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Stunning Oceanside Hidden Gem, an Unmatched Vacation Experience

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A coastal landscape with a beach, clear turquoise waters, and dense greenery.
A spacious living area with a stone wall, a wooden ceiling with black beams, and a large window. There is a sofa set with patterned cushions and a coffee table.
A building with a covered entrance, a pathway leading to a pool, and a view of the ocean.
A spacious indoor area with a high ceiling, wooden beams, and large windows offering views of the outdoors.
A two-story house with a swimming pool at night.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Private pool
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air-conditioning
  • Breakfast for a fee
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View in a map
Playa Carrillo, Guanacaste Province
  • Place, Carrillo Beach
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Place, Samara Beach
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Playa Barrigona
    ‪37 min drive‬
  • Airport, Nosara (NOB)
    ‪60 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Guest bedroom suite

1 Double Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Master bedroom suite

2 Single Beds and 1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Puerto Carrillo

Located in Puerto Carrillo, this villa is on the waterfront. Samara Beach and Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Camaronal reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Jungle Butterfly Farm and Safari Surf School. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and hiking.
View more Villas in Puerto CarrilloOpens in a new window
Map
Playa Carrillo, Guanacaste Province

What's nearby

  • Carrillo Beach - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Samara Beach - 8 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Playa Barrigona - 37 min drive - 20.3 km
  • Guiones Beach - 45 min drive - 31.9 km
  • Playa Pelada - 56 min drive - 38.9 km

Getting around

  • Nosara (NOB) - 81 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bar y Restaurante del Hotel Bahía - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Limey’s Bar & Restaurant - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Gusto Beach Bar - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Roots Bakery & Café - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Sheriff Rustic - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Stunning Oceanside Hidden Gem, an Unmatched Vacation Experience have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Stunning Oceanside Hidden Gem, an Unmatched Vacation Experience pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Stunning Oceanside Hidden Gem, an Unmatched Vacation Experience?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Stunning Oceanside Hidden Gem, an Unmatched Vacation Experience?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Stunning Oceanside Hidden Gem, an Unmatched Vacation Experience?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Stunning Oceanside Hidden Gem, an Unmatched Vacation Experience located?

Situated on the waterfront, this villa is 0.6 mi (0.9 km) from Carrillo Beach and within 3 miles (5 km) of Samara Beach and Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Isla Chora. Playa Camaronal and Playa Islita are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 7 out of 7 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 7 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Exceptional property, great host, outstanding maid service.

The home is very unique, special and very well appointed. The pool, ocean views, gardens, jungle and overall experience are truly 5 star! Every aspect of our stay was more than we could have asked for. Carrillo beach is one of the top 5 beaches in Costa Rica. Thank you Erik, Flor, Fred, Efrim and team!!
Stayed 45 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Apr 2023
Bill and Julie are exceptional guests. They treated our home with the greatest of care, the varying people involved with it, including our Concierge, the people who clean it, take care of the yard and the pool with great respect, so much so that each of these people have shared their experiences with Bill and Julie. My wife and I thank them kindly, we welcome them back in the future, and we would wholeheartedly recommend them to other hosts as well.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Unforgettable view

The PM Fred and owner Erik were both great. The pool, views and wildlife in the yard are all unforgettable. Beautiful jungle pathway just up the road down to the port where you can snorkel (depending on the tide) and collect shells with the kids. Casa Hakuna Matada is a magical place and we would like to come back again.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Dec 2022
Derek, it was a pleasure to host you and your family. Thank you for your excellent communication, for taking such wonderful care of our home, and it would most certainly be our pleasure to host you and your family again. Best wishes to you and your family for a Blessed Holiday Season, and an especially Joyful New Year ahead! Erik and Damaris
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property is excellent. The pool is huge and has a large shady place to sit and places in the sun as well. We stayed two months and went to the beach every morning. Thoroughly enjoyed the house and found it very comfortable. Our daughter and a friend joined us for a week and we expected them to share a bedroom. There is a third bedroom with ensuite not mentioned in the listing.There a many good restuarants, bakeries, grocery shopping and a drug store very close by.Easy to deal with the owner, Erik and with Fred who lives on the same street. Both very responsive and helpful.
Stayed 63 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Costa Rican Paradise

Our family enjoyed our stay at Erik’s home. The home was immaculate. The. Views from the backyard were amazing. Erik and his staff were accommodating and available when we had questions. Our kids loved the tunnel in the pool. We loved our stay. Thank you so much.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Jul 2024
Thank you, Gary, and my wife and I are very glad you and your family had such a wonderful time in our home. We very much appreciated your excellent communications, the respect and care you showed to our team and our home, and it would be our pleasure to have you and your family back again,at any time. Pura Vida, Erik
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Paradise!

Our stay at Casa Hakuna Matata was so memorable. The hosts made everything so easy. The accommodations were extremely comfortable and the pool and ocean views were unlike anything I’ve experienced before. The people and restaurants were wonderful, and the local access to grocery stores provided everything we needed. We were able to horseback ride, deep sea fish and surf. It was such a great vacation. Our family be returning again as soon as we can
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Oct 2023
Thank you for your kind feedback, Cabrina, and our experience with you was equally exceptional. You and your family were delightful guests, your communication was excellent, and you took exceptionally good care of our property. Even our Concierge spoke of how positive, engaging, and respectful you, your husband, and your children were, though he wasn't 100% sure you would be able to get your children out of the pool when it was time to leave :) . You are more than welcome to return any time you would like,, it would be our pleasure to have you and your family again, and I wholeheartedly 1,000% recommend you and your family to any other VRBO hosts.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Exceeded All Expectations

Hi Eric. Thank you for giving us the opportunity of enjoying your home. It exceeded all of our expectations! The sound of the surf, nights in the pool gazing at the stars, the comfort and beauty of your home, Carrillo beach (the best kept secret in Costa Rica), barbequing fish and hotdogs at the beach and finally your exceptional team who took such good care of us! Thank you! We will return. Five plus star rating. Bill and Julia
Stayed 30 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Dec 2023
Bill and Julie, Thank you for your especially kind comments; having you was most definitely a 5 star experience for us as well. Your communications, care of our home, and the caring interactions you shared with our team of people taking care of our home are so very much appreciated. Wishing you a blessed Christmas and an especially Joyous New Year ahead, Erik and Damaris
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great stay- highly recommended

We were two families of adults ranging in ages 18-60. Hakuna Matata was an outstanding place for us to stay. It had something for everyone in our group-- great pool that was the center of many of our afternoon activities after morning excursions swimming/morning walks along Playa Carrillo, surfing at nearby Playa Camarones with 3-5 foot waves, trips into Samara for food/farmer's market, and for me (a budding ornithologist) to sit nearby in the early am and identify and film amazing birds such as the motmot, Acari, green parrot, and monkeys. I have been fortunate to stay in many vacation homes and this is my top 2 for house pools. The house itself was great. Kitchen was well equipped and we cooked breakfast and dinners most of the time as two of our party really enjoy cooking (we got great ingredients at fair prices from the Saturday farmer's market which starts at 7am--- not 8am). each main room had its own AC which was needed as it is hot in this part of Costa Rica. Wifi was quite good and used by some in our party as remote work was necessary. There were boogie boards, chairs, and umbrellas which made heading out to the beach comfortable and enjoyable. We had an issue with a door knob and Fred showed up quickly and remedied the issue. Highly recommend Hakuna Matata--- great location, great amenities, at the end of a quiet street in Playa Carrillo area, walkable to the beach but it is a trek down a hill and up a hill. Great for beach goers, splendid sunset seekers....
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023
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