We stayed at Casa Lutecia for the last week of March and it was a perfect place for us, as family of two middle-aged parents and two boys, ages 7 & 10. The house is beautifully and simply furnished, accurately depicted in the website's photos. Staying in an open-air house (with screens) really helped us acclimate to the hot weather, and the surrounding tree cover made it very comfortable even on bright, sunny days. Walking through the jungle to get to the beach always felt magical. During that short walk, we saw a basilisk lizard, a toucan, leaf-cutter ants, howler monkeys, and many other creatures. At the house in the mornings we were alternately visited by howler monkeys and white faced capuchins. Green parrots squawked from high branches; a couple of geckos climbed the screens outside at night. Apparently we missed seeing a pair of scarlet macaws fly by one day, but we saw several pairs at various times during our canopy tour and Nauyaca Waterfall trip. We also visited the wildlife rescue shelter just north of Uvita, where we saw baby sloths, an anteater, a squirrel spider monkey, among others. When we felt like swimming, we could take the short walk to the beach or take a short drive to Uvita to cool off at Cascada Verde, a wonderful set of swimming holes and waterfalls. The kitchen had what we needed and the internet worked perfectly. If you are looking for a place that is low key, clean, private (we rarely saw others on the beach), and comfortable, this is the place for you. Notable attractions were the Osa zipline tour and the waterfalls. Playa Arco is breathtaking. We came at the wrong time for whale watching, but the surf was great for boogie boards with our kids.

My family ( in- laws, husband and 2 1/2 year old and me) stayed here for 3 nights. The view from the upstairs bedroom was amazing. The house is screened in so most, not all of the bugs stay outside. In the mornings you can hear the howler monkeys although we never got to see them. The hosts David and Natalia were very helpful and accommodating. They helped us to set up a shuttle to their place with a very friendly driver who stopped for groceries before we arrived. Once there, we realized because of the location we would need a rental car to get around. They drove my father in law in to town to help him set that up. The beach is a bit of a trek- maybe 15 minutes. It is only a beach at low tide so you have to plan your beach time accordingly. Uvita is a small town but it has everything you need- a couple restaurants, pharmacy, groceries etc.

We spent 3 weeks in the lovely house in the Jungle in august and we've loved it ! We were two adults, one seventeen year old and 2 twentie year olds. There are many things to do in Uvita and around the town like national parks, walking, horse back riding, canopy tours, snorkeling, rafting, surfing and you can go see dolphins, turtles and whales on a boat at Playa Uvita (10min drive). There are also 2 grocery stores where we bought food and restaurants, bakery, sodas and a pharmacy if needed in Uvita. The best moment in the house is when you fall asleep with the noises of animals like monkeys, crickets and the waves (even whales sometimes). We also had the visit of the sweetest dog named Flaco that was our guardian and our guide to the beach during all the trip. We've been to the beach almost everyday at Playa Arco which is at 20min by foot from the house and it was a pleasure to cool down in the small waterfall there after we swum. Moreover David and Natalia who live just near the house were really helpful when we needed informations ! It was great to spend some times in this peaceful property out of time and making one with nature. Ns avons passé 3 semaines ds cette magnifique maison isolée ds la jungle et ns avons vraiment apprécié l'endroit ! Ns étions 2 adultes, 1 jeune fille de 17 ans et 2 jeunes d'une vingtaine d'année. Il y a ps mal de choses à faire à Uvita et aux alentours comme des parcs nationaux, de la marche, des balades à cheval, de la tyrolienne, de la plongée, du rafting, du surf et on peut aussi aller voir les baleines, dauphins et tortues en bateau à la plage d'Uvita (10min en voiture). Il y a aussi 2 supermarchés où ns faisions nos courses ainsi que des restaurants, une boulangerie, des sodas et une pharmacie si besoin à Uvita. Le meilleur moment est lorsque l'on s'endormait avec ts les bruits d'animaux dont les singes, criquets et rouleaux des vagues (on entendait même des baleines parfois !). Ts les jours ns avions la visite du chien le + attachant et souriant (vraiment !) nommé Flaco qui était notre gardien et guide durant tt le séjour. Ns avons été à la plage d'Arco presque ts les jours qui est à 20 min de la maison à pieds et c'était vraiment agréable de se rafraîchir ds la petite cascade après avoir nagé! Et David et Natalia qui habitent à côté étaient très aidant qd ns avions besoin d'infos. Bref c'était génial de passer du tps ds cette maison hors du temps et en harmonie avec la nature !!

