Casa Vida Verde - Unique Jungle Home near the Beach, Off the Grid, Rich Wildlife
Want exclusive deal alerts, booking reminders, and quicker checkout?
Log in now
→
Overview
4 bedrooms
4 bathrooms
12 guests
3 nights minimum
House Rental
Off the Grid in Cabo Matapalo, Osa, this hand crafted, unique home is cradled by nature. With continuous rainforest connecting to the famous Corcovado National Park, the wildlife viewing is unrivalled. Monkeys and macaws are daily visitors. A short walk to the beach, this is the perfect location for all nature lovers, bird watchers, yoga enthusiasts, surfers, honeymooners and a playful base for an unforgettable family vacation. Leave the real world behind and let your inner child emerge.
The 4-bedroom home sleeps a maximum of 12 and is open plan with only walls where necessary to provide privacy and is playfully designed to be at home in the jungle. The main platform comprises the kitchen, dining area, living room and two ensuite bedrooms, the Junior Suite and the Family Suite. The upper l...
House Rules
Pets not allowedKid friendlySmoking allowed
The open nature of the property means it is unsuitable for children younger than school age. No children under the age of 05 are allowed.
Bedrooms
4 Super Kings6 Singles
Bathrooms
4 Attached (ensuite)
Contribute
Reviews (30)
Jack B
2 contributions
Trip of a lifetime and a totally unique experience
Casa Vida Verde is a magical place and was definitely the highlight of our trip to Costa Rica! A completely unique and unforgettable experience. We woke up every day to howler and spider monkeys swinging through the trees, macaws and toucans calling to each other across the canopy, and the sound of the Pacific Ocean just five minutes' walk down the path.
There's a lively and friendly community here tucked away in the rainforest, as well as all manner of activities from horseriding to surfing to keep you occupied. Carlos looks after the place and was more than happy to help us plan our stay and give us tips on what to do.
But staying at the house is an experience in and of itself. Just relaxing in the rainforest and reading a book or going for a walk felt like an adventure. The immediate surroundings are stunning, and just down the path are the most breathtakingly beautiful beaches.
As it was the start of the rainy season, we got to experience the heavy rainfall at night which really added to the sense of adventure. We never imagined we would see so many animals surrounding the house (including agoutis, coatis, frogs, and geckos among others). If you are coming to Costa Rica for the biodiversity, you will find it here.
We would absolutely recommend staying at Casa Vida Verde.
Visited April 2022
Written May 16, 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
awall23
16 contributions
Breathtakingly beautiful
I was lucky enough to visit Casa Vida Verde this past February. The house is absolutely amazing. The location is so beautiful and the nearby beach was breathtaking.
As i walked up to the yoga platform I was followed by spider monkeys who kept pace with me. The pools are lovely with their tiled turtles. There are many outdoor rooms with hammocks, this is the perfect house for families. The main living space is beautifully decorated and the beds are high quality with mosquito netting. Very restful.
I recommend this rental to anyone.
Visited February 2016
Written March 2, 2016. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gloucesteglam
Rockport, MA7 contributions
~ Eco-Chic ~ Gaudi Inspired ~ Luxury Getaway!
Casa Vida Verde truly lives up to its name. The “Green Life” is omnipresent from its green cob construction, to its siting nestled in the jungle, with minimal disruption. No clear cutting here. Casa Vida Verde is surrounded by the jungle. It is obvious the owners are passionate about the environment.
The architecture is a Gaudi inspired design that has open concept common areas. Pathways lead to common gathering spots on the property, including an open air patio next the house, which we used nightly for star gazing, a palapa and the pool area. The pool area is shaded with large sailcloth, providing a much needed escape from the intense mid-day sun. From the house we observed 3 types of monkeys, toucans, macaws, anteaters, lizards, oodles of birds, bugs and other critters!
