Our family of 6 stayed at Madre Salva for 6 days during April vacation. To say that the experience was magnificent is an understatement. It is unreal. The house itself is thoughtfully designed and an ideal fit for our family. The communication and attentive service from Carolina and Rume were excellent. It was remote enough to feel "off the grid" but surrounded by activities and everything that you could need. We did plenty of walking, waterfall hiking, white-water rafting, and relaxing. Thank you so very much for this memorable experience.
Jerome D.
2025 年 4 月に 5 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Jayme G.
2025 年 4 月 18 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Jayme G.
2025 年 3 月に 6 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
thomas c.
2025 年 4 月 17 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Stunning Property
our stay at Madre Selva was absolutely wonderful. the house was spacious, clean, and surrounded by wilderness. Every morning started with an orchestra of birds and beautiful sunrises. Highly recommend taking advantage of Carolina’s expertise, cooking, and planning. We had a fabulous time and will be coming back!
thomas c.
2025 年 4 月に 6 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Chad W.
2025 年 3 月 20 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
A Very Special Place
My girlfriend and I recently spent a week at "Refugio Madreselva". All expectations were exceeded. It's an easy 3.5 hour drive from SJO. You really do need a 4x4 to get up the driveway, go slow and steady, not bad at all. The pool and subsequent views of the valley below were the highlight. House and property were well manicured / landscaped. Carolina greeted us with breakfast each morning - she and her husband (groundskeeper) are amazing. I mentioned to Carolina that it was my GF's birthday during the trip. The next day she stopped by with the best tres leches cake I have ever tasted. So thoughtful.I would highly recommend a 20 min drive to Ojachal for a few dinners - great food. We will be back - this is a special place!!!
Chad W.
2025 年 2 月に 6 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Andrew H.
2025 年 3 月 14 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Paradise at Madreselva
We had an amazing stay at Madreselva, definitely one of the best vacation experiences we’ve ever had. The home itself is beautiful, clean and the mountainside setting is spectacular, with incredible views over Uvita and the Whale’s Tail. To top it all off, Carolina was amazing, providing delicious breakfasts every morning, helping us arrange the best tours and sites to visit. She really made our stay truly memorable, as did all of the hardworking staff. We will definitely return again!
Andrew H.
2025 年 3 月に 8 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
David G.
2025 年 1 月 14 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Great house!
We stayed here 8 years ago and decided to come back again. Not much has changed. It is a great house with a great location.
David G.
2024 年 12 月に 8 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Kelly M.
2025 年 1 月 6 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Madre Selva heaven
Just a fantastic spot and we can’t say enough about the house, the views, and Carolina’s hospitality.The first time up the road was an experience and 4x4 is absolutely required - but it gets better with practice!Amazing home and vacation.
Kelly M.
2024 年 12 月に 6 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Mitali P.
2024 年 12 月 24 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Mitali P.
2024 年 11 月に 8 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Susan C.
2024 年 12 月 10 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Nature and hospitality
Communication with Carolina, (the property host) was excellent before and during our stay. She helped to coordinate our staggered arrival to the property, arrange some of our adventures. We had some quirky issues with the property gates and security alarms when we arrived, but Carolina was attentive to getting everything straightened out with just a phone call. The house was situated in the middle of the forest, with the view of the ocean and surrounded by the sounds of nature. It was cloudy for much of our visit so some of the nights were interrupted by the sounds of the generator located outside of our beautiful bedroom window. But the memories of the howler monkeys, toucans and other tropical birds prevailed. We appreciated the delicious breakfasts prepared by Carolina as well as the dinner the night before our departure. Our bilingual children and grandchild enjoyed conversations with Carolina and Rume in Spanish, and were pleased with Carolina's clear English for the others. The beautiful infinity pool was the desired spot for the grandkids, and perfect for our 5 year old to perfect his newly acquired swimming strokes. The hammocks were in constant use for relaxing. The bedroom on the back of the house with the queen bed and one twin bed was “less than ideal” as there was no cross ventilation and didn’t have an en-suite bathroom. The grounds were beautifully maintained and we enjoyed everything the house had to offer. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us.
Susan C.
2024 年 11 月に 7 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Tracie Y.
2024 年 8 月 19 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Best vacation ever!!
