House in Bahía Ballena
13 guests · 4 bedrooms · 4 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Top-tier experienceA high end property in this area
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
About this house rental
Refugio Madreselva's views of the Pacific coast, surrounding mountains and rainforest will take your breath away. Enjoy the iconic view of the Marino Ballena Whale's Tail and beaches from the infinity pool, palapa, terraces, breezeways and the two master bedrooms. We enjoy full privacy as we are nestled in 20 acres of rainforest mountains, yet are only 15 minutes from wonderful beaches. Madreselva is ideal for the nature/beach lover, birdwatcher, photographer, and anyone looking for peace and relaxation.
If you read our reviews, what makes us different from other rentals is that we have dedicated staff to pamper you. As part of your rental fee (Monday to Friday), Carolina and her husband Rumenigg will serve you a delightful breakfast made from local ingredients. Our fee also includes light housekeeping - making beds, cleaning bathrooms and doing two loads of laundry per day for your group.
Also included in our price is Concierge Service to help you plan and organize your trip. If you wish, Carolina will help you arrange airport transportation, vehicle rentals, tour reservations, on-site massage and yoga classes. Finally, Carolina and Rumenigg can prepare lunch and dinner for an additional fee. This is a great deal, as serving and clean-up is included for less than typical restaurant prices, and without having to leave the comfort of Madreselva. As you can see from our reviews, their cooking is highly praised by our guests.
The house was designed to be at one with nature, yet offer all the conveniences and charm our guests desire. The open-floor plan takes advantage of ocean breezes, big views and incredible sunrise over the mountains. At night, leave your windows open - the climate is perfect for sleeping at 66-70 degrees year-round, as we are 1,776 feet above sea level. We offer light cotton blankets in case you get cold. The HOUSE HAS NO STAIRS and is WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY.
The gourmet kitchen is spacious with high-end appliances, and granite counter tops. There is a small TV room with a flat-screen. The 4 bedrooms have high quality, comfortable mattresses to leave you refreshed and ready for days of adventures. Enjoy the views from our terraces and gently heated pool.
Each morning you will awake to the call of howler monkeys as you are surrounded by the wonders of nature. Sit by the pool and watch the clouds roll by, waves crash onto the Whale’s Tail, and birds fly everywhere. The thatch roofed palapa (called 'rancho' in Costa Rica) hangs over the valley offering seamless views, and is a perfect place to enjoy your morning coffee or a sunset cookout on the BBQ grill. The outdoor spaces are complete with hammocks and comfortable furniture perfect for napping or reading that book you have been dying to finish. In the evening the delightful fragrance of the Ylang-Ylang waft through the breezeways, and the stars on a clear night will remind you of life before city-light pollution.
You can also take advantage of our hiking trails for bird watching and photographing our diverse wildlife. A short walk in our forested trail will take you to a small waterfall, where you can sit to enjoy the sound of running water and nature. With little effort you are likely to see morpho butterflies, strawberry frogs, and on occasion howler and capuchin monkeys, coatimundis, as well as the occasional sloth, anteater and agouti.
Madreselva is the perfect base from which to launch many exciting excursions. You can choose among a dozen beaches, surfing, whale and dolphin watching, horse riding, birdwatching, water rafting, kayaking, zip lining, fishing, and day or night-guided nature tours. Near us you can hike to 3 magnificent waterfalls through primary forest, as well as swim and play in the local river.
Uvita is only minutes by car and offers a wide array of services including lovely restaurants, supermarkets, banks, a health clinic, dentist, pharmacy, and much more. If you are a golfer, the San Buenas 18 holes golf course is only 25 minutes away.
Madreselva is a 'green home' - we are proud that we rely on solar energy for power and hot water. The home was built to the highest ecological standards and best practices in tropical architecture. The roof is made from recycled plastic, the pool tiles are recycled glass, and the wood throughout the house comes from local wood, certified as being sustainably harvested. Even the dining room table was crafted from a hardwood tree that fell on the property decades ago.
We hope you will choose Madreselva for your next vacation, family get-together, small wedding, or yoga/meditation retreat. The balmy breezes, private setting, and lush jungle surroundings will leave you relaxed, refreshed and looking forward to your next visit to our beautiful country.
IMPORTANT: Our private gravel road (1 mile), while in excellent condition, is steep and thus you will need a 4x4 car to access our property. Also, our pool is not fenced, and all the rooms open to the breezeways, thus it is not suitable for toddlers or very young children.
If you read our reviews, what makes us different from other rentals is that we have dedicated staff to pamper you. As part of your rental fee (Monday to Friday), Carolina and her husband Rumenigg will serve you a delightful breakfast made from local ingredients. Our fee also includes light housekeeping - making beds, cleaning bathrooms and doing two loads of laundry per day for your group.
Also included in our price is Concierge Service to help you plan and organize your trip. If you wish, Carolina will help you arrange airport transportation, vehicle rentals, tour reservations, on-site massage and yoga classes. Finally, Carolina and Rumenigg can prepare lunch and dinner for an additional fee. This is a great deal, as serving and clean-up is included for less than typical restaurant prices, and without having to leave the comfort of Madreselva. As you can see from our reviews, their cooking is highly praised by our guests.
