House in Alajuela Province
7 guests · 2 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
Well priced for this locationPriced under area average
About this house rental
Set amongst a peaceful rural farming community and in the heart of tranquility, Rancho El Rio offers a lot of privacy while at the same time providing you with a home base with easy access to Monteverde for day trips, which is just 17km away. Experience our whole 42 acre farm and surrounding forest: over half a mile of river front with natural pools, forested walking trails, mountains with beautiful river and tropical forest views, cattle pastures, and orchards.
Rancho el Rio is a peaceful sustainable farm and wildlife paradise by the Guacimal river and is perfect for families or larger groups. Rancho el Rio is a spacious, rustic cabin overlooking a tropical river and surrounded by a lush forest. The furniture is mostly handmade– even the flooring on the large porch overlooking the river was hand-milled. Overlooking the river, your days here are filled with the natural sound of rushing water which provides a peaceful setting for your vacation. We provide you with free organic coffee from our sister farm in Monteverde for the first morning of your stay for you to settle in and enjoy the beauty of our farm.
The large covered porch overlooks the river, and our guests love relaxing in the hammocks, porch swing, and outdoor sofa bed. There is also a wood stove for cooking outdoors and a large wood grill (we provide you with free firewood). Our large kitchen looks out onto the porch and river, and is a great place to cook your own meals, or enjoy traditional Costa Rican meals cooked by our neighbors from the local community and delivered to you.
Rancho El Rio has been remodeled to suit the needs of families and large groups. With a spacious master bedroom, cozy bunkroom, and option to convert the large futon couch, the cabin easily sleeps 7 people. There are two full bathrooms to accommodate larger groups, one with gorgeous slate floor and the other with hand detailed walls. Both showers have hot water. The living room is also a comfortable place to relax– feel free to enjoy our library collection of children and adult books, Costa Rican guidebooks, and books on local flora and fauna.
We have a variety of animals on our sustainable farm, including rescue dogs and cats, donkeys, horses, cows, water buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, geese, and chickens. We grow a variety of fruits and vegetables, and encourage our guests to try the fresh mangoes and starfruit just outside the cabin. Our farm animals are very friendly, especially our dogs and cats, and they may follow you around when you adventure through the farm or go for a swim in the river!
This is a working sustainable farm in rural Costa Rica, meaning that your stay with us will be close to nature and certainly a unique adventure-- please consider this before you book a farmstay with us, as this experience is not for all travelers. If you are looking for luxury accommodations or a place without bugs and critters, this is not the place to stay. If you are looking for a chance to reconnect with nature and experience authentic Costa Rican beauty, this will be the highlight of your trip! Our farm animals are very friendly, especially our dogs and cats, and they may follow you around when you adventure through the farm or go for a swim in the river.
We provide guests with the option of ordering homemade meals that are delivered straight to your doorstep! Please arrange with us ahead of time if you would like meals (breakfasts, lunches, and/or dinners) prepared throughout your stay.
Rancho el Rio is a peaceful sustainable farm and wildlife paradise by the Guacimal river and is perfect for families or larger groups. Rancho el Rio is a spacious, rustic cabin overlooking a tropical river and surrounded by a lush forest. The furniture is mostly handmade– even the flooring on the large porch overlooking the river was hand-milled. Overlooking the river, your days here are filled with the natural sound of rushing water which provides a peaceful setting for your vacation. We provide you with free organic coffee from our sister farm in Monteverde for the first morning of your stay for you to settle in and enjoy the beauty of our farm.
The large covered porch overlooks the river, and our guests love relaxing in the hammocks, porch swing, and outdoor sofa bed. There is also a wood stove for cooking outdoors and a large wood grill (we provide you with free firewood). Our large kitchen looks out onto the porch and river, and is a great place to cook your own meals, or enjoy traditional Costa Rican meals cooked by our neighbors from the local community and delivered to you.
Rancho El Rio has been remodeled to suit the needs of families and large groups. With a spacious master bedroom, cozy bunkroom, and option to convert the large futon couch, the cabin easily sleeps 7 people. There are two full bathrooms to accommodate larger groups, one with gorgeous slate floor and the other with hand detailed walls. Both showers have hot water. The living room is also a comfortable place to relax– feel free to enjoy our library collection of children and adult books, Costa Rican guidebooks, and books on local flora and fauna.
