This 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath home sleeps 7 comfortably with A/C in each bedroom, walk-in closets, large eat-in kitchen with all the essentials, and a huge terrace with hammocks, table and chairs, and rockers to enjoy the amazing views of the Gulfo Dulce and surrounding jungle wildlife. About 15 minutes from secluded black sand beaches, restaurants and shopping. The bustling surf town of Pavones is just 25 minutes' drive. Included with your stay is a weekly cleaning service and Property Manager, who lives next door, and can help you find all the local tours, shops, restaurants and fun hotspots in town. Read on for a true understanding of what life is like in a small town at the end of a Costa Rican dirt road...
The bay of Pavones is one of the few truly unspoiled corners of paradise left in Costa Rica where endangered monkeys lunch in fruit trees at the side of the road, scarlet macaws squawk overhead and giant dazzling blue butterflies flap by. Amidst this beauty is where you'll find Finca Estrella and her two rental houses, Casa Amarilla being the most stunning. The neighbors are all wonderful friendly Ticos (Costa Ricans) so, if you want to absorb the real Costa Rican culture, this is the place to stay. Finca Estrella is only minutes from beautiful beaches, refreshing rivers and the local surf breaks.
Awaiting you at Casa Amarilla are granite kitchen counter-tops, jungle door-carvings, comfortable sofas and mattresses, wrap-around wooden terrace with hammocks and rocking chairs for breath-taking views/stunning sunsets or stargazing - everything you need to have a fantastic vacation.
The beaches are wild and stunning, the perfect kind for beach-combing, and the warm waters are fantastic for surfing (rent a board nearby) and boogie boarding. Or, if you fancy something different, follow dolphins watching silvery fish jumping in the waves while you stand-up paddleboard in the perfect water at Pilon. If you prefer to stay on the sand then there are a myriad of beautiful seeds to find, kite-surfers to admire, seabirds by the dozen. Pick up fish for the grill on the way home from the fishermen, most likely your only companions on the endless stretch of perfect sand. Local fishermen will happily oblige if you want to join them in their boats to catch some mackerel, sea bass, snook (robalo), dorado (mahi-mahi) or red snapper. For the more adventurous, inshore or offshore sportfishing can be arranged with Zancudo Lodge or the marinas of Golfito. Boat trips can also be arranged for visits to the Osa Peninsula, the Orchid Gardens, Wild Animal Refuge, Zipline Canopy Tours or Kayaking in the Rio Coto (River) - whales, dolphins and turtles are often spotted from the boats. You can even waterski and kite-surf!
Trek with our guys, Freddy and Enrique, around the extensive finca bird/butterfly/wildlife watching amongst the myriad of exotic flowers and fruit trees - pineapples, mangoes, watermelons, papayas, cashews, a wonderful type of lychee, coconuts, guavas, cacao (yes, you can make chocolate!), ice cream beans, oranges, lemons, and grapefruit all grow on the finca. Or head to the local waterfalls - walk or take the horses - and lunch in the cool shade on mossy logs before taking the plunge and clambering up the rocks to stand under the waterfalls' refreshing torrent. The 'pozo' - swimming hole - at the Cuervito River is a must on a hot day. Jump off rocks or fallen logs and relax in perfect surroundings listening to your jungle 'music'. Gold has been found in the local rivers so let the guys know if you would like to try your hand at gold-panning.
On 'rest' days, the hammocks by the beautiful 18m swimming pool will be waiting for you. Swing serenely listening to the toucans, clicking butterflies, the buzzing of hummingbirds' wings, the parrots' chatter or other exotic birds (over 200 kinds have been spotted) and Freddy or Enrique will gently nudge you when the monkeys/sloths/anything else you would like to see is around. If you fancy being 'arty' you can use the 'house-paints' and decorate the fruits of your beach-combing labors - ornate seeds, smooth stones or even discarded flip-flops or, let Grace paint jungle flowers on your toe-nails so you can take a bit of your vacation home with you......
The water spouts from passing whales have been spotted from the finca - the gulf teems with sea life, so always keep a lookout.
Read 'A Friend Laughs' by Jo Freeman for the funny and true story of our beginnings. Essential reading for anyone who has dreamt of changing their life. Available from Amazon.
Keywords: Rainforest House