I would best describe the house as organic chic. The bedrooms are well appointed with crisp white sheets, nice mattresses and good pillows. The bathrooms are simply beautiful with large walk-in showers. The open concept allows for animal viewing opportunities from most rooms. I sell luxury real estate, and am quite selective when choosing a rental property for my family. I chose Casa Vida Verde because it is luxuriously appointed with high quality beds and towels, walk to the beach, privately situated and has a pool. A pool is simply mandatory for my kids, as the sun is too intense to be at the beach mid-day.
The location is primo, privately nestled in the jungle and a quick walk to Matapalo Beach. No other rentals properties are in sight, providing a private oasis. The owners did very minimal clearing when constructing the house. This keeps the jungle and all its critters closely. We saw capuchin and spiders monkeys every morning while enjoying breakfast and coffee on the balcony. We saw scarlet macaws and toucans on the property as well. The property has a system of gravel paths that meander about the property, providing mini sanctuary to view all the critters. There is also a large platform at the top of the property to enjoy viewing animal and birds, or do yoga.
The caretakers, Sienne and Carlos, are truly exceptional. Carlos is fluent in English and very bright. They too care deeply for the environment and are well versed in the surrounding area. The caretakers do have a guard dog, Blackho, that lives at their house next door. Blackho quickly got to know us, and only barked if a stranger walked near. We would walk up the driveway at night and Blackho never barked at us, as he knew we belonged at the house. He just laid on his patio, next to his master’s house. This made us feel safe, as the house is completely open concept with no way to lock up at night. I never worried, because I knew Blackho would not let a stranger pass. My 7 year old son befriended Blackho, playing fetch with coconuts.
The area is quite rustic with no services to speak of. We self-catered, buying all of our groceries at the BM in Puerto Jimenez. The drive form PM is 45 minutes down a dirt road. Once you entered the “gates of Cabo Matapalo” the road turns into a what I would best describe as a river bed. A 4WD is necessary. The 1 restaurant “Martinas” is located just before the gate to Matapalo. We did dine at Lapos Rios one day. Lunch was quite good, but expensive ($125 USD).
This is a perfect vacation for those looking for an off the beaten path destination. If you are a resort type person, Cabo Matapalo is not a good match, as it is very rustic with no services. There are many animals, including bugs of unusual size, bats, birds, monkeys galore, toucans and scarlet macaws at every turn. The hiking is outstanding. I recommend packing a pair of supportive water shoes, like a Keen. They are mandatory for hiking. Also pack water bottles, camelbacks, visors, hats, lots of sunscreen, bug spray, a rash guard, and quick drying cloths. We did not check our luggage, and still only used half of our clothes. It is very hot, and very humid. Do not pack any knit cotton, as it will never dry. Pack lightweight woven materials, such as nylon, poly, thin woven cottons, etc.
There are 3 beaches in the immediate area. Playa Matapalo is the closet to the house. The other two are within walking distance, and are deeper into the gulf, and more calm. The beaches are black sand and rustic. I would pack reef shoes, as entering the water can be difficult barefoot. Be advised that there can be a strong undertow with a rising tide. Be cautious with swimming. My kids, age 7 and 9, are strong swimmers, but had difficulty getting in and out of the surf on occasion due to the reef and strong undertow.
Cabo Matapalo was a very memorable vacation destination for our family. The animal viewing was amazing. The Osa Peninsula provided an unparalleled opportunity to observe so much bio-diversity in one incredibly beautiful place. My family got to climb waterfalls, observe 3 types of monkeys, toucans, macaws, anteaters, lizards, oodles of birds, bugs and other critters. The surf was epic, and our kids got to learn to surf in 85 degree water with Pollo’s Surf School (see my review). Casa Vida Verde provided a luxurious rustic chic home for 7 nights. I am so grateful I chose this property, and will certainly rent it again.
