Entire home

5 min. drive to Playa! 15 min. drive to Mountains, 15 min. drive to the Rivers!🇨🇷

Photo gallery for 5 min. drive to Playa! 15 min. drive to Mountains, 15 min. drive to the Rivers!🇨🇷

Exterior
Sun loungers, beach towels
Sun loungers, beach towels
Pool
Terrace/patio

Reviews

9.4 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10186 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor Space

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

5 min. drive to Playa! 15 min. drive to Mountains, 15 min. drive to the Rivers!🇨🇷

Check in is at 3pm (unless owner allows an earlier check in) Check out is at 11am Our Casa is perfect for Family and Friends getting together, or just a couples retreat, Master bedroom (Bamboo Room) and bath has a cal/king bed made by local Tiko's, huge shower,w/ hot water, air conditioner and ceiling fan. The Iguana Room has two double beds with air conditioning and ceiling fan, The Monkey Room has one double bed with air conditioner, and ceiling fan, These bedrooms are right next to bathroom with huge shower,w/ hot water. Ceiling fans in every room, Brand new kitchen, redone in February 2021! If you love to cook, with everything you will need to cook the fish you catch, or your favorite meal, coffee pot, toaster,toaster oven,microwave,smoothie machine, perfect for your fruit smoothies, make from Costa Rica awesome FRESH FRUITS, stove,oven,refrigerator, freezer, all the dishes, pots & pans, Washer and Dryer, we have a clothes line for hanging clothes out to dry. Outdoor grill, right next to the awesome Tiki / Rancho we had built, that's were you will eat your meals, relax in the hammocks, or use your electronics, the pool is perfect, lounge chairs for your pleasure. Property is VERY private,1 3/4 acres that butts up to a teak farm and jungle behind the pool, so the monkeys, sloth, friendly (Iguanas) (that love fruit) various beautiful birds are always close by, perfect for photos and videos, The Parrots visit twice a day morning and happy hour, and have since 2006, so awesome to watch and hear. The casa sets back from the Hotel next door, so you don't even know it is there, but it is a very nice feature to have in case you want good food or a cocktail, The beaches are the best around, quite, black warm soft sand is perfect for walks on the beach, We also have a Lady who gives the best massages right on the beach, so relaxing, listening to the waves, and the breeze is perfect, a great way just to unwind and forget about work, Her Name and number are available upon request. Also we found wonderful places to eat and party, or just chill, We always go to Encantada on Esterillos-Este,on Thursday 4-6pm happy hour live music on the beach!! the most beautiful sunsets!!!!! It is 4 miles from our casa, but all the beaches by the casa are gorgeous, the closest beach is just 2 miles from casa, The casa is 30 minutes South of Jaco Beach and 30 North of Manuel Antonio, Perfect place for shopping, restaurants, night life, casinos, Manual Antonio is a must see, 30 minutes away, Beautiful white sand beaches, offering massages on beach, boat activities, awesome restaurants and shopping, our Favorite spot, You will find all sorts of activities, all within 30 minutes from casa. National Park, Quad and zip line tours, Party boat on the (Ocean King) in Quepos, also Deep sea fishing with Quepos Fishing, Perfect for catching the big ones!!! Waterfalls, Horseback riding, Surfing on Hermosa Beach, 20 minutes toward Jaco, Or take a Day Trip to the Valcano, or Rain Forest, well worth the trip.We recommend you have a tour guide or a driver take you. We also recommend you rent a car, a 4x4 is highly recommended if you are an explorer. You can rent a car from the airport and drive to the casa, try to get a morning flight and arrive by 1pm, It's hard to drive at night, and the roads directions can be difficult, We HIGHLEY recommend using ,,, It’s a new website as of April 2nd 2022. It’s only 10 minutes from the house,, they will pick you up and take you back to airport when you rent a vehicle from them!!! Just an option, much easier than taking the buses, but if you do take buses, the bus stop is a 8 minute walk from casa. We have the best restaurants also, here is a list of the best ones we found,, Hot dog & beer wagon, Don Toro’s, ANY restaurant in the Town Center, We have a list of all of them at the house & where they are, also there are brochures of all kinds of activities at the casa. The pool will is the best!!! There is maid service available, you would pay her directly, $60 to clean, very trust worthy, they have been with us since we bought the casa. We do ask that you run the air conditioner only when you are in the bedrooms napping or sleeping at night, to save energy, The air conditioner get VERY COLD!!!! QUICKLY!!! No need to leave AIR on while exploring Costa Rica for the day!!! If you are looking for a relaxing place to relax with the Girls, or a guys fishing trip, a Family Vacation, Couples getaway, Our Casa is perfect for you to enjoy, WELCOME!!! PURA VIDA!!! 🇨🇷🇨🇷🏄‍♀️🏝🎣 (means GOOD LIFE) Cindy and Mark Wenzel

