Which popular attractions are close to Swell Costa Rica?

Nearby attractions include Papaya Con Leche (7.0 km), Spa Maya (6.7 km), and Beach & Pool Crawl (7.2 km). See all nearby attractions.

What are some of the property amenities at Swell Costa Rica?

Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and a lounge. See all property amenities.

Which room amenities are available at Swell Costa Rica?

Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV. See all room amenities.

What food & drink options are available at Swell Costa Rica?

Guests can enjoy a lounge, breakfast, and barbeque facilities during their stay. Learn more.

Is parking available at Swell Costa Rica?

Yes, free parking is available to guests. Learn more.

What are some restaurants close to Swell Costa Rica?

Conveniently located restaurants include HiR Fine Dining, Antichi Sapori Sicilian Cuisine, and Cactus Restaurant. See all nearby restaurants.

Are there opportunities to exercise at Swell Costa Rica?

Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay. Learn more.

Does Swell Costa Rica have an airport shuttle?

Yes, Swell Costa Rica offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details. Learn more.

Does Swell Costa Rica have airport transportation?

Yes, Swell Costa Rica offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details. Learn more.

Is Swell Costa Rica located near the city centre?

Yes, it is 0.7 km away from the centre of Playa Avellanas. See all nearby attractions.

Are any cleaning services offered at Swell Costa Rica?

Yes, laundry service and a clothes dryer are offered to guests. See all property amenities.

Swell Costa Rica - UPDATED Prices, Reviews & Photos (Playa Avellanas) - Villa

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Natalie Fox wrote a review Apr. 2021

Boston, Massachusetts21 contributions

This Place is Special!

This place is special, and this review won't come close to expressing how amazing our entire experience was. If you can imagine what paradise might look, and feel like, you're probably only half-way to the grandeur that is this Villa. The booking process was super simple, and within the day I received a friendly welcome message from the Villa coordinator (Kristin). She was a wealth of information, and believe me, we had a LOT of questions, which she answered quickly and kindly. Since we didn't really have an idea of what we wanted to do in Costa Rica, Kristin provided a lot of great options for excursions, and adventures that we could take. She is definitely a woman with her finger on the pulse of the local scene, and was able to curate the experience to our group. Without Kristin, this trip would've been missing a lot. As for the Villa itself. JUST WOW!!! As a bougie flight attendant, I have been all over this world, and I know luxury when I see it. This Villa is L.U.X. (luxurious). From the exciting infinity pool, to the deluxe kitchen with tons of appliances, to lush green & floral grounds with the sunset horizon view, it was like I was living the Verified Travel Instagram life. They have fruit trees on the property, with Grapefruit, Mangos, Bananas, Dragonfruits, and more. We loved using them to make smoothies, with a little tequila, or rum... yum! They also have a plentiful herb garden, just steps away from the kitchen, which added a unique element to our meals. Everyday we'd wake up, do some yoga on the veranda, take a dip in the pool, have a hearty breakfast, and engage with the adventure of the day. Every night, we would play some of the musical instruments, share a delightful dinner, and watch the majestic sunsets from the infinity pool. From the villa you can see tons of wildlife, from birds, frogs, monkeys, and more. One morning we saw a 30 howler monkeys in the tree in front of the villa, you know everyone had their phones out watching them eat the flowers on the tree. All the men enjoyed talking (grunting) with them... lol I would be a miss to not mention Franklin, the kindhearted groundskeeper. Several mornings when I woke up early, I noticed him tidying up the home (washing the pool towels)(sweeping the veranda)(wiping down the dining table)(trimming the garden). He and his team were impeccable, and this was above and beyond what we expected from the villa. Big Big Thanks to Franklin!! For fear of making this review TLDR I am going to round it off now... but know there is still so much more about this place that is just so miraculous, and that I left room for some pleasant surprises when you arrive at Villa Shambala. Shambala Folx <3…

Date of stay: April 2021

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Sara C wrote a review Feb. 2021

1 contribution1 helpful vote

Perfect experience

This was an amazing experience. Kristin was super thoughtful and proactive in making sure we had the best possible time. She has an extensive knowledge of the local area and is willing to organize any activities you may be interested in. The house was gorgeous and had everything our group needed for a comfortable and productive stay (great internet!). The sunsets were mind-blowing. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a place in the area!!

Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

1 Helpful vote

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Michal K wrote a review Feb. 2021

Palo Alto, California6 contributions2 helpful votes

Swell Rocks!