Visited February 2016
Written February 20, 2016. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Olaf Mg
Cancun, Mexico5 contributions
where the rainforest meets the Sea, beautiful house and wonderful host,
The house is beautiful, right in the middle of nature with very good comfort and a very close walk to the beach. Carlos the host is very knowledgable and friendly, he gave us very good tips and guide us in a walk trek with amazing views. Sianni left the house stunning and clean our mess, she was also very friendly. Blackhu the dog is very humble and makes us feel safe, he played with us always and came to the beach to play with the coconuts.
I will go back and recommend this house to my family and friends.
Pura Vida !
Gracias Casa Vida Verde, Carlos, Sianni y Blackhu.
Visited September 2015 Travelled with friends
Written September 30, 2015. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
plambers
Charlotte, NC15 contributions
flintstone house is pretty cool!
Tried to book Life is a Wave but was already booked and this house was highly recommended. There were only 4 of us-parents and 11 and 13 year old.
Second trip to CR but first to Osa.
Road from PJ was awful-took almost an hour. We booked Irma to cook our lunches and dinners and were thrilled we did. Basic but tasty food and she cleaned up which is key with no dishwasher. GREAT NEWS-house just got an American style fridge and freezer so ice is readily available. Now if there were ice trays!
I understood we were remote but did not fully get it until we arrived. The sounds of the jungle were pretty scary our first night. DS slept w DH and I slept with DD! Beds comfy and linen changed every other day. You will always be in a state of damp, including pillows, but that is ok.
We did our boat trip out of PJ on 5th day so we then replenished groceries. Nature is right in front of you. Plantings and flowers at house were spectacular and encouraged birds and lizards. Monkeys overhead on the monkey trail. So so lush.
We were pleasantly surprised that it was cooler here than in Dominical. Weather was good-rained for a bit around 5pm and then it cooled down. Hottest time was morning and then sun came out w breezes. Pool was a necessity. Beaches were lovely but high tide was during day so couldn't really swim-too rough or undertows.
Saw a tayra (a medium sized black cat), macaws and 3 types of monkeys _never saw a squirrel monkey, lizards, frogs, birds, agoutis, toads right at house. Is on monkey trail so tons of monkeys. Once we got used to noises at night we were ok. Nothing but a frog and lizard came into house.
Solar much easier than expected-candlelight is lovely anyway. Kids loved the swings - was a house constructed with whims of owners kids and it showed. Wifi worked but was weak.
Caretakers extraordinaire, Carlos and Sianne-live right near house so a shout of Carlos was all that was needed, House kept clean, linens and towels changed. Their dog is a German shepherd who patrols at night. We asked for him to be leashed during day.
Carlos was so much fun. He took us to beaches to show us entrances and to Carbonara waterfall. He took out his telescope twice and we saw Saturn and various stars. We had some great conversations and he joined us for our last dinner. HIs wife, Sianne, gives amazing massages. My DD and I had one-might be the best yet. Cold stones, aromatherapy and a bit of Chinese medicine-I was so relaxed and happy at the end.
Activities-Andy of Everyday Adventures lives across st so we did hike, waterfall cllmb and kids did strangler fig climb. DD got to top. We all ate termites and got a poor man's pedi. Tons of fun. Rancho Tropical horseback ride with waterfall rapel - great ride and views, well kept horses and fab guldes, Carlos and Minor. Golfo Dulce Tour with Josh Sibley of Paradise Rocks-never saw dolphins (shock!) but went to Animal Sanctuary (amazing!) Sweetie is a star, snorkeled, and loved the mangroves. General walks along beach and "road." Only bad experience was Fri night at Martinas-RUDE, horrible service but good food. Would not return.
Was scared week would be too long but it was fine. Once we got used to sounds of howlers and spider monkeys (which were pretty scary at night) all was good and we slept well.
Next house was in Guancuaste with ac etc- will not lie-it was good to be in a cooler less humid place but we all gave it a 9 and were very happy we went.
