This home was amazing! It was exactly as listed. My husband and sons, ages 12 and 26 joined us. We absolutely loved the privacy of the beach and having the pool as well. The check in process with Manfred was very easy. Olivia made our stay so enjoyable by planning. all of our activities for us. Some things I would recommend would be to definitely visit La Leona Waterfall. It was a bit of a drive, but well worth it. It is a bit strenuous, so make sure you're in good shape! We also enjoyed a full day of deep sea fishing. Our sons caught Mahi and we went to Rip Jack for dinner with our fish and they prepared dinner for us. Just be sure to call ahead and tell them you're coming. I would also highly recommend surf lessons arranged by Olivia. Unless you plan on not leaving the development, a car is a must. The roads into the neighborhood are not paved and there are a lot of pot holes, as are many of the roads so keep this in mind. However, we had no issues driving. A few things I wish I had known..When you walk through the jungle to the beach, take a left and walk for about 20 minutes at low tide. This takes you to the estuary and for $2 per person a small boat will drive you across the water (30 second ride) to Tamarindo. It's very quick, as opposed to the 40 minute drive by car. There is a small grocery store you can walk to and a restaurant attached that is very good. There are also two other restaurants within walking distance. This was the best vacation ever!

Absolutely loved our vacation - the home was beautiful and the grounds were amazing. We made friends with the iguanas and monkeys and had endless walks on the beach! Thank you!!

My wife and 3 kids (2, 13, and 17) had been planning this vacation for about 6 months. We love Costa Rica and did our research in checking out VRBOs and hotels across the country. Once I stumbled across Casa Baula it was a no brainer in terms of the luxury it offered at an affordable price. After booking the trip, my decision was validated as Annette called and had a phone call to discuss any needs or concerns we had. Best of all the property offered a concierge service and alleviated the stress of arranging transportation from the airport with a two year old. The following days we had a rental car delivered to the property, surfing lessons, and a horseback riding trip all arranged through the courtesy concierge service. Additionally, the private pool and quick walk to the beach made it easy for our teenagers to come and go as they pleased while giving us a safe option to enjoy the pool with the baby. Playa Grande itself is secluded and offers a private oasis but restaurants are a quick walk or drive if you desire. I also highly recommend Tamarindo if you need to mix up the solitude as there is plenty of shopping, restaurants, and nightlife if that’s your wish. Everything about our trip was enjoyable and if we ever return to the Tamarindo area we’ll be sure to see if the property is available. Highly recommend!!!!

Thank you for sharing your home with us. It’s the perfect match of location and amenities. Every detail in the home was fun to view and the waves in the backyard were unbeatable. The pool was the perfect location for us parents to relax during children’s nap times. Pura Vida!

We had a wonderful stay at Casa Baula. The house is right off Playa Grande beach, and it was the perfect beach for my kids who love boogie boarding and body surfing. They played for hours! Annette and Olivia were so helpful in the planning process. It was nice to know we had Manfred in the neighborhood as a point of contact should something come up. And his croissants were delicious!!! It was also wonderful to have several dining options within the neighborhood, all served amazing food. With it being dark quite early and us not wanting to do much driving after dark it was perfect to go to dinner within the neighborhood. We ventured out and did several excursions that were must do in Costa Rica. Do realize it takes awhile to get anywhere compared to what you may be used to, but still well worth the experience. The very last morning we had a group of howler monkeys pass right over the trees between the house and the beach- the perfect ending to our Costa Rican adventure!! Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Costa Rica and at Casa Baula, it is truly a hidden gem!!!

Words cannot express how grateful I am to the hostess for all of the love and attention to detail she has poured into this place!!! I needed a retreat from the world and this was the perfect place for that. The hostess was also accommodating to special requests and just took care of me when I needed someone to care. This is my home in Costa Rica now!!

This is a fabulous home for families and playa grande is the best place to visit. Everything is as described and we can’t wait to bring our families back.

Perfect spot to relax and explore.

We were a group of six adults on vacation at Casa Baula for 12 nights. This home is immaculate and the personal touches that Annette has put into the home are amazing. She has provided all the necessities to have a wonderful vacation from boogie boards, beach chairs, the bocce ball, ping pong and loads of games. The kitchen is well equipped. The living space outdoors is very comfortable and we utilized the pool every day. The close proximity to the beach is a 30 second walk. We would definitely stay here again and would highly recommend staying here.

The house and the grounds are immaculate. This home is clearly well loved. The beautiful art and the thoughtful touches throughout made us feel at home. Having only steps between the house and the ocean was perfect for our family of surfers. Casa Baula is a very private oceanfront oasis with more amenities than I have ever seen in a vacation rental.

The house itself is well appointed and very comfortable. The neighborhood is just perfect, with some dining choices nearby even during the rainy season. Sunsets were stunning! We will return for sure.

