We couldn’t have asked for a better home for a relaxed, animal filled vacation! We especially loved the two coatimundis that visited every day and the toucans! The only consideration is I wouldn’t recommend this for a family with a crawler. The bats, while absolutely adorable do make quite a mess.

Last year I taught world geography at our homeschool co-op and one of the class learning objectives was: spark a new love for adventure so you may embark one day on a trip of your lifetime! I, as the teacher, took that to heart and asked my family where they would live to venture to. Costa Rica, of course. My kids love Coyote Peterson and all his ventures to Costa Rica and learning about all the animals and bugs. This place did not disappoint! The kids loved the pool, the morning monkey wake up calls. We ventured from the Northwest in Guancaste to Puntarenas Province and ended up venturing up the Cinco Ventanas road in the dark. That was an adventure! We learned we could find anywhere in the dark with the Waze app. We highly recommend getting a hotspot/cell phone with your car rental. Comes in very handy. We loved the town of Uvita. There are amazing restaurants and great supermarkets there. Be sure to find the local fruit stand and purchase local fruit for a fraction of the price in the grocery store. The home was very welcoming, kitchen had everything needed to make your meals. There is nothing but great things we can say about this home. The manager and owner are helpful when needed. Our kids are already begging to come back. We truly do hope we can return again to enjoy this beautiful home in the Costa Rica jungle.

Our stay here was nothing short of magical!! Beautiful vacation home was perfect for our family of 5 adults who love to play hard and relax after! Would not hesitate to highly recommend!!

Michael's place was perfect for our family. The layout was convenient for our use and well thought out. We didn't use the living room area as we mostly lived outside by the pool. The AC in bedrooms worked perfectly. The wildlife (including friendly coati, monkeys, birds galore) was a big draw and we were stoked that the animals came. The bats were a pleasant surprise. The area bat hawk hung around during our 6 day stay, watching them. We never saw it feed, but it was ever present. All in all, this place was exactly what we were hoping for and we hope to come back. Groceries were easiest to purchase in Uvita whenever out and about. Playa Ventanas had cheap beer and good ceviche and ended up being one of our favorite spots. Surf at Dominicalito was great fun. 10/10, hope to do again!

Loved our stay. Encountered only two problems: Getting up the drive requires at least front wheel drive, and the stay was not long enough.

Nice sized pool. Beautiful views. Saw howler monkeys, toucans, morpho butterflies, and frogs. Enjoyed the hiking trails. Many wonderful restaurants within a short drive. We couldn't get wifi to stay connected, but luckily we had a hotspot we were able to use for part of our stay. Living area was quite warm during the day, but we spent most of our time elsewhere. Overall, we enjoyed the property and were happy with it.

We loved our stay at Estilo de Vida. The view is great! I miss waking up to the birds, monkeys and the view. We found ourselves just wanting to hangout at the pool most days. Everywhere we ate in Ojochal and near by we’re excellent. Pura Vida

I cannot say enough about this property. From the moment I booked the stay, I knew we were in good hands. I was impressed by Michael's response time, the rental's website, and the video walkthrough of the home. He made traveling abroad and to an unknown city stress-free! Me, my husband, another couple, and a fifth wheel (5 adults over 30) were all traveling to a festival in Uvita. Finding a home that would give us all personal space, an adequate bed, and some luxuries of a vacation home was honestly kind of tricky. Michael's home popped up on our radar and I booked it immediately. The check-in and check-out process was such a breeze and allowed us to stay on our schedule. Michael's instruction on how to access the house made it easy to locate and we felt incredibly safe on the property. The property was gated and had a security system & safes so we were never too worried about leaving our valuables at the house. The property itself was absolutely perfect! The views - both beach and mountains - were amazing. I have such great memories of sipping my coffee in the mornings and watching the coast in the distance and the clouds roll over the mountaintops. I personally had a lot of fun wandering around the house, snapping pictures of all the gorgeous flora, exploring the trails, and meditating down by the creek. We saw monkeys climbing trees in the distance, toucans flying overhead, and so many other amazing creatures. My friends and I had our fair share of cocktails at the pool which was always the perfect temperature. We cooked and shared meals in the well-equipped kitchen. And made memories that will last us a lifetime. Thank you for sharing your amazing property with us and allowing us to call it home for the week. If we ever find ourselves in the area again, we will definitely revisit! Pura Vida!

