|
||
|
|
||
Another Deck in Front of Villa
Side View Of House
Pool & Deck Area
Relax & Ponder
Kitchen & dinning area
Bedroom with Ocean view
Garden path to pool
Seperate Cabina ideal for a couple
The beach just 5 minutes away
Another local beach
Sloth shows how to relax
White face monkey mother with baby on her back
White Faced Monkey
Howler Monkey
A local Toucan in the trees
Feasting Toucanets
Humming birds are all around the grounds
Haliconia
Selection of heliconias
Pink Heliconia
Small flowers growing in lipstick palm
- Bedrooms3
- Sleeps6
- 3 Bathrooms
20 Reviews of Property 330531 in Dominical, Costa Rica
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
10 days in paradise
Submitted: April 24, 2013
Stayed: March 2013
As we drove into the property for the first time the four of us knew right away this was going to be the vacation of a lifetime. As gorgeous as the pictures are online, they cannot compare to the immense beauty that the house, property and views have to offer. On the property you will find many types of insects, birds, frogs, lizards and so many types of butterflies! Howler monkeys live nearby in the trees around the monkey hideout and can be heard and/or seen daily.
If you want privacy, space, luxury, majestic views, a perfectly covered pool surrounded by bananas, palms and bamboo, as well as toucans and monkeys in your yard then this is the place for you. This is not to mention the absolute perfect location of the house. Great grocery store 10 minutes away, never ending beaches of all types to explore, a myriad of high quality restaurants, national parks, waterfalls, excursions galore, banks, stores, a great bakery and even a place nearby to buy fresh and cheap local fish. We shopped around for a home to rent in the Dominical area and the price of Casa Pura Vida is beyond fair. There are no surprises, the house is exactly the way it is advertised it to be.
First we met Neil and he instantly put us at ease with his friendly approachable nature and his unique sense of humor. During our stay we found Neil to be very helpful, informative, non-obtrusive, honest and perhaps most importantly sincere in his desire for us to enjoy our vacation. He is a true professional and all four of us hold him with high regards.
During our 10 day stay at Casa Pura Vida we did four main paid excursions as well as many on our own. There are countless activities to do in this area. We did the surf lessons in Dominical, the full day boat trip to Cano Island including lunch on a deserted beach, the zip lining (in torrential rain!) and horseback to the Nauyaca waterfall. All amazing!
I’d recommend any of these excursions in a heartbeat and they all came recommended by Neil. Just take his advice and you will not be led astray.
Having had the opportunity to live at Casa Pura Vida for ten days was truly an inspiration and I would go back anytime and recommend it to anyone looking for a getaway in the Dominical/Uvita area. Make sure to get a four wheel drive though as they are not joking when they say you need one!
If you want privacy, space, luxury, majestic views, a perfectly covered pool surrounded by bananas, palms and bamboo, as well as toucans and monkeys in your yard then this is the place for you. This is not to mention the absolute perfect location of the house. Great grocery store 10 minutes away, never ending beaches of all types to explore, a myriad of high quality restaurants, national parks, waterfalls, excursions galore, banks, stores, a great bakery and even a place nearby to buy fresh and cheap local fish. We shopped around for a home to rent in the Dominical area and the price of Casa Pura Vida is beyond fair. There are no surprises, the house is exactly the way it is advertised it to be.
First we met Neil and he instantly put us at ease with his friendly approachable nature and his unique sense of humor. During our stay we found Neil to be very helpful, informative, non-obtrusive, honest and perhaps most importantly sincere in his desire for us to enjoy our vacation. He is a true professional and all four of us hold him with high regards.
During our 10 day stay at Casa Pura Vida we did four main paid excursions as well as many on our own. There are countless activities to do in this area. We did the surf lessons in Dominical, the full day boat trip to Cano Island including lunch on a deserted beach, the zip lining (in torrential rain!) and horseback to the Nauyaca waterfall. All amazing!
I’d recommend any of these excursions in a heartbeat and they all came recommended by Neil. Just take his advice and you will not be led astray.
Having had the opportunity to live at Casa Pura Vida for ten days was truly an inspiration and I would go back anytime and recommend it to anyone looking for a getaway in the Dominical/Uvita area. Make sure to get a four wheel drive though as they are not joking when they say you need one!
