We were a group of 5 couples staying at Villa Tortuga. The property is beautiful with comfortable, well appointed private sleeping spaces and bathrooms. The common gathering areas such as the living room, kitchen, pool area and deck spaces were large and well maintained. The staff at the house was incredible. We were provided with amazing service throughout the trip. The meals prepared by Chef Ricardo and Alba were outstanding. We felt like we were eating at a 5 star restaurant. Truly luxurious to have gourmet food prepared and served in the comfort of this beautiful house. Would definitely recommend.

I can’t say enough good things about Villa Tortuga. The property outshone the listing. Jackie has anticipated everything you might need and stocked the home with it. Chef Ricardo and Alba made us fantastic meals everyday (what will I do when I have to go home and cook for myself again??). The housekeeper is a ray of sunshine, keeping the home beautiful, and the concierge took care of our bookings and arranged for massages and pedicures. Thanks Jackie and Bob for sharing your gorgeous home with us. We will be back!

The pictures on line look nice -- but don't do the house justice. It is absolutely breathtaking. The views -- wow. The house was so clean. The concierge, the chef, the housekeeper and the groundskeeper all work so well together to provide a magical experience for the guests. The chef Ricardo and his wife Alba were the highlight of our visit -- the food, the presentation.....better than most any restaurant that we have been to. If you are thinking about this house -- BOOK it now! You won't be disappointed. Pura Vida!! It is walkable to the top of the road to catch the bus to the beach (although it us uphill). The stairs are no joke but for that view -- totally worth it! So much thought has gone into this home for the guests - from the full coffee bar to the amply stocked cocktail and wine glasses, and everything in between. We can't wait to return!! Thank you Jackie and your staff for being part of one of our families FAVORITE vacations!!

We enjoyed our stay. Beautiful view. spacious house. Chef Ricardo's cooking is definitely a highlight. We spent a lot of good time at the ocean view pool deck.

Our group spent a magical week at Villa Tortuga. The location, view, house, pool, and FOOD were amazing. Chefs Ricardo and Alba were easily the best part of the trip, making us fresh, tasty meals every day and catering to our different dietary needs. The grounds and home are well kept by the friendly staff, and laundry service was a great plus. It was easy and convenient to work with the concierge to arrange our activities each day. (We absolutely recommend the massage and a guided tour of the National Park!) The visits from monkeys made our stay special, even if they did try to steal our snacks -- the wildlife in Manuel Antonio makes it such a unique destination. We opted to rent the extra 5th bedroom on the upper-level which has a King bed to fit everyone comfortably as we found the beds in the lower annex purple room and the green room off the kitchen to be somewhat small for two adults (they felt slightly smaller than Queens). We recommend being mindful to bring enough cash. The owner/staff did a good job explaining this when we booked the house. The food/grocery bill and most excursions are paid with a credit card. But cash is needed for tips, massages and the purchase of fish, meat, seafood, plus an 18% gratuity of the bill for what was consumed. Our group opted for multiple massages, lots of fresh seafood and well-deserved tips for the staff and we each spent several hundred dollars in (U.S. currency) cash. We would absolutely recommend this property to anyone trave

Better than the pictures ! House is very clean - Location perfect- Chef is fantastic ! View, amazing!!

Our group of 6 spent six nights here and did not want to leave. The house is amazing, the beds are comfortable and it has fantastic views. We spent hours in the pool and bar area in the afternoons after our hikes/ziplining adventures. Each morning we spent time on the many decks listening for and taking pictures of macaws, toucans and monkeys. The on-site spa room was so nice and convenient and Jessica made all the arrangements for the services. Ricardo and Alba make a fantastic Chef team and were able to accommodate a range of dietary restrictions seamlessly. We are still talking about the creme brulee, passionfruit pudding, brioche french toast and basil honey dressing! The showstopper though is the service after we checked out. My wife could not find her passport when we were in San Jose and due to fly out the next day. We asked them to recheck the room and Alba figured out it was stuck at the back of the nightstand. As we were making arrangements to hire a Taxi to take us back to Manuel Antonio, Ricardo offered to drive it to us! He delivered it to our hotel with a smile on his face. Unbeatable customer service that we are so thankful for! Thank you to Jessica, Hisolde, Ricardo and Alba for making this an unforgettable trip!