Refugio Madreselva is what you envision when thinking of a Costa Rican vacation. This house is amazing. The view is breathtaking. The surrounding wildlife made this location truly one of a kind. However, what made it all come together was the property manager Carolina and of course her kind and sincere husband (not nephew ;) Rume. After a week with them, we felt like we were saying goodbye to family. Carolina was amazing with scheduling our excursions, transportation to and from the airport, and setting up our rental cars. By the way, when they say you need a 4x4 to access the property, you do need a 4x4. Traveling the road to the house was very much part of our adventures. The rental vehicles Carolina got us were perfect and we had no problems accessing the property, even when it was raining hard. Carolina's cooking is out of this world. Having breakfast prepared for us was so convenient and all of us could not wait to taste the next meal. Carolina and Rume made us some pretty amazing dinners with desserts. The layout of the house is awesome. There are 3 separate buildings of the house. This provided the group with privacy and a central meeting place. The infinity pool was so refreshing to dip in after a long hot day. This property gave us everything to make our first trip to Costa Rica memorable for years to come. Thank you to Carolina, Rume, and Tico for taking such good care of us! Sincerely, the Colorado and Oregon gangs
Tracie Y.
2024 年 8 月に 7 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Kathy S.
2024 年 7 月 14 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Paradise
My family and I stayed at Madreselva for 8 nights in July and had a wonderful time! The views were absolutely amazing and constantly changing as the weather changed. I probably have 8 versions of the same picture from the pool area...each stunning.
The house was exactly as the pictures showed and perfect for our group of 8 ("kids" from 17-23 and three parents). The house was set up perfect for our needs with shared space for hanging at the pool, eating and playing games after dinner.....but also enough separation to allow the kids an escape to their rooms when needed.
Carolina was so helpful from the time we first booked the trip, to planning our adventures, and helping us with everything in-between. We were supposed to land in Costa Rica at 1:20 p.m. and she had a driver waiting to pick us up and bring us to the house. However, after flight delays and rerouting, we didn't arrive until after 9:00 p.m. She was in constant communication with us to make sure we were ok and that our driver was ready whenever we were. When we finally made it to the house around 1:00 a.m. Carolina and her husband were waiting for us with the 4-wheel drive vehicles to bring us up the mountain! Was so appreciative for their patience and help after such a long and stressful day.
Would recommend the house to anyone and hope to return some day!
Kathy S.
2024 年 7 月に 8 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Bob H.
2024 年 6 月 9 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
What a place!
This was the ideal place for our family from grandparents to grandkids. And having Carolina, the housekeeper who made breakfasts, tidied up and did laundry was a real plus. She was a great source of information and did concierge duty to the many tours and arrangements that needed to be made.
Bob H.
2024 年 6 月に 6 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Randolph B.
2024 年 5 月 6 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Mother of the Jungle
5 nights with 12, 10, 8 yo girls grandma and grandpa. Surfing, horses, and adventures within minutes
Awesome place with unreal views
Good internet and phone connectivity
Need 4 wheel drive. No really
Randolph B.
2024 年 4 月に 5 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Meredith C.
2024 年 4 月 9 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Beautiful Madreselva
We enjoyed our week at Madreselva! Carolina made everything so smooth from helping arrange our excursions, providing exceptional meals and warm hospitality. The grounds are beautiful and we were able to see many different animals, birds, butterflies and frogs. I'd highly recommend this property!
Meredith C.
2024 年 3 月に 7 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Skyler E.
2024 年 3 月 28 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
An INCREDIBLE property/one of a kind views!
We were so excited to stay at this house. The pictures made it seem like the most incredible property and even as great as those pictures were, the actual views and property far exceeded our expectation. There are views from every spot in the house. The kids spent the entire time in the pool. Having 2 master suites was perfect for us and our friends to each have our own private space. The journey to the house made the trip even more epic. It felt like an adventure each time we drove up to the house. If you have the chance to have Carolina and her husband cook for you, definitely take it. The food was amazing. WE had the chicken and rice with homemade brownies and it was the best meal we had while visiting Costa Rica. My kids haven't stopped talking about it. Carolina was great to work with and very accommodating. If you're in the Uvita area, I can't recommend this place enough. We hope to plan a return trip soon.
Skyler E.
