[See all properties](http://www.expedia.ca/Hotel-Search?regionId=&adults=2&children=&sort=RECOMMENDED&useRewards=false&semdtl=&userIntent=&vip=false) Entire home # Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands Riverfront vacation home with private pool and kitchen ![Terrace/patio](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/19000000/18770000/18763900/18763815/4379926a.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=598&ra=fit) ![Outdoor pool, an infinity pool](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/19000000/18770000/18763900/18763815/a1f6a252.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Sun loungers, beach towels](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/19000000/18770000/18763900/18763815/270-0ebcd30e.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Smart TV, DVD player, books](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/19000000/18770000/18763900/18763815/65672478.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Property grounds](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/19000000/18770000/18763900/18763815/4c2eb1ec.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) - Overview - Amenities - Policies - Location Escape to Casa Ballena, nestled in the old growth jungle of Marino Ballena National Park. Imagine secluded beaches, monkeys and toucans greeting you each morning, or swimming under warm waterfalls. The house features a newly-completed gourmet kitchen, laundry room, two outside patio areas with an infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean and beautiful sunsets. 10 Exceptional ### Entire home 3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 62153 sq ft ## Popular amenities - - - - Parking available - Dryer - Washer ## Add dates for prices Check-in Check-out Travellers ## About this property ### Entire place You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party. ### Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands Important points below! Pura Vida! This is the Costa Rican expression for everything that is good. It translates as pure life and is used as a greeting and a salutation. It is always spoken with a smile. Costa Rica is rated as one of the happiest places on earth. You can discover why. Imagine secluded beaches where the jungle meets the sand, monkeys and toucans greeting you each morning, or swimming under warm waterfalls. All this happens everyday in the unspoiled beauty of Uvita. Our rental home is situated in an old growth jungle minutes from the beach on the Pacific coast in Marino Ballena National Park, the only national marine park in Costa Rica. Ballena translates to whale. Humpbacks from the southern and northern hemisphere travel thousands of miles to have their babies in this area. Excellent whale watching, snorkeling and diving! We are halfway between Manual Antonio, the most popular park in Costa Rica, and the famous Osa Penninsula. National Geographic named our area one of the most bio-diverse areas on the planet. From the house and pool you can see the ever changing pacific ocean, local islands, incredible wildlife, rainforest, and beautiful sunsets. The food in the area is the best in Costa Rica and maybe some of the best we have ever had - think Napa in the South Pacific. Expats from around the world have created amazing culinary delights. We can recommend at least 10 restaurants in the area. You can drink the water and eat the food and not worry. The home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a newly-completely remodeled full gourmet kitchen, laundry room, two outside patio areas, a modest infinity pool, and a stone BBQ (boogie boards, beach chairs, beach and pool towels, a cooler, small binoculars and a telescope). Listen to the waves crashing on the shore from bed as you awake to howler monkeys calling in the trees. The jungle is right outside the door. Take a walk and see all the wonders you expect from Costa Rica. The house is an easy accessible drive from the main road with a wide, short maintained road leading to the house. This should not be underestimated. Most homes in the area take a long drive up a steep, single lane, winding road taking up to 20 minutes from the main road, especially difficult at night. Look next to the map on the listing to where the closest beach is. If it more than .5 miles from the beach you will regret it. We are .3 miles to the beach. There will be no anxiety driving to this house. Rent a 4x4 or all wheel drive to get the most out of your trip in this area. This is not a resort town. It is an agrarian area with beautiful farms and unspoiled beaches and jungle. It is a place to explore and discover. It will excite your inner adventurer. 5 islands are visible from our home. I don't now of anyone else that can boast that! We would love to welcome you as our guest to Casa Ballena. Pura Vida! Proud of this review. It is what we strive for. Best Vacation Rental We Have Ever Booked! 