'This house is like staying at a private luxury hotel--how did you ever find it?' This is the quote I kept hearing from my family during our stay at Villa Tortuga. The Villa is spacious and well decorated. The grounds and pool area beautiful. The location is perfect in Manuel Antonio area--could walk to the bus and the town (although the terrain is hilly, so you need to be somewhat fit). The house is immaculately clean, thanks to the lovely, helpful housekeeper. BUT, the highlight of the experience was our included chef--Chef Ricardo. His food and presentation of meals was like dining at a high quality restaurant! Our group has some special dietary requests, so he discussed meal options and served the meals family style--perfect for our group. Breakfast and dinner was provided daily (except for staff day off on Sunday). Our thanks to Jackie, the owner, for sharing her home with us. She was clear about payment and money due at the end of our stay (our food, of course) Have extra cash on hand so you can provide a gratuity for this excellent staff.

Everything about our stay at Villa Tortuga was incredible. Jackie, the owner, was more than helpful with planning and tips. She was quick to respond and really helped to personalize our experience. Jess, the concierge, was on top of planning our excursions and making changes as needed. She also introduced us to Tony…a real highlight of our trip! He took us on an incredible waterfall tour, gave us surf lessons, And generally hosted us at the beautiful beach. We didnt want for anything!Richardo, the chef, and his wife went above and beyond for us! The food was incredible! Anything we wanted they did and with the most beautiful presentation. They were also so sweet, kind, helpful and easy to be around….it was such a treat! The housekeeper and gardener kept the house and grounds beautiful. In the neighborhood we saw scarlet mccaws, multiple species of monkeys and several sloths…it was awesome! Would highly recommend Villa Tortuga to anyone!

Our family of 4 adults had an incredible stay in Manuel Antonio. This property is exactly as advertised...incredible views...incredible staff...incredible service. Chef Ricardo is a world-class chef and treated us like royalty. We never did the "chef thing", but now I am not sure I can go on vacation without a chef. If we could take Ricardo and his wife with us...we would!! Some advice on the area. Book your Manuel Antonio tickets early. We waited until the week we arrived and could not get into the park without a guided tour. Instead, we went on a road trip south to Nauyaca Waterfalls. This is a must-see trip and an awesome waterfall experience. Eating out: Why would you eat out when you have a chef preparing your meals? So, no recommendations here! The day we left to head back to San Jose, we stopped at Playa Hermosa. Wow, an incredible black sand beach...great surfers, and not crowded. We wish we would have found this gem during our stay because we would have gone for at least a couple of beach days. We did go to the local beach and Tony took great care of us. Work with the concierge service to get the details. Overall, I cannot give a stronger recommendation for this VRBO property. Thank you to ALL the staff, including Jackie who was a pleasure to work with setting up the trip! Pura Vida!

Exceeded expectations in every way!!! The views were breathtaking, the rooms spacious and well appointed with comfy beds and the common areas to hang out together were fantastic (pool deck with bar, additional large deck with sofas, treehouse for wildlife viewing). We could just relax and enjoy exploring the area as Chef Ricardo and Alba prepared the most amazing meals for us. Our guys brought home fresh caught Mackerel, Grouper and Red Snapper which Ricardo turned into some of the most fantastic dinners we have ever had. Location was great. Though the road is steep to get to the beach it was easy enough to get a taxi or take the bus. Concierge Jessica was easy to work with in arranging anything we needed. The housekeeper Isolda was so sweet and kept the place sparkling clean. Same day laundry service for a nominal charge of $10 per basket. Loved the mangrove boat tour where we saw groups of Capuchin monkeys up close, boa constrictors, iguanas, bats and a sloth. Some in our group did the ATV tour which they enjoyed, and we did Manuel Antonio Park without a guide (tickets online). Playa Beisanz was a little harder to get to, but smaller and more relaxing. Playa Espadilla was preferred for surfing and boogie boarding. On site massage were awesome! Overall, the location and amenities of Villa Tortuga are exceptional!! Highly recommend. Be aware that there are many steps given the property layout, and would not be good for anyone with impaired mobility. /Users/monicakasrazade

Stay was better than expected. Pictures of house do not do it justice, Chef was amazing.