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
John and Wendy B.C. Canada
Submitted: March 14, 2013
Stayed: February 2013
What a great property, we fell in love with our Casa Pura Vida, the home is well laid out with a well stocked kitchen, comfortable beds and good laundry facilities. The Monkey House was a great hit with our daughter and her family, they saw and heard monkeys every morning and night plus alot of other great animals and birds. The covered pool was great especially for our younger grandchildren as the pool was still warm but the shade was great so the kids could be out in the hot part of the day...and of course the adults enjoyed the two hammocks...well set up.....Neil who is the property manager is awesome always there available if you had questions or needed suggestions for things to do. We always felt safe there, it has beautiful gardens and is very private. Easy access to great beaches and we went on a horseback ride to the Nauyaca Waterfalls with Don Lulo's Horse Back tours....this was the highlight for our family, very well organized and great guides, great breakfast and lunch included, well worth the price of admission....Our home was very clean and the gardener was awesome so Neil has great staff working for him....We would go back in a heartbeat...Uvita is where we did our shopping for groceries, there is a couple of good grocery stores there and a good bakery across from the bank, also a great place to get fish is not far away....One restaurant we wouldn't go to again is the Jolly Roger...overpriced and greasy wings and poor service, we tried them twice just to make sure but no go. other then that there are lots of great restaurants to go to. Counting down the days when we can go back to lovely Costa Rica and Casa Pura Vida..
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
Helpful votes: 1/1
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
Pura Vida on Steroids
Submitted: February 7, 2013
Stayed: January 2013
Our experience at Casa Pura Vida was off the scale, it exceeded all expectations. Truly, it's a compound with manicured gardens, the pool and the large house plus the small house. It's right in the heart of the jungle - birds, bugs, monkeys, butterflies, just endless flora and fauna right there on the property. I was there to surf and there are several surf spots in both directions from the property within about 5 kilometers. Excellent surf at the right tide and plenty of fun, cheap places to eat in Dominical and along the main road.
Casa Pura Vida is very tidy and comfortable, the kitchen is fully equipped with everything you might need and Neil, who is the property manager, is very accommodating, pleasant and easy to work with. We became friends and surfed together too. All in all I don't think it could possibly have been better, everything was covered. We had a group of 6 people and there was plenty of room for everyone at a very affordable rate. I would recommend this property without hesitation to anyone going to Costa Rica. Pura Vida 100% Live!
Casa Pura Vida is very tidy and comfortable, the kitchen is fully equipped with everything you might need and Neil, who is the property manager, is very accommodating, pleasant and easy to work with. We became friends and surfed together too. All in all I don't think it could possibly have been better, everything was covered. We had a group of 6 people and there was plenty of room for everyone at a very affordable rate. I would recommend this property without hesitation to anyone going to Costa Rica. Pura Vida 100% Live!
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Tourists without a Car,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
Helpful votes: 1/1
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
Yoohoo...Paradise Calling!
Submitted: February 6, 2013
Stayed: January 2013
Delightfully unique and interesting compound surrounded by lush junglicious landscaping. Wonderful , clean and comfy digs near some fabulous beaches and great eats. Lovely big kitchen, well-stocked with anything you might need for dining in. The best pool ever with two hammocks that are already much missed. Generous and gracious assistance by the property manager (thank you, Neil!). It was a terrific place to stay on a most memorable adventure. Regards to all the monkey friends I met in the backyard.
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Pet-friendly,
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
Great location, Great price
Submitted: January 21, 2013
Stayed: January 2013
Five of us rented the "Pura Vida" house and the "Monkey Hideout" cabina, all on the same property for one week.
The BEST things about Pura Vida... location, Neil, the surrounding jungle, the pool, and the washer/dryer...
-Location: It's very close to Dominical and Uvita so it's the perfect spot for getting to all the must do's. Quick access to the highway. DO rent a car though, you'll want it for the steep driveway and also to get to excursions. There are dirt roads all over this area so you would be best served by a 4x4 car.