We have a variety of animals on our sustainable farm, including rescue dogs and cats, donkeys, horses, cows, water buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, geese, and chickens. We grow a variety of fruits and vegetables, and encourage our guests to try the fresh mangoes and starfruit just outside the cabin. Our farm animals are very friendly, especially our dogs and cats, and they may follow you around when you adventure through the farm or go for a swim in the river!
This is a working sustainable farm in rural Costa Rica, meaning that your stay with us will be close to nature and certainly a unique adventure-- please consider this before you book a farmstay with us, as this experience is not for all travelers. If you are looking for luxury accommodations or a place without bugs and critters, this is not the place to stay. If you are looking for a chance to reconnect with nature and experience authentic Costa Rican beauty, this will be the highlight of your trip! Our farm animals are very friendly, especially our dogs and cats, and they may follow you around when you adventure through the farm or go for a swim in the river.
We provide guests with the option of ordering homemade meals that are delivered straight to your doorstep! Please arrange with us ahead of time if you would like meals (breakfasts, lunches, and/or dinners) prepared throughout your stay.
Amenities at Rancho el Rio: Nature, Riverside & Farm
Non-smoking
Pets allowed
Family friendly
Map of Alajuela Province
Ratings and reviews
10 / 10Outstanding·Aug 2025
Check-in was smooth and simple. The property manager, Stuart is extremely helpful, sincere, and communicative. The property is exactly as listed, and more. Access to the entire farm is welcomed and encouraged. The highlights for our stay included: the owner/campesino's warm hospitality, eco-friendly focus, full Kitchen and amenities, access to the River, large open balcony, serene environment, bespoke natural furniture and décor throughout the Property, and several activities offered on-site as well as nearby. Beautiful environment coupled with excellent hosts. Love it!
10 / 10Outstanding·Jul 2025
My family had an incredible time during our three days/two nights at Rancho el Rio. The kids were entranced by the many animals on the property (especially the friendly dogs!) and we loved hanging on the porch and playing games. We had one dinner and one breakfast delivery arranged which were delicious and enough food for leftovers. While the setting is rustic, it is very clean and the pictures accurately portray the casita. Alexander was a gracious host and was very patient with our rudimentary Spanish as he took us on a tour of the finca. His dedication to sustainability was apparent and inspiring. We flanked our stay here with high-end resorts in La Fortuna and near Manuel Antonio. When we returned home all three of our kids said that the time at Rancho el Rio was their favorite of our trip. If you don't mind the simplicity, highly highly recommend.
10 / 10Outstanding·Sep 2024
This is our third visit to the country and second to this home. We shall be back due to the authentic representation of Pura Vida. It is not touristy, but a true representation of the life and culture of CR. Thank you to the family and community for making our stay amazing, again!
6 / 10Average·Jul 2025
I struggle to write this review, but feel it’s important to be honest so you can decide if it’s right for you. Alexander was kind and accommodating. He was easy to communicate with, gave us information about his farm and coordinated meals for us. I highly suggest that you coordinate with him to have meals delivered. The property is extremely rural and there is not much around. A local woman prepared our meals and everything was delicious and delivered hot at the time we requested. We had breakfast and dinner delivered during our stay. Meals were traditional foods and I felt as if a family member were preparing them for us (part of the cultural experience I mentioned). The house and property are not for the faint of heart. It is a working farm. There are dogs running around. Animal poo (horses, ducks, cows) on the ground. Bats hanging from the eaves. There is no air conditioning. For me and my family this was the most significant cultural experience during our trip to Costa Rica. It gave us a glimpse of every day life away from touristy areas and I found it valuable, but this is not glamping. If you struggle with bugs and other “critters”, you should think twice about staying here. If you want to experience “real” Costa Rica and support the economy in a rural area this may be a great option for you. The 3 star rating is purely in regard to accommodations. The host was gracious and we felt welcome and safe in his home.
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Top rated by guests
9.6Outstanding
(54 Ratings)
"Check-in was smooth and simple. The property manager, Stuart is extremely helpful, sincere, and communicative. The property is exactly as listed, and more. Access to the entire farm is welcomed and en..."
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