Loved the pool, the layout, separate casitas, super comfy beds. Views of howler monkeys, coatis, scarlet macaws from the property. Short walk to beach and Marriott hotel. Beach bar is a plus. Expensive however with Cdn exchange. A bit of a climb to get home. Grounds professionally cared for. Well worth a visit.

Villa Jalapa is a lovely home The pool is the highlight Diego, property contact, was excellent at assisting with our needs The adjoining hotel has great pickleball courts which we used everyday The beach is nice The hotel needs to be more accommodating to non hotel guests Such as us staying at villas Highlights include the housekeeper Lisbeth Her cooking is fabulous and it’s so great to have a clean home Dining- the hotel is good but best restaurant is aromas nearby- don’t miss it And kimbute and don Ramiro’s- although we gave up trying to dine there This was a return visit for us The golf course doesn’t exist now But the area is beautiful A golf cart included with the house would make it super special since it’s a long hill up to the house

We loved our stay. It is remote and the road not great (we came from Arenal). But the property is lovely. And Lizbeth is all the great things you have heard. Amazing food at $20 a meal and she secured the seafood for us. The bedrooms are wonderful (although towel racks dangerous for tall people!). Great touch having shampoo, body wash in the showers. Would benefit from a suitcase rack. Communication great with Diego - very responsive. Loved the pool and the rooftop - scarlet macaws morning and evening to spot. Kitchen is very well equipped, although we didn’t use most of it because we left it up to Lizbeth. We played a couple games which were supplied, very fun. Overall a great visit, and highly recommend!

Our stay at Villa Jalapa was amazing from start to finish! Lisbeth was an AMAZING cook and took great pride in cooking and cleaning for us the entire time we were there. Our kids loved everything she made! The rooms were beautiful and comfortable and the bird watching in the morning was really great. Would definitely stay again! We loved the town of Islita and all the people there! We spent a day at the beach and rented a cabana from the local hotel with food and drink service to our chairs. We all did surf lessons on the beach and had a great time. My daughter and I did a 30 minute massage at the outdoor "spa" in a private cabana that was super peaceful and secluded. If you want to eat at the local Don Romero's you need a reservation, but I would highly recommend it! It's a very intimate setting with the chef preparing food especially for you!

We had an amazing stay here! The house was just as described, close to a beautiful beach and surrounded by nature. It was so nice to come home to a clean house after exploring and Lisbeth’s cooking was our favorite! We really enjoyed our family vacation here.

Our family of 6 could not have asked for a better home on our recent trip to Costa Rica. We had plenty of space to enjoy our stay at home. We separate sleeping quarters, our four teenagers had the space they needed. The pool and surroundings are so peaceful. Punta Islita beach down the road is very secluded and private! We had all the waves to ourselves. The beds were superior, the kitchen was stocked, the TV streaming was perfection! Can not think of a thing we needed during our stay. The convenience store up the road had last minute items. But the icing on the cake was Lisbeth! She truly made the trip just that bit more special. She is kind and willing to answer questions — her cooking was truly authentic and better than any restaurant we visited. Get her menu before arriving and grab the ingredients and you are set! This was a vacation for the parents. Thank you Diego for sharing this beautiful home! This will not be our last visit to the beautiful country of Costa Rica!!

We stayed at Villa Jalapa for 3 weeks and our stay could not have been any better. The host was very attentive and quick to respond to any questions we had. We took advantage of Lisbeth who tends to the property daily for meals and her meals were better than any restaurant. Her personality and care for the home was outstanding. The house is even more beautiful than the pictures show but true to detail. Islita is the hidden gem of Costa Rica. We were at our own private oasis yet there were so many accessible restaurants due to the neighbouring hotel. The drive from Samara to Islita is rugged at the end and 4 x 4 is recommended but it adds to the appreciation of this beautiful property. We saw macaws, howler monkeys, white faced caupchins,… nature all around us. The infinity pool was incredible and many hours were spent here daily. We did the 1 km walk to Punta Islita every morning and felt like we had the entire beach to ourselves. Somehow 3 weeks was not enough time here.