We absolutely loved our stay at Casa Lutecia. We saw monkeys the very first day! And my kids fell in love with David and Natalia's dog, Flaco. We were actually teary eyed when we had to leave because they became so attached to him. The home is just what you need for a relaxing stay and the view is outstanding. White faced monkeys visited very near the porch and happily posed for pics and entertained the kids. Two mother monkeys with babies was an amazing site to see! I would recommend this home for couples looking for privacy and families looking for a fun adventure. The hosts were always available to answer questions. We also very much appreciated being able to use the house's boogie boards at Playa Hermosa. Hopefully we can come back again some day!

My wife and I and 3 boys (7, 10, 12) stayed here for 11 days. We all had a blast! This house is pretty much all screen windows from floor to ceiling, so it really feels like you are sleeping outside in the jungle. The noises are incredible, especially in the early morning when the Howler monkeys, parrots, and every other jungle critter makes its presence known. The boys couldn't have been happier seeing both Howler and White Faced monkeys several times on the property, and toucans and parrots are around daily. We also saw a Tamarindo Anteater a few times. There is a nice trail through the jungle to the beach, which is absolutely fantastic. In all the days we spent on the beach, we probably saw 10 people total. Playa Arco, which is accessible via a short trail from the beach out front is without question the most amazing beach I've ever been on. Groceries and a nice assortment of really good restaurants are a short distance away in either direction. David and Natalia were very helpful in setting up a activities for us, and were super responsive and quick to lend a hand when we had questions, which is not something you find at many VRBOs. The boys also fell in love with "Flacco" their yellow lab that led us to the beach daily and kept us company. Give him some water and attention and he will take you where you need to go. The boys cried the morning we left so it was obviously very special for them. If you are wanting to get away from the resorts and crowds and have a true CR experience, I don't think you can go wrong here.

What a spectacular house. Highly recommend for types of travelers: friends, family, couples. The house was truly in the jungle with monkeys and tuscans surrounding the property and the private beach was just a dream. David and Natalia were incredibly helpful and just so friendly. That was just a huge bonus!

We had a wonderful time at Casa Lutetia. It is a spacious home in a beautiful setting. David and Natalia are extremely helpful and made the trip even better by offering assistance and information whenever needed. We saw monkeys from the deck every day, what an experience! Our family (with 2 teenagers) walked to the beautiful, secluded beach almost every day, as well. The house is secluded yet close enough to a grocery store and restaurants, plus plenty of other beautiful beaches if you want to explore more. The only downfall is that because you are in such a beautiful natural setting, some of nature's creatures find their way into the home. This is no fault of the owners and if you want the joy of a jungle experience, you need to be prepared for some unexpected surprises.

We feel so fortunate to find this place for our recent stay on in Costa Rica (especially now, after having seen a bit around the Central Pacific Coast of the country). It has it all: a stunning view of the ocean (from both the first and the second levels) through the canopy, unmatched privacy (if you crave for it), perfect wild-watching location (especially early in the morning and just before the sunset) and an easy and pleasant access to a couple of secluded beaches in the area. If you are looking for some nightlife, time your trip around the week of the TheBestFest (the annual 3-day music festival in the jungle, which seemed out of place to us, given the vulnerability of the region's wildlife). The best dining options can be found in Ojochal (be sure to make reservations though), with Exotica being our favorite place. The hosts (Natalia and David) will make the arrangements easy for you. Thank you for an unforgettable stay!!!

We LOVED our time at this home. The owners are SUPER helpful, available by e-mail or skype before and during our stay, helping reserve activities and arrange transportation. The property is big, clean, with great views, and only a few minutes walk from the beach. The beach is secluded, rocky during high tide, but sandy and swim-able during low tide. We took the owners suggestion and headed down to the next beach (by a trail through the woods for a few minutes) where there is a wonderful cave you can walk through, and the waves are a blast to play in. The shower in the home is a little funky in terms of consistent water availability and pressure, but that adds to the feeling of adventure, and all was explained to us when we arrived. The kitchen is well organized and functional. If you don't have a car it is tricky getting around and taxis are expensive, but do-able. The upstairs room is all open, including the bathroom, and the bath up there is only cold water. We were two adult friends and two young teenage boys and we all loved it. The white faced monkeys were in the trees right by the house one morning, checking us out. The owners have a dog, Lucy, who adopts the visitors. She does not come in to the house, but sleeps peacefully out doors and is ready to show you the trail to the beach, watch over you, and make sure you get back to the house on the right path. A true host! Do be warned that the owners have two other dogs who stay on their nearby property. If you need to go on the owner's property, I would recommend that you e-mail the owner first to let him know and have the dogs put in the house or on a leash. The dogs are protective of their property and we had a bad experience with one of them. Other than that one incident, we had an amazing time and would go back in a heart beat.

