for a relaxed, outdoor grilling experience.
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air-conditioning
  • Pet-friendly
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet

Explore the area

View in a map
San Rafael Despacio, Guanacaste
  • Place, Café Monteverde Coffee Farm
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Place, Wildlife Refuge Monteverde
    ‪27 min drive‬
  • Place, Monteverde Orchid Garden
    ‪30 min drive‬
  • Airport, La Fortuna (FON-Arenal)
    ‪126 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Sofa Bed

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde

Casa Tia Yami is a typical Costa Rican home in a typical Costa Rican pueblo near Monteverde. It was the home of Yamileth, Minor, Yojibeth and Juan Diego. We have completely remodeled the home into a one-bedroom typical "Tico" Costa Rican home where you can experience Costa Rican country living, but have the creature comforts to enjoy your stay. Great for a couple or a family with two small children.

We have been hosting guests and travelers in San Rafael for years at our other property with phenomenal reviews. Check out our other VRBO 360208 "Casa Zabala" and its reviews.

We decided to get Casa Tia Yami ready for VRBO to help put Juan Diego and Yojibeth through school. The house is filled with love, good memories, and a great dose of Costa Rican country living and the experience of living in a small Costa Rican "pueblo" near the tourist area of Monteverde. We have paid attention to the details to make your stay authentic and comfortable.

San Rafael de Abangares is a little town of 600 people just outside of the Monteverde/Santa Elena area about 20 minutes from the tourist activities. A typical Costa Rican town with a few churches, a couple of "pulperias" or small grocery stores, a couple of bars and family restaurants and lots of Costa Rican charm and "Pura Vida". We live in the same community just about a mile and half from Casa Tia Yami. We will be here to take care of you!
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Outside only on the porch.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1138537vb
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Sierra

Sierra is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and Lake Arenal. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Quebrada Grande Arena or Tronadora Arena. Relax and indulge in the area's health/beauty spas, or seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails, horse riding and ecotours nearby.
View more Holiday homes in SierraOpens in a new window
Map
San Rafael Despacio, Guanacaste

What's nearby

  • Café Monteverde Coffee Farm - 19 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Wildlife Refuge Monteverde - 27 min drive - 11.9 km
  • Monteverde Orchid Garden - 30 min drive - 13.0 km
  • The Bat Jungle - 34 min drive - 14.4 km
  • Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde - 34 min drive - 14.7 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Tree House Restaurante & Cafe - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Monteverde Brewing Company - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪Soda La Amistad - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪Don Juan Coffee Tour - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪The Open Kitchen - ‬22 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde located?

Situated in Sierra, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Avancarí Nature Reserve, Café Monteverde Coffee Farm and 100% Aventura Adventure Park. Wildlife Refuge Monteverde and Monteverde Orchid Garden are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 30 out of 34 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 34 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 34 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
really noce stay, the view is amazing, really nice and helpful people, i would recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Our stay here was perfect for what we needed. After a little searching (our Waze app malfunctioned), our host Ken checked us in. The view was amazing! The location was very convenient to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. The house was cozy and came with all amenities needed for a nice stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy Casita

This was the perfect location for our time in Monteverde. It is a small house but it is charming and worked well for our family of 2 adults and 2 children ages 6 & 9. The view across the street is incredible. Kenneth was a kind and communicative host and was happy to share recommendations.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation 2023

This property is nestled up in the mountains so the weather was good. The little grocery nearby has pretty much everything you'll need without going to the bottom of the mountain. Wait until you see the view from across the street! Breathtaking!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

We stayed two days at this property. It’s located 20 minutes from the tourist area of Monteverde. It must be understood that this is a very basic property but it had everything we needed. Our only complaint is that the house is close to the road and occasionally it was a bit noisy but for the most part it was everything that we were looking for. The owner Ken was very helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Stunning mountain and ocean views!