-Neil: The manager of the property, Neil, is a happy, relaxed and very informed neighbor. He lives close by so you have the chance to see him daily if you need help He was there to book excursions, bring us coconuts (that he opened so we could drink the water, yum), and just laugh with! His directions from San Jose were painstakingly detailed and SO helpful. He will be your best resource before you go and while you stay. Really, one of the best features of the place is Neil!
-The Jungle: We stayed at 3 places near Dominical/Uvita. This property offered the best wildlife sightings. The howler monkeys were more present here than any other place we stayed. So cool! If you're hoping to see insects, birds, monkeys...this is a great spot. You will see them all, so bring bug spray, a headlamp (gets dark at 6pm), binoculars and a camera!
*The entire Monkey Hideout bathroom is outdoors. FYI.
-Pool: It's wonderful! It connects the two houses so it's a great "meeting spot" if you have a group staying. It is very well maintained by the grounds crew (every other day). It is also a great place to find relief from the sun on a hot day! Two hammocks make it a nice place to read as well.
-Washer/Dryer: These were indispensable! The laundry room also offers lots of clean sheets and towels so you'll never be in need for those. Our favorite part of the laundry room...IT LOCKS. So it's a safe/secure place to leave your valuables while you're out and about.
The price made Pura Vida a no brainer. Do be aware though that it means you're staying in a slightly older, well-loved home. It was built with beautiful wood carvings, lovely stone and a great view. Plenty of bathrooms, beds, a nice sized kitchen with all you need for cooking. Items are just older so don't expect state of the art. Expect a nice place to relax, become one with nature (smells, sounds, sightings, ALL of it) and enjoy this amazing part of Costa Rica! We did :-)
The BEST things about Pura Vida... location, Neil, the surrounding jungle, the pool, and the washer/dryer...
-Location: It's very close to Dominical and Uvita so it's the perfect spot for getting to all the must do's. Quick access to the highway. DO rent a car though, you'll want it for the steep driveway and also to get to excursions. There are dirt roads all over this area so you would be best served by a 4x4 car.
-Neil: The manager of the property, Neil, is a happy, relaxed and very informed neighbor. He lives close by so you have the chance to see him daily if you need help He was there to book excursions, bring us coconuts (that he opened so we could drink the water, yum), and just laugh with! His directions from San Jose were painstakingly detailed and SO helpful. He will be your best resource before you go and while you stay. Really, one of the best features of the place is Neil!
-The Jungle: We stayed at 3 places near Dominical/Uvita. This property offered the best wildlife sightings. The howler monkeys were more present here than any other place we stayed. So cool! If you're hoping to see insects, birds, monkeys...this is a great spot. You will see them all, so bring bug spray, a headlamp (gets dark at 6pm), binoculars and a camera!
*The entire Monkey Hideout bathroom is outdoors. FYI.
-Pool: It's wonderful! It connects the two houses so it's a great "meeting spot" if you have a group staying. It is very well maintained by the grounds crew (every other day). It is also a great place to find relief from the sun on a hot day! Two hammocks make it a nice place to read as well.
-Washer/Dryer: These were indispensable! The laundry room also offers lots of clean sheets and towels so you'll never be in need for those. Our favorite part of the laundry room...IT LOCKS. So it's a safe/secure place to leave your valuables while you're out and about.
The price made Pura Vida a no brainer. Do be aware though that it means you're staying in a slightly older, well-loved home. It was built with beautiful wood carvings, lovely stone and a great view. Plenty of bathrooms, beds, a nice sized kitchen with all you need for cooking. Items are just older so don't expect state of the art. Expect a nice place to relax, become one with nature (smells, sounds, sightings, ALL of it) and enjoy this amazing part of Costa Rica! We did :-)
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children
Helpful votes: 1/1
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
Truly tropical eden
Submitted: January 13, 2013
Stayed: January 2013
For the person(s) wishing to be immersed into the simplicity & beauty of the area this property will meet your needs. The covered pool with hammocks is a great place to relax & watch the wildlife. Butterflies, birds, insects, & animals. The flowers & grounds are maintained & lovely. The view from the terraces to the ocean over the canopy invites peacefulness. The interiors are artistic & simple. Having a washer & dryer is a plus though drying things outside works also. No air conditioning so expect to adjust to the heat/humidity. Some of the ceiling fans can have the speed adjusted others can not.