Everything that Annette promised about this property proved to be true. The house is steps from a beautiful, in crowded beach. Amazing sunsets, surfer watching all day. The grounds were immaculately manicured, and so peaceful. Just an overall amazing experience!

Casa Baula is a gorgeous property in a gorgeous location. But it’s so much more than that. Casa Baula is an incredibly special place. This is a truly warm & welcoming home filled with art, light, and love. Everything you could possibly need for a family vacation is available on the property - from sea-themed plates & cups to ample and comfortable outdoor seating to chairs, sand buckets, and towels for the beach. The gardens are lush and green, and home to beautiful birds, butterflies, flowers, howler monkeys, amazing tropical plants, and little secret paths & nooks. The beach — omg, the beach! A vast expanse of sand, sea, & sun. Absolutely uncrowded. We loved having our coffee on the beach every morning & watching the sun set over the Pacific every evening. Manfred is an excellent manager & of course we enjoyed his famous chocolate croissants. The pool & garden person kept everything lovely & fresh. The cleaning team was great - they came 3x during our stay and are efficient, skilled, and adept at working around a house full of family. Palm Beach Estates is a gem. Very quiet & yet also lively with a taco shop, a couple of little surf shops, a couple of restaurants, and a market. Playa Grande is home to several great restaurants & a well-stocked market. This was our family’s most favorite vacation & to say it was hard to leave is an understatement. If I can make any recommendation at all it’s to book for as long as you can & allow yourself the time to settle into the Casa Baula pura vida life.

House was very nice. Loved the pool, ping pong table and location to beach. Very relaxing.

This is a beautiful and peaceful place to spend a holiday! My husband and I and two boys (aged 20 and 23) spent a week at Annette's home this spring. We chose this property because of the gorgeous backyard setting and because we wanted to be right on the beach. It was spectacular! It felt like you were in your own private resort. The beach was exactly what we love, quiet and great for walking. We also loved just hanging out by the pool and made full use of the ping pong table, Bocce ball set and the games in the house. Great property, quiet neighbourhood with some delicious restaurants to try and very friendly property manager. Would go back again! Thank you Annette for sharing your home. It is such a welcoming and warm place to be. We loved it!

Ok...grab a coffee and a comfy chair because this will be a long one! My husband and 2 daughters - ages 12 and 16 - stayed at Casa Baula 4/25-4/30. This property exceeded every expectation. The pictures do not nearly live up to the reality! Attention to detail, artwork and plantings, a binder of things to do and places to eat, a fully stocked kitchen, the list goes on and on. Upon our late arrival, we met up with the property manager, Manfred, a lovely gent from Germany, who gave us a quick tour of the property. We enjoyed dinner a few doors down at the Catarana and again for yummy breakfast bowls. Upon awakening on our first morning, we were able to see what a find Casa Baula truly is. Each bedroom has original artwork, comfy beds and A/C units that kept us cool. The great room also has original art and decor and feels bright and inviting. The home has tons of board games, puzzles, outdoor games, boogie boards, floats and everything you could want for family fun. The ping pong table is nestled among the tropical gardens and trees and the bocce ball court sits at the back of the property. The plunge pool is the perfect size when you want to jump back and forth between the ocean and the pool. There are 2 outdoor showers to rinse off before entering the pool or to rinse your sandy feet. The covered outdoor patio is HUGE!! It boasts a very comfy outdoor sectional, a beautiful live edge dining table, bistro table and another built-in couch PLUS an outdoor kitchen, grill and fridge. We spent TONS of time lounging in this area. Then there is the beach... go out the back gate, down a short sandy path between the trees and enter onto the most beautiful beach you have ever seen!! The water is the perfect temperature and the waves are perfect for boogie boarding and surfing. Walk a mile north to Taco Star for lunch and a drink after swimming. Prior to arrival our concierge, Jules, set up all of our activities and car rental. We HIGHLY recommend surfing lessons out the back door (Andy was the best!), a catamaran sunset sail with Panache and a Costa Rican meal in the home. We also loved Wed night fresh caught sushi at Onda and the poke bowls at Patagonia in Brasilito. The homeowner Annette could not have been more attentive before and during our stay, offering personal recommendations for our needs. Casa Baula is not another rental. It is a home - loved, cared for, treasured by all who are lucky enough to stay there!