We had a very restfull 12 day stay at the casita. It was well equipped with all the essentials we could want. We enjoyed our morning coffee on the patio in the lovely Costa Rican rocking chairs, while watching the toucans fly overhead. The owners checked in with us often to see if we needed anything. Gracious hosts. Thanks for sharing your cozy mountain top casita. DEBBIE C
Stayed 12 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Countryside cabin with a view

This little gem in the country side is perfect. If you want away from the hustle and bustle Monteverde, this is the place for you. Ken was great and super communicative during the check in. He had wonderful recommendations! Was still close enough to attractions and local restaurants. Can’t beat it for the price, place was exactly as described. It was me, my husband and 8 yr old son. The view was amazing. Hesitant to leave a great review because I don’t want it to be booked up forever as we want to return.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Late December

Ken is a wonderful host with great flexibility. A rental car is needed to access this stunning part of the country. Ken has a wonderful neighbor (Bobby) who let us on his private property with access to a secret waterfall. His two wonderful dogs were great guides. Staying at an isolated cabin is not really our thing but the cabin was spacious enough for a family of 4 including a teen. Ken & his wife graciously provided an air mattress and Laundry (you just have to drop it off at their property and pick it up).
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Nice casa

The casa is a nice small house. it’s close to the road all though. But, I would say the view is stunning. We finally don’t stay at the casa. Because I didn’t realize that the places we would like to visit was far in term of time from the casa. The roads conditions in Costa Rica are not always good. Depends where you travel around. Kenneth and his wife doing their best to help us.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Feb 2023
Hi Annie, Thanks so much for your review. Yes, it is important for travelers to realize that although things are “close” in distance in this small country, the time it takes to get there is much longer than one expects. We travel by time here, not distance for sure! Casa Yami is 20 minutes from Monteverde, and is perfect for those who want to spend a couple of nights or more exploring Monteverde. But Monteverde is a long way from other destinations in Costa Rica. I hope you enjoyed your time at the Volcano Poas near San Jose. That is about 2.5 hours from Monteverde. Thanks so much for your review and perspective! Ken
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Pictures are old and place is very different

The pictures are very old! I was expecting rustic and Costa Rica. This was our 3rd rental of our trip. The placed smelled like bug spray and when we tried to open the windows, less than half had screens! No furniture on the patio. No linens or pillows for the rock hard couch. Broken dishes, disgusting pans that I wouldn't cook with. The bathroom needs updating and a serious cleaning. Our host was good with communication and refunded our money as we were unable to stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Dec 2022
Kim, I am so sorry you had a bad experience. As we communicated during your stay, the house had been cleaned the day before and the house keeper used wax on the floors and the furniture. I personally went and inspected the home after you left, and fixed the drip in the sink that you mentioned. I heard nothing from you about the cleanliness of the home or the pots and pans in the kitchen. The home was clean and nothing had changed from the last guest that gave it a five star rating. The furniture for the porch is stored in the home. Two rocking chairs, a table and the stools for the table outside are in the home and can be used inside and out. I am sorry you had a bad experience and offered you a refund immediately when you indicated you were not happy. I have been hosting for many years and this is the first bad review that we have ever had. The reviews are almost always “fives”. Again, I am sorry but I do not understand a “one” review but accept your review in good faith and we will continue to serve our guests as we always have receiving five star ratings. Thanks, Ken
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Tout était parfait dans cet propriété! L’emplacement, la maison, les commodités!! Je recommande cet endroit à tous !!
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Nous avons adoré notre séjour à cette adorable petite maison typique du Costa Rica. La vue sur l'océan Pacifique est magnifique et les hôtes sont absolument adorables. La maison se trouve à environ 20 minutes de Santa Elena et donc très accessible des attractions de Monteverde. Ce fût notre coup de coeur de notre voyage.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Property

This property was amazing to stay at. The host was very helpful including washing and drying some clothes for us. He was also very helpful at pointing us towards some good restaurants. I would definitely recommend this property to others!!!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

True peace and quiet.

The view was incredible. A short drive to town for supplies, and any issues were immediately and perfectly addressed. You will not regret a stay at Ken's place.
Stayed 16 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Of the beaten track

A quaint cabin way off the beaten track. You will relax here and the internet was great.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little house

Great little house on the main road into San Rafael, short drive to Monteverde. Perfect for a couple but no more. Well equipped and cozy. The view across the road will make your jaw drop. The front porch is the place to be, a toucan flew by while I was rocking on the porch. Kenneth and his family were very responsive. I plan to go back.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home on coffee plantation.