Property manager

Mark and Cindy Wenzel

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels
  • Beach sun loungers

Pool/Spa

  • Private pool
  • Massages

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage
  • Onsite parking
  • Car required

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Toaster
  • Spices
  • Coffee grinder

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 2.5 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Towels provided
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Living room
  • Dining room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Books
  • Games
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 2 total (up to 50 lbs per pet)
  • Welcoming dogs only

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: NO SMOKING IN CASA PLEASE, OUTSIDE ONLY

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Chef
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • Near the sea
  • In the mountains
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Golfing on site
  • Rafting nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 2000 sq ft (186 sq m)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Welcoming dogs only
2 total (up to 50 lbs per pet)
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: There will be an additional charge for pets,

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

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
Onsite 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 first aid kit and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Map
Parrita, Puntarenas

What's nearby

  • Palo Seco Beach - 10 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Bejuco Beach - 16 min drive - 13.3 km
  • Esterillos Beach - 26 min drive - 21.6 km
  • Manuel Antonio National Park - 33 min drive - 28.4 km
  • Manuel Antonio Beach - 44 min drive - 33.4 km

Getting around

  • Quepos (XQP) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wilson - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Restaurante Los Pilones - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Típico Rafailita - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Bar Y Restaurante Club Pocares - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪La Cañada - ‬5 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does 5 min. drive to Playa! 15 min. drive to Mountains, 15 min. drive to the Rivers!🇨🇷 have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is 5 min. drive to Playa! 15 min. drive to Mountains, 15 min. drive to the Rivers!🇨🇷 pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 50 lbs per pet.

What time is check-in at 5 min. drive to Playa! 15 min. drive to Mountains, 15 min. drive to the Rivers!🇨🇷?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 5 min. drive to Playa! 15 min. drive to Mountains, 15 min. drive to the Rivers!🇨🇷?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is 5 min. drive to Playa! 15 min. drive to Mountains, 15 min. drive to the Rivers!🇨🇷 located?

Situated by the sea, this vacation home is within 9 mi (15 km) of Palo Seco Beach, Bejuco Beach, and Playa Esterillos Este. Rainmaker is 10.8 mi (17.4 km) away.

5 min. drive to Playa! 15 min. drive to Mountains, 15 min. drive to the Rivers!🇨🇷 Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 34 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 7 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

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Natalie J., Iowa

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect location to enjoy the coast
Our family loved this home with the outdoor hut and pool being the favorite, along with the monkeys that visit by the pool. The property is set back a bit with a lovely away from the crowds vibe. Luis was so helpful, and Cindy recommended Jeisen for surfing lessons and mangrove tour and we opted for these instead of the bigger touristy options. Our kids loved it and we would all recommend! Jeisen also recommended visiting Rainmaker mountain and we had the entire place to ourselves hiking the hanging bridges and waterfalls. Everyone was so helpful and friendly. Great location for such activities. The house has a lived in feel so if you are looking for white sheets and a crisp AC air, this is not for you. Actually then Costa Rica probably isn't for you! (: We loved it.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle W., Oak Grove, MO