Visited July 2015
Written July 24, 2015. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
flyawayCT
114 contributions
Jungle living at its very best
We rented this house for a week with my wife's god-daughter and her family. There were six of us. The house is really unique, with an open-air design that makes it feel like luxury camping with all the comforts of home. The accommodations were perfect, allowing sufficient privacy for all while providing great space for group activities. The kitchen and dining area were more than adequate and the pool was better than expected based on the photos. The caretakers, Carlos and Sianne could not have been more helpful. There are beaches and hiking paths within a few steps of the house, and the butterflies, birds (macaws and toucans) and monkeys (all four species) will come to you if you just hang out by the pool and watch.
The house is solar powered, so lighting at night leaves a bit to be desired, but there are lots of candles to provide atmosphere and illumination. As with all the houses in Matapalo, you are a ways from town on a challenging road, but there is plenty to do in the immediate area.
This was our second trip to the Osa and Matapalo and we will be back again. We would come back to Casa Vida Verde without hesitation..
Visited April 2015 Travelled with friends
Written April 28, 2015. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Chris B
Durham, CT46 contributions
Paradise in the rainforest
A wonderful house. We had a great time. The wildlife was amazing. We watched scarlet macaws, spider monkeys, white faced capuchin, and howler monkeys right from the veranda. Pool is a great way to cool down from one of the many hiking options nearby. Carlos the caretaker was super helpful and friendly. Kitchen Is well supplied. Just awsome.
Visited April 2015 Travelled with family
Written April 26, 2015. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Heather V
Aurora, CO3 contributions
A Jewel In The Rainforest
A Don't even know where to begin my raving about this home. Your adventure begins with the home when you cross the bridge to enter and are treated with a comfortable living area, a nice hammock rancho ( for those sleepy days), a fun family room (that sleeps lots of people), the main level bedroom has a nice sitting area and amazing open (but private) bathroom, the upstairs bedroom is just amazing with its almost 180 open views of the rainforest and a open bathroom which was just amazing to be able to take a shower and watch a butterfly zip by and hear the monkeys in the trees and finally the dip pool is a must with heat and humidity of the osa. All the beds have a great mosquito netting and fan that make sleeping at night easy and peaceful. We stayed for two weeks and the floral arrangements through out the house would get changed out. They were beautiful and amazing each time.
The house has wildlife all around from the dart frogs that cross around the outskirts of the living area, jesus Christ lizards, iguanas, toads, frogs, macaws, and daily monkeys of different species. Listen to the trees as soon you hear them rustling you know you are going to be treated with monkeys and they sure do put on a show.
A additional Jewel is the care takers Carlos and his wife( cant remember her name sienna).
They made sure the house was kept clean from the elements and showed us amazing things about the rainforest and our universe. Sienna gave my mom a amazing massage ( this is a must when you stay at the house it is done right near the pool).
Finding the house can be difficult because of the lack of road signs around the country. When you come out of Puerto Jimenez you will leave on road 245, take this road for a long ways. You need to go down Matapalo beach road which after the second water crossing and a bus stop on the left it will be your first left. There is a big yellow sign(cant remember what is says) and there are two entrances going down to the road, take a right don't go straight. Casa vida verde is almost at the end of the road, you cant miss it there is a big beautiful sign.