Beautiful house! The staff was great and took care of us. The chef, Ricardo, is amazing and we loved all of the meals he prepared. My kids loved the pool and I enjoyed the gorgeous view. We can't wait to come back.

We’ve had the good fortune to travel a lot and I’d rate this as my favorite house / experience. Views, location, layout and, not least of all, the staff. Chef is a an absolute 10. Highly recommended

Villa Tortuga was the most incredible vacation stay our family has ever had! Our family visited the area to attend a destination wedding. We had no idea how beautiful the Manuel Antonio area was and how many great memories we would make here at Villa Tortuga. The house itself is just fabulous! The house has the most incredible views. (We went to other villas in the area that our families were staying at and we still think Villa Tortuga had the best views.) The pool desk is massive! There is so much seating by the pool area so you can comfortably fit your whole family in the shade or in the sun if you want. They even included fun lights, bluetooth speakers, a half bathroom, and a bar with a refrigerator by the pool. We definitely noticed all the touches the owners had added to make this a seamless vacation space, basically anything you would ever need is at this villa. The house fit our families needs so well. There was a large group space for everybody to come together and each bedroom has its own bathroom, so everyone could have their space as well. The house is great BUT the staff was the cherry on top that made our stay so special. We cannot say enough great things about the staff. The chef and his wife, Ricardo and Alba, were just absolutely perfect. The food was so tasty and WAY better than restaurant food. The food was truly incredible and honestly cheaper than going to restaurants and/or doing the grocery shopping ourselves to feed the group. Ricardo made it so easy to plan meals, which took a lot of the stress off the family to plan meals and find restaurants to go to that everyone would enjoy. The kids of the group were so sad to leave the villa and asked if Ricardo and Alba could be their parents, haha. We are definitely going to reach back out to get some recipes! The housekeeper was so kind and great. The gardener has kept the grounds exceptional, you really feel like you are in true paradise with the flowers and trees around you. Every morning you wake up at Villa Tortuga it is as perfect as the day you got there because the staff are behind the scenes making it so pristine! All of their efforts, although may appear subtle at the time, did not go unnoticed. The communication between the concierge and the owner was easy and effective! The packet sent to us ahead of time was super helpful. Our family would like to say thank you again to all the people who made our vacation so great. PURA VIDA

Our group of ten family members ranged from a 79 year old grandfather to a granddaughter celebrating her 5th birthday! We could not have had a more incredible stay. Villa Tortuga is beautiful with multiple decks, phenomenal views, privacy if you want it, but many gathering spots and plenty of room for everyone. The children LOVED the pool to start the day or after the day at the beach or a tour of the rainforest. We did lease the extra room, and the treehouse behind it was an unexpected treat. The true highlight of the property is the staff - Chef Ricardo and his wife, Alba, are a dream and the food was absolutely delicious and so beautifully presented. Chef prepared special meals for the children that they loved, and they enjoyed some of their parents' food as well! Every meal was a true delight, and Chef made a stunning birthday cake for the child celebrating her birthday as well as giving her an adorable gift. Esolda, the housekeeper, was delightful and Jessica, the concierge, was always responsive and very helpful. Even Jackie, the owner, chimed in to provide very helpful tips on several things prior to our arrival. We arranged for on-site massages that were wonderful, and our guide for the rainforest tour, arranged by Jessica, was very attentive, incredibly engaging with the four children (ages 5 & 7) and ensured that we all had a fabulous time and saw very unique wildlife. Also, be sure to take advantage of the beach rentals from Tony. He is unbelievably nice and took incredible care of our large group, including running across the street to buy some beach toys for the children to use. He also taught all four children to surf and was so patient. They all were able to get up on the board their very first attempt! This was a trip that we will remember forever, and we are all discussing wanting to return to Villa Tortuga again as a family and with friends. We cannot recommend this rental more highly. We are having withdrawal and are missing Chef Ricardo and Alba!

