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Lake Arenal-Stunning views of the lake, volcano and jungle.
| Sleeps | 6 |
| Bedrooms | 2 |
| Bathrooms | 2 |
| Half Baths | 1 |
| Space | 1,550 sq. ft. |
| Property type | chalet |
| Minimum Stay | 2 nights |
Overview
2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, sleeps 4 comfortably, optional blowup bed for children
Our 'Castle in The Clouds' is just seven km from Volcano Arenal, perched 700m above sea-level overlooking the volcano, rainforest, pastures and Lake Arenal and close to many of the most popular amenities the region has to offer . Wake to the sound of howler monkeys, toucans and parrots and enjoy your first cup of locally-grown coffee in our covered gazebo or in the 25 sq. metre sunroom. Our home features a splash pool to cool off after a busy day of eco-adventuring. You can walk to many attractions in the village, including several quaint local restaurants. The home features casual dining indoor or out, hot water throughout, and stunning views from every room. It is completely equipped with a full-sized fridge with ice-maker, gas stove, microwave and blender and includes twice-weekly cleaning service (more often optional on request). An optional personal laundry service is also available. Active or passive, this is the perfect home base for your Arenal vacation!
Although our small stretch of the road is usually in good shape it is steep and the road coming into El Castillo is very rough. We highly recommend a 4x4 vehicle for all your excursions in Costa Rica. We now feature a paved driveway, a separate covered Gazebo (perfect for al fresco dining) and the yard has been completely enclosed with a custom-made 5' stone and wrought-iron fence. You'll enjoy our garden paradise yard featuring a variety of local and tropical plants designed to maximize your Costa Rica experience.
Now-Book Local Tours and Attractions: Hannah and Tomas, our on-site hosts can help you book many local tours and attractions for you on your arrival, saving you the hassle of running around. From zipline tours, hot springs spas and volcano hikes to a horseback ride to a real eco-farm, you can be as busy or as relaxed as you like, but you'll never run out of things to do in the area. Just ask when you arrive and we can make recommendations and reservations for you.
July 2011: If you catch the new reality show 'Love in the Wild' airing on CTV in Canada or NBC in the US, you'll experience life in El Castillo. They were filming the series when we visited in March and almost all of the scenes were shot in and around our little neighbourhood.
Read about 'Love in the Wild' here http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edition/News-Briefs/Love-in-the-Wild-host-Darren-McMullen-tells-all_Wednesday-August-03-2011.
About Joe Anderson
We're a semi-retired couple gay couple who divide our time between homes in Canada, The United States and Costa Rica.
Joe Anderson purchased this chalet in 2010
Why Joe Anderson chose El Castillo
We fell in love with Costa Rica on our first visit here in 2007 and came to the Arenal area in 2010 when we had this home custom built for us. We love 'places at the end of the road' where we can experience authentic and unique characters. El Castillo is a true 'Tico' community. Apart from a dozen or so ex-pats from around the world, our neighbours are locals-farmers, labourers and professionals who live and work in this beautiful corner of the world. When we first stood on this piece of land we immediately knew that it was a one-of-a-kind view, and that has been confirmed by the hundreds of guests who have stayed here in the last four years. We're proud to be one of the most-popular destination properties in Costa Rica, enjoying super-host status and a five-star rating on every site. All our guests remark on the million-dollar view, the accommodations, the peace and the many local activities, but above all, they praise the friendly local people and how they make every one of guests feel at home and welcome.
What makes this chalet unique
Our house features quiet corners where even two couples or a family can find solitude. Whether in the second floor sunroom with its sweeping view of the volcano, the lake and the neighbouring jungle ravines, the secluded gazebo, a quiet chair on the front porch, sitting by the pool or taking a quiet walk in the tropical garden, this home offers many ways to commune with nature and connect with your inner self.
Guestbook comments from the owner
All that could be said already has been, and all is true. Great setting, very comfortable, fantastic views and garden, and local hosts are wonderful. In regard to the comments about the road to get there, maybe it is coming from Colorado, but the road was no big deal. Just go slow; it 's not like off roading. Best parts are the views and the village. After traveling in other parts of CR, I would say just stay here. No need to even go to La Fortuna. The little village is welcoming and has great amenities, especially considering the size. Wish we had just made our whole trip here. The rest was a let down.
Map
Arenal Volcano. Lake Arenal. Backs onto Arenal National Forest. Close to La Fortuna and Tabacon Resort. Volcano Arenal is the second-most-visited tourist attraction in Costa Rica, after Manuel Antonio. Our village is located 10 km off the main highway inside the National Park in the quaint village of El Castillo (population 300). Lonely Planet recommended, El Castillo is the perfect base to explore the many attractions this area has to offer. Within the village, you'll find horseback riding, restaurants, the butterfly conservatory, the serpentarium, canoe and kayak rentals and a pulperia (village store). Within a comfortable drive, you'll find the SkyTram, zipline tours, whitewater rafting, the Hanging Bridges, the Arenal Observatory, yoga, hiking trails, Monteverde National Park and a dozen or more hot-springs resorts to suit any budget.