Visited March 2015
Written April 15, 2015. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Garth T
Portland, OR1 contribution
Rustic Jungle Retreat
Casa Vida Verde is a great house in a great, albeit remote, location. We had a wonderful vacation here, but I must admit we had a few surprises. First of all is the heat and humidity. The house is located in the jungle canopy, and we had very sparse breezes to assist with cooling off and did not feel much cooler when the sun would go down at night. One could walk to the close beach to get breezes, but it got quite stuffy at the house. You get used to it, but be prepared to sweat and have all of your clothes be damp, even the clothes you haven't worn yet. All of the beds are equipped with a small fan mounted to the headboard to help at night, but this did not cover the entire bed. During the day, the swimming pool was absolutely fantastic. We had a three and a four-year old with us who spent hours every day in the pool and never got bored over our week-long stay. Both children could touch everywhere in the pool so the parents did not have to hover over them. The pool is shaded well which was also important. The other surprises were all positive. We had very few bugs, never used bug spray and had, at most, a half dozen mosquito bites. We encountered the occasional beetle, and could see sizable garden (Golden Orb) spiders around the property but never had an unwanted encounter. Monkeys visited the house every other day on average and always put on a show, never aggressive with us, and never came into the house or covered areas. We did encounter two snakes in the vicinity of the house, a green vine snake and a neotropical bird snake both of which were very pretty, very benign, and did not take much notice of us. There was a large gecko in the bunkroom, we had an iguana run through the property once which was exciting. Otherwise just skinks and jesus christ lizards which became a part of the scenery after a couple days. The ocean is very audible from the house, as is the jungle, but this was very soothing and one of the first things we missed when returning home. The beaches in walking distance from the house were nice, fun, a little rough on entry and exit from the water, but the kids were fine once we got in the water. They kids also enjoyed playing with the numerous hermit crabs on the beach almost as much as swimming.
Carlos the caretaker is great. He was usually available and had lots of local knowledge regarding flora and fauna and some interesting insights into geology and astronomy. One night he brought out a spotting scope and we got to see the moons of Jupiter. He also gave us access to a boogie board and a surfboard for free. Most importantly, he has a cell phone and is happy to call for a taxicab or make arrangements for you as needed. He also directed us to a couple of local river hikes which were very nice (almost like doing a tour for free). Sianne did a good job of cleaning (every third day) and changing the linens (every other day). Supplies that ran out were quickly replaced.
Keeping food stores was a bit of a challenge as the road to town is rough, and a round trip taxi was $120 on top of groceries which we felt to be expensive. Having said that, the grocery store in Puerto Jimenez was more than adequate and we could find everything we needed. We stocked up on arrival and one additional time during the week. The house does have a freezer, which I didn't realize beforehand, which makes life easier in the peninsula. We ate two lunches and one dinner at Martina's which is probably 45 minutes by foot, but very sweaty and a bit of an issue for the children. Walking back at night was fun and the most enjoyable for the children who liked dodging all of the land crabs in the road. If I had to do it all over, I might opt to have catering for one meal a day. Keep in mind the heat and humidity seem to act as appetite suppressants, so you won't want to eat more than two meals a day, and we often forced ourselves to eat in order to avoid getting "hangry" rather than because we felt hungry.
All in all a great adventure. Be prepared to leave your phones, computers and watches in your suitcase. Be prepared to be part of the jungle for your stay. This is a VERY DIFFERENT COSTA RICA EXPERIENCE than the swarms who go to Tamarindo. The wifi was not great for us, really bogged down if more than one person was using it. I wouldn't bother with a rental car, as I doubt we would have found the house if we tried driving from the airport.
Visited March 2015
Written March 17, 2015. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Debra B
Falkland, Canada2 contributions
Our own little slice of paradise!
The two of us stayed at Casa Vida Verde for a week and loved it. We have stayed on the Osa in several different places in the past (the Osa and the Golfo Dulce are our favorite places in the country). This was definitely one of our favorites! We thoroughly enjoyed the uniqueness of the house and the outdoor living spaces. We were there around the time of a full moon so we enjoyed the openness even more. It was so relaxing to lounge around and enjoy the foliage of the rainforest, watch countless monkeys in the trees, listen to and watch the scarlet macaws fly past and take the occasional refreshing dip in the small pool. Every morning a large blue morpho butterfly would flutter by. Of course the howlers would always awaken us early. We very much enjoyed the caretakers, Carlos and Sianna. They were fabulous and couldn't do enough for us. it was very interesting discussing astronomy and other topics with Carlos.Sianna is a great massage therapist and we had awesome massages. Very worthwhile! We definitely will stay there again and hope that Carlos and Sianna will still be the caretakers.
