200 mts to beach, modern & private beach house w/pool Costa Rica - Puerto Viejo

The house was very clean and described and pictured accurately. It was also very convenient to the hustle and bustle of this little town on the sleepy Carribean side. However several things about it's location were somewhat embellished. First, even though it is a fairly short walk to the beach, do not expect to hear the waves breaking from the house. There are two roads and a 8' cement wall in between so unless there is a hurricane the breaking waves will not lull you to sleep. Also it is important to know that the house is surrounded with an 8' cement wall with absolutely no property on the sides and back. And the front yard is a 40×40 area covered with crushed stone. So if you expect to lay on a recliner and watch the monkeys and the sloth, you might be disappointed. Basically I just wanted to point out that Puerto Viejo has everything to do but wildlife will be found with a short ride away from town. I also wanted to point out that the property feels like a fortress with lock boxes and sliding gates. So if you like extra security this might be right up alley but it was a little too inconvenient and claustrophobic for us. Overall I would stay there again but I expected something a little different.

Along with a few friends, I was able to spend the month of February 2017 in The Surf Shack, Puerto Viejo. The house is in a quiet neighbourhood but it is an easy walk to many grocery stores, restaurants, shops and beaches. In other words, the location is perfect!! The house is well equipped and modern. The beds are comfortable, the linens are of good quality and the kitchen has everything you could want, except perhaps an oven. But it is hot outside so you likely do not want an oven anyways!! I was surprised by the size of the house. The kitchen and living area were much larger than I expected. Having one and a half washrooms was great. Although we shared the shower having the second half bath was very handy!! But....back to the BEST feature...the LOCATION. We were within easy walking distance of two great beaches. One has a 'pool' that is protected from the waves and would be perfect for young children...or anyone who just wants a relaxing soak. The other beach has big waves and is a lot of fun if you like a little more action!! The bus runs every hour and stops at the end of the road to take you in either direction. There are also bicycles for rent at many convenient locations. You truly do not NEED a car. Manzanillo National Park ( you really MUST hike the trails at least once), Punta Uva ( Kayaking is GREAT!!!...rent one from the Dive Centre a spend a very fun 2 hours on the river watching the turtles, birds, sloths and monkeys) and many arts and craft stores are an easy bike ride away. There is also an amazing trail that runs parallel to the beach. You can hike it for hours in the shade....or take a stroll out to the beach and soak your feet in the ocean. It is pretty nice when the hardest decision of the day is..."Should we walk on the trail or the beach?" The BEST chocolate in Costa Rica is also within walking distance of the house. Caribeans is an absolute MUST. You will see the cacao pods on the tree and watch the process that takes those pods and creates a chocolate bar. With lots of tasting along the way this is a very fun way to spend 3 hours!! During the month we saw many sloths, monkeys, frogs, birds (one Tucan!!), and one great snake!! There were only two things that surprised us about the house. The large white cement wall that surrounds the house is not visible from the pictures posted. This wall blocks the view and makes one feel 'enclosed'. It will provide a sense of comfort to many but will make others feel removed from nature. Please note that we did see a 6+ foot snake just outside the wall!! The second surprise was the night time security lights. People from urban areas will be accustomed to street lights but those from rural areas will need to adjust to the constant lights....and the motion sensor lights. Olivia responded quickly to all of our questions and sent the local property manager to check things if there was a problem. All in all it was a great holiday!! This house is appropriate for families, friends and people just wanting to explore the Puerto Viejo area. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!