We are so lucky to have found Casa Baula for our vacation in Costa Rica! Upon arrival we were greeted by the very friendly property manager. He was helpful and available through the week. He also bakes delicious breads and pastries, delivered warm on certain days - highly recommended. Casa Baula has an excellent location. It is on the beach and within a short walking distance there a morning coffee place, a few restaurant options and even a place to rent surfboards. If you are up for a longer walk, you can walk along the beach to the ferry to Tamarindo for lots of shops and restaurants. Inside and outside, Casa Baula is tastefully decorated celebrating local plants and animals. The garden and “living wall” feels like you are living in the jungle and engages all your senses. There are so many details and textures to look at. The garden smells wonderful, you hear the sounds of the ocean and birds and feel the ocean on your skin. There are boogie boards, outdoor games, a pingpong table, bocce ball court and pool. Our favorite “room” was the outdoor living space. It is furnished with beautiful furniture that provides the comfort of an indoor space, but outside. We spent most of our time there eating meals, playing games and watching the resident Iguana come for daily visits, as well as hummingbirds, butterflies, small lizards and other birds and insects. The home inside is beautiful with artwork everywhere. The kitchen is stocked with everything you can possibly need to prepare meals. The bath towels are thick and cozy and the beds have the most beautiful, soft sheets. As you live there you start noticing small details that keep you entertained, many with a touch of humor. Every day you discover something you did not notice before. The pillow of famous people at the beach, the surprise in the shower soap area, the shower floor laid out as beach and ocean with turtles and many other details. There are many books and a children’s library, as well as lots of games for family night. No time or effort has been spared to make this a beautiful and comfortable home, and it is clear that this home is well loved. Even though it would have been a wonderful vacation to just spend all the time at Casa Baula, Jules helped us find perfect activities, including surfing lessons, ziplining, tubing rapids, horseback riding, a local chef that prepared a meal at Casa Baula, and an animal sanctuary for rescued Costa Rican animals. This was a perfect vacation and home

This home is an absolute delight. Annette has spent many thoughtful years making this a vacationers dream. The house is full of local art, beautiful gardens, games, beach toys, books and plenty of places to lounge. All you need to pack is your bathing suit. The kitchen is well stocked, the beds are so comfortable, and information on the house and the surrounding area readily available, everything was exactly as stated. This trip was a 10 out of 10.

From the moment we walked through the door we knew this was a special place. The care and love that was poured into the home is evident in every detail. Thank you Annette and Manfred for an incredible week with our family.

You will not be disappointed choosing Casa Baula for your Costa Rica vacation. Our party of 4 adults found everything we needed to make the week memorable. Concierge Jules from Frijoles Locos arranged our fishing trip & we had a fully equipped kitchen to prepare our tuna. Housekeeping & gardening staff kept inside & grounds clean & tidy. The local restaurants were excellent & Manfred, the property manager should open his own bakery. There's a bit of a learning curve for locks & alarms as well as baffling light switches but after a couple days we were experts. Just grab your beverage of choice, head to Playa Grande beach outside your gate, have a seat on your private bench & toast the most memorable sunset you'll ever witness. Pura Vida at its best.

We had a LOVELY time at Casa Baula and on Playa Grande. What an incredible spot in the world. We so admired all the intention and beauty of the Casa Baula home, and the personal notes the host shared of the artwork and their family's time there. Our kids LOVED the thoughtful collection of children's accessories around the home. The host, Annette, was wonderful and helpful to communicate with and prepare for our trip. The property manager she hires to help with check-in and any other needs during our stay was also wonderful. He lives in the gated community as well and was very prompt with any requests. My son also celebrated his fourth birthday while there, and his wife made him a beautiful birthday cake, so that was quite special. We also enjoyed the couple of restaurants that were within the gated community too. There are some nice ones right outside the community that were wonderful as well. This is a really special and quiet beach. I will always remember our stay at Casa Baula, how good the heat and the sun felt, how silencing the waves are to the noise inside us and around us, and the quiet, simple happiness of my kids at play on the beach.

My husband and I have been coming to Palm Beach Estates for vacation for a span of over 14 years. We have stayed in several of the homes. This was our first time staying at Casa Baula and we definitely plan on returning. The house is well equipped, especially the kitchen and we love to cook. Plenty of indoor and outdoor comfortable sitting areas. The pool is perfect for lounging after a day on the beach and the house has a Costa Rican warmth in its design, beautiful wood cabinetry, doors etc. The casa is beachfront which makes all the difference in the world, which is why we keep coming back to Playa Grande …that big beautiful beach!

Well-appointed. Everything is absolutely gorgeous. The location is perfect. It was not high season, so we had Playa Grande to ourselves

Cass Baula was exactly what we were looking for in a vacation getaway! Beautiful house with great outdoor living right on the beach. Annette was an awesome host! She works with a concierge named Jules @ Freoles Locale (local surf shop in Playa Grande) who took care of everything for us. Jules organized our airport shuttle, car rental, day adventures, restaurants and so much more. The house is steps from the beach and has an incredible backyard oasis. Loved our experience and wouldn't hesitate to go back again. Thank you Annette for everything!