We organized a 10 day vacation for our entire family. There were 12 of us, including 8 adults, two toddlers, and two infants. Villa Tortuga was a wonderful refuge for us, a place to unwind, take in the spectacular views, and enjoy the superb meals prepared by Chef Ricardo each morning and evening. It was a true holiday. The only downside for a group like this is the lack of a level playing area for the toddlers. They had to be watched carefully at all times, and the stairs were a particular hazard for them. The pool was a perfect place to hang out, and provided hours of entertainment daily. The local bus made travel to the beach an easy endeavour, and cab service was easy to get for short journeys where the bus was not convenient. The staff was lovely and added so much to our stay. I can’t say enough good things about all of them! Thank you!

Our stay at Villa Tortuga was nothing short of amazing! We had to check out of our previous spot at 10am, and Villa Tortuga had guests leaving that day so an early check in was not available (which is completely understandable). However, they allowed us to drop off all of our luggage and had arranged for a driver to take us out to lunch, and then a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. The driver was waiting for us when we arrived at the house, and the whole process was seamless! Aside from that, the house was very comfortable for our party of 8 and was only 2 miles from the National Park. The views from this house were unbeatable! Chef Ricardo was the best chef we had during our whole time in Costa Rica, and was even nice enough to pick up a birthday cake and candles for my husband's birthday. His meals were fresh, and delicious. We miss him already! The owner was very communicative and easy to work with far in advance of our stay. I highly recommend this property. Next time we are staying longer!

My friends and I loved our stay at Villa Tortuga. Chef Ricardo is incredibly talented and every meal he made for us was delicious. The concierge, Jessica, helped us book several activities which made planning the trip much easier. The home has a breathtaking view of the ocean with several outdoor gathering areas. It's in a convenient location with shops and restaurants within a 5 minute walk and an easy bus or taxi ride down to the beach. It was clean, well-maintained, and we appreciated the small touches, like board games, USB plug-ins, and Amazon Echos. We enjoyed our trip so much that we will try to visit Villa Tortuga again.

Beautiful home and grounds with wonderful views. Plenty of areas for the group to gather and also for a person or two to have their own space. The staff are great. Ricardo and Alba's meals were the best of our entire trip, which incuded a couple other areas in Costa Rica. Dinners were an experience that made the stay extra special. Would love to make it back one day!

We had a wonderful two weeks at Villa Tortuga. First, the house is spectacular: beautiful, well-appointed rooms with dazzling views. The staff is very helpful, from Jessica, the concierge who makes all of your arrangements, to Isolde, the housekeeper. Then there is Ricardo and his wife Alba. He is an amazing chef who can make anything you desire. The food was worthy of a Michelin star. Breakfasts and dinners were delicious! Jackie, the owner, is very responsive and a pleasure to deal with. Things to make note of: there are lots of stairs; the weather is hot; the terrain around Manuel Antonio is steep; the welcome package is packed with information and should be read carefully, especially as to how much cash you may need. On top of the great food and lovely home, it was a magnificent thrill to see a pair of scarlet macaws fly by daily. Pura vida!

The Villa Tortuga was amazing. The view was beautiful and Ricardo was the BEST private chef. The only complaint we have is the communication regarding the total cost of the stay was unclear. We booked through VRBO and thought we knew the cost of our stay, but once we made final payment we received an email from the owner, Jackie, that had a welcome packet with details of additional costs. We were surprised and confused by the wording of the welcome packet. It would be wise to contact the owner before booking to get a clear list of all charges. The place was worth every penny because it was amazing. And if you want a vacation with a private chef, we cannot recommend Ricardo enough. He was very responsive before our stay and was respectful of our space, and most importantly, the food was beyond our expectations.

You do not realize how great it is to have a chef and his wife when traveling with young kids until you a) try and cook and clean around the kids yourselves or b) try and keep them entertained after you arrive at a restaurant and order and then wait for the meal.