2024 年 3 月に 2 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Rob W.、Rocklin, USA
2024 年 3 月 21 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Paradise
My friends and I had such an amazing time here. I can't recommend it enough. The house manager Carolina was such a wonderful person with such an attention for detail. She makes wonderful food and will always make sure you're taken care of. The property itself is in a very tranquil setting in nature. You can see plenty of wildlife. The house is designed with nature in mind and it's beautiful. You will not be disappointed staying here.
Rob W.
2024 年 3 月に 9 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
James K.
2024 年 2 月 28 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Foley Kazura family
Wonderful stay! Beautiful setting overlooking Pacific Ocean. Loved the birds, insects, and monkeys in the vicinity. Local caretaker and her husband who maintained the property were extraordinarily helpful and friendly. Would definitely return!
James K.
2024 年 2 月に 7 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Darrell F.、Canada
2024 年 2 月 26 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Amazing vacation home
If you enjoy nature book this place , The house is stunning waking up every morning to the sounds of birds also sleeping at night with just the screens open so you can listen to all the wildlife at night . The house is landscaped so it attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and lots of other bird species . The view is unreal you can literally sit in the pool and birdwatch. The porch off to the side is also an excellent place to just sit and watch the jungle . The nature trails right on the property are a big bonus as well. I saved the best for last , Carolina and Rumenigg the property managers were a huge help with booking tours and organizing excursions,recommending restaurants etc. I had a flat tire which Rumenigg repaired for me and got me back up and running . The waterfall tour is really exceptional and just up the road .The only tour I did not have a good time was the one I booked by myself without Carolinas help. Her meals were amazing and she is just a pleasure to be around . Mucho Gracias Amigos
Darrell and Nicholle
Darrell F.
2024 年 2 月に 7 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Kristy S.
2024 年 1 月 8 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Amazing stay
We traveled to Costa Rica and stayed at Refugio Madreselva the last week in December. We were 2 families traveling together with kids ranging from 7-13. Everyone (adults and kids) both LOVED staying here. Carolina was so great with communicating prior to the stay and assisted w/ booking care rentals, airport transportation and excursions. She made us feel welcome and her and her husband prepared delicious breakfasts and dinners for us. The kids and adults loved just spending time at the house watching all the birds, admiring all the vegetation and most of all taking in the view of Whale Tail Beach. This is definitely on our list for a repeat trip. 5/5 recommend.
Kristy S.
2023 年 12 月に 5 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Emilie C.、Smyrna
2024 年 1 月 4 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
A Pura Vida Paradise
We had a family/friend group of 10, 6 adults and 4 teens. This house was absolutely perfect. The views, the gardens, the outdoor spaces, and the extra large, well stocked kitchen made our stay wonderful. Of course, the icing on the cake was Carolina and her husband, and the amazing meals they cooked when we wanted a break. Carolina's organization in advance of our trip was so helpful, she communicated with local tourguides and made sure we had a perfect itinerary, even when we needed to make changes and adjustments. Can not say enough good things. We loved waterfalls, scuba, snorkeling, fishing, zip lines, and everything about Costa Rica. Grocery stores are convenient, and well stocked. Definitely do not ignore the guidance about a good 4 wheel drive vehicle. The first time up the hill was a little scary but it got much easier after that. Pura Vida!
Emilie C.
2023 年 12 月に 8 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Ben P.
2023 年 11 月 29 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Wonderful week!
What a fantastic vacation we had at Madreselva! A very special thank you to Carolina and her husband for amazing service, food, hospitality and concierge. We highly recommend staying here. Unforgettable experience!!!
Ben P.
2023 年 11 月に 7 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Brady D.
2023 年 9 月 10 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Special memories were made & dreams came true - Perfect stay for family of 8
This was one of our favorite trips yet - beautiful location, kind people, welcoming & stunning home.
After researching hundreds of homes & having an age spread of 3.5 to 70+, we needed to find a place that would be accommodating for the entire family. We settled on Madreselva after reading so many positive reviews & speaking with people who highly recommended the Uvita area.
The owner provided useful information about the home & the area. Carolina (house manager) was VERY helpful with the planning/booking of transportation & activities. We added on 2 dinners during our stay - the Arroz Con Pollo was SO good! The provided breakfast was a bonus, too. The home was always clean & straightened & they even provided fresh beach towels each day. Carolina made sure we could reach her anytime.