Breaking news-they're filming M.Night Shyamalin's 'After Earth' starring Will and Jaden Smith in our neighbourhood month of February.
Other Activities: Hiking-our European visitors rave about the many interesting hiking trails starting right at your front door.
Horseback riding- 150 metres down the road.
Butterflies or snakes-both museums are walkable from the house
Hot Springs-the area is famous for a dozen hot spring resorts where a day pass is as little as $15pp or join the locals at the 'free' springs right off the main highway.
Ziplining-You have several choices within a few minutes drive of thehouse
SkyTram-for those who prefer a less strenuous ride, take the SkyTram right to the base of the volcano.
Kayak rentals-in the village, explore Lake Arenal and its many islands.
ATV rentals-10 minutes away, guided ATV tours of the area.
The Volcano-choose from several vantage points including the Observatory or the National park.
Massage Therapy-walk-ins welcome or our host can book an in-home massage for you.
Yoga-available at Racho Margot in the village, a world-class eco retreat.
Or just relax in the gazebo or by the pool
Amenities
El Millon Chalet Accommodation and Amenities
- chalet
- Guests provide their own meals
- Housekeeper Optional
- 1550 sq. ft.
- Max. occupancy: 6
- children welcome
- non smoking only
- Lake
- Mountain
- River
- Rural
- Village
- Adventure
- Away From It All
- Romantic
- Activities Guide
- Backpack
- Basic Soaps
- Ceiling Fans
- Hair Dryer
- Internet
- Iron & Board
- Linens Provided
- Living Area
- Living Room
- Local Maps
- Local Restaurant Guide
- Paper Towels
- Parking Off Street
- Secure Parking
- Security System
- Shampoo
- Sofa Bed
- Telephone
- Toilet Paper
- Towels Provided
- Wireless Internet
- 4 Ring Stove
- Blender
- Coffee Grinder
- Coffee Maker
- Cooking Utensils
- Dishes & Utensils
- Freezer
- Grill
- Ice Maker
- Kitchen
- Microwave
- Oven
- Pantry Items
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Stove
- Toaster
- Dining Area
- seating for 4 people
- 2 Bathrooms,
- 1 Half Bath
-
Bathroom 1 -
toilet
,
shower
,
ensuite
Bathroom 2 - toilet , shower , ensuite
Bathroom 3 - toilet , main floor
- Eco-friendly toiletries are provided. Our water is natural spring water from high in the mountains.
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6
-
Green Room -
1 queen
,
Volcano and Lake views
Blue Room - 1 queen , Volcano and Jungle views
- Accommodates 4 comfortably with ensuite baths (glass-enclosed showers) in both rooms. There is a futon couch suitable for one adult or two children. Please specify at time of booking. Bedrooms are luxury appointed each with a walkout to the 25 sq. m second floor sunroom (very secure and private). Linens are changed twice weekly, or more often at an optional extra charge ($10 per day). Toiletries and towels are provided.
- Books
- Books for Adults
- Books for Kids
- CD Player
- DVD Player
- Games
- Satellite / Cable
- Television ...
- Video Library
- Balcony
- Beach Chairs
- Beach Towels
- Deck / Patio
- Fully Fenced Property
- Lanai / Gazebo
- Lawn / Garden
- Outdoor Entertainment Area
- Patio
- Porch / Veranda
- Small Cooler
- Terrace
- 4 garden chairs
- 3 beach chairs
- Long-term Renters Welcome
- Low Allergen Environment
- In Ground Pool
- Outdoor Pool
- Private Pool
- Massage
- botanical garden
- forests
- museums
- rain forests
- restaurants
- volcano
- waterfalls
- zoo
- antiquing
- bird watching
- eco tourism
- horseback riding
- photography
- scenic drives
- sight seeing
- walking
- groceries
- hospital
- massage therapist
- medical services
- cycling
- equestrian events
- fishing
- fly fishing
- hiking
- jet skiing
- mountain biking
- mountain climbing
- mountaineering
- rafting
- sailing
- sound/bay fishing
- swimming
- whitewater rafting
- wind-surfing
Reviews
Wonderful!
4.8/5 -
(40 traveler reviews)
WOW!
After a crazy drive through every pothole Costa Rica can produce, we came upon this wonderful house. The views were amazing, and the house was very comfortable with lots of room for all of us, a family of 4 adults (2 couples). Hannah, Anita, and Tomas gave us a warm welcome, and the driving directions and info on the house and area that was sent to us ahead of time was incredibly comprehensive and so helpful. Having breakfast in the gazebo, as in the photo, set the tone for each wonderful day. Even cooking while on vacation was fun, as all pitched in to dine together along with the majesty of Arenal. The only suggestions we'd like to offer are: put screens in more windows, as with no air conditioning, it did get quite warm; and the ladder in the pool is up so high, that some of us could only get out when my son put a plastic chair in the pool as a step. We all agreed on that one, especially when I was "hostage" in the pool unable to get out when the other 3 went for a hike! I'd certainly recommend this lovely house with the amazing views and wonderful caretakers. Also, be sure to buy some of Anita's cookies and go see Andreas at Pizza John's!