Natalia and David's spacious, clean and comfortable (a bit sparsely furnished) house exceeded our expectations! We were greeeted with fresh banana bread and coconut water, as well as Lucy the dog, who became our guide and companion for the week. David and Natalia were available and helpful with suggestions for activities and happy to make reservations as needed. The gorgeous secluded beach was a pleasant walk through the jungle and provided hours of floating and bobbing in gently warm Pacific ocean surf. The house is located 10 to 30 minutes from a variety of eateries, grocery store and activities, and less than an hour to the gateway for boat tours through mangroves and to amazing bio-diverse national park. We had a great time ziplining (Osa Canopy Tours), short hike and swimming near waterfalls (near location where Tilapia is caught and fried to order - our favorite meal) and fine dining in Ojachal (15 minute drive) as well as trinket shopping and people watching in surfing town of Dominical (30 min drive).

We had a wonderful time at Casa Escondida! The home was beautiful and well taken care of. There was no air conditioning which was as struggle, but sill worth it! There were monkey's right outside of our window and lots of interesting flora and fauna to appreciate right outside our window! We would definitely recommend this home or any of the other homes on the property :)

Our stay in Casa Escondido was absolutely wonderful! A charming house tucked away in the rainforest along the ocean in Playa Ballena. From our bedroom we could saw toucans and other birds, howler monkeys playing in the trees and lots of other jungle creatures. A short stroll along a jungle path and the Pacific Ocean awaits. The kitchen is equipped with everything you need to eat in, but there are some charming restaurants in the area too. David and Natalia are wonderful hosts, too. If you are looking for an authentic Costa Rican rainforest experience, this is it!!

I have lived in Costa Rica for over 16yrs and have travelled throughout the country extensively. I, however, had not been to this part of the country and was quite pleasantly surprised. My family and I agreed that this house has something special about it: jungle surroundings, exquisite decor, detailed attention to guest necesities, and close proximity to the beach. We even found some beach chairs under the house that we used when we walked down to the beach. The monkeys and toucans were a delight in the evenings, and Lucy, the sweetest farm dog, kept us company through our entire visit. Going to the grocery store was not an issue, as it was just 10 minutes away, as was Uvita Information Center, where we booked our tours! We are already planning our next visit! Only a 3hr drive from San Jose (Escazu) on a great highway...

This was our 4th visit to Costa Rica but our first to the Playa Uvita area. We had only 4 days so we wavered between driving the extra miles south from Manuel Antonio , Dominical or going on the Caribbean side but with David and Natalia’s excellent advice we rented a car and headed to Playa Ballena. The roads were great, 3.5 hours from airport. Natalia met us at the entrance to the property and escorted us to the house. What an amazing experience to stay on private property in a newly built cottage so near the beaches. Every day we walked to the beach to swim, body surf and run. Natalia offered to arrange any tour for us and offered many suggestions for lunches and dinners. Stores and restaurants are near by but the feeling of being in the jungle happens right from the window views. We had the chance to see Howler monkeys each afternoon into the evenings right from the bedroom and living room windows. By the end of our stay we thought we were birding and monkey experts. What a decadent life we lived in Playa Ballena. We can't wait to go back!

Thank you David and Natalia, we loved everything about staying in Casa Escondida! This little "hidden" gem is a glass sided house situated in a very private jungle setting with a beautiful, "secret" sandy cove safe for swimming within a 10-15 minute walk. Unlike many properties in this area, the home is easily accessible from the road (with security gate and owners nearby, so very secure feeling), yet you are surrounded only by the sounds of pounding surf, birds and monkeys. The home possesses a zen like tranquility; it is open and light with beautiful wood floors and high ceilings and artfully decorated with natural materials and original art. The place is impeccably clean and well appointed for all basic cooking needs. Pictures don't show the great outdoor shower. The small, multi-cultural communities of Uvita and Ojochal have everything you require within a short distance, including some "must visit" restaurants. Sierpe, the gateway to Corcovado National Park and Isla Cano, is only an hour away and the small surf community of Dominical is about 30 minutes up the road. David and Natalia are charming hosts and can direct you to many activities. Sonia, at the visitor's center in Uvita is also very helpful. The air conditioner was broken during our stay and it was terribly hot, but during the night there are cool ocean breezes so sleeping is very comfortable with just the quiet ceiling fans that are throughout the house. We were lulled to sleep by ocean waves and some great rain storms! Overall, heavenly!