Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View

Exterior
Outdoor dining
Property grounds
Exterior detail
Property grounds
4.8
Outstanding(221 Reviews)

House in Alajuela Province

8 guests · 4 bedrooms · 2 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones

About this house rental

ABOUT THE HOME....


The Zabala house is nestled in a lush organic coffee farm called Finca Flor Mar. This 100 acre farm produces organic Arabica coffee, plantains, bananas, mangos, limes, starfruit, & avocados.

The home is shaded by an abundant Mango & Lime orchard that is buzzing with butterflies & native birds.

With 4 bedrooms (3 bedrooms + loft) & 2 full baths, the Zabala house hosts a max of 8 people (6 adults with extra room for kids). It is the perfect couple’s getaway or family vacation home. The home has a fully functional kitchen and a maid that comes 2 times per week. Your floors will be cleaned, and dishes sparkling =) Laundry service is included.

The open floor plan boasts a rustic yet luxurious feel. It is comfortably furnished & tastefully decorated. The Zabala house features a large eat-in kitchen, wireless high-speed internet, two story high living room with a flat screen TV & DVD & Chromecast, a living room-like front porch, an expansive master suit with a spa-like hot shower, two upstairs bedrooms (one room with a twin bed, the other with a queen), and an open loft bedroom with queen bed & quadruple doors that open to a private patio. (The loft has an additional mattress nestled into the balcony nook that will sleep 2...great for kids.)

This is the only home of its kind in the area. It was hand-built by the community with local hard woods. All the doors, windows, & much of the furniture is artisan-made by the next-door neighbor. This house is the home of the Zabala family, who has temporarily returned to Atlanta. It has been called (with jaws dropping) a wonderland...the home is full of art, full of soul, and it is Costa-Rican gem like nothing else you can experience on the mountain.

I just posted a video link on our VRBO site from one of our guests who did a video blog of our house and their time in Monteverde. Enjoy! You will see in the picture that since that video was done we have completely renovated the exterior of the house, installed a new sidewalk that has no stairs, and installed some new bed and artwork! Enjoy the video though. It gives you a great sense of how comfortable and big the house is!

ABOUT MONTEVERDE...

Monteverde is a largely bilingual town. It’s home of the Cloud Forest Reserve, stunning natural landscapes, world-class restaurants, local shops, a strong art community, & a bustling local economy.

The world-famous Cloud Forest Reserve is a private nature reserve listed as #14 on Newsweek's 100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear. The massive 10,500 hectare reserve draws 70,000 tourists a year. It is known as
the site with the largest number of orchids in the world, and houses 60 species of amphibians (including the near extinct
Monteverde-endemic golden toad) and the elusive bright Blue Morphos butterfly. This area is also a stop for 91 species of migratory birds. The famed quetzal resides here seasonally.

What is now considered Monteverde was founded by Quakers from the United States whose pacifist values led them to defy the American draft during the Korean War. These conscientious objectors blended well with the Costa Rican philosophy of peaceful living. The Cloud Forest Reserve was set aside by Quakers to preserve the Cloud Forest & protect the water shed. Monteverde & surrounding areas are inhabited by a blend of Costa Ricans, Americans, & families from around the world.

The Zabala house is located about 20 minutes outside of Monteverde, in a small town called San Rafael. San Rafael is usually a good bit warmer & less rainy than Monteverde. It is a 100% Tico town, outside of the residents of Finca Flor Mar. This active town is formed by a strong community of families, a tasty restaurant, a pottery pavilion, local bar, two pulperias (small general stores), and two public schools.

CASA ZABALA DETAILS

The Zabala house is THE most personal, unique, and authentic way to experience Monteverde, Santa Elena, &
San Rafael, Costa Rica. High-end hotels of comparable quality to The Zabala house are $150-$250 a night for a single room. The Zabala house offers 4 bedrooms for $125 a night. Our home is about 2,000sqft of Costa Rican hardwoods & rustic comfort. It is one of the largest, most unique houses in the area.

Finca Flor Mar is the birthplace of the Sustainable Coffee Initiative. Chelsea’s father, Ken Lander, is the founder of this community based organization that created a system which exponentially increases the farmer’s profits compared to Fair Trade. San Rafael is the center of an agricultural revolution for the coffee industry. The Sustainable Coffee Initiative’s practices & philosophy are being explored around the world. Come visit Ken Lander at The Common Cup (or at his home next-door to The Zabala House), who will take you through the ever-growing world of the Costa Rican coffee farmer.

We strongly recommend having a rental car when you stay at Casa Zabala. It is a 25 minute drive to Monteverde & 3 minutes to San Rafael's center. Sooo much to do...but you will need to drive there. The value of staying in our house verses a hotel or rental closer to Monteverde in incomparable.

Please email us for more pictures. We have lots! (Had fun taking them...our home is lovely!)