Wonderful views and fantastic sun room
We spent 4 nights at Joe's beautiful house in mid August. It was a joy to wake up to the constantly changing views of the volcano each morning, and the amazing birdsong from the surrounding trees and the garden. We had a mixture of sun and torrential showers during our stay but the sun room upstairs is a wonderful spot from which to enjoy the surroundings, whatever the weather. The gazebo in the garden is a glorious place to sip a morning coffee and watch the toucans in the trees. We also loved having the pool to unwind in after being out and about all day. We cooked dinner some evenings, making use of the well stocked kitchen. The beds are wonderfully comfortable and the bathrooms well equipped with lovely spacious showers. We had planned to use the sofabed/futon for one of our two teenage sons, but it wasn't comfortable or big enough so they ended up sharing the double bed. It would definitely be in keeping with the overall high standard of the house to have a new sofabed.
Considering how wet the weather can be, it would be useful to have a clothes airer on which to hang and dry wet clothes, or alternatively, a tumble dryer. We had to hang wet coats and trousers on the backs of chairs and couldn't really get anything dry. As we were travelling for another 5 days after leaving El Castillo, this meant packing wet clothes to take with us.
Tomas and Ana from La Gavilana were really helpful and hospitable, on our arrival and on subsequent visits to La Gavilana. They made us a delicious breakfast one morning and we bought some of Tomas's homemade hot sauce, and his tincture for insect bites.
We had great food at Howlers and also at Pizza Johns - we walked there after a visit to the amazing Butterfly Conservatory. Well worth a visit, and the student volunteers are really informative and friendly.
We swam in the Lake at the access point past Howlers and went to the 'free' hot springs opposite El Tabacon ...like a really warm jacuzzi.
We ziplined at Skytrek and also did a Skywalk there. Loved the ziplining and the walk was interesting, although we had expected to see more animals than we did.
Overall, apart from the extremely challenging roads, to which Joe refers on his information pack, and which did make us less inclined to just 'hop in the car' and explore as widely as we would normally do, El Castillo is a magical place, where you get a sense of the real Costa Rica.
The Views were amazing, Felt like we were away from it all and yet close to everything.
Views, Views, Views, and Views are the best thing about this little gem. It really seemed like our own little paradise. The place was clean and the views really are the best thing about this house. That being said I must say that we booked this with six people and it is in no way equipped to handle six people. One of my kids had to sleep in the sun room on basically outdoor furniture, my son said it was comfy however. The other one slept on a very very small futon not really large enough for anything other then a child she was 19 so she was a little uncomfortable. When I booked I did say how many we were bringing and their ages. This house would be perfect for four. That being said I didn't have to sleep on the little futon so I fully enjoyed my stay and would probably ask my kids to "suffer" in order to stay here again. My children fully enjoyed the pool every night we were there even when it rained. The pool was much smaller then I thought it was going to be but it was beautiful and it was nice for a fun dip. I loved the little town and I really felt blessed getting to stay here. When I look at my pictures I miss it so much. My favorite night while we were in this area was night we came back early I open the windows up upstairs hung my feet out and took pictures of the sun setting, the children playing in the pool, and the scenery all around me. It was so relaxing and beautiful. I want to stress that overall I gave this place a five because it was paradise my only complaint is they were not prepared for the amount of people we had.
Great Views with friendly people!
Very nice place to stay. Four wheel drive is a must due to very steep climb and rocky sometimes wet roadways. This is a must for those visiting this area.
A true Costa Rican experience with breathtaking views!
Although the house is not the easiest to get to, it was well worth the bumpy drive to stay at the house in the clouds! The pictures don't do it justice but are also extremely accurate depictions of what you will see. The house was beautiful inside and out with views over El Castillo. There are many restaurants and excursions in town or just outside of town. Sky Adventure has great choices if you're looking for action-packed fun. Pizza John's, La Ventanita (burritos) and Howler's bar were our top 3 places- all providing fun experiences with extremely tasty food! La Fortuna is a bit of a drive (approx. 45 min from the house) but worth going to while staying in El Castillo. A 4x4/ 4WD vehicle is a MUST to stay at this house. Everyone is extremely kind and helpful. When I get a chance to visit again, I will definitely visit El Castillo and stay in Joe and Wesley's house!
Awesome!
Absolutely loved it all...house, village, people, scenery and activities....I think we will be coming back!
House is the last one heading up the mountain road overlooking the village, lake and volcano....very private. Kitchen is well equiped, tv has Netflix and pool is clean and refreshing....most of the roads are no problem....but...the last bit up to the house is loose and steep, I was glad I had 4x4 even though I probably could have made it...we did drive up the montain beyond the house and 4x4 was required.
We stayed end of May 2017 and it rained off and on every day...so come equiped for adventures in the rain.
Many thanks to Joe for providing a great vacation!
Photos
Rates & Availability
- Available
- Unavailable
Additional information about rental rates
| Refundable damage deposit | $200 |
| Cleaning | $20 |
There is a $10 per person per night fee for more than 4 guests. Rates are subject to change until reservations are confirmed.
Owner's Cancellation Policy
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