It's important to note that the owner upgraded us to a bigger home as he needed the one we rented for an intern on the farm. It was huge, rustic, lovely, with views to the Pacific from the upper deck. Comfortable and quiet except for the rooster down the road. Ken was exceedingly friendly and helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay

Very kind host! 100% recommendation. Would return.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Responsive and friendly host

We only spent one night at the booked unit. Unfortunately our small rental car had a problem going over the drainage pipe at the front of the driveway. We expressed our concerns to the host and he promptly offered us an acceptable alternative at a second unit. We stayed in the unit for one week and really enjoyed the hospitality of the host who gave us a tour of their coffee farm and let us pick the fresh veggies from their organic gardens. There are several restaurants nearby and they provided good foods with spectacular view. We had a unique and pleasant experience at the lovely home and enjoyed taking walks through the plantation.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing mountain getaway

We loved our week here! The rural mountain setting is beautiful, as are the people here. The house was very comfortable for two. Our hosts were extremely gracious and helpful. Very good restaurant within walking distance. The spring water from the tap was excellent. Stunning vistas.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Unique country living in a beautiful remote area. Peaceful and relaxing. Weather fantastic
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay in January

This place is the perfect size for a couple! The interior was cute and the amenities suited all of our needs. I wish we had more time in San Rafael to enjoy the front porch and rockers. With the kitchen, we were able to cook our own meals which helped cut the costs of our entire trip. The house location was easy to find in San Rafel, and just across the street was an incredibly stunning mountain view. San Rafaels location to the national parks was perfect for us. The drive in a non-4x4 was only 20-40 mins depending on which park you were going, and I enjoyed staying out of the more busy tourist town. An additional delight was our hosts. Communication was quick, easy and relaxed. Kenneth gave us great advice for what to do/where to eat during our stay, and even gave us advice for out next stop in Manuel Antonio (which was used and appreciated)! We also spent part of one of our afternoons on his coffee farm and even went with Alexander to their mill and learned more about the coffee-making process. This was an unexpected highlight of our trip. I would highly recommend staying in this VRBO or any hosted by Kenneth.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was an absolutely lovely place. It had history and the place was put together with love. Ken even contacted us back in the US and offered suggestions before we went. I highly recommend this house and the owners as a great part of a Costa Rican visit.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Monteverde adventure

A great little property in the mountains. We used this as our launch pad to hike the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It is quite a way up the mountain side. If you are not used to Cota Rican driving, the path to get to the house may seem a duanting but it is not bad at all. Just follow Kenneth's directions and/or use Waze/Google maps to help you. The views are well worth it! Kenneth was always very prompt in returning my messages and and helping us with anything we need. The house itself is very Tico, charming, and snuggly. We loved it.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Peaceful Mountain View Retreat

We loved our 2 night stay in Casa Yami. It was far enough away from the touristy Santa Elena to feel like you were living like a true Tico but close enough to drive to and from the cloud forest and other activities int he area. It had a well equipped kitchen that let us prepare our own meals (good because it is relatively remote and there is not a ton open at night). Short 30 or so minute drive to Monteverde Cloud Forest (I highly suggest you take the 606 route). There was no a/c but ceiling fans and screens on the windows (not always a given in CR) let in a cool breeze that kept the place comfortable. The patio was perfect for sipping a cold Imperial and it had ceiling fans too. We had touchy hot water the first night but I think that was more operator error than anything as the second night all 3 of us took hot showers no problem. Everywhere we stayed had similar touchy hot water but once you figure it out it isn't an issue. The view of the valley was stunning. Yami was amazing. We had planned to use the laundry facilities on the farm (a 5-10 minute drive away) but our schedule made that difficult. Yami took our dirty clothes after she led us to Casa Yami and we picked them up clean and neatly folded on our way out of town 2 days later. This being our 10th day on out trip we were running low on clothes and this was a lifesaver. The communication with Ken was perfect and though he was on a trip out of town he made sure to stay in contact via email and text and we spoke on the phone when we arrived at the farm. All in all a wonderful place to stay in the Monteverde area.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

About the host

Hosted by Kenneth Lander

Host profile image
Yami, Yojibeth and Juan Diego lived here for many years. Minor, Yoji's and Juan Diego's dad passed away, and Ken and Yami were married about 8 years ago. We have been receiving guests here on the mountain for many years and have another VRBO as well 360208. Please check out the reviews for VRBO 360208 to get a sense of who we are. We love having folks enjoy our little town near Monteverde.

Why they chose this property

One thing we have learned from hosting hundreds of travelers, the best part of the experience of Monteverde for them was living in as a part of a Costa Rican community for a few days and not feeling like a tourist. With Casa Tia Yami, you are close to all the attractions, but get to experience life as a Costa Rica would live it with all the conveniences of home.

What makes this property unique

This is not a rental property. It was the home of a wonderful Costa Rican family, and now it can be your home for a few days.

Languages:

English, Spanish

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