The manager is helpful, friendly & very knowledgeable of surrounding area/activities. He will make reservations for you if you wish. He is easily accessible for any questions not answered in the notebook that he presents on your arrival.
I throughly enjoyed my time in this home going to sleep with the sounds of the insects & waking with the sounds of the howler monkeys & birds...I want to return very soon.
The manager is helpful, friendly & very knowledgeable of surrounding area/activities. He will make reservations for you if you wish. He is easily accessible for any questions not answered in the notebook that he presents on your arrival.
I throughly enjoyed my time in this home going to sleep with the sounds of the insects & waking with the sounds of the howler monkeys & birds...I want to return very soon.
Recommended for:
Adventure Seekers,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
Wonderful family time in Dominical at Casa Pura Vida
Submitted: September 16, 2012
Stayed: July 2012
Casa Pura Vida was the perfect base for our time in Dominical and the surrounding area. The house and cabana have an earthy and comfortable personality and they are well ventilated thanks to the fans and gentle breeze. The grounds are very spacious and lucious with beautiful flowers, and wonderful wildlife sounds. The patio outside the front door was a great place to spend time at all hours of the day with amazing views of the Pacific. IT was one of the most relaxing spots I have enjoyed on this earth! The kitchen was well equipped for all of our needs and included a powerful blender for smoothies from the fruit purchased at local stands and grocers and an espresso machine as well. Neil, the manager, was there when we needed, but otherwise left us to our own plans and agenda.
Each morning as the sun began ligth the sky, the local wildlife would serenade us to the new day. Every day without fail, the local tribe of Howler monkeys were part of this wonderful start to the day, and Toucans would make a pass through the surrounding rain forest
Cesar and his staff at Costa Rica Surf Camp were very attentive to the wide range of surfing skills in our group and treated us to a local waterfall and pool with a rope swing.
We enjoyed a guided hike with a young, local naturalist named David at Hacienda Baru where we learned much about the local ecosystem, and were treated to views of 2 speices with sloth and all 3 of the local monkey speicies as well as many different birds.
We took a few trips 20 mins. south to Uvita and enjoyed Marnio Ballena park where we were able to hike out to the "Whales tale" at low tide. Play Hermosa half way between Casa Pura Vida and Uvita was along, expansive and secluded beach with excellent surf for boggie boarding. Uvita had the closest well-stocked grocery stores
Our favorite restaurant local restaurant in the Dominical area was La Macha with excellent sea food in an atmosphere that felt like visiting a family friend.
This was one of our favorite family vacations. Up at the top of the list with Hawaii. We plan to go back and stay again one day at Casa Pura Vida.
Each morning as the sun began ligth the sky, the local wildlife would serenade us to the new day. Every day without fail, the local tribe of Howler monkeys were part of this wonderful start to the day, and Toucans would make a pass through the surrounding rain forest
Cesar and his staff at Costa Rica Surf Camp were very attentive to the wide range of surfing skills in our group and treated us to a local waterfall and pool with a rope swing.
We enjoyed a guided hike with a young, local naturalist named David at Hacienda Baru where we learned much about the local ecosystem, and were treated to views of 2 speices with sloth and all 3 of the local monkey speicies as well as many different birds.
We took a few trips 20 mins. south to Uvita and enjoyed Marnio Ballena park where we were able to hike out to the "Whales tale" at low tide. Play Hermosa half way between Casa Pura Vida and Uvita was along, expansive and secluded beach with excellent surf for boggie boarding. Uvita had the closest well-stocked grocery stores
Our favorite restaurant local restaurant in the Dominical area was La Macha with excellent sea food in an atmosphere that felt like visiting a family friend.
This was one of our favorite family vacations. Up at the top of the list with Hawaii. We plan to go back and stay again one day at Casa Pura Vida.