5/5 Stayed Jan 2023 Janet M. I have rented over 30 vacation homes throughout Costa Rica, Europe and Australia and I owned my own vacation rental which has made me rather picky and critical. It takes a lot to impress me. But this property really impressed me! The attention to detail is outstanding. This is a lovely home is set in a gorgeous setting with outstanding views. The house has everything you could possibly need, is very comfortable, very clean and we felt very safe. The outdoor furniture is very good quality and comfortable. We never wanted to leave the awesome pool. It is very conveniently located to beaches and the towns of Uvita and Ojochal. The kitchen is very well stocked - which is rare! The fact that Mark provides boogie boards, beach chairs and a good supply of beach towels speaks volumes. Communication with Mark was excellent and he provided all kinds of information. He has a full binder of information on the house and recommendations on what to do in the area - perfect! We loved this place and will certainly stay here again when in the area. Published Feb 7, 2023 ## Property amenities ### Beach - Beach loungers - Beach towels ### Pool/Spa - Infinity pool - Massage - Outdoor pool - Private pool ### Internet - Available in the house: Free WiFi ### Parking and transportation - Limo/town car service - Car available - Car required - Parking on site ### Kitchen - Blender - Coffee/tea maker - Cookware, dishware, and utensils - Dishwasher - Electric kettle - Kitchen island - Microwave - Oven - Paper towels - Refrigerator - Spices - Stovetop - Toaster ### Dining - Breakfast available for a fee - Chef service - Dining table ### Bedrooms - 3 bedrooms - Bedsheets provided ### Bathroom - 2 bathrooms - Hair dryer - Shower - Soap - Toilet paper - Towels provided ### Living spaces - Dining table - Living room ### Entertainment - Books - DVD player - Games - Smart TV ### Outdoor areas - Barbecue grill - Fenced yard - Garden - Outdoor furniture - Patio - Telescope ### Laundry - Laundry facilities - Washing machine ### Work spaces - Desk - Desk chair ### Comfort - Air conditioning - Heating ### Pets - No pets allowed ### Suitability/Accessibility - If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking. - Wheelchair accessibility - Smoking not allowed ### Services and conveniences - Concierge services - Housekeeping (on request) - Iron/ironing board - Meal delivery service - Phone - Safe ### Location highlights - Near a health/beauty spa - Near the sea - On a river ### Things to do - Bodyboard - Golf - Birdwatching nearby - Ecotours nearby - Fishing nearby - Golfing nearby - Hiking/biking trails nearby - Horseback riding nearby - Jet skiing nearby - Kayaking nearby - Motor boating nearby - Mountain biking nearby - Mountain climbing nearby - Parasailing nearby - Rafting nearby - Rock climbing nearby - Sailing nearby - Scuba diving nearby - Snorkeling nearby - Surfing/bodyboarding nearby - Swimming nearby - Whale watching nearby - Wildlife walks nearby - Windsurfing nearby ### Safety features - Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector) - Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property) - First aid kit - Fire extinguisher - Deadbolt lock ### General - Garden - Housekeeping (on request) - Unit size: 2,153 square feet ## Similar properties ![Pool](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/77000000/76340000/76335100/76335098/54da2bd1.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=469&h=201&p=1&q=medium) ### Private Jungle Villa w/ Pool + Ocean Views, Uvita Uvita - Pool - Kitchen - Washer - Dryer 10 Exceptional 64 reviews [](https://www.expedia.ca/Hotel-Search?startDate=2025-10-19&endDate=2025-10-20&selected=76335098&PinnedHotelID=76335098&HadPinnedHotel=true®ionId=-1&adults=2) ![Dining](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/28000000/27140000/27130900/27130811/af030afc.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=469&h=201&p=1&q=medium) ### Spectacular Ocean Views and Sunsets, Large Private Secluded Property! 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You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation ### We should mention A car is required for transportation to and from this property ### Property is also known as Amazing Whitewater View Ballena Marine Preserve Islands House Amazing Whitewater View Ballena Marine Preserve Islands Uvita Amazing Whitewater View Ballena Marine Preserve Islands Amazing Whitewater View Ballena Marine Preserve Islands House Amazing Whitewater View Ballena Marine Preserve Islands Uvita Amazing Whitewater View Ballena Marine Preserve Islands House Amazing Whitewater View Ballena Marine Preserve Islands Uvita Amazing Whitewater View Ballena Marine Preserve Islands ## About the area ![Map](https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?