Better Than the Beach. Ocean and Valley view. Very private. Beauty everywhere.

Top rated by guests
Deck and pool
Private kitchen
Outdoor dining
Rancho
1 of 4 sleeping quarters
Main quarters at night
review stars
10Outstanding
(29 Ratings)
Guests loved the location, unique setup, private waterfall, and jungle pool. The owners were attentive and provided helpful advice. The property offered a fantastic experience with beautiful views and friendly locals.
From real guest reviews summarized by AI
Don't miss out! Price and availability may change
10 / 10
Outstanding(29 Ratings)

Villa in Dominical

9 guests · 3 bedrooms · 2 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
High-end valueWell priced for this area

About this villa rental

'Your house is phenomenal- the layout works for privacy and the common room brings all together . We did the horseback falls, rain forest zip lines, swam in the Pacific, skinny dipped in your jungle pool, drank much too much, ate like royalty and read 12 books collectively. Absolutely wonderful. For sure a return trip in the future.' B. Given

'We had a wonderful week: your house is delightful... This was one of a few vacations that I was not looking forward to going back home.' D. Sidney

'We had an awesome time. Your place is beautiful (jungle pools are my new favorite) and we found all to be in good order. If any problems arose, M and J were quick to fix and very pleasant. We would love to have them here on a daily basis! ' M. Lotte

'We cannot possibly describe the magnificent time we had at your home. We were completely spellbound by its beauty and by your touch and details. I hope to bring my brother, the real birder of the two of us next year for his 50th birthday. I know I will never see him as he will be up at dawn and not back till dusk.(I spent hours birding myself!) We saw and confirmed 42 bird species from your deck including a pair of laughing falcons. WOW!' S. Mooney
***

Very private, exotic house with spectacular view over valley to the sea. Very romantic. Unbelievable sunsets. The house is a labor of love, but the spot alone makes living here delicious.

Perched on the edge of a 50-acre tree farm, the deck is a great place to watch falcons, kites, toucans and chattering flocks of parrots. Hummingbirds visit nearby flowers (arbors and pergolas make plants part of the architecture), and butterflies occasionally fly through the house.

Days are hot but there's always a breeze; nights are fresher and good for sleeping. Unlike lower elevations, the area stays lush and green all year.

Bougainvillea, palms and other tropicals share the stage w/ azaleas, tree ferns, and jasmine, which rambles up the outdoor showers. The gardens have been planted with perfume in mind. Mornings ring with birdsong and are a good time for a hike. Afternoon heat is beat by a 5 min ramble to the waterfalls- great for rainforest exploring and skinny dipping. A little dam creates a 30x40 ' jungle pool. The water is clean and cool, the site wild and beautiful. Or you can go to the beach. ..

Well-situated between Dominical, one of CR's premium surf havens, and San Isidro, a bustling little inland city. We're 30 min from each.On the way to Dominical, reserve for a 1-day horseback trip to Nuayuca Falls, a spectacular cataract and swimming hole. You stop halfway there for breakfast and halfway back for lunch at the family ranch w/ resident toucans and scarlet macaws. Dominical is a bit of a scene; you'll find several restaurants and nice surfer atmosphere. There are nature reserves w/ wildlife tours, zip-lines through the canopy, deep-sea fishing packages (some of the best in the world), and tennis at Rio Mar. 15 min south is Ballena National Pk, a gorgeous string of beaches.

San Isidro is the place to shop for food and anything else you might need. We try to time our errands for Thursdays & the huge open-air market where you find everything from organic arugula to sugarcane.

At the farm , be greeted by a lovely Tico couple who caretake; their home is a sort of gate house. Jose is very responsible and handy, Maria can be hired by the hour ($3) to babysit, housekeep or do laundry. Both are wonderful and trustworthy. About 1/4 mile past their house and into the farm is our home. The floor plan consists of 4 separate structures to provide maximum privacy:

The main house is open on 2 sides (unless you prefer to close the accordion wood doors), and has a beautiful hardwood ceiling. A kitchen with every possible accessory (we love to cook!) gives onto the dining area, where a hardwood table seats eight, ten in a pinch. The LR boasts a bamboo daybed, coffee table, and 4 teak lounge chairs, Flat panel TV with DVD player and collection of movies, Ipod dock stereo player. All water in the house is filtered and bacteria free with Ultra-Violet sanitizing system. Finally, there's a pantry, and a BR with toilet + Mexican ceramic sink/vanity. A ladder climbs to the top of this module, where a loft sleeps to 4 kids
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Right of the main house, separated by a flower-decked wall, is the master cabina. A smaller version of the main house w/ hardwood ceiling and accordion doors framing a similarly gorgeous view, it holds a queen bed w/ lge custom mosquito net, bamboo armoire, and closet. An outdoor shower and sink framed by jasmine and orchids + a small private garden and seating area provide charm and intimacy.