Liked: Cleanliness
Trip of a lifetime!
We stayed at a beautiful amazing home with the most exquisite surroundings! The beauty that could be seen just from sitting out back. We discovered so many amazing species if your just careful and keep your eyes open especially to the sky for the beautiful birds! It was the perfect escape with the perfect host/hostess Thank you for sharing a little of your Paradise!
Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sylvia R., Midland Ontario

Liked: Cleanliness
Winter escape!
We arrived late at night after a very long day to be greeted by the lovely Luis! The property was spotless and welcoming, we immediately jumped into the lovely pool under the starry sky! The next morning, and every morning there after, the monkeys entertained us, along with a whole array of other wildlife. The house had everything we could possibly need and was close to everything we could possibly want. Cindy and Luis were both available for recommendations and suggestions. All together this was a lovely month of respite from the Canadian winter. Thank you Cindy and Mark for sharing this lovely place.
Stayed 30 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Danie D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Pura Vida Amazing!
The house is just perfect! The owners are amazing and available. They know many extraordinary people that helped us all through the trip. Wonderful trip.
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen C.

Liked: Cleanliness
A wonderful vacation for my family of 5
Our family if 5 ( kids ages 13, 18, 20) had a fantastic experience in this rental. The house was clean and exactly as advertised. We loved to watch the monkeys that visited daily. The birds and iguanas were fascinating. We used pool and cabana each day. The location was great for driving to actives such as zip lining, rain Forrest hikes, white water rafting, surfing and beach days ( all within an hour drive or less). We also ate at some wonderful restaurants. Most of our activities and restaurants were suggested by our host. We would definitely rent here again!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelly D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great property and location
We had a great time staying here over Christmas week! The house is spacious, well stocked, and on a lovely property. We saw many animals right at the house. The location is close to many beaches and nearby towns for sight seeing. Cindy and the property manager were very helpful and responsive.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2022

8/10 Good

Ines K., Vernon, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Off the beaten path comfy place to stay
The reservation and check in process was super easy. Luis, who looks after the property, is a gem. He is super helpful and knows the area well. We felt welcomed from the minute we arrived. The property is located next to a hotel which has its pros and cons. You can eat at the restaurant but there may also be music and noise later in the evening. The home is equipped with everything. The pool is also lovely especially when you get back from the beach and want a cool dip. This home has a lived in feel, lots of beach themed art. If you are looking for a steril hotel kind of vacation home this might not be it. We used the ac units in the bedrooms at night to drop the humidity and dampness. Great stay overall including the monkeys that came to say hello at the pool.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dan F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great house for making family memories
Our family had a wonderful time at this house. The kitchen was nice a big with all you need ... minus the groceries, which the grocery store was an easy 10 minutes down the road in Parrita. There is a hotel next door, but the house still seems secluded. The pool was the highlight by far. We loved swimming with the kids and watching the monkeys come right up to the pool and eat the bananas we left in the basket. We even saw several poison dart frogs and iguanas. The main road is easy to drive, so getting out and seeing the sights was very easy to do. Cindy is very happy to offer recommendations for the area, and she was very responsive. The house does not require a 4x4. Very happy with our choice to stay here.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

todd I.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful home / great communication
Everything we could have hoped for. Relaxing, clean, quiet. Lots of animals, well stocked. We will be back Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

erica d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Everything plus some
This property was absolutely an amazing! We were blown away with our stay at the property and are already planning our next trip! Cindy was so helpful and communicated with us leading up to our trip, and suggested many things for us to do while we were visiting. We enjoyed the monkeys every morning that visited and the privacy of the property. Thank you for everything and we’ll see you next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Bruno F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Costa Rican experience
It was a great experience. House was great and only 5 min drive to the beach. Monkeys, iguanas and all types of birds visited us by the pool. Cindy and Mark were very helpful with everything we needed and full of suggestions about places to visit. We had a great time and hope to rent this house again! Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Laura A., Golden, CO

Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyable stay
Lovely pool and outdoor area. Despite being next to a hotel, property is secluded. Esterillos Town Center and Parrita town as well as the laid back, quiet beaches of Bejuco and Esterillos are about 10-15 mins away (by car). The owner, Cindy, was very communicative and provided a wealth of information regarding restaurants and things to do in the area. Luis the property manager was wonderful and available for any questions we had. We loved the daily monkey and iguana visits. Thank you for a lovely week in beautiful Costa Rica!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Richard C., Gatineau, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place to continue enjoying the outdoors at the end of the day
Great house for a family of five and great location for visiting Manuel Antonio and Jaco area.