We got to the house late in the evening, after grocery markets were closed. The property manager, for a small fee, was kind enough to get basic groceries so we could have them the next morning. Huge help. Close to beaches and everything you would need. The pool was fantastic. Can't say enough about the wonderful ocean view. Wildlife was abundant: macaws, toucans, green parrots, dart frogs, howlers,white faced monkeys and bats. It was really nice to have a washer and dryer. The security system is an added bonus. Easy to use. The bedrooms/bathrooms were nice. Some areas need a little updating, but for the nightly price, it's quite the bargain. The property really grew on us. We would definitely go back!

It's had to put in words the amount of joy and relexation we had st Esitlo deVida. We had our own tropical animal show in the back yard, from 6 Toucans landing in a tree, to a 45 minute monkey show, scarlett macaws and a Coati family. The pool was enjoyed from dawn to bedtime and the views are unphatomenal. Massi the property manager was unreal and responded immediately. Uvita Information Center was a pleasure.

A perfect stay for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. There were dart frogs milling about, toucans everywhere, coatis, and agoutis. The trails were great, but driving the road beyond the house is how we saw even more wildlife. The pool was perfect for a morning/early afternoon dip. Just remember, it really is nestled into the forest, so a few leaves may fall in the pool, or a few cool insects may visit the house, but the gekos take care of them mostly! The house was very clean when we arrived, and everything we needed to cook our meals was there!

Estilla de Vida is stunningly beautiful! The pictures online don't do the house justice! The house is very spacious and way bigger than expected. All bedrooms are very comfortable and have walk in closets. The master bedroom and ajointed bathroom is huge! We loved hanging out in the living and dining area during the evening. The kitchen has all your essentials, even a welcome basket with coffee and fruit! We very much appreciated the washer and dryer! The outside (backyard) was by far our favorite spot to hang out! The view from the backyard down the mountain over the river and ocean is spectacular! Pool was very clean and we used it daily. The WiFi is great and even though we felt "off the grid" immersed in the jungle, we always stayed connected. We can not even begin to describe the incredible scenery, flora and fauna. We are already missing our coati who came for daily visits:). We saw so many different animals, just listing a few: Howler monkeys, coati, green dart frogs, long nosed bats, toucans, macaws, anteater, Jesus Christ Lizard, Morpho butterflies, different hummingbirds. We managed the sloth trail, but gave up on the monkey trail. During rain season it gets quite slippery and we felt we should leave it up to the Howlers to entertain us instead of the other way around. Big shout out to Massi! We happened to arrive during a monsoon in the dark and if it wouldn't have been for Massis great directions, we would have been in trouble:). Massi was always just an email or message away and was always very prompt and helpful! Also big thank you for marking the top of the driveway with the drop off! Huge help! Thank you! The first time driving up the steep hill was a bit intimidating, but it gets easier by the second time :) Last but not least: Thank you Michael for opening your beautiful house to us and thank you Sonja from the Uvita information center with all your excellent help and advice all throughout the planning process and while we were there! Without a question or second thought: We will be back!

This property was incredible. Our family got totally immersed with the jungle staying at this property. The sounds of monkeys waking you up and the jungle coming to life as the sun sets. It was all amazing. Very close proximity to everything! The sloth and monkeys paths were blocked by huge fallen trees and access to the river from the path was impossible because of a landslide. This didn’t stop us though as we saw tons of stuff in the paths still. Didn’t bother us at all! Amazing experience and would totally recommend to any family!

Thanks!

Absolutely stunning property. The house has a wonderful layout and the property itself gives complete privacy and an abundance of wildlife and birds. The ocean view is spectacular. The house was very comfortable and had a well appointed kitchen - everything we needed was there. The wifi was great - good enough that we had no trouble on zoom calls. The property itself has a secure gate and the house has a security system. The driveway is on a significant angle but is easy to use. Having said that, at the top there is a very steep drop off to the left that is not marked and not easy to see. The first time we went up (and we thought we were being careful) we almost drove off the driveway. The incline is deep enough that the car would have rolled. Maybe that spot should be marked somehow :) The property was everything the listing said it was and was easy to get to. The pool was beautiful and we used it daily. When we arrived, we did notice the water level was at the level of the pool jets. We emailed the property manager to ask if we should put water into it. He did not respond. (To be clear, the pool was wonderful for our entire stay.) The second day we were there, the water supply to the house was shut off. We did not understand why this happened and we again reached out to the property manager for assistance. We emailed him (replied to the joining email he had sent us) and his assistant and tried to contact him on whatsapp (as directed in the joining email). He did not respond. A few hours later, we sent another email and he did respond - he said he would call the water company. We did not hear from him again. The water was off all day. This wasn't an emergency and we know this is Costa Rica - this is our sixth stay in this area. However, no water supply is an issue and we would have expected at least some communication. The only negative thing we have to say about this stay was the lack of support from the property manager while we were there. Having said that, we would not hesitate to rent this beautiful and comfortable property again.