A second cabina is perched above-right from the first, screened by a garden. It has its own deck and outdoor shower with great view, hardwood ceiling, screened windows. Inside is a queen bed, closet, and small bath with toilet + Mexican sink.

The 3rd cabina is left of the main house, down the deck through a pergola that will soon be surrounded by glass doors and screens.It has an italian tiled floor and hardwood ceiling set upon four white columns. Locally-made bamboo blinds shield morning breezes. A fragrant hedge provides intimacy and frames a private garden with a table + 4 chairs in teak. Dble bed with generous net, armoire and chairs are all locally-made of bamboo, and a hammoc is slung between 2 columns. It too has a sink/vanity + shower and is very romantic!

The house has a pool just off the main house




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Keywords: House on 50-Acre Property

Amenities at Better Than the Beach. Ocean and Valley view. Very private. Beauty everywhere.

Free WiFi/internet
Pool
Non-smoking
Pets allowed
TV
Wheelchair accessible
Refrigerator
Kitchen
WiFi/Internet
Private pool access
Microwave
Washing machine
Dryer
Patio
Kitchenware
Garden
Oven
Stove
Laundry services
Bathtub
Towels

Map of Dominical


Ratings and reviews

10 / 10
Outstanding(29 Ratings)
review starsSummary of reviews
Guests loved the location, unique setup, private waterfall, and jungle pool. The owners were attentive and provided helpful advice. The property offered a fantastic experience with beautiful views and friendly locals.
From real guest reviews summarized by AI
10 / 10Outstanding·Mar 2025
Wonderful place with amazing wildlife everywhere, especially birds. Accommodations were perfect for our family. The VRBO description does not do it justice. Recommend a 4x4 vehicle although with patience you can reach it without. Lots of good restaurants nearby. Grocery stores are nearby but the selection of some items is limited. Driving around this area and really everywhere we went in Costa Rica is a bit nerve wracking. Not a lot of patient drivers and they like to pass even when approaching blind curves. Beautiful waterfalls right on the property that are an easy but steep hike. Highly recommend this place to others, especially if you like adventure.
8 / 10Excellent·Mar 2025
Property has amazing views and birding from front deck. Depending on traffic it was 30 to 40 minutes down the mountain to Dominicale and we chose not to drive at night. Kitchen has new fridge and microwave with propane burners and oven and is generally well furnished but small. The 3 sleep buildings were clean with comfortable beds. The showers are outdoors so chilli in morning and evening. Hosts were amazingly helpful and responsive and maintain amazing gardens on the property. If you are looking for a relaxing scenic nature retreat and don’t mind being a little rustic and remote this is a perfect spot.
10 / 10Outstanding·Mar 2025
Wonderful place and wonderful hosts. Highly recommend
10 / 10Outstanding·Jan 2025
Our family stayed at Sue & Francois' "Better Than the Beach" rental for 9 days in Dec/Jan. the hosts were amazing! They were able to accommodate our Christmas Day arrival, were responsive to all questions and requests (they live right up the hill) and Francois even drove to rescue us from a neaby town when our vehicle got stuck at the bottom of a muddy hill. The home is located well off the beaten path, on a beautiful property with well-tended gardens, inspiring views, and many (noisy) tropical birds in the trees. The 3 separate sleeping structures gave our family the privacy our teenagers wanted, and the main living/dining/kitchen space was perfect shared space for meals, games, and socializing. There are some minisuper grocery stores and restaurants witihin a 15 minute drive, mostly on dirt roads. We were the first group to book this as a vacation rental after many years of it being leased to individuals, so there were a few quirks still being worked out. The listing description mentions a 7 minute walk to the beach, which is incorrect- it is closer to a 35 minute drive. This was clarified prior to our arrival so it was not a surprise, and Francois is trying to get this error resovled with VRBO. I believe there was a box checked for air conditioning as well, which the property does not have, so that needs an upate. Francois said they do have fans available. If you book this rental you will need a vehicle, preferably with AWD. We had a great stay!

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FAQs

Is parking included with this villa?

Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Better Than the Beach. Ocean and Valley view. Very private. Beauty everywhere.. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this villa?

Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Better Than the Beach. Ocean and Valley view. Very private. Beauty everywhere.. Enjoy the water!

Is Better Than the Beach. Ocean and Valley view. Very private. Beauty everywhere. pet friendly?

Yes! This villa is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.

What amenities are available at Better Than the Beach. Ocean and Valley view. Very private. Beauty everywhere.?

We found 21 amenities for this rental. This includes free wifi/internet, pool, non-smoking, pets allowed, and tv.