Villa Jalapa was the perfect way to wrap up our Costa Rican dream vacation. It was essentially our vacation from our vacation. The beautiful spacious property was everything we imagined and more. It was a special treat to come home from the day’s activities and take a dip in the private pool. Our empanada cooking lesson with Lisbeth was memorable and she was so easy going and delightful. We appreciated Diego’s prompt and exceptional communication from booking our stay to local tips and recommendations. Thank you, we can’t wait to visit Islita again!

We loved every minute of this adventure. The house was lovely and comfortable, with the common area opening on all sides to the outdoors. We enjoyed seeing capuchin and howler monkeys, myriad birds including many scarlet macaws, coatis and more. The pool is lovely. Lisbeth cooked for us four nights - absolutely delicious. And she’s so kind, helpful and fun. The area is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth it. The local beach is a 5 minute walk and we felt like we had it to ourselves. The waves were the perfect size. We also enjoyed eating at Kimbute, and hoped to eat at Don Ramiro’s but it was closed. We enjoyed the neighboring hotel for some dinners, as well as a lunch on the beach. We explored other nearby beach towns, as well. Mostly, we simply reveled it in being at the house. Wish we could’ve stayed another week! Thank you, Diego and Lisbeth, for an unforgettable retreat.

Villa Jalapa is an exceptional vacation location for a group, or even a couple if you want privacy. The house is spacious and airy and the bedrooms are separate for privacy if that’s what you like, or bunk with friends for an even larger group. The pool just off the common area was unexpectedly delightful, clean and refreshing. The owner is extremely helpful and the manager/cleaner/chef is outstanding. Do not miss a chance to have Lisbeth cook for you. The rooftop area is shaded perfectly, wonderful for looking out over the jungle to the sea, listening to the howler monkeys and all the amazing birds. This is a great location for peace and tranquility but also offers some great local restaurants all close by. This was a great find and we will be back!

The house is amazing, great pool, all necessary appliances, Lisbeth cleans daily which is an amazing added value - also knows the town very well. Would add a little shade for the pool since it is 100% directly under the sun all day which is not great for skin health. Diego was a very responsive host and everything went as expected. Would return.

We had such a great stay over the New Year with my family. The property itself is everything you could want on a tropical beach vacation. It felt extremely safe and was well stocked. We have never been to Punta Islita before and we found so much to do in our week's stay. Diego was so helpful and communicative in setting up things before our arrival and making sure our stay was going well. Lisbeth, the housekeeper/cook was amazing!! Her cooking is wonderful and more than that she is just a lovely and sweet person and made us feel so welcome and comfortable. As a Mom to 4 young children, it was so nice to REALLY take a break at a VRBO. We took some awesome guided hikes and tours with Eduardo (find him at the beach). Just a great trip made better by meeting so many wonderful locals who love their country and are happy to share it. Would highly recommend.

