Rainforest & Beach Retreat with 5* Service

2 br, 1 bath comfortable home with large patio, in quaint beach village, short walk to restaurants, surrounded by nature: - personalized attention before arrival and on-site assistance. Our guests enjoy full privacy, while having quick help when needed; - 2-5 min walk to great restaurants and store - 6-8 min walk to the beach - rainforest environment, great wildlife wiewing opportunities - will appeal to off the beaten path travellers - wifi - TV for streaming off line (no cable TV). You are an explorer, amazed by monkeys and sloths, and in awe when looking up and seeing toucans and green macaws fly by - this is the place for you! At Casas La Selvatica we offer an unforgettable rainforest immersion experience. Beyond comfortable accommodation, you will experience the sounds, scents and sights of the jungle with its amazing flora and fauna. You will be only minutes away from a picture perfect beach, grocery store and restaurants. The setting is ideal for couples or families who appreciate the comfort of an entire home rather than a hotel room, and the cultural experience of living in an actual local neighbourhood, surrounded by locals. Casa Grande has two bedrooms, one bath and two dens, comfortably accommodating up to 4 guests. There is a fully equipped kitchen and a large outdoor dining/lounging area with dining table, a couch and two hammocks. You may spend your vacation days at the beach at Playa Chiquita or Punta Uva, riding a bike (available for rent on-site) to Manzanillo for a hike in the Wildlife Refuge, enjoying Caribbean live music in an outdoor restaurant in Puerto Viejo, relaxing with a chocolate facial at the Pure Jungle Spa, taking a half a day trip to Cahuita National Park (where you can also rent a boat for a snorkelling tour), learning fascinating details about the local wildlife during a visit of the Jaguar Rescue Center, tasting a variety of local, handmade chocolates while witnessing the process of cocoa production at one of the local chocolate tours, zip lining above the jungle canopy, and so much more... We offer the following, along with your accommodation: - exceptional, prompt traveller assistance, from the time of the initial contact until check-out; - wireless high speed internet - on site English speaking hosts available to provide information, assist with activities booking, etc. - coffeemaker, toaster over, blender and kettle - digital metal safe for secure storage of your valuables - high quality towels and bedding - complimentary laundry service provided by your hosts for vacations of minimum 7 days; for shorter vacations, the service is available for $8/load (washing, drying and folding) - two hammocks on the porch - bike rentals available on-site for $6/day; additional bike rentals at next door grocery store. We would love to customize your vacation according to your needs. If you are celebrating a special occasion or would like to pleasantly surprise a loved one, we can provide additional services as required (tea lights, bottle of wine, local handmade organic chocolate, etc.) or arrange for a romantic dinner or spa package before your arrival. Thank you for considering Casas La Selvatica and the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica as your potential vacation destination. You will discover a fascinating country, with amazing nature and wildlife, a vibrant culture and will get re-connected with the meaning of pure life. Please review the terms and conditions listed under "House Rules" and kindly let us know if you have any questions. By submitting a reservation request and payment, the renter acknowledges review and agreement to the terms listed under "House Rules". Guests have full access of the home. The Hosts live in separate quarters on the same property, and are present at check-in, check-out and daily for assistance and information, as much or little as needed. In accordance with physical distancing recommandations, we also provide self-check in, with real time access to communications to hosts via (Hidden by Airbnb) . Prior to arrival, the guests are connected with the hosts and owners via (Hidden by Airbnb) for an added option of quick communication. Playa Chiquita is an idyllic beach village, ideally situated on one of the most picturesque stretches of the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. This quaint location could not be more convenient for travelers, whether bound for an eye opening experience of nature, wildlife, culture or just pure relaxation. The village is located on the edge of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, a protected nature reserve which is home to numerous species of animals, birds and plants. It is also only 4 miles/6km South of the happening town of Puerto Viejo, the epitome of a laid back Caribbean place, a melting pot of cultures and a great place for contracting tourist services. A rental car is not necessary, but if preferred, an outdoor parking lot is available. Public transit is readily accessible: direct buses from San Jose, Limon, Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Manzanillo stop 3 minutes walk from the house. Taxis and tuk-tuk's are abundant in the area. Bikes are a great way to get around, and are available for rent from the next door grocery store every day of the week. Frequently Asked Questions: 1. Is the water potable? Yes. Our water comes from the municipal supply (i.e. it is provided and tested by the local water company). As water consumption is an individual choice, we provide some bottled water (in a large, reusable jug) to each guest upon arrival. If guests prefer to continue to consume bottled water, they are free to refill the water jug at the grocery store. Since we provide potable tap water, we do not refill bottled water once the initial supply provided has been consumed. 2. What is the area like? As most travel guides describe it, the Southern Caribbean is the right combination of picture perfect beaches, spectacular wildlife and proverbial laid-back attitude, spiced-up with a surprisingly active music and restaurant scene. The area is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering countless low ecological impact activities. This part of the country enjoys a lower level of development when compared with the Pacific Coast, and might catch by surprise unsuspecting travellers expecting all inclusive or high end resorts. While this type of accommodation options are also available, they are very few, hence the true laid back attitude of locals and travellers alike. 