What an amazing property! If you're looking for privacy, birds and a beautiful view, this is the house for you. We've been to different regions in Costa Rica and this was by far the best home we stayed at. The caretaker, Massi, gave us simple to understand directions for a late night check in. We contacted him a couple of times during our stay and he responded immediately. The issues we had were beyond his control, for example, the internet was down for a short time. Massie contacted us right away and said he would look into why the internet was down. He communicated quickly that the internet provider was already working on it. He kept us informed. He even messaged us when it was back up and running. We couldn't have asked for better communication with him. The house was great, loved the covered deck and pool area. Master shower very nice, plenty of hot water and comfortable bed in master suite. Enjoyed the howler monkeys. Toucans, fiery billed aracari, parrots and lots of other birds in the yard. Alejandra from the Uvita Information Center helped us with a rental car, airport transportation and various tours. We highly recommend Massi and Alejandra to make your vacation amazing. Thank you Michael for sharing your property with us!

Spent 12 days here. Great views from the pool deck and the upper balcony. Drinking early morning coffee while watching the toucans was a treat. House is private with comfortable beds, hot showers, dishwasher, gas BBQ, a garage and good-sized pool. Lots of plates and glasses. Owner was responsive when arranging rental & left a nice welcome basket. But there are serious shortcomings. House is old and needs a significant renovation to deserve the price: repair damaged screens—needed in the non-A/C living space; many light bulbs need replacing; 2 of 5 outdoor fans don’t work to provide a much-needed breeze; kitchen: too few utensils, no storage containers, baking sheets, casserole dishes or pot holders! (how are you supposed to get things out of a 400° oven?!). Knives and scissors very dull. Hard to open the old wooden drawers. The sinks are old and stained, some drain poorly; most appliances are very old (they mostly work). It is claimed that A/C isn’t needed in the living area— true until you cook and use the dishwasher. Too little ventilation to move the resulting warm air out. Other important issues: 1. Instructions sent a few days before arrival noted that a 4X4 is highly recommended—there is no mention of that in the listing so this info came too late. Thankfully, I had a 2WD SUV. 2. The top of the driveway into the home needs warning flags! Due to its steepness you can’t see over the car hood to the entrance—it is essential to stay to the right. I arrived in daylight, went in straight and came very close to rolling my vehicle on the 6 ft. drop to the left! (I’ve driven extensively in CR so this was not due to inexperience or sloppy driving.) 3. Property manager needs to up his game: Lost our first full day at the pool because there were maintenance people there all afternoon to deal with a pool leak. Emergencies happen, but we were not informed of this. Had we known, I would have planned a day out instead of a day indoors waiting and watching. The PM said he was unaware they were coming. It’s his job to be informed. I would have let this slide but a few days later I asked for guidance to find a butcher and/or a large grocery store. He replied he didn’t know because he was vegetarian. PM is supposed to provide local information—not get preachy. He passed on my enquiry to the Uvita welcome centre, who have yet to reply 3 weeks on. 4. This is a really a 3.5 star accommodation but it wouldn’t be fair to drop it to a 3.

We will definitely return for another tropical visit but longer next time

The photos don't do justice to this great house, it's actually bigger than it looks. The location is great, just near a gas station, mini market, pharmacy and an ice cream shop. It's 5-10 min away of Playa Ventanas by car and really easy to get to. This beach is small but convenient, has plenty of shade, food and services. The house is comfy, with great views, lots of wild animals (we saw at least three species of monkeys, toucans, coaties, etc) and was spotless clean when we arrived. Plenty of kitchen utensils, plates and glasses. We can't really complain about anything, it was a great experience! Oh, and the communication with the host and his manager was fast, efficient and nice. Totally recommended.

We had a great time during our stay in Casa Estilo de Vida. It’s a lovely house fully furnished and with everything that you need. It has a great swimming pool with a wonderful view of the ocean, every room has air conditioning, the house was clean and most of the appliances worked. We had issues with the dryer and microwave, but the property manager solved the issue in the same day. He was very helpful. If you want to live the full rainforest experience, this place is for you. You wake up every morning with the sound of various birds, and howler monkeys. There are also other critters such as bats, spiders, huge grass hoppers, and other insects around, but that is part of the experience. The beach is only 15 minutes away and there are lots of restaurants, supermarkets and touristic attractions in Ojochal or Uvita. We loved the place and we will definitely go back again.

