Grandiose & Magnificent Spanish Mansion with a Billion Dollar View & Secluded Beach
Grandiose & Magnificent Spanish Mansion with a Billion Dollar View & Secluded Beach
Submitted: August 23, 2012
Stayed: August 2012
Everything at this beautiful mansion is grander than the photos reflect: the home, the porch, the magnificent ocean-view pool, the lush vegetation, and the ocean. The two dogs, monkeys, parrots, small lizards, frogs & butterflies were a fun bonus.
We spent 11 glorious days at The Rancho Deluxe, and were stunned upon waking every morning by the magnificent view of the ocean & the mountains right through our bedroom window. The view takes your breath away, and is spectacular from the house, or the porch, or the pool. With only a few other hard-to-spot houses around, and only a 15 min walk to the beach, this is a peaceful paradise. There were days we were the only ones on the beach, jumping in the warm ocean surfer waves, picking through driftwood & seashells.
4-wheel drive is a must!!! Driving the local mountain dirt roads+crossing the river with a 4x4 was super fun for us & our 3-year old boy; an extreme sport adventure for amateurs. Not having a 4-wheel drive (or SPF) here would've cramped our vacation big time.
Punta Islita (15 min drive) has a few dining options. Kambute restaurant in Punta Islita is decent for lunch & dinner; ~$25/person. Punta Islita Hotel restaurant is nice for breakfast with a spectacular view!; requires reservations for dinner; $100/person.
On the road to Samara Rancho Tico was alright. El Colibri, the Argentinian Steakhouse, was a bit bland, and we couldn't stomach Sueno Tropical.
This area might not be a foodie's paradise, but we enjoyed cooking at the Ranch while taking in the views. Bring your favorite chef's knife & your spice collection (& toys!), as the local grocery stores only carry the basics (think chips, paper towels & canned goods, as in 7-11). Be sure to inquire at the Organic Cafe in Samara about the weekly farmers market for fruits & veggies, and a trip through the fisherman village of Garza (half-way between Samara & Nosara) was worth the drive-we scored freshly caught shrimp, red snapper, mahi mahi & seabass for just $6/lb! The caretakers lent us a cooler; we made ice packs from frozen water bottles.
Owner Jerry's e-mail & phone responses were prompt, and travel suggestions & insight was invaluable. And we wanted to take the caretakers back to Chicago with us. The local couple wasn't just super sweet, discreet yet readily available to assist in any way; they also cleaned the home daily, did our laundry, and even took us to the beach at sundown to see the egg-laying tortugas!
Muchas gracias! We loved it.
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Pet-friendly,
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
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