Kristin, the owner of Swell, went above and beyond while looking after us during our stay in Costa Rica. With a group of 8 friends we spent 2 weeks around Playa Negra. Kristin picked us up, helped us to check-in to the amazing villa that she found for us, organized several mind-blowing activites, answered all and any questions we had, and was caring, warm, fun, so very patient, responsive and always available.

Date of stay: February 2021

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Room Tip: We stayed at Villa Shambala. It was spectacular, secluded and private, but close to the beach,...

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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SAMUEL G wrote a review Feb. 2021

Austin, Texas9 contributions1 helpful vote

Magical times await

Kristin looked after our group of 8 during our 10-day stay in the Playa Avellanas area. She was friendly, enthusiastic, thoughtful, tireless, and attentive. She was exceptionally helpful, going well beyond what any of our group expected in making sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our time in CR. She has a broad and detailed knowledge of the area and the options for visitors and she is thoughtful in trying to find activities to suit all members of the group. She could be relied upon to set things up in a timely and efficient manner and she was great company too. In short, if you're going to the the Playa Avellanas area, your time there will be more magical if Kirstin is involved.

Date of stay: February 2021

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Paige Fulk wrote a review Mar. 2020

3 contributions1 helpful vote

Awesome family vacation

Swell Costa Rica does a wonderful job with accommodations, transportation, arranging meals, planning fun activities, and most of all has the best surf instructors and surf places! We are a family of four and we enjoyed surfing so much that we wanted to add more of it!! One of the best vacations we’ve taken and can’t wait to go back. Kristen, Cato and the entire Swell team made this vacation amazing!

Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled with family

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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bsuje wrote a review Feb. 2020

Punta Gorda, Florida1 contribution

Family surf trip Costa Rica

I took my 2 young kids to learn to surf for the week. Kristen was super accommodating. She had everything organized for us. We surfed twice a day with surf instructors. The waves were perfect. She had a spot for the kids to surf smaller waves and a spot with bigger waves for me. The house where we stayed was awesome! The kids loved it. They played at the pool! She also guided us around the area for restaurants and sightseeing options. I highly recommend Kristen for your surf trip!

Date of stay: March 2019Trip type: Travelled with family

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Pamela wrote a review Jan. 2020

1 contribution

Dream surf vacation!!!

We booked a family vacation with 4 teenagers who wanted to have a real CR surf experience. Everything was perfectly attended to before our trip and especially during the trip. The SWELL team especially Kristen manage every detail and focus on making the vacation fun for everyone. The surf team we had was fabulous. Our surf instructors were super - especially Cato! SWELL arranged a videographer to capture the surf lessons and we reviewed them twice a day - after sunrise and sunset surfing! Everyone in the family said it was the best family vacation we ever took!!! Thank you Kristen and SWELL team for a dream vacation. We will be coming back. P.S. we had a great cook Sebastian arranged by Kristen!

Date of stay: July 2019

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Room Tip: We had a private house as part of our trip. It was in the beach and perfect!

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Julie Berghoff wrote a review Jan. 2020

1 contribution

Amazing experience

Couldn't have asked for a better experience. Every detail was perfectly attended to, from in-home chefs, dining recommendation, shuttle services, and shopping runs. We loved the surfing, and Cato was so patient with us. They are an incredible team, and super fun people to hang out with. They gave us an amazing Costa Rica experience, a taste of local life, and a vacation we will remember. Can't wait to co back

Date of stay: January 2020

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Stephanie wrote a review Apr. 2019

1 contribution

Simply the BEST!

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica, thanks to Swell. If you're looking for a beautiful, authentic surf experience, this is it. Kristin's thoughtful choices, from hotel, to restaurants to activities, were perfect, and her team was absolutely great. Not only did Kristin take care of *every* detail, but she was super fun to hang out with. Can't wait to go back!

Date of stay: March 2019

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Service

Trip type: Travelled as a couple

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Danny F wrote a review Apr. 2019

Houston, Texas2 contributions

Awesome!

SWELL is the real deal!!You won’t regret it. Please let Cato know he’s the best instructor I’ve ever had. I’ve been to several surf camps around the world but Swell was the best! The waves can be intimidating but I feel much more confident.

Date of stay: February 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Swell Costa Rica - UPDATED Prices, Reviews & Photos (Playa Avellanas) - Villa - Tripadvisor