Recommended for:
Adventure Seekers,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children
Helpful votes: 1/1
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
House Is Truly Eden
Submitted: July 13, 2012
Stayed: July 2012
Casa Pura Vida was a wonderful place for us to stay during our trip to Costa Rica. Upstairs bedrooms were spacious and well ventilated for comfortable sleeping, and with plenty of closets. Downstairs kitchen met our needs nicely--we ate breakfasts and several dinners in house--and was very well equipped. The inside living room was a tad small, but we quickly came to understand that the outside patio is the living room--even during the occasional afternoon showers because of the overhang of the upstairs porch off the bedrooms (which itself was a very special place to sit to read and write). But the pool was really our favorite place. The covered pool hit us perfectly where we wanted it. The cover protected us from too much sun and also we could use the pool during the afternoon or evening rain showers, slung lazily in the hammocks or swimming in the lovely pool during sun or rain. The pool area became our second living room. We've rented houses during many different vacations, but this one was the best. The owner of Casa Pura Vida, Neil, is also a very special person. Very interesting man, plus he graciously booked all of our ziplining, horsebackriding tours and gave advice on hidden waterfalls that only the locals know about. He knows everthing about the area and he knows all the local people, too. Great guy to have around! This area of the coast is a real treat--not much commercialism as you see up near Jaco--and it was terrific to have such a wonderful base as this home to explore up and down this part of Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. Manuel Antonio his only an hour's drive North, and the edge of the Oso area is only an hour's drive South. Perfect all the way around. I highly recommend Casa Pura Vida.
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
Helpful votes: 2/2
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
The perfect vacation
Submitted: July 10, 2012
Stayed: June 2012
Our family of 4 (including two teens) stayed at Pure Vida during the green season and we all agreed that it was the single best vacation we've ever taken as a family. What we loved about this villa: The location (Dominical isn't touristy at all...yet the restaurants and attractions were top-rate.) The pool (and having it partly covered meant that we could swim even at mid-day). The wildlife (we saw more monkeys and toucans in our yard than we did on our tour of the national parks :) The price (we looked at many choices and I'm convinced this is the best-value villa on the southern pacific coast.) Couple this with the smart & considerate British owner (who's available to help but also allows his guests complete privacy) and we are ready to return.
Recommended for:
Adventure Seekers,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children
Helpful votes: 2/2
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
business
House in Tropical Eden Walking Distance to Beach/Fast Internet
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p330531vb
+ +506 2200 5242
San Martin
Dominical
Beautiful Property: Monkeys in the backyard!
Submitted: May 25, 2012
Stayed: May 2012
We had our best vacation ever when visiting Casa Pura Vida. The house and property that it's situated on were gorgeous and far beyond our expectations. The home, patio and pool all had wonderful tilework. There was also charmingly carved woodwork throughout depicting monkeys and toucans. The plants and flowers surrounding the property were so stunning and include mango and banana trees as well as plumeria, which smelled divine. The pool area is so inviting with hammocks alongside. The balcony off the bedrooms was a perfect spot to observe the ocean from.
The very best part of all was the group of monkeys that were in the backyard. We got to see them three days in a row and one of those days they swung through the trees directly over us! There is wildlife everywhere on the property. Aside from the howler monkeys we also saw many geckos, butterflies, toads, crabs and birds galore.
We apparently picked a great time of year to go as the beaches and restaurants we visited were almost empty, giving us much appreciated solitude to go with our relaxing vacation.
The manager Neil, was a big help in setting up a guided hike for our second day there. Our hike took us up into the mountains. We got to view three waterfalls as we trekked through the jungle and viewed animals with our guide.
I would highly recommend this property to anyone who wants a peaceful and private sanctuary. It was the perfect hideaway after spending the day adventuring through the jungle or swimming at the beach.
The very best part of all was the group of monkeys that were in the backyard. We got to see them three days in a row and one of those days they swung through the trees directly over us! There is wildlife everywhere on the property. Aside from the howler monkeys we also saw many geckos, butterflies, toads, crabs and birds galore.
We apparently picked a great time of year to go as the beaches and restaurants we visited were almost empty, giving us much appreciated solitude to go with our relaxing vacation.
The manager Neil, was a big help in setting up a guided hike for our second day there. Our hike took us up into the mountains. We got to view three waterfalls as we trekked through the jungle and viewed animals with our guide.
I would highly recommend this property to anyone who wants a peaceful and private sanctuary. It was the perfect hideaway after spending the day adventuring through the jungle or swimming at the beach.
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
You have already voted for this review. Thanks for voting!
Thank you for your response.
Helpful votes: