Paradise Found -- this is as GOOD AS IT GETS!
Submitted: August 9, 2012
Stayed: July 2012
I spent the most AMAZING week at Casa Uvita this past July. I am a teacher who has lived and worked in Costa Rica (and led many a field trip there with my science students), and so I was really looking for something unique and special that I had not experienced before. Casa Uvita not only met, but far surpassed my expectations. The house itself was absolutely beautiful, with custom woodwork throughout and granite countertops in the kitchen. What I loved the most, however, was the feeling of being in the middle of the rainforest even when I was inside the house! Its "open" construction with upstairs and downstairs balconies gave it the feel of a majestic tree house -- you could practically reach out and touch the wildlife and birds as they went by! I literally was awakened each morning by nearby howler monkeys, toucans, forest falcons, and mealy parrots who were searching for their breakfast. Each evening I went to sleep to the hypnotic sounds of owls, tinamous, and chicharras (cicadas). I experienced world-class birding every morning (slaty-tailed trogons, violaceous trogans, masked & black-crowned titaras, laughing falcons, collared forest falcons, brown-hooded parrots, white-fronted parrots, red-lored parrots, mealy parrots, parakeets too numerous to count, golden hooded tanagers + many other types of tanager, multiple varieties of flycatcher, euphonias, chestnut-billed toucans (they were EVERYWHERE!), fiery-billed aracaris, blue-crowned motmot, pearl kites, manakins, and on and on! I felt like I was living in a national geographic movie. Besides the incredible hiking with outrageous views of the ocean (there also is an ocean view from the house itself), I hiked down to a beautiful waterfall and swam in the waterhole within the forest. Another day I drove to Marino Ballena national park (10 minutes away) and spent an amazing day on its many beaches (the main beach has a great tide for small children -- very safe). On two other days I road-biked along the main road with an ocean view. The house is fairly new, so the accommodations were super clean and comfortable. Carlos the cook/on-site staff person was very kind and helpful, and made wonderful breakfasts and dinners! This was a unforgettable vacation; I certainly will be back for another stay at Casa Uvita next summer. Many thanks to the gracious owners for their incredible knowledge of Costa Rica and its culture, and for sharing tips on fun activities to do while there.
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
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