3. How do I get there? Is a car needed? A rental car is not necessary, but would offer you more flexibility. You can get here from San Jose by public transit, door-to-door minivan service, driving a rental car, by private transfer or by river rafting (we can arrange that for you!). Most travellers who choose to not rent a car use the door-to-door shuttle service, with pick-up from either San Jose airport (one daily departure at 2:30pm) or from San Jose area hotels (early morning and afternoon departures available). These services will drop you off at our gate. Public transportation is safe, reliable and inexpensive. A full list of options is provided to all guests upon booking. Please inquire if you have any specific questions about transportation. 3. What is the weather like? Do the houses have air conditioning? 'The only thing that is constant is change"...this could not be more true about the weather in this part of Costa Rica. Overall, this is a tropical rainforest environment, with not so distinct dry and rainy seasons. One can expect that the average daily temperatures will be around 30C (85F) and 22C (72F) at night throughout the year. The amount of rain varies, however most precipitations happen over night, in torrential showers followed by morning sunshine. There is significant humidity in the air at all times. Similar to 97% of vacation homes owners in the area, we did not find air conditioning necessary. The houses are built with air vents for natural ventilation and have certain (screened and barred) windows open at all times. The average nightly temperature of 20C (70F) is comfortable for a restful sleep. For the occasional hotter evening, ceiling/wall fans are available in every room. 4. What is there to do? What activities are available? Most travellers come here to enjoy the beaches and to explore the amazing flora and fauna of the surrounding rainforest. The area is also popular with surfers and yoga practitioners. It is a perfect spot for a romantic getaway, as well as a convenient location for a family vacation. Some of the most popular activities are snorkelling the coral reef, zip-line canopy tours and jungle hikes, river rafting, visiting the nearby wildlife rescue center (located within walking distance from La Selvatica) or night time turtle watching, to name only a few. On a rainy day, you can browse through our book collection, play a board game (chess, checkers and few other games are available), catch up on your emails or make travel plans using the free wi-fi internet, or watch a DVD from the collection available at Casa Grande. Please note that a TV is available for streaming or DVD playing, but cable TV is not available. 5. Do I need local currency? The local currency is the colon (plural colones). As an easy reference, 1 USD equals approximately 550 colones. US Dollars are widely accepted in most tourist areas all over Costa Rica. From our own experience, we found that what works best is to use our credit cards to withdraw colones at ATM's. You can do this as soon as you land at San Jose airport, while waiting for your checked baggage – there is one ATM right by the baggage carousels. It is probably safest to withdraw just enough cash for the first few days of your trip (for example the equivalent of $150-$200) and avoid carrying to much cash on you while travelling. Once on the Caribbean, you can use the ATM's in Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. You can also withdraw cash from your credit card directly from the bank tellers (you must have your original passport with you). Credit cards are increasingly more accepted by tourist businesses, however it is safe to always have some cash on hand. The next door grocery/mini-department store where you will probably shop for most food, beverage and other needs accepts all types of credit cards. 6. Are there jungle creatures around? Our homes are located in the rainforest, in a lush environment also home to howler monkeys, toucans, sloths, lizards, frogs, snakes, spiders, bats, ants and many other neat creatures. Some of these could be watched right from the comfort of your porch! We try to blend in as much as possible with the natural environment and to be passive and respectful observers of the surrounding wildlife. We are fortunate to have a rather limited mosquito population. 7. Is La Selvatica the right place for me? We offer two homes. Casa Grande is a good option for people who enjoy larger living areas, and also for families with children. Guests of Casa Grande enjoy a large porch and laundry service (provided by the property managers). We found that our homes are especially attractive to travellers willing to embark in an eye-opening experience of nature, wildlife, different culture and holistic relaxation. We offer two cozy self catering vacation homes in a spectacular rainforest/beach setting. We do not offer services similar to those found in high-end hotels or all inclusive resorts, nor do we intend to compete for their guests. The area is enjoyed by independent travellers and it is probably better suited to travellers not averse to being in occasional and relative close proximity with geckos, spiders, humming birds, agoutis or any other creatures which inhabit the nearby rain-forest. This area is NOT a bug-free zone. 8. Are there restaurants and shops nearby? La Selvatica is located within 2 minutes walking distance from the main road which treks along the coast. This means we are also within few minutes walk from a couple of grocery stores, a handful of good restaurants, a couple of yoga centres and a few other shops. You can shop nearby for most basic necessities. For more choices, there are plenty of shopping options in Puerto Viejo. Another great shopping option for local produce and plenty of other goods is the Saturday market, taking place weekly in Puerto Viejo. 8. Is the area safe? The area is at least just as safe as most places. Like most other places, the Southern Caribbean and Costa Rica can be enjoyed with no worries, when common sense safety procedures are employed. Petty theft is not uncommon. The local business owners community is very active in promoting safety for tourists, and this should not be interpreted as an indication that the area is unsafe. Our property is fenced in (gates locked at night by guests). Both our houses have lock-boxes and guests are encouraged to store all valuables there, when not in use. We also advise our guests to bring a couple of passport copies to carry with them, while their original passports are safely stored in the lock-box. There are on-site hosts and two resident dogs, for added security. Always take only the minimum with you when going to the beach, especially if you anticipate spending lots on time in the water. It is best to take a special trip to the beach for taking photos, then leave the camera in the lock-box and enjoy your worry-free day at the beach!