An idyllic vacation spot at the end of the road
Review Submitted: May 8, 2011
Date of Stay: April 2011
We spent a week at the Bella Sirena and had an incredible time. The house is beautiful. We woke up every morning to the sounds of howler monkeys howling and birds chirping. The grounds around the house are beautifully manicured -- a feast for the eyes and for the ears. Almost every day we were visited by a hummingbird and a blue morpho butterfly. We saw a sloth high up in the tree and watched two sets of howler monkeys playing in the trees. We all loved the town of Manzanillo. It is tiny and is in no way your typical tourist town -- there are three small grocery stores and three sodas (cafes) and an ice cream store. I'm sure there are other things that we missed, but it's small and quaint. The beach is long and beautiful. If you walk south of town, there is a reef that comes up to the shore so you can see lots of sealife, including lots of sea urchins so make sure you wear your shoes.
La Bella Sirena was a perfect place for a vacation that was a mix of adventure, relaxation (in incredibly beautiful surroundings) and feeling like you are a part of another country, not just a tourist. We ate several meals at the sodas in town and bought groceries to make some meals at home. My son made us one of the best smoothies I've ever had. The fresh mangoes and pineapples were abundant and cheap.
We went snorkeling in several different sports in town and at nearby Punta Uva, We went ziplining (not for the feint of heart) and on a walk in the rain forest with a guide. We went to the jaguar preserve which is a great way to see native animals up close and to learn lots about them.
It was really great having Bibo, the caretaker, around. His brother is a tourguide so he took us on a walk through the rain forest. Bibo took us to a waterfall one day that was incredibly refreshing. We had his mom cook for us two nights -- her garlic shimp was superb.
We went to Puerto Viejo, a much bigger town about a half hour away, one evening for dinner. We had a good dinner, but were happy to return to our quiet home in the jungle -- and glad not to be staying in the midst of so many tourists.
I want to return to La Bella Sirena when I can stay longer. I could have spent much more time in the hammock reading and watching for new forms of life to pass by. A near-perfect vacation -- can't say enough good things about the house, the location and the country -- truly an idyllic vacation spot!
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Thank you so much for your kind review of our vacation rental! We love it when guests have a truly memorable vacation and love the house and the Manzanillo area as much as we do. Future guests will find your comments on activities, local restaurants, and the staff at Bella Sirena extremely helpful -thanks for including information about all of your experiences. We appreciate your business and look forward to your next visit.
All the best,
Mary and Victor
La Bella Sirena
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