Eco Villa with Cascading Waterfall, Swim Hole, River and Fruit Orchard
SUMMERY Relax in an amazing jungle environment with a cascading waterfall, river and a swim hole we've named "Corazon del Rio" (Heart of the River). We brought part of the river into the living area, its sound and the ability to sit with your feet in the water, or relax in its wading pool, gives the Pura Vida (Pure Life) spirit we wanted for our guests to enjoy.
THE SPACE Aside from your cozy bedroom, enjoy either one of the two upstairs decks. One looks out at the La Ceiba River and the other overlooks the water feature and living area within the casa. Downstairs rest in a hammock, dangle your feet in the living area creek, or relax in our wading pool. Hungry? Cook your own meal in our beautiful large open-air kitchen. We welcome you to make memories and relax in our Pura Vida environment.
LOCATION Corazon del Rio can be found on Google Maps. It is located in the Southern Pacific Region of Costa Rica in the quiet mountain village of Platanillo. Just head up the paved road 15 minutes from the beach town of Dominical, to our cooler climate at 1200 feet above sea level. Here you can enjoy our long cascading waterfall just steps away or take a day hike right from our casa to see four more local waterfalls (La Sota, El Tronco, La Raiz and Las Piedras). Get to know this little secret location a bit better! Just one kilometer away, the small village has restaurants, two grocery stores, a bakery, among other shops and services. A weekly framer's market is just ten minutes up the road in the neighboring town of Tinamaste.
One of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica, the Nauyaca Waterfall is just a short drive down the road. Not far to the EAST in Tinamaste is the Diamante Waterfall, the tallest waterfall in Costa Rica. Further east is San Isidro, the second largest city in Costa Rica. Take an hour drive NORTH to visit and hike in Manuel Antonio National Park which borders the harbor town of Quepos. A thirty minute drive SOUTH is Uvita, home of the famous Whale Tail and boat tours to see dolphins and whales.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Mountain view
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Children over 10 supervised by parents are welcome
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Events
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
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Pets
No pets allowed
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Do not leave any dirty dishes please.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
There are 4 outdoor cameras which can be turned off during your stay, but please turn on at departure! Instructions in Welcome pack.
Please respect our neighbors, NO TRESPASSING onto their property. Both are across the river, one at upper and the other at lower ends of our property.
No Glass in casa or at swim hole or river
Important information
You need to know
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 50
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Frequently asked questions
Does Eco Villa with Cascading Waterfall, Swim Hole, River and Fruit Orchard have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Eco Villa with Cascading Waterfall, Swim Hole, River and Fruit Orchard?
As of 8 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Eco Villa with Cascading Waterfall, Swim Hole, River and Fruit Orchard on 12 May 2026 start from £200, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Eco Villa with Cascading Waterfall, Swim Hole, River and Fruit Orchard pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Eco Villa with Cascading Waterfall, Swim Hole, River and Fruit Orchard?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Eco Villa with Cascading Waterfall, Swim Hole, River and Fruit Orchard?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Eco Villa with Cascading Waterfall, Swim Hole, River and Fruit Orchard?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Eco Villa with Cascading Waterfall, Swim Hole, River and Fruit Orchard located?
Situated by the sea, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Nauyaca Waterfalls, Parque Reptilandia and Eco Chontales Waterfall. Costa Rica Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Playa Barú are also within 12 miles (20 km).
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We stayed at Corozon del Rio for 7 nights with 3 of our adult children. The rooms were really nice and the open air kitchen/dining/living area was amazing. There were a lot of staples (oil, some spices etc) in the pantry which helped because we made most of our own meals while we were there. Everything we needed was there for cooking.
The only down side was that were we unable to connect with the property manager after our arrival when he showed us around the building. We were hoping to have him help us arrange some tours but fortunately the property owner was always available via email and WhatsApp for any questions.
kathie b.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2025
We have a Welcome pack that we email after a booking. It as well as our website have a lot of suggested excursions for our guests to think about. phone numbers and emails of each is listed. There are tour agents in the beach town of Dominical 20 minutes away.
There are two property owners, both can be reached on WhatsApp for no charge, or through email, cell phone or the booking site. We ask guest to contact us with any questions. In this case neither owner was contacted.
A very unique property. Completely open to the rainforest.
Becca B.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Judy H.
7 Jan 2019
A perfect home in the jungle!
Our group could not have been more happy with our stay at Corazon del Rio. There were 10 of us, and we loved coming back to our home off the beaten path after a day of exploring the nearby areas. The kitchen is well equipped. The swim hole and waterfall behind the house was even prettier than I could have imagined. The water pressure only makes it possible to have one person take a shower at a time, but a minor hiccup in such a beautiful spot. The owner and hosts were extremely responsive. We could not have asked for a better place to ring in the New Year!