Large kitchen is very well stocked. Bedrooms & bedding were quite comfortable (2 main bedrooms offer breathtaking views). Temps on the mountain were VERY comfortable! Our twin nieces spent most of their time in the pool. You do need TRUE 4-wheel drive - driveway is long & steep, but no scary drop-offs & you get used to it quickly. There are bugs - but nothing like I was expecting! A healthy coverage of sunscreen & Repel kept us bite free the entire trip.
We are grateful to Claudia for making Madreselva available for others to utilize & appreciate. We made many special memories, & several dreams came true. Thank you to Carolina & her husband - we truly look forward to seeing you again soon!
Brady D.
2023 年 8 月に 10 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Mandy C.
2023 年 8 月 1 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Paradise in the jungle
Wish we could have stayed longer! The house is beautiful and the views are breathtaking! Carolina and her husband were so accommodating and made us feel so welcomed. The food was absolutely delicious and she even managed to keep my picky kid eaters pleased! It was such a blessing to have clean laundry done when we left the house to head home. You will not be disappointed with this house! Book it!
Mandy C.
2023 年 7 月に 4 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Steve H.
2023 年 7 月 19 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
Beautiful View!
Our group of 10 enjoyed the views from this beautiful home! There was plenty of space for everyone to spread out and enjoy this slice of paradise. We enjoyed watching the sunrise and animal spotting on the property. The hammocks were occupied whenever we were home. The road up was not bad if you have 4- wheel drive and a confident driver.
Prior to arrival Claudia sent a comprehensive Welcome letter and FAQs that provided lots of information on the house and things to do in the area. It was extremely helpful in planning our trip. Carolina was a master at coordinating our complex transportation needs, as we had people coming and departing from different areas on different days. It was great taking a shuttle to the house and then having our rental car delivered.
We did the Santa Lucia waterfall hike. The waterfalls were incredible, and we had them all to ourselves! The hike itself can be rough in parts, as you walk across some slippery wet rocks and uneven, muddy trails. My mom couldn’t make the hike, so Carolina arranged a massage for her at the house while we were gone, she loved it! The boat trip to Cano Island was a highlight of our trip as the snorkeling was spectacular. We got lucky and had great visibility even during the rainy season. We also spotted a mama humpback whale and her baby along the way!
Steve H.
2023 年 7 月に 8 泊滞在
10/10 (非常に良い)
Paul D.
2023 年 6 月 20 日
良かった点 : 清潔度、チェックイン、コミュニケーション、ロケーション、掲載情報の正確さ
A True “piece of Heaven on earth”…..
Madreselva is truly an Architectural Gem which captures the character of the valley as well as the sea view!! The “breezeways”make the whole place come together and work very well. Loved the property trail to the waterfall and the pool and gardens are magnificent!
Start your morning early as it is the Best part of the day, and Carolina’s Hearty breakfasts are Amazing…The changing weather is Beautiful from the mountain view, and more fun anyway than straight sun.
Lots of local adventures to be had and Carolina can organize them all for you.
Both Carolina and Claudia were delightful company and VERY helpful.
Lots of wildlife to see ( toucans,coati,tayra,) and hearing the howlers are a great way to start each day! Carolina and Rumenigg made us a Wonderful fresh dorado dinner for a Lovely and quiet romantic evening ( with background music from the frogs and howlers!) Very much Looking forward to our next adventure at beautiful Madreselva…🙏
Paul D.
2023 年 5 月に 6 泊滞在
オーナーについて
オーナー : Claudia Alderman
The owners, Claudia and Harold Alderman spent their honeymoon almost 33 years ago in Costa Rica. While there, they fell in love with this beautiful country and fantasized about someday retiring in Costa Rica. In 2014 their dream came true with the purchase of 25 acres in the Oro Verde Reserve. With Harold's enthusiastic support, Claudia spent the entire year creating Madreselva as an eco-home and wildlife refuge. Claudia is an environment specialist, who devoted her career to promoting biodiversity conservation and the improved management and financing of protected areas in Latin America. She has a Master's Degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental studies. Her thesis focused on the economic and ecologic benefits of private protected areas. When torn away from Costa Rica she is based in Washington DC.