The house was designed to be at one with nature, yet offer all the conveniences and charm our guests desire. The open-floor plan takes advantage of ocean breezes, big views and incredible sunrise over the mountains. At night, leave your windows open - the climate is perfect for sleeping at 66-70 degrees year-round, as we are 1,776 feet above sea level. We offer light cotton blankets in case you get cold. The HOUSE HAS NO STAIRS and is WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY.
The gourmet kitchen is spacious with high-end appliances, and granite counter tops. There is a small TV room with a flat-screen. The 4 bedrooms have high quality, comfortable mattresses to leave you refreshed and ready for days of adventures. Enjoy the views from our terraces and gently heated pool.
Each morning you will awake to the call of howler monkeys as you are surrounded by the wonders of nature. Sit by the pool and watch the clouds roll by, waves crash onto the Whale’s Tail, and birds fly everywhere. The thatch roofed palapa (called 'rancho' in Costa Rica) hangs over the valley offering seamless views, and is a perfect place to enjoy your morning coffee or a sunset cookout on the BBQ grill. The outdoor spaces are complete with hammocks and comfortable furniture perfect for napping or reading that book you have been dying to finish. In the evening the delightful fragrance of the Ylang-Ylang waft through the breezeways, and the stars on a clear night will remind you of life before city-light pollution.
You can also take advantage of our hiking trails for bird watching and photographing our diverse wildlife. A short walk in our forested trail will take you to a small waterfall, where you can sit to enjoy the sound of running water and nature. With little effort you are likely to see morpho butterflies, strawberry frogs, and on occasion howler and capuchin monkeys, coatimundis, as well as the occasional sloth, anteater and agouti.
Madreselva is the perfect base from which to launch many exciting excursions. You can choose among a dozen beaches, surfing, whale and dolphin watching, horse riding, birdwatching, water rafting, kayaking, zip lining, fishing, and day or night-guided nature tours. Near us you can hike to 3 magnificent waterfalls through primary forest, as well as swim and play in the local river.
Uvita is only minutes by car and offers a wide array of services including lovely restaurants, supermarkets, banks, a health clinic, dentist, pharmacy, and much more. If you are a golfer, the San Buenas 18 holes golf course is only 25 minutes away.
Madreselva is a 'green home' - we are proud that we rely on solar energy for power and hot water. The home was built to the highest ecological standards and best practices in tropical architecture. The roof is made from recycled plastic, the pool tiles are recycled glass, and the wood throughout the house comes from local wood, certified as being sustainably harvested. Even the dining room table was crafted from a hardwood tree that fell on the property decades ago.
We hope you will choose Madreselva for your next vacation, family get-together, small wedding, or yoga/meditation retreat. The balmy breezes, private setting, and lush jungle surroundings will leave you relaxed, refreshed and looking forward to your next visit to our beautiful country.
IMPORTANT: Our private gravel road (1 mile), while in excellent condition, is steep and thus you will need a 4x4 car to access our property. Also, our pool is not fenced, and all the rooms open to the breezeways, thus it is not suitable for toddlers or very young children.
Amenities at Oceanview-Rainforest Villa, full Privacy, Concierge, Breakfast/Housekeeping M-F.
Non-smoking
No pets allowed
Map of Bahía Ballena
Ratings and reviews
10 / 10Outstanding·Apr 2026
This place is amazing, the views are spectacular and Carolina and Rume are 2 of the sweetest people you will ever meet. They bend over backwards to make sure you’re comfortable. I strongly suggest hiring Rume to drive you around for your stay. He’s cautious, knows exactly where to go and will quickly become one of your best friends. The breakfasts are excellent and the fruit has to be along the freshest on earth. I was nervous at the lack of HVAC, but that went away after the first night. Since the property is in the hills the temperature is perfect all day long! Can’t imagine a visit to this beautiful country and not staying at this property!
10 / 10Outstanding·Mar 2026
Madreselva was magical, it is even more beautiful in person. The views were spectacular! The house was clean, well stocked with everything we needed and had beautiful flower arrangements from the grounds throughout the house. We woke up to the sounds of howler monkeys every morning, ate meals on the palapa, swam in the pool every afternoon and were in awe of all of the animals and birds we saw on the property. We had frequent visits from a coatimundi daily. We saw many species of birds, lizards, agoutis and morpho butterflies everyday. The property manager Carolina is amazing! She made the most delicious breakfasts for us, did laundry and tidied up after us each day. She arranged transportation and excursions and gave excellent suggestions for local attractions. I highly recommend Madreselva, it is a little slice of heaven.
10 / 10Outstanding·Mar 2026
It was our second stay at the villa. Again, our experience was amazing in every way. Simply said: This place is for us the best definition of paradise. Also, the people taking care of the guests are pure gems. Thanks again for giving us the opportunity to have such a wonderful stay at your property!
10 / 10Outstanding·Feb 2026
Our family of eight had a wonderful stay here at Madreselva! All of the staff were helpful and friendly and made us feel at home. Carolinas breakfasts were delicious! Do not be concerned about not having air conditioning; the afternoons did get a little warm but the ocean breezes kept it comfortable. The view is awesome! We loved the widlife and gardens and trails. We definitely recommend this place! And we will certainly consider coming back! Thank you!!
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Top rated by guests
10Outstanding
(104 Ratings)
"This place is amazing, the views are spectacular and Carolina and Rume are 2 of the sweetest people you will ever meet. They bend over backwards to make sure you’re comfortable. I strongly suggest hir..."
Jeff E.Don't miss out! Price and availability may change