Judy H.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2018
Verified
8/10 Good
Debbie H.
11 Apr 2018
4.5 Stars. This was an idealic Costa Rican escape! Fully immersed in nature”s beauty!
The house was beautiful and the location was amazing. The only reason we did not give it a five star rating was due to tge fact that some of the amenities as descriped were misleading. There was no air conditioning, which was a criteria we searched for, instead there were ceiling fans in most of the rooms (we rented the full house). Unfortunately two of the rooms had no fans at all and were not ideal to sleep in. One room had a ceiling fan but could not be used because it hit the slanted ceiling ( needs to be reconfigured). We also listed a pool as a requirement, there was no pool instead the listing showed a quaint heart shaped water collection pool (4feet wide x ~3 feet long) and advertised a swimming hole beside the property. All of this was true however it was the dry season and so both were very low. I highly recommend this property for people who love nature and want a rustic and unique experience. My feedback is only intended to let people know exactly what the amenities are so their experience meets their expectations. One recommendation would be to have a bbq however I understand that may attract animal or pest. My family absolutely loved this property and it helped create such a wonderful experience with nature and the beauty of Costa Rica
Debbie H.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2020
Thank you for your feedback and great rating you gave even though it was not entirely what you expected. We love that you highlighted the experience of being immersed in nature! We are in our first year and want to know everything that would make our guests stay even better. Your feedback gives us the opportunity for clearer communications. Thank you!
Unfortunately on the Home Away site, we are limited in how we can present certain features. Regarding "Air-Conditioning" -- This was checked and described as "All bedrooms have ceiling fans, Kitchen and back deck as well."
The high ceilings in the bedrooms with the top section of the walls screened for ventilation along with very nice ceiling fans, and screened windows in the four main bedrooms combined with the cooler 1200 ft altitude of the location, creates a comfortable "natural" air flow. The one overflow bunk room has a standing fan that might have been moved by earlier guest.
We will add a note that there are no commercial air-conditioners and clarify that the bunk room does not have a ceiling fan.
Regarding "Communal Pool" -- This was checked and this description was listed:
"A wading pool 18" deep, fits 4 people. Water is from the river and directed through the living area.A swimming hole is just a short walk away, it is about 5 feet deep and a very good size. See photos."
We will add a note that there is no traditional pool.
Regarding the drier season and the swimming hole being at a lower level: we will clarify the seasonal fluctuations of the river and swimming hole.
Furthermore, we have approximately a 50 meter cascading waterfall with a small and a large swim hole, A river with a couple nice areas to get wet, as well as a custom water feature (waterfall, creek and wading pool) in the living area. The only way for us to describe these features on the booking site is to check the communal pool box.
We as owners are very fortunate to have our co-host as a neighbor with a crew to help our guests with any needs or fixes as they arise. Contact information is all mentioned in our welcome pack before arrival. This also includes detailed photos and videos of the structure and its surroundings. This is done so guests can see the many extra eco-amenities Casa Corazon del Rio has as well as the four very nice waterfalls our co-host at EcoAdventures has available for our guest. We will emphasize more, that guests should call our co-host if they encounter problems such as you did regarding the fan.
About the host
Hosted by Kent Zilliox
A native of California (USA) Kent grew-up on the Pacific Coast (Santa Cruz, Pacific Grove, and Pebble Beach) and now resides in Carmel Valley a short 15 minutes from the ocean. Loving the outdoors and all aspects of nature Kent always dreamed of having a vacation place to share with friends and family. In 2016 he found just the spot after two weeks of trekking up and down the southern pacific region of Costa Rica.
Why they chose this property
In selecting a property, water was essential. Hoping for either a nice river, waterfall or swim hole Kent found them all at this four acre lot in the hills of Platanillo. Like the Big Sur Coast in California where the steep mountains meet the sea, Platanillo being 1200 ft above sea level and only a 15 minute drive down to the Dominical beach town was a big benefit: cooler weather, private and water, oh is there water! Aside from the long cascading waterfall that borders the property, four other beautiful waterfalls are within hiking distance and can all be enjoyed in one day.
What makes this property unique
Staying at a well built structure within steps from a waterfall and swimming hole is the biggest benefit at Casa Corazon del Rio. As if that wasn't enough, the building design includes a small waterfall feature, a creek and wading pool to bring the Pura Vida feeling right into the living area. A fruit orchard is steps away and seen from the casa