Fabulous. Our family of 4 (kids ages 12 and 14) spent a week and a half here in late November. It exceeded our high expectations. The pictures and prior reviews are accurate. Several very positive attributes to this property: (1) Lisebeth the housekeeper takes loving care of the home. She cleans for several hours daily, and it shows. She also will happily cook you a delicious meal for 5000 Colones (about $8). She can also procure fresh fish for you (Snapper). Her family's home is a couple hundred years down the driveway, near the gate, so she's not a close presence but also adds a feeling of security in this tightly-knit, safe town. (2) Diego, the owner, lives a few hours away. He is a fluent English-speaker, and very helpful by email. He answered many questions for us before and during our stay. (3) Proximity to various wonderful beaches: This part of the Nicoya Peninsula is lightly visited by travelers, so the beaches are un- or minimally-developed. The gorgeous Playa Islita is a 7 minute walk or a 2 minute drive from the house. There are never more than a few groups on the beach. There are usually a few people lounging in the hotel's beachside restaurant, and you can use this facility a la carte if you wish. Playa Camaronal is a 10-15 minute drive and is ideal for surfing. In late November swells ranged from 4-5 on small days to 7-9 on bigger days. If you want to rent a board for a day or a week, Lisbeth can put you in contact with Marco, the owner of Islita Surf School. Playa Carrillo is a 30 minute drive for a 2 mile protected, crescent shaped beach to the north. To the south 30-60 minutes, there are several deserted, 5-mile beaches (such as Playa Coyote). A couple pieces of advice: If you can, fly to Liberia rather than San Jose. There are two groceries, an organic food store, a bakery, and a butcher in Samara (get your meat from the butcher, as the grocery stores reportedly turn off their refrigerators at night to save money!). It might be worth buying groceries in Liberia on arrival. Also, it probably goes without saying, but you need a 4x4 to travel here--roads are mostly dirt and are very bumpy. Get a dinner reservation at Don Ramiro in Islita--the owner Miguel is a charming guy who takes great pride in his dishes. We spent our days here running (early!), surfing, walking beaches, lounging around in the shade, doing beach walks, and eating well. Such a relaxing, rejuvenating vacation. I wish it didn't have to end.

We visited this Villa with 2 families with 4 adults and 3 boys ages 10-14. Having been to this area previously on business, I wanted to return as it's off the beaten path and has very few tourists. It's the perfect place to immerse yourself in the Pura Vida lifestyle. All the locals are friendly and warm. This is the perfect property with a location just 5 minutes from the beach and from 3-4 restaurants/sodas. The village is one of the most authentic beautiful villages in Costa Rica. You can easily walk into the village from the villa. This is the perfect place for those seeking solitude and nature. We encountered deer, coatis, and black howler monkeys on the property. Also, the bird watching is phenomenal from the pool area. The upper deck on the main building also provides the perfect 360-degree views to search for wildlife, do yoga or chill out in the hammock. Scarlet Macaws are seen daily. Also, they have resident Turquoise Browed Mot Mots next to the pool. All the rooms are spacious and private from each other. The pool views are world-class. We spent most of our time in the pool taking in the views and wildlife. The onsite caretakers Lisbeth and Alvaro are lovely. They are available daily for cleaning and cooking. I highly recommend having Lisbeth cook as it's extremely affordable. Don't miss her Fried Whole Snapper, patacones and Ceviche!!!! They can also secure fresh local seafood for you to cook. Diego the owner is the most responsive and detailed rental owner I've ever dealt with. He can answer and advise on all your needs such as tours, restaurants, logistics, etc. I would recommend a Sports Utility vehicle as some of the drives in this area are difficult in small sedans if you are not experienced in offroad driving. All in all a 5-star experience and can't wait to return! Pura Vida!

Una gran opción para disfrutar

Séjour d'une semaine en début janvier. La ville est très propre et très bien aménagée. La cuisine est très bien équipée. La pièce centrale est magnifique. Vue splendide sur la mer et la végétation environnante. Oiseaux exotiques, singes hurleurs et coatis autour de la propriété. Environnement très calme. Les gens qui s'occupent de la villa sont très sympathiques, discrets et serviables. La piscine est très belle et de température agréable. Attention toutefois car elle n'est pas sécurisée donc pas recommandé pour une famille avec de jeunes enfants. La magnifique plage de Punta Islita est à 10-15 min de marche de la ville et est quasi déserte. Point à améliorer, chaleur intense dans le bâtiment principal qui n'était pas équipé d'air climatisé. Aussi, la description de la villa parlait d'un accès sur place à une laveuse/sécheuse et à un grill, mais ces services n'étaient pas disponibles. Le propriétaire nous a toutefois gracieusement offert un service de buanderie par les gens qui entretiennent la villa. Vraiment hâte d'y séjourner à nouveau!