My wife and I, and our friends (another couple), stayed in Annette’s home for 7 days in late September and it is hard to put into words how wonderful our time was. We lived in a dreamworld for 7 days - specifically the location is amazing and very low traffic, the waves are amazing, and the home and property themselves are impeccable. The outdoor living spaces are like another home to themselves, you can tell this is so much more than a “rental” this is someone’s home. Thank you so much for the week, there is literally nothing that could have been improved on.

Casa Baula was beautiful, relaxing, and one-of-a-kind! We loved all of the unique decor and the expansive outdoor space. Would recommend this place to anyone. It is very special!

Beautiful and spacious home on the beach. Literally steps to the beach and surfing. Peaceful neighborhood. Annette and Manfred (property manager) are very responsive and have thought of everything one may need at the home. Our family didn’t want to leave this amazing place.

We rented this beach house for 4 nights. We wish it could have been longer. It was such an amazing experience. We felt so lucky to stay here. Annette runs things so professionally and organized. The house and property had all of the amenities that you could ever need. We had Jules from Frijoles Locos schedule some of our amazing excursions, and Manfred was awesome. We cannot say enough good things about this home. We spent a lot of time outside: eating, using the bbq, sitting in the pool, laying in the lounge chairs… Unlock the gate, walk 20 steps and you are on a spectacular beach. The surf and tide were perfect for boogie boarding and surfing. There are two outdoor showers which were convenient in order to remove the sand before going indoors. The majority of the time we had the entire beach to ourselves, and there was no one walking the beach asking us to buy things. It was absolutely perfect for our family. There were only 4 of us, but more could have stayed comfortably. The washer and dryer were very convenient. The maid and pool cleaner were darling. There were two wonderful restaurants within walking distance. The property is very secure with many locks on the gates and doors, and the property is very well lit. We felt very safe. Each night we watched the sunset, star gazed from the beach and watched fireflies, crabs, lizards, iguanas, birds, butterflies and other amazing creatures that we got to experience. We hope one day to return to this home. We will forever have fond memories of our time here.

Extremely comfortable house. Location is great - right on an excellent surf beach.

Our family had an amazing time here! We have 4 young kids and they couldn't have been more happy with the pool, games, and beach. The really amazing part of the beach is the tide change. You essentially get 2 different beaches every day. We all enjoyed surfing, boogie boarding, and just relaxing on one of the most spectacular beaches on the planet. As everyone has mentioned, the sunsets are truly picturesque. The house was a perfect fit for our family. The check-in process was great with Manfred. We HIGHLY suggest getting some pastries from Manfred when they're available, especially the chocolate croissants! Also, Arturo, the gardener was the friendliest person on the planet! Even though he doesn't speak much english, we still talked with him every morning and immediately felt like he was "one of our buddies!" He even opened the gate for us when we were leaving just so he had a chance to say goodbye to us all. Even the women that cleaned the house caught us on the road when leaving to say bye to the kids! Restaurants were just a walk away, which was great. Also the small town is just a short drive away to get to Frijoles Locos for beach gear shopping and surf lesson sign up. Markets were close and great! Also, Jules, the concierge was AMAZING. We couldn't have been more pleased with our overall experience and hope to get back soon!

Our family had an amazing time here! We have 4 young kids and they couldn't have been more happy with the pool, games, and beach. The really amazing part of the beach is the tide change. You essentially get 2 different beaches every day. We all enjoyed surfing, boogie boarding, and just relaxing on one of the most spectacular beaches on the planet. As everyone has mentioned, the sunsets are truly picturesque. The house was a perfect fit for our family. The check-in process was great with Manfred. We HIGHLY suggest getting some pastries from Manfred when they're available, especially the chocolate croissants! Also, Arturo, the gardener was the friendliest person on the planet! Even though he doesn't speak much english, we still talked with him every morning and immediately felt like he was "one of our buddies!" He even opened the gate for us when we were leaving just so he had a chance to say goodbye to us all. Even the women that cleaned the house caught us on the road when leaving to say bye to the kids! Restaurants were just a walk away, which was great. Also the small town is just a short drive away to get to Frijoles Locos for beach gear shopping and surf lesson sign up. Markets were close and great! Also, Jules, the concierge was AMAZING. We couldn't have been more pleased with our overall experience and hope to get back soon!

Fricking insane everything! Beyond words. If u want to have a private home completely sealed up right on the sand (ok private path 50 yards to sand) and u live for the beach and surf this is IT! We were a party 3 45-50 year old dudes from so cal wanting to surf for 5 days. Epic house pool, yard, outdoor living, house has a incredible gate and block wall around entire property and is big enough for a few more people but with 3 it’s very nice space. The kitchen is well equipped but the highlight is the path to an incredible beach. So nice sunrise to 930 Am for session and coffee and a great glass off session 445-sunset. In between a bit windy but u will need a break anyway to eat and rest. Such a cool neighborhood south of entry to grande in palm beach estates. Unreal stay. Will return again. And again and maybe again. Can’t wait to show my family.