10/10 Excellent

Brandi F., Garland Texas USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Little hideaway
Casa Marko and Cindy is the perfect little hideaway between Jaco and Quepos- has everything you need including morning monkeys and Smiley the sloth. Easy access to the beach, Manuel Antonio National Park, Zipline at Chiclets, White Water rafting with Tiko Loco, great shopping and food in Jaco - A MUST PLACE TO STAY
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Megan H.

Liked: Cleanliness
The best place to stay in Costa Rica!
We loved everything about this house. The owners are fantastic - they were quick to help us with suggestions on all the best places and must-sees in the area. The house was beautiful. We loved relaxing in the pool, looking up and seeing the resident sloth. We also had a visit from about 20 monkeys one morning. Overall, I would highly recommend this house, and can’t wait to go back and (hopefully) stay there again! Thank you!!

10/10 Excellent

Christina P., Spring

Liked: Cleanliness
Authentic and Comfortable
This property is exactly what we wanted. We wanted to be close to all kinds of activities if we wanted to do things, but secluded and comfy if we wanted to do nothing at all. And we did not want a touristy resort or hotel. We wanted an authentic Costa Rica home where we could soak up the Pura Vida culture. From the friendly sloth who visited each day to the beautiful blooming flowers and the refreshing oool, we loved our stay. But the best part of renting this home is the owner, Cindy!! She is a great consistent communicator and truly wants to help make your stay in CR exactly what YOU want. She is full of so much knowledge and experience and connections! From local spots to eat to shopping to fishing to beaches and tours, she knows them all!! So pick her brain because she was our best resource both before the trip and during the trip. We fell in love with CR thanks to Cindy and her home. We can’t thank her enough. Pura Vida!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Rick P.

Exotic Private Retreat
Cathy and I spent a month at Mark and Cindy’s house and it was a delight. Being our first trip to Costa Rica, we were especially looking forward to getting close to nature and seeing the indigenous animals - the house is situated right up against a forest that brought monkeys, sloths, exotic tree squirrels, macaws, iguanas and much more. The house is minutes off the coastal road between Jaco and Quepos/Manuel Antonio - so we could drive in either direction for a variety of beaches, restaurants and activities. The nearby beach of Bejuco is only less than 15 minutes away - our go-to for playing in the surf. The house is equipped with all the necessities and we found ourselves spending time in the tiki hut ... or palapa and the swimming pool and patio. We especially enjoyed the refreshing pool, spending time there so least twice a day. The bedrooms are air conditioned and the beds were perfectly comfortable. We had the benefits of living like a local.
Stayed 29 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Casey H.