What an amazing rental! 3 generation family stayed here, and we all had a wonderful time. The staff in particular were extremely talented and kind, and having breakfast and dinner at the house daily with the chef was a real treat—no schlepping tired kids to restaurants and trying to get them to sit still. The chef is truly talented and prepared amazing meals, and as a bonus there were plenty of leftovers for lunch/snacks the next day. The views, pool, treehouse, etc were all a joy. My personal favorite part was seeing scarlet macaws flying by in the morning/evening. Thanks for a very memorable stay!!

Our group of 10 friends stayed here for three days. Each couple had a favorite experience at Villa Tortuga. Chef Ricardo and Alba prepared beautiful and delicious meals for the group that everyone enjoyed. What a treat is was to have the shopping, cooking and clean-up done for us leaving time for us to enjoy our vacation! The massage therapists who came to the property were excellent. It was so convenient to have the service offered on-site. We enjoyed the top tree house during a torrential rainstorm and watching parrots and monkeys while drinking our morning coffee. Each room offered great views, privacy and an ensuite bathroom. The property is located within walking distance of many restaurants. However, with the rain and somewhat steep street, we used a taxi to take us anywhere we needed to go. Jessica was a great help in making these arrangements. Once you book the property, ask for the welcome guide for tips on activities and things to do in Manuel Antonio. We had already booked our activities before we received the welcome packet. It also offers guidelines for tipping, money exchange and more. Don't hesitate to book this property and be sure to utilize the included chef services to make it a truly great experience.

We had an incredible stay at Villa Tortuga during our stay in Manuel Antonio. Ricardo and the entire team were amazing and so helpful. The property is immaculate and the views of the pacific from each balcony are incredible. So much to do in the area and we can’t wait to return.

Our stay was simply amazing. Everything and every person on the staff was great. Jessica, Ricardo, and the housekeeper (I don’t remember her name I’m sorry!) were all so helpful and pleasant throughout our stay. Having a masseuse come to the villa and getting a massage with the view of the ocean was so beautiful. We really didn’t have to lift a finger which made the vacation so enjoyable. They handled all of our wants and needs. I would recommend Villa Tortuga over and over.

From the moment we arrived we were greeted by Chef Ricardo to help us get acquainted to the home and amenities available. House was roomy and had plenty of room for our family of 5 to spread out. The highlight of staying here was Chef Ricardo and Alba. They prepared the most amazing dishes and our teens looked forward to waking up for breakfast each day. Dinners were excellent and the presentation was so classy ! From our patio we could watch capuchin and howler monkeys visit the neighborhood. The walk to the local market was easy if you needed snacks. Isalda our housekeeper was very kind and kept the house well cleaned. We would recommend this house to anyone looking for a comfortable home away from home !

We had the most incredible week at Villa Tortuga. The home had everything we needed and the staff could not have been more accommodating. The owners thought of everything - from board games to towels to extremely comfortable bedrooms. We stayed in Manuel Antonio the entire duration of our trip. There were many restaurants, access to the beach was super simple and we experienced a plethora of activities - like the canopy tours, ATV, hiking, parasailing and a nature walk through the National rainforest. Can’t wait to come back!

We had the most amazing time in Miguel Antonio and the highlight of the trip was definitely our stay at Villa Tortuga. Ricardo and Alba cooked up breakfast and dinner to please adults and kids alike -- and always with a smile. The house was immaculate. There was plenty of room to spread out and endless places to enjoy the beautiful views. We loved lounging by the pool and looking for birds and monkeys in the tree house. We will definitely be back! Thank you to all who made this vacation so memorable.

We had a truly lovely stay at Villa Tortuga. The house is very comfortable and in an excellent location. Very clean and so well maintained. The views are incredible. As wonderful as the house is, the staff is even better. They made us feel like we were part of the family. The meals prepared by Richardo and Alba were so delicious that they spoiled us for eating out anywhere else in town. We would highly recommend Villa Tortuga to anyone considering it and would definitely stay here again if in the area.

We have had many rentals in Costa Rica but this was truly the best. The house is nicer than the pics! The staff is AMAZING! Our chefs Ricardo and Alva made our stay delicious and luxurious! Our housekeeper and gardener kept the house perfect! Jessica, the concierge was helpful when needed. Thankyou for a dream vacation!!