Unbelievably good 🥰

Extraordinary is the word that comes to mind. We loved this place from the view to the energy to the vibe to the privacy and tranquility. If you want to get away to a stunningly beautiful and serene place, this is it. You DEFINITELY will NEED a 4x4 to access the property from the highway. So worth it though!!!! Owners are extremely attentive, thorough and responsive. This Balinese Limosan is truly spectacular in every way. We were so grateful to have this experience and to witness beautiful Toucans off the deck each day, hear the Howler Monkeys and the privacy and freedom to shower outdoors in nature. Highly, highly recommend. It’s so worth it.

We were a little worried about the weather as we visited during rainy season: never listen to the weather forecast!! It was beautiful every morning and rained late afternoon. The villa is even better than presented. Lots of stuff already supplied by previous visitor (coffee, sugar, vodka (!!). It’s well supplied to cook for two! We could see monkeys and toucans from our patio. We saw a lot of coatis each day almost. The villa is well ventilated at night so you sleep well. Morning comes early with the birds! The ride up to the villa is a little nerve wrecking the first time. Afterwards you get used to it the very next day. Be sure to specify automatic transmissions! I got a shift stick and it was a thrill but you need to be proficient. Do not go up that road on a shift stick if you are nervous of inexperienced! I recommend the jolly roger bar going up! Beautiful view and Absolutely amazong wings / cocktails. Tom gave us great info and useful tips. Beautiful trip, beautiful view, charming villa!!!

This spectacular home is where the glory of a hundred-year-old Balinese Limasan meets the modern amenities of a luxurious outdoor shower with the most stunning ocean views! Just come prepared for the road to get there, which can be a bit scary, especially when you come home after dark and the fog has rolled in! A very good four-wheel drive is a must. Due to the location, plan to either stock up on groceries and chillout for a few days (nothing wrong with that), or if venturing out, plan to be out for the day. Don’t plan to go hiking or swimming at the beach, etc. and then go back to shower before heading out again for dinner. One trip down, and one trip up the hill is enough for a day. But the beauty, and peace and quiet of this location make it more than worth it! Very private and luxurious. Lastly, the host, Thomas, was super responsive and accommodating.

Spacious and open with everything drawing you the beautiful view. The space is perfect, only what you need and amazing details in the construction and decor. The perfect get away house. You need a 4x4 to get to the location as it's up in the steep hills on mostly non-paved roads. The power went out once but only for a short time.

The house was beautiful and well appointed. It is magical to wake up from your bed and see the Pacific! The location provided beautiful views and intimate privacy but you have to be willing to take a 15-20 minute harrowing drive one way to get to the house or back to the main road. This makes a daily “daytrip” the most plausible option where you leave in the morning and return after dinner. We got evening rains regularly so the drive back up was even more interesting. The area is fantastic however, with many different beaches, nearby towns and restaurants.

Ballena was a wonderful place to stay. Make sure you have a good 4x4 as you need it to get up the mountain. Once there you’ll never want to leave….

For those that truly wanna spend some time in the beautiful mountains of Costa Rica with the optimum weather this is a place to stay. The views are spectacular, the breeze from the Ocean Is unbelievable. Just be prepared the drive up the Mountain can be challenging the first few times.

The house was exactly as listed. We had a fantastic stay.

Great experience all around. The host provided great communication. Check-in process was easy, outstanding views, and the property was awesome. Will definitely come back.

My husband and I spent a few days here on our honeymoon. Thomas’s place is nothing short of divine! The sheer beauty and peace of this property is indescribable. While the location feels completely remote and isolated, there is a phenomenal restaurant, store, and cafe just around the corner! It is also super close to Dominical, which is an enchanted little surf town at the bottom of the mountain. Thomas was completely reachable and even provided a hand drawn map from the gate of the neighborhood to the house location. If you want an out-of-this-world experience, look no further!

We would definitely stay here again the property the views the local dining and the beaches were on point amazing

This place is a literal post card. We are so happy to have found this place. Not only is the house beautiful but the views are absolutely breathtaking. Thomas was so helpful with everything. If we had any questions or concerns, he would answer them right away. 5-stars aren’t enough to rate this home and the overall experience!

This was our second stay at this property and the view continues to amaze. Love the open feel of the house, lots of birds, coatis in the trees, howler monkeys heard in the distance, jungle living at its finest. Wonderful place to relax. The drive to the main road is around 15 minutes, yes it is steep, but not unusual for Costa Rica, don’t let that keep you from experiencing this wonderful property. Hope to return again sometime.

My husband and I were able to stay 3 nights at this beautiful place! It’s everything you could possible imagine and more! The view is even better than it shows in pictures, truly breathtaking! We were lucky enough to see a storm rolling in over the ocean one evening, we were in awe! If you’re anywhere near the area of Uvita, you’ll definitely want to stay here. We hope to be back one day!

My husband and I fell madly in love with this property and Uvita. Leaving SJO was scary due to traffic but once we got out of the city we felt better. The drive is about three hours from SJO so I would suggest making sure you have daylight your first day finding the home. You do need a 4x4, 4WD to get up the mountain. We honestly didn’t want to come back home to Texas once our 6 days were up. A Coati came up on the patio one morning while I was sitting in a chair. We slept with the glass doors open every night while having the fans on and it never got hot. We both slept so good each night. The sunrise and sunset every day is breathtaking. You can hear the monkeys in the trees right in front of the home. The first night it scared me but once I realized they are harmless I enjoyed them. I cannot say enough positive things about this home and it’s perfect location. We will definitely be back to CR and we will be staying at this home again.

Property was well maintained and had everything we needed for a relaxing getaway. As long as you have a 4x4 you will love this property! The view and privacy are definitely worth the drive.

This was a much-needed get-away I couldn't have asked for a more perfect retreat. If you love and appreciate nature, this is the place to be; the views were incredible to say the least, and the breezy, jungle life welcomed us each and every morning (visits from Toucan Sam himself) and into the gorgeous night. Arriving was easy and made pleasant with walking into a spotless home. It had everything we needed to cook a few meals in and relax and enjoy the day without feeling the need to rush and sightsee. The owner even stopped by, after asking us if it was okay, to ensure we had everything we needed while sharing some must-see local attractions with us. I highly recommend this place for a short or longer stay as the value far exceeds what we paid and the experience was beyond my expectations. I am already set on staying here again when I return to Costa Rica for the second time this year!

Serenity...Tranquillity...these words are understatements. The wildlife experience is amazing. The picture of the Coati that you see in the listing...you will most likely see him during your visit...cute little fella (don’t feed any wildlife by the way). I saw a variety of birds, including two very pretty Tucans. You almost have no need to do sight seeing tours. The bed was comfortable, the water temperature was perfect and so was the water pressure (some rentals don’t have hot water...this place does). It took some getting used to the complete silence and darkness (being from the city) - but by the thirds day I felt right at home. There are very kind as friendly security guards that monitor the gate and lock it at a certain point at night so you feel very safe (there’s only one guard at a time...I don’t want to give the impression that this is a scary environments). As a matter of fact I felt safer in CR than I’ve ever felt in the States....ever! I never locked the door....coming or going and felt completely at ease. There was a washer and dryer, cleaning supplies, soap, oh and even beach towels - which I thought was a nice touch. DO NOT ARRIVE AT NIGHT. I’m a very experienced driver when it comes to the mountains and I promise you WILL regret arriving at night - Once you’ve been up and down once or twice, however, you’ll be fine. It’s literally takes 15 minutes to get down the mountain so be sure to keep that in mind if you have plans to catch the sunset, get a massage or anything else requiring a time commitment. A 4x4 is a must. Don’t even consider not getting on. Period. John, the property manager stopped by to say hello and make sure all was well. I had to call him on my first night because I arrived at night and got lost - he answered the phone each time I called and got me to safety. Let me reiterate....DO NOT arrive at night- you’ll think that your being setup for a murder...or that the road is going to drop off into the mountains. Lastly, I highly encourage you to visit Jolly Roger and Scala. JR is a good time, family oriented, kick you sábeles off and chill/dance kinda place. Scala is a bit more upscale and quiet atmosphere. Both are worth visiting. Well...I could go on but you’ll just have to experience the Pira Vida life so yourself. Oh...there’s no TV amd quite honestly, you won’t miss it nor will you need it. It allows you to completely disconnect and reset. Doug the owner kept in touch and made sure the trip was a pleasant ex

This was our 5th time to CR. The view from the house is great. Off to the right, the sunset is obscured by a section of jungle. Something to keep in mind if you're after epic sunset photos. The property has minimal landscaping and a large bare lawn with one main tree. The reasons for the removal of two stars is 1. the house was not cleaned when we arrived, 2. kitchen sucked, and 3. privacy interruption. We arrived at check in time (2pm) and stepped in poop in the entryway while taking in the view. This could have happened after cleaning but it was a shock. We first found the kitchen counters were dirty, as were coffee maker and top of microwave. The kitchen trash was not taken out and had old coffee grounds. The large outdoor trash can was almost full from last guests. The toilet room was not cleaned and I’ll the spare the details. After over an hour of cleaning, we FINALLY were able to relax. I took photos of most of the issues before we resolved them. I contacted the owner and was told if I had checked in early, then it was our fault it wasn’t cleaned. We arrived at check in time, listed as 2pm. Then he said the prior guests had checked out very late and this made cleaning impossible. This story later changed and I was told it actually was cleaned and everyone was “very confused”. I almost felt as if we were blamed for the state of the place. I stated several times we wanted uninterrupted privacy and additional cleaning was not needed. The manager showed up 8am Friday, no mask, while I was undressed. Luckily, the door was closed and my boyfriend went outside so he didn’t come in any further. This was day 7 of our stay and we were not told he was coming. The kitchen is not adequate for preparing more than coffee and cereal. The dishes are not microwave safe, the can opener had the thickest coat of rust I’ve ever seen. We threw it away and bought a new one. There’s no large knife, the only straight blade is jagged from years of use. These are safety issues. They list an oven but there isn’t one. The listed grill is filthy. These issues can easily be remedied. The sponge was moldy and hadn't been replaced in at least several stays so we also replaced. We ate out most meals as a result. I hope this feedback is used to make it better for future guests. I hope to not hear we are not "adventurous" enough for this rustic rental, which is quite far from the truth. If the view is the only redeeming quality, well you're in CR, epic views abound.

The description of this property does not do it justice! Friendly animals around you everywhere so don’t worry about the small noises in the night, it’s probably an ant-eater looking for a some terminates in a tree. The view never gets old. You’ll get sun, rain, lighting storms and a view of the whales tail that makes you never want to leave. When they saw 4x4 is REQUIRED they mean it. The drive is insane yet so fun! Be prepared for steep hills, gravel and the thought that there couldn’t be these nice of houses in this remote of a place. House was very clean, great internet and all you need to never leave. A public beach is right down the hill with shopping close by. We will be back!

Breathtaking views, very comfortable accomodations, more than expected. The view changes with the weather and it's beautiful no matter what. The drive up there and back down the mountain is exhilarating and there are opportunities to stop in for local food and drink whether it be Bar Jolly Roger or the Restaurante Scala. We had the best vacation staying here!

This property delivers as advertised. The drive up the hill (with a 4X4) was no issue. Actually kind of fun. Views and privacy are unmatched. We left the home completely wide open our entire stay to keep breeze throughout the house. (doors windows etc. without screens). Also next to no lights on after sunset. Did not get one bug bite, slept incredibly well and enjoyed the sounds of the jungle. Very memorable. For the right person, this place is so unique and fun. Thank you Doug

This property was a challenge to get to, but a reward far beyond the challenge once you arrived. The road up the mountain to this bit of heaven was rough in places, but intermittent paved sections and the Jolly Roger (pub) along the way were a plus! Once we arrived at the main gate, the landscaping changed from jungle to beautiful landscaping. (The road improved a lot also.) Ours was the property at the very front on an elevated slab, which kept any critters from joining us inside. The view is one of the every best around and the "suite" was totally secluded. The front "porch" is large, the full width of the house and under the roof. Inside it appears as one very, very large room with the kitchen area (Sink, microwave, blender, refrig/freezer) along one wall. However, behind the headboard of the large bed is a half-wall behind which is a double lavatory, a washer and dryer, a toilet and a large walk-in shower with ocean view! (Yes, it's that secluded.) The marble floors and everything else were very clean and the owner who had been there before us left a number of very nice leftovers in the fridge. The best we can say to recommend this place is that we are definitely coming back! You need a 4x4 SUV to get up the road, but after a day or two, we got used to it - it got easier once we knew what we were doing. Would give it 6 stars if we could!

As all of the other reviews say it’s a great place with a incredible view. The drive up is crazy the first time but I got used to it about the third time up.

Fabulous getaway for two! View of the Whale Tale, sunrises and sunsets were superb. Our specific checkin requests were fulfilled by John, the local property manager. Great place to stay, remember to remain somewhat adventurous! Thanks Doug, Pura Vida!

This little cabin is stunning and has a priceless view with endless peace. It does come with a price: it’s really far from everything, and it’s mostly dirt roads.

Nice place amazing view, sliding doors a bit heavy could use a bit more airflow

My wife and I fell in love with the property. The view of the ocean, rainforest and all the wildlife was amazing. Every morning we woke to Howler monkeys and the daily parrot and Toucan visits. Would like to thank John for his fast response on replacing the hot water heater after the power loss caused a failure to the unit. To the one person who left a review about the steep roads to the property well thats Costa Rica and would recommend visiting somewhere else like a hotel. Thanks Doug Russell & Nell Prestwood

We had an amazing stay at Doug and Haley’s place in Dominical. The drive up was a little scary at first, but we were able to get used to it. And we did it in a crappy Ssangyong crossover. The view from the balcony is unmatched from anywhere else we have experienced. The place was clean, serene, and perfectly amendable. The huge sliding glass doors opened up to nature and the mountain breeze. Believe it or not, we did not have any issues with insects at nighttime with the door open. Doug was able to provide us with a guide detailing everything we need to know about his place, the area, and recommendations. We definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for adventure, a romantic getaway, or an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean.

Haben den Aufenthalt sehr genossen.Morgens Brüllaffen und Tukane sowie viele andere Vögel, Faultier auf dem Weg, was will man mehr. Gewünscht hätten wir uns bequeme und verstellbare Sonnenliegen sowie einen Wasserkocher. Bei Anfahrt ist 4x4 wirklich nötig.

Fantastic place for couples. Once you get used to the drive up it's a perfect base camp. Views are fantastic when you get up in the morning. It's as presented in the VRBO. Somewhat basic, but supercool place to stay. Cool architecture, we loved the set up. Communication with the owner and his manager in the area is easy and smooth. We're already planning for next year.