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Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House

Photo gallery for Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House

On the beach
Exterior
Property grounds
3 bedrooms, in-room safe, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
On the beach

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6111 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washer
    Washer
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Breakfast available
    Breakfast available
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Dryer
    Dryer

About this property

Entire place

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

Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House

Casa Sonrisa is a 5-star ranking recipient of 12 Traveler's Choice Awards and 12 Excellence Awards. Recommended by Lonely Planet. Casa Sonrisa is one of four beach houses making up the Casa Bambu resort property. (If Casa Sonrisa is reserved for the dates you want, see the listing for Casa Bambu, Casa Linda, or Casa Pina .) At Casa Sonrisa our on-site staff is available 24/7.

Costa Rica vacation rentals: there are hundreds to choose from. Yet we are told again and again that Casa Sonrisa and our other bamboo beach houses are exceptional. So if you're ready to take a walk on the wild side, this is the place! This Costa Rica beach rental offers nature lovers an ideal vacation. It sits on a beautiful beach, in the rainforest, on the coast of the Osa Peninsula. This unique setting lets you experience the true Costa Rica, one of the most amazing areas on earth; relax on the beach; and enjoy countless natural wonders. All this while keeping you comfortable and secure in a private rental house on the beach. At Casa Sonrisa the ocean waves lull you to sleep and the roar of the howler monkeys awaken you to a glorious sunrise over the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf). A pristine beach is literally steps away, and the rainforest and wildlife are all around. If you love nature in all its wild beauty, this is the place for you.

After visiting vacation rentals around the country, Lonely Planet's Costa Rica recommends Casa Sonrisa as a place to stay. Men's Journal touts Casa Sonrisa in its review of Costa Rica vacation homes in its vacation guide cover story How to Rent a Dream House Anywhere: Your Own Private Resort. It says: “For the jungle experience, visit the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica’s wild southern appendage. Its few paved roads lead to tiny fishing villages, like Cabo Matapalo, where you’ll find unspoiled beaches and rental houses like Casa Sonrisa on a plot of pristine rainforest teeming with monkeys.” The Denver Post Travel section featured Casa Sonrisa in an article about Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula and Matapalo. The Fine Living Channel included Casa Sonrisa in its program Around the World in Eighty Houses, which focused on remarkable vacation houses throughout the world, including Casa Sonrisa. The Sunday Post of Scotland, an international publication, featured an article by a Casa Sonrisa guest about her vacation with us.

Our Costa Rica beach house rentals offer:

A perfect location: right on a gorgeous beach (and near several others), with a spectacular view, in the rainforest, surrounded by abundant wildlife and scenery.
A handcrafted, clean and safe vacation rental home, from which to enjoy your fantastic surroundings.
Many activities for the whole family.
Three other bamboo rentals, equally wonderful.
When natives of Costa Rica greet each other, they often say “Pura Vida,” or pure life. When you visit Casa Sonrisa, you’ll truly understand what this means.

Property manager

Kirk Ulbricht

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Pool/Spa

  • Massages

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car not required

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Oven
  • Spices
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Blender
  • Electric kettle
  • Paper towels
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils

Dining

  • Breakfast available for a fee

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Towels provided
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas

Services and conveniences

  • Limited housekeeping
  • Safe
  • Chef
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • Near the ocean
  • Near the sea
  • On the waterfront
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Water sports equipment
  • Boat on site
  • Bicycle on site
  • Kayak on site
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Surfing/body boarding nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Sailing 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)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 1200 sq ft (111 sq m)

Similar properties

Exterior

Casa Piña, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Outdoor Space
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (13)
Casa Piña, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 2:00 PM

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 not allowed

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 fire extinguisher 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 not required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Casa Sonrisa Bamboo Beach House. 8 Traveler's Awards House
Casa Sonrisa Bamboo Beach House. 8 Traveler's Awards
Casa Sonrisa Bamboo Beach House. 8 Traveler's Awards House
Casa Sonrisa Bamboo Beach House. 8 Traveler's Awards House
Casa Sonrisa Bamboo Beach House. 8 Traveler's Awards
Casa Sonrisa Bamboo Beach House. 8 Traveler's Awards
Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House Puerto Jimenez

About the neighborhood

Map
Cabo Matapalo, Puntarenas

What's nearby

  • Pan Dulce Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • King Louis Waterfall - 9 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Corcovado National Park Office - 19 min drive - 18.3 km
  • Puerto Jimenez Pier - 20 min drive - 18.8 km
  • Golfo Dulce - 20 min drive - 18.9 km

Getting around

  • Puerto Jiménez (PJM) - 52 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Buena Esperanza - ‬14 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House located?

Nestled on the beach, this Puerto Jiménez vacation home is within a 5-minute walk of Osa Peninsula and Pan Dulce Beach. Playa Sombrero and King Louis Waterfall are also within 2 mi (3 km).

Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 13 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 13 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 13 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 13 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 13 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

6.0/10

Amenities

6.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Diane M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Off the grid awesome
We had an excellent off grid experience with Casas SonRita. The only thing that would be better is if we did not travel here at night that was a mistake. The timelines are not in the direction that so it was pretty stressful getting there at night. Once we were there everything was as expected. Surprisingly very few bugs. How old are monkeys did wake us up about sunrise or a little before so if you’re not expecting that bring earplugs - we got used to them serenading us. Corcovado perk was good exercise, but we saw a few animals and most of the animals were around areas where people were even the sides of the roads. It definitely helped having a guide with a spotting scope. William was awesome except spoke no English, so it helps to have a little Spanish with him. The tours they arranged were amazing, especially the boat with captain, Josh we saw a whale and her baby right by our boat. Dolphins were everywhere and the kids got to swim with him which was wonderful or I should say the dolphins swim with the kids! Overall it was fantastic.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Vacay
property is exactly as described. Host provided us with very helpful information and set up tours for us. Manager William also very accommodating. We had a great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Bambu-tastic!
What an amazing experience! I just can't give enough praise to Team Bambu for thinking of every last question and concern during our 3 nights in Casa Sonrisa. The house was beautiful and well appointment with everything one might need off grid, but the staff truly went above and beyond. We left Cabo Matapalo feeling like members of the family having enjoyed some time with William and Leda and Olive. Elena was right there to help with arrangements and answer questions even on short notice. And they even retrieved an item that was inadvertently left behind. The animals and the bay and the beach and the hammock - It's all just so wonderful. If you're on the fence, just go! You won't regret it!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kevin

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness
First time living in an open air house. The experience was unforgettable. Kept closing the front door just to look at the wide open walls. Everything we needed was provided. Perhaps the only thing to improve would be to improve the signage should someone not have cell phone service. I was amazed that we found the place in the dark. Thank you so much for sharing your slice of heaven on earth with us.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing location and hospitality
Casa Sonrisa was even better than we thought it would be! From the outdoor living room you can check the waves breaking at Pan Dulce and the house gives you an authentic Costa Rica jungle experience but with a well stocked kitchen, comfy beds, and a huge dining table to gather around at the end of the day. William was an absolute hero and took care of us throughout our stay. He helped us fix our flat tire and our never ending car problems . I highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

ryan k.

Liked: Cleanliness
Jungle Retreat
Casa Sonrisa was perfect for our family jungle/beach retreat. The property is beachfront, but the house is set back about 250m from the beach. Very private and tons of wildlife. All the houses down here are very “open” so know what you are getting into. If you know what to expect you will not be let down. Perfect for birders, nature lovers and surfers. Walk to numerous breaks and enjoy creation. William was an amazing manager and Kirk is a kind and gentle soul.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nathaniel G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great
Epic
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Haley M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Experience
We were in the area for a wedding and Kirk and his team made it so easy to check in and answered all of our questions. Such an amazing trip!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2020

8/10 Good

Sean S., Fountain

Liked: Cleanliness
A little slice of heaven.
We were absolutely stunned by the beauty and solitude of Casa Sonrisa! It was exactly what we envisioned as far as the offgrid experience. We didn't want an all inclusive resort type vacation. We wanted to be immersed in nature with the ocean waves close. We had the perfect accommodations for our dream trip! The grounds are magnificent. Wildlife viewing is off the charts. We saw so many troops of monkeys, tropical birds and countless other animals throughout the day. We miss the sights and sounds immensely! We highly recommend going on the Corcovado hike with William as your guide. He truly has eagle eyes and goes all out to ensure a once in a lifetime experience. William has an amazing personality and we all enjoyed our time with him. We only had one hiccup that we would like to share. There is a radio to contact William if you need anything. The only problem is we literally could never reach him on it. He does live right on the property but initially we were reluctant to invade is family time. Since we didn't rent a car this may have had a been a bigger issue for us. But my advice is to try to catch William at his home or contact Kirk. To save some frustration. 😁 Kirk is very informative, easy to reach and responds quickly. Can't say enough good things about all the information that he shared prior to our trip.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Carly L.

jungle immersion near the beach
My daughter, her 2 young children (7 and 11) and I stayed in this house the end of February. Several years ago we stayed in another of the houses in this small group of homes owned by the same family. That one being booked, we stayed here and loved it. It is more separate from the other houses, is up the hill from the others and as such catches the breezes off the ocean nicely. And the many animals (monkeys, pecaries, scarlet macaws, blue morpho butterflies, tucans etc) roamed through the yard daily and seemed more plentiful in the more remote location than the previous house.We know the Matapalo area well having surfers in the family, but this house and the other 4 are very close to a quiet sandy beach where the kids could swim. The surfers took a walk to the surf breaks. We love the truly jungle experience of the house. The building is made entirely of bamboo, the beds are enclosed in mosquito netting although we were not bothered during the day by bugs, the louvered windows of the bedrooms open to the outside without the need of screens and can be closed tightly at night. The big kitchen, dining area has big flaps that pull up during the day for total experience of the outside. And then there is a very comfortable outside porch where there was alot of hammock swinging and reading stretched out on couches. This is a dynamic area for exploring the still wild areas of Costa Rica.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019

6/10 Okay

Juan M.

Increíble lugar, linda casa, el servicio debe mejorar
Casa Sonrisa es una casa tal como se la ve en las fotos, simple, sencilla y muy práctica. Esta ubicada a 150 m de la playa Pan Dulce que es un lugar muy lindo , con una playa tranquila y mar ideal para bañarse en marea alta. Pero creo qué hay una cosa que se puede mejorar y el la limpieza. La casa la limpian cada 3 días y eso no alcanza ya que se juntan muchos desperdicios y suciedad en el piso. Hay algunas cosas que tienen ya mucho uso, como la parrilla, los barrenadores y algunos implementos de cocina. William, el encargado, es un buen guía pero no está siempre disponible para solucionar los problemas. Más allá de esos inconvenientes, hemos pasado una muy buena estadía y creo que es un lugar que vale la pena conocer.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2019