We had a wonderful stay at Villa Jalapa! The setting is beautiful and secluded - we had plenty of privacy but it's not in the middle of nowhere, with the hotel next door. Lisbeth, our housekeeper and chef, was amazing! Her cooking was delicious - better than any restaurant around. Our only complaint was that we did not stay long enough! Highly recommend, especially for larger groups.

Esta propiedad se encuentra fuera del Resort de Punta Islita en una propiedad privada muy segura y muy bien atendida, sin embargo se encuentra justo al lado del Resort y se permite el uso de las instalaciones (restaurant, spa, club de playa). La vista desde la casa es espectacular y se encuentra rodeada de árboles, se pueden observar lapas, venados, mapaches, monos... La casa está perfectamente amueblada y equipada para tener una plácida estancia. Cuenta con limpieza y mantenimiento diario. No duden en visitar restaurante kambute con un amplio y delicioso menú

Villa Jalapa is the ultimate beach rental. Could not recommend it more to anyone who is looking for a tropical vacation in Costa Rica. The home is perfectly situated near a large 5 star hotel in Islita, which is a beautiful beach town a few hours drive from San Jose. The house itself is gorgeous -- an infiniti pool with ocean views, & a luxurious Mediterranean aesthetic. The staff is friendly and Lisbeth makes delicious food if you are looking for local cuisine. You need to stay here!!

Villa Jalapa is the ultimate beach rental. Could not recommend it more to anyone who is looking for a tropical vacation in Costa Rica. The home is perfectly situated near a large 5 star hotel in Islita, which is a beautiful beach town a few hours drive from San Jose. The house itself is gorgeous -- an infiniti pool with ocean views, & a luxurious Mediterranean aesthetic. The staff is friendly and Lisbeth makes delicious food if you are looking for local cuisine. You need to stay here!!

Fantastic everything!

Es la segunda ocasión que lo visitamos y cada vez lo disfrutamos más. El lugar, la atención, los detalles, todo.

This home ticked every box for me and my family and we will be back. I have been to Costa Rica several times and, although I love it, the secret is out and lots of people are going, prices are increasing and most of all, locations are starting to get crowded. I was looking for a place that was away from the mainstream tourist locations, had privacy, access to the beautiful nature and animals, access to surfing, access to calm swimable beach and comfortable for my family. This home has a beautiful setting with a view of the ocean where we actually were able to see some whales swimming by. Kids and family love the infinity pool. The gathering area is perfect for meals and watching movies & playing games together & the 3 detached bedrooms were nice for privacy in the evenings. The rooftop lounging area was my favorite getaway during the day while the rest of the family was watching TV or playing in the pool - a really nice spot to go have a little privacy & read while still being a "Hey, where are you?" away. It was less than a 10 minute drive for me to go have an early morning surf and a 2 minute drive or 10 minute walk to a calmer beach for the family to go beach swimming & to push the beginners into some easy waves. Finding a place with the mix of conditions is tough but a reality here! The housekeepers live on the property but are at the bottom of the hill at the bottom of the driveway, easily accessible if you need something but completely away from the property otherwise. They actually helped us arrange to pick up some freshly caught fish for dinner one evening - AMAZING. We didn't ask but I'm guessing if you pay them to do it, you could probably ask them to go do some grocery shopping or other errand running for you as there aren't large grocery stores nearby (this may sound like an inconvenience but if you plan properly it's a GREAT thing because it means you're off the beaten, tourist track!) There is a basic convenience store just up the road in the village where you can grab some things and there's a restaurant not far that is both inexpensive and very good, as well as the hotel has a beachfront bar (the swimming beach) where you can grab drinks & a lunch as well. We awoke to the sounds of the howler monkeys in the trees on the property, saw Scarlet Macaws in the trees just above the property, butterflies flying around. At night all you hear are the sounds of the night & all you see are the stars in the sky - absolutely beautiful!