An incredible place to stay in Costa Rica
Mark and Cindy's house is the perfect house to visit for an amazing time in Costa Rica. I'll name a few of the very long list of reasons why. My girlfriend and I arrived to the house at night where Carmen, the incredibly kind caretaker, met us and gave us the keys, walked us around the house and gave us recommendations on places to visit. Over the course of the next few days Carmen and Cindy were always both available to answer questions and help out if we couldn't find something. We spent the first few days of our trip simply enjoying the property which kept us busy between swimming in the amazing pool and watching birds, monkeys, iguanas and geckos roam around. FYI - It gets hot during the dry season, but the rooms have AC which was always a relief to have at the end of each day. The outdoor shower works really well too! We went to the nearby Hotel Pelicano for dinner and to watch the sunset for at least 6 of the 11 nights we spent in Costa Rica (it's incredible for the food and the view). The sunsets were simply insane and we collected some pretty shells as well... El Chiringuito was our second favorite spot for food. We did a night tour at Rainmaker Park which was absolutely incredible. If you decide to go (we highly recommend it), book your tour through Ann or Mick on their website and ask for Luis to be your guide. If you go during the dry season, try to wait for one of the few rains during the season for your trip - it makes the experience much more incredible. We eventually saw the female sloth in the trees with her baby, she came down within 10 feet of us and we got some incredible photos. To see a sloth in the backyard is a very, very memorable moment. She hung out there for a few days until we left, so every morning after we saw her, we went out to feed the monkeys and iguanas and say hi to the sloth and her baby. The house is between two major national parks; Manuel Antonio, and Carara National park - we recommend visiting both. For your guide, if you find Franklin Sanchez - go with him! The house is close to Maxi Pali, a great grocery store that has everything you need, and the bank which is just down the road. There are so many places to eat at nearby, it's hard to choose sometimes... If you can make the drive towards Jaco, VistaMar is also an amazing place for an outdoor lunch where you can see and hear the ocean. In the end, we are so grateful we chose Mark and Cindy's house for our adventure. We will definitely be back!!
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lisandro B.

We have a great time, quiet like Paradise.
The house is very nice and well equipped, all bedrooms have ac and ceiling fans. The swimming pool is very cosy and the best of all are the monkeys..... Nearest beaches are more for surfing rather than swimming, but national park Manuel Antonio is only 45 min away . The place is very relaxing and you won't notice any noise from the hotel.

10/10 Excellent

Joe h.

Awesome house to stay in Esterillos / Parrita area
I stayed at Mark and Cindy's for two nights with some friends. We loved it, and would have liked to be there longer. The AC in the bedrooms is really nice to have, and the backyard / pool area is really fun to hang out in. We had a big group of monkeys come through a few times and eat the fruit we left out for them. Really awesome place to stay, and Mark and Cindy made it very easy to enjoy! Highly recommended!!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2018

8/10 Good

Maria B.

Comfortable and enjoyable place!
Our family of four stayed at Mark and Cindy's house over Easter week and we had an enjoyable and relaxing time at their house. The kitchen is well equipped and packed with utensils. The decor made us feel at home, we loved all the art work around the house. Plan on getting one of the small bags of charcoal per use of the grill. It was really nice to have access to plenty of towels! The wifi worked really well And the property is secluded and surrounded by a wonderful landscape of lush trees and forest. We saw a lot of iguanas climbing the trees and sunbathing by the roof. The capuchin monkeys also came to the backyard. You can definitely enjoy birding in the early mornings. Bring your binoculars! The pool was super clean and we enjoyed swimming during the day and night. The location is perfect, only 40 min from Manuel Antonio National Park and 25 minutes from Jaco (Great for shopping). Cindy helped us find surfing instructors only 15 minutes from the house at Esterillos Este. The beach was wonderful, Great for young and older kids! Luis is a friend and neighbor of Mark and Cindy's. He was very kind and helpful. He made sure we felt comfortable and offered some suggestions for activities around the area. Luis uses whatsapp and is fluent in English. All in all, a great house for our family of four, thanks!!! The Braemer's
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2017

8/10 Good

Kara M.

Perfect for Families
We had a wonderful time staying at this lovely home in Costa Rica. We were 2 families with small children and it was the perfect size for us. Having the pool was ideal when we got home from a long day out and the kids wanted more time in the water. It was also lovely to hang out under the palapa at night when the kiddos went to bed. We used the grill with carbon to grill up fish and shrimp many nights. The house had everything that we needed to cook our own meals and save money. The hosts were super helpful and prompt with anything that we needed to know about the house and area. They put us in contact with their friends at El Pelicano and we spent a lot of time using their beach access, pools, restaurant and bar. The owners there were also really friendly and helpful. The only down side was the internet. It was advertised as having internet and one of the people in our group need it to complete work while we were away. You could not look up anything and barely could send an e-mail. We had to go to a restaurant in order to get any internet service. Do not rent this house and expect to do work online.