Visited February 2014
Written March 13, 2014. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
What this rental offers
Things to do
- Fishing spots available
- Watersports
Entertainment
- Game Room
- Pool table
- Stereo system
- Ping Pong table
Scenic views
- Mountain views
Nearby
- Hiking areas
- Horse riding facilities
Services
- Housekeeping included
Location info
- Kid friendly
- Beachfront/Lakeside
Parking
- Parking available
- Secure parking available
Bathroom and laundry
- Washer
- Towels provided
- Linens provided
Wi-fi and internet
- Wi-fi
Indoor amenities
- Internet access
Outdoor amenities
- Private yard
- Balcony
- Private outdoor pool (unheated)
- Children's pool
- Terrace
- Patio
- Deck
Kitchen and dining
- Cooker
- Grill
- Refrigerator
- Freezer
- Kettle
Map
Getting there
Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
205.9 km
Puerto Jimenez Airport
22.6 km
Restaurants
Buena Esperanza
2.3 km
Guapira Restaurant
18 min
Fusión Food
15 min
Brisa Azul
18 min
Attractions
Rancho Tropical
3.2 km • Gardens
Osa Conservation Campus
6 km • Hiking Trails
About the neighbourhood
Cabo Matapalo is on the tip of the Osa Peninsula, in a remote corner of Costa Rica accessible only by four wheel drive. Close to the Corcovado National Park, it is renowned for its diverse and abundant animal and bird life. More than 300 species of bird live here, with scarlet macaws, eagles, hummingbirds and toucans ordinary sightings. All 4 monkey types, Spider, Howler, Cappuchin and Squirrel can be seen as they forage through the forest. The area is also famous for its unspoilt beaches; Playa Pan Dulce with surf conditions perfect for beginners, Backwash Bay favoured by intermediate surfers and with Playa Matapalo challenging even the advanced surfer. This is an off grid location, unplugged from the modern world - experience nature in the raw and be an adventurer not a tourist. Activities available include hiking, horseback riding, tree climbing, waterfall rappelling, zip lining, kayaking, ocean fishing and yoga.
Access
Car advised
How to get there
Contact Osa Tropical for travel assistance and concierge.
Activities nearby
Fishing spots availableHorse riding facilitiesWatersports
About this property
- First, check the Availability tab on this page to see if your dates are available. If they are, contact the owner via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox to confirm availability.
- If the owner has provided contact information, you may contact him or her directly. If not, you can contact the owner via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox. This inbox is created after you send your first message or booking request to the owner
- You can send another message via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox to check if the property is still available. If the owner has listed a phone number, you can also call to follow up. send enquiries to other properties. If you still don't hear from the owner, Tripadvisor recommends that you send enquiries to other properties.
- If the owner approves your stay, he or she will let you know which forms of payment are accepted. This owner does not currently accept payments via the Tripadvisor inbox. You can ask him or her to sign up; payments made via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox are covered by our Peace of Mind Protection.
- If you would like payment protection, ask the owner to sign up to accept online payments on Tripadvisor. Payments made via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox are covered by our Peace of Mind Protection.
This property is affiliated with 
All bookings are direct with the owner
All bookings are direct with the owner Property #FKN2222309652
Frequently Asked Questions about Casa Vida Verde - Unique Jungle Home near the Beach, Off the Grid, Rich Wildlife
- Casa Vida Verde - Unique Jungle Home near the Beach, Off the Grid, Rich Wildlife is able to accommodate up to 12 guests. See all property details.
- Casa Vida Verde - Unique Jungle Home near the Beach, Off the Grid, Rich Wildlife has 4 bathrooms available. See all property details.
- Casa Vida Verde - Unique Jungle Home near the Beach, Off the Grid, Rich Wildlife has 4 bedrooms available. See all property details.