We had a wonderful time at a Estilla de Vida! the property was clean and had everything we needed. The view was absolutely spectacular! We were greeted by howler monkeys and toucans every day. The Bedrooms are very comfortable. I would definitely stay at this property again!

House was great! Communication w/ owner and property managers was great! The issues I had were resolved quickly.Love to be back!

House was great! Communication w/ owner and property managers was great! The issues I had were resolved quickly. Love to be back!

This house is definitely in the middle of a jungle, so just as most guests mentioned, if bugs and critters freak you out, then think again about staying here. BUT, we LOVED how “off the grid” it felt. We enjoyed watching the animals around the house: howler monkeys, stick insects, toucans, bats, macaws, and my husband adopted the golden orb spider on the side of the house and fed it insects every day. The area felt safe, we were close to lots of great, local food, our favorite beach was a short drive.... such a fun family vacation. Aside from a storm coming in and knocking out the power for 4 hours, no big problems. Just a few smaller issues: shower pressure is low which makes it impossible to get salt and sand out of your hair. Washing machine didn’t work, so we couldn’t wash our clothes for our flight home—found out a bit too late to mention it. It REALLY would be nice to have an air conditioner in the main area. At times, it was so hot we all disappeared into our air conditioned bedrooms rather than hanging out together. But again, we just winged it and enjoyed the experience. Thank you for letting us stay in your house!

Rent this home! You will not be disappointed! We had a family of 7 staying at this home with ages ranging from 11 to 77 years old and every single one of them throughly enjoyed their time at this house. We could hear the howler monkeys in trees and had daily visits from toucans and coati. The pool was clean and refreshing with had some amazing views of the coast. The home was well stocked with all the essentials. There are several beautiful beaches and fun activities nearby. We were able to visit several beaches, go zip lining, surfing and took a boat tour. Thank you for opening your beautiful home to us! Our family has so many awesome memories from our stay!

Had a wonderful time with family in this beautiful country and thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent view and privacy of this home.

This rental is just as described. It is as nice as it looks in the pictures. The house is roomy and comfortable and equipped with everything you need for your stay. There was even a nice welcome basket in the kitchen with local coffee and fruit. The view is great and the only close neighbors are the toucans, howler monkeys and the friendly coati. I wish we’d booked our whole stay here instead of just 3 days.

Overall we where pleased with the property, anything we required help with was dealt with in a timely manner. The wildlife was amazing, with daily visits from many birds, the pool perfect! Unfortunately for us we timed our vacation perfectly for the annual coming out of the cicada’s , they made sure we where up with the sun, because they where, making their mating, loud buzzing noise. We wanted jungle experience and we differently received it. The Monkey trail, was a exercise experience. Not meant for 4 over 70 year olds, glad the monkeys where not watching as they would have had a Howling good time! Thanks for the GREAT jungle experience! Enjoying our vacations, fifty years of good friendship!

Great house and pool. Lots of wildlife. Close to town. Ideal for 3 couples, fits eight only if two are kids cause air mattresses not too comfy. Beautiful view. Trails are steep and rather difficult but not too long. Lots of toucans, Pizote visits frequently, many cool insects and green and black poison frogs on garage side in early am. Get up at 6 to see wildlife.

The house was spacious and clean and the pool was perfect. We needed to use the air mattress and found it to have a leak. I emailed Massi and he delivered a new one the same day. We were 6 adults and a 5 year old and the house, yard, pool was a great set up for us all.

The house and property were absolutely incredible. The views, the wildlife, and the amenities of the house were beyond words and pictures cannot really tell folks how incredible this place is. We highly recommend this house and location if you love wildlife and staying in a cloud forest. We loved our stay and will miss our friends the Black Mandible Toucans.

Loved the house overall! Very unique property that is literally in the rain forest with bats, monkeys, and sloths all in your "yard". Very hard to find the place at night but once you find it it is one of a kind. You have to be an "outdoor nature" person to get the true value of this home. LOTS of animals and bugs everywhere inside and out which is a good and maybe bad thing if your not prepared for that environment. The views are breathtaking all around the house and property. Key note: There are NO curtains or blinds on any of the windows in the house. You are in the forest where no neighbor can see you but still was thrown off by that not even in the bathrooms. Monkey trail was fun was not able to do sloth trail but a fallen tree blocked the way. Off the grid but wifi did work in the house perfectly. Oven cooked fast and heated up even faster. Washer and dryer worked great and fast. Pool was beautiful and deep and we LOVED it! Hot tub did not work . Overall beautiful home that is worth staying in but keep in mind your are LITERALLY in the mountains in the rain forest!