FOR BIRD WATCHERS!: We had a group of diehard bird watchers who came and spent most of their time on the farm and surrounding area doing what they love to do! Here is the results! Thanks Nancy and all of your team!:

Some Birds of Casa Zabala & Neighborhood, Guanacaste, CR

Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Party of Capek, Johnson, D'Hont, Edmondson.
45 species

Gray-headed Chachalaca
Turkey Vulture
Swallow-tailed Kite
Red-billed Pigeon
White-tipped Dove
Squirrel Cuckoo
Common Pauraque
White-collared Swift
Purple-throated Mountain-Gem
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Orange-bellied Trogon
Lesson's Motmot
Turquoise-browed Motmot
Emerald Toucanet
Hoffman's woodpecker
Golden-olive Woodpecker
White-fronted Parrot
Orange-fronted Parakeet
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Common Tody Flycatcher
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Social Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Long-tailed Manakin
Masked Tityra
White-throated Magpie-Jay
Brown Jay
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
House Wren
Rufous-and-white Wren
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush
Slatey-backed Nightingale-Thrush
Clay-colored Thrush
Blackburnian Warbler
Rufous-capped Warbler
Blue-gray Tanager
Palm Tanager
Blue-black Grassquit
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Buff-throated Saltator
White-eared Ground-Sparrow
Great-tailed Grackle
Yellow-billed Cacique
Montezuma Oropendola
Yellow-throated Euphonia

Keywords: coffee farm, secluded, family, couples, mountain home, relaxing home, tropical, cloud forest, costa rica, monteverde, rustic, open floor plan, full kitchen, orchard, authentic, farm, gardens, casa, finca, finca de cafe, espanol, honeymoon, family vacation, romantic getaway

Amenities

Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
TV
Wheelchair accessible

Map of Alajuela Province

Reviews

4.8
Outstanding(221 Reviews)
4.8
Jul 2024
This property was perfect for our family of 6 (17yoB, 15yoG, 13yoG, 9yoG). As noted in the descriptions, finding it took some connection with Ken due to its unique location, however we had the same 'challenge' at all the VRBOs we stayed at so maybe it is just a me thing :-). Everyone had their own space enabling them an opportunity to stretch out of some driving days. You are literally staying on acres of farmland so you have to be comfortable with what that provides you - access to lots of birds and wildlife (we saw toucans, numerous varieties of parakeets, and a beautiful coffee plantation) Ken was incredibly helpful with updating and securing our activities as we were a little behind schedule + he provided some great recommendations (locally and around CR)
4.8
Jun 2024
The house was great for us and Ken is a great host. It takes very little time to get to all the relevant places. We would definitely stay here again.
4.8
May 2024
Great stay! The house itself was just very cool, nice atmosphere, great hosts, beautiful area. Ken was helpful in every way and Bella was a wonderful addition to place. We couldn’t be happier with our experience!
4.8
May 2024
We were greeted by Bella, the family's dog. She followed us everywhere for the 2 days we were there. The house is big, great for large groups. Kitchen is alright. It could be cleaner overall but nothing gross. You gotta be ready to deal with bugs as they're big gaps under the doors. No mesh in the windows. We had to deal with a scorpio, a frog, a big ass spider and a bat ! We walked around in the coffee farm, it really is a beautiful place, super quiet. about 20 min to Santa Elena
4.8
Apr 2024
We loved staying at this house. Walk on property was really fun. Convenient to Monteverde activities. Ken was very welcoming and provided recommendations etc.
4.8
Apr 2024
Comfortable, casual and beautiful mountain home with lovable resident dog, cool air even at the hottest time of year, nearby walks, lime tree, lovely evenings on the porch and near to Monteverde Cloud Forest (20 - 30 mins). Adventurous road but easily doable in our rear-wheel drive bus. Highly recommend for travelers seeking an historic home authentic to old Costa Rica.
4.8
Apr 2024
Kenneth's farm near Monteverde is beautiful and charming. We had a great time exploring the area from here, and enjoyed Kenneth's local recommendations.
4.8
Mar 2024
Casa Zabala was everything we were hoping for in Monteverde and more. The property is about a 15min drive from the town, which we liked because we wanted to be in a peaceful and remote location. The house was unique and memorable, our sons loved sleeping in the loft beds. There were many good books to choose from to read and games to play. A nice big family dinner table, which we used constantly as we prepared all of our own meals. Any needs that came up, Ken the owner was extremely helpful and communicative. Our boys loved playing with the dog, Bella, she was so sweet and patient with them. A new cafe down the street called El Despacio was an amazing lunch or dinner spot with a perfect view, we were so glad we could walk there with small children. We miss our time there already and hope to return one day.

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Alajuela Province?

The average price for a rental in Alajuela Province is $125 per night. This rental is $72 above the average.

Is parking included with this house?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View pet friendly?

Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.

What amenities are available at Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View?

We found 8 amenities for this rental. This includes pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.

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