&size=660x330&map_id=3b266eb50d2997c6&zoom=13&markers=icon:https%3A%2F%2Fa.travel-assets.com%2Ftravel-assets-manager%2Feg-maps%2Fproperty.png%7C9.11743%2C-83.69496&channel=expedia-HotelInformation&maptype=roadmap&scale=1&key=AIzaSyCYjQus5kCufOpSj932jFoR_AJiL9yiwOw&signature=t4PL-YzCF7O9rKiDcJhTIkZYrtw=) Uvita, Osa, Puntarenas #### What's nearby - Playa Ballena - 11 min walk - 1.0 km - Ventanas Beach - 4 min drive - 4.6 km - Uvita Beach - 8 min drive - 8.8 km - Marino Ballena National Park - 9 min drive - 5.7 km - Playa Tortuga - 11 min drive - 7.4 km #### Restaurants - ‪Tagua Specialty Coffee - ‬14 min drive - ‪Restaurante Marino Ballena - ‬7 min drive - ‪La Choza de Alejo - ‬6 min drive - ‪Que Tuanis Café - ‬9 min drive - ‪Five Maes - ‬7 min drive ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands have a pool? > Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include infinity pools. ### Is Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands pet-friendly? > No, pets are not allowed at this property. ### What time is check-in at Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands? > Check-in begins at 4:00 PM. ### What time is check-out at Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands? > Check-out is at 10:00 AM. ### Where is Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands located? > Situated by the sea, this vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Playa Ballena and Pinuela Beach. Arco Beach and Marino Ballena National Park are also within 2 mi (3 km). ## Have a question? Beta Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews. Ask a question ## Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands Reviews 10 ### Exceptional All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.[More information](https://www.expedia.ca/lp/b/content-guidelines) ### 10 Cleanliness ### 10 Location ### 10 Staff & service ### 10 Property conditions & facilities 10 - Excellent 148 8 - Good 2 6 - Okay 0 4 - Poor 0 2 - Terrible 0 ### 10/10 Excellent #### kathy l. Jun 28, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great vacation spot We had a fantastic stay at this beautiful, well-equipped property in Ballena. It was clean, comfortable, and perfectly located—close to everything but still peaceful. The host was friendly and responsive, and every detail made our stay easy and relaxing. We’d happily return and highly recommend it! ![](https://a.travel-assets.com/ugc/hotel-reviews/ca6f1989-3e41-4ca5-9426-af568af62f14-1751112587773.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=204&ra=fit&q=high) ##### kathy l. Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Nikki L. Jul 6, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Amazing Vacation My family and I spent 5 days at Mark's house. Not only was it a wonderful house but the wealth of information that Mark provided took all of the guesswork out of vacation research. Every recommendation we followed turned out great: David's river tour, Adventuras Bahia, Jungle ATV, and Arcos Beach and the hikes around it to name a few. Mark was incredibly attentive checking in and ready for any question or unexpected event. We wish we could have stayed longer and can't wait to to come back! The house was as beautiful as described and super comfortable. ##### Nikki L. Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Wesley B. Apr 22, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great Stay! Our stay at Mark and Allyson’s place was fantastic! Well situated with everything we needed. Pool was very nice to have, and the birds in the yard were incredible. We had a daily toucan visit us. Will definitely be back! Loved it. ##### Wesley B. Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### WILLIAM /DORY H. Jun 7, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy Amazing views and place! Unfortunately we had airline connection issues and missed a full day. Mark is a great guy who is readily available for questions and help. Saw some toucans, hawk lots of unidentified birds. Love the pool and peaceful surroundings. Really amazing location with minimal drive to main road. Had 4wheel but never needed. Hubby enjoyed the hammock. Thank you Mark for sharing your beautiful house! Wish we had booked longer not enough time to explore the area. Hope to return someday. Pura Vida! ##### WILLIAM /DORY H. Stayed 5 nights in May 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Peter F. Feb 16, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great place and location Amazing wildlife- birds, hearing howler monkeys etc…Good location for getting around the Pacific coast. Great host. Was very responsive! ##### Peter F. Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Donna G. Feb 1, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Five star rating says it all! We spent 2 months and loved it here. It was easy to settle in to the natural beauty surrounding the home and area. Hosts were very accommodating and responsive. Lots to do. Location, the home and the view were all spectacular. ##### Donna G. Stayed 61 nights in Dec 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Steve P. May 5, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### One less on the Bucket List! We had an absolutely unforgettable stay at this stunning villa just south of Uvita. The views of the ocean and surrounding canopy were truly breathtaking—every sunrise and sunset felt like a dream. Hands down, the best beaches we have ever seen were literally just a few min away from this property. The villa itself was beautifully designed, and incredibly comfortable. If you are a bird lover, you will not be disappointed! We experienced seeing more types of amazing birds while just enjoying the veranda in the early morning and the evenings. What really set this experience apart was the host—his local recommendations were spot-on (we didn’t have a single bad meal!), and he was consistently responsive and helpful throughout our stay. If you’re looking for the perfect combination of natural beauty, relaxation, and great hospitality, this is it. We can’t wait to come back! ##### Steve P. Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### sherrie g. Mar 10, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great convenient stay with a view! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! The location could not have been better, easy to get to our favorite beaches, restaurants and groceries. Owners were very responsive and super helpful with booking tours extra. Very well appointed! The pool was a cocktail pool which we weren’t expecting so we didn’t really use much and we didn’t have much hot water. That is not uncommon for the area but if you aren’t used to that just take note. It does take getting used to when everyone is trying to get ready for dinner, etc. For nature, pure beauty and convenience, you can’t go wrong! We had a great time! Pura Vida ##### sherrie g. Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Todd A. Oct 22, 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Pura Vida in Costa Ballena Our family has stayed at many properties in the area. This location of this house is what sets it apart for us. We've gone a half hour up the mountain to get to houses, this was 1 minute. There's a little highway noise because of it, but not annoying enough to take away from the close proximity to everything and the amazing view. We would definitely stay here again. ##### Todd A. Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Alex G. Nov 23, 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Prefect Despite the rain (not to self check the rainy season) we had a wonderful time at Mark and Allyson's stunning house - the view is just divine, the main area was very spacious, there was a great BBQ, Mark was super helpful with tips and suggestions and the array of wildlife literally on your front doorstep was out of this world. Thank you very much for having us. ##### Alex G. Stayed 15 nights in Nov 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Gayle G. Mar 2, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Like Sleeping in the Jungle! Had a stellar vacation at Mark and Allyson’s Jungle house. Woke every day buy 5:30, watched an amazing amount of birds right there! The house is close to everything. The grounds are incredible. Mark was quick to respond. They really do want you to have the best stay ever! We did follow their list of best places to eat as well as things to do in the area. Heads up though, if you are planning to eat in Ojochal, get reservations. Lots of nicks and crannies to discover in the area. The Pacific Ocean was warm and fun. Fishing in the area is excellent. Thank you so much for sharing your home. Would not hesitate to go back. Well done Mark and Allyson! ##### Gayle G. Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Sandy K. Mar 25, 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Another wonderful vacation at this property. This is our second year staying here. We love the property, the owner and the property manager. Everything was wonderful…no issues… and we hope to be able to come back soon! It has become our home away from home 😃 ##### Sandy K. Stayed 14 nights in Mar 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Alexandra C. Apr 5, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Family Fun in Uvita Our family of five, all adults, had a lovely stay in this Uvita house. The bedrooms were comfy, the kitchen well stocked, and the living area spacious.The setting was just beautiful. We spent much of our time enjoying the sounds and sights of the birds from the dining patio, gazing at the wide open view of the ocean and nearby islands and cooling off in the refreshing pool. The garden was full of tropical flowers and trees.We appreciated the convenience of the location. The towns of Uvita and Ojochal were just minutes away as well as several beaches, restaurants and adventures.The owner, Mark, was extremely helpful and responsive to any of our needs.Our adventures included a boat trip up the Sierpe River to see wildlife, a tour of Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary and snorkeling at Cano Island. We explored several beaches, a waterfall and ate well at several restaurants. In late March we could just walk into any restaurant and be seated immediately, arrange tours on any day and easily park anywhere. How relaxing and hassle free!This was our first time to Costa Rica and we highly recommend Uvita and this wonderful house. Pura Vida! ##### Alexandra C. Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jodi G. Mar 16, 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Wonderful stay! The house is lovely; especially the open living living area, wood doors and windows, and patio. The grounds are beautiful and very well maintained, with a beautiful view of the ocean. Also, the house is in a great location, close to many attractions (e.g., beaches, hikes, waterfalls, swimming holes), as well as grocery stores and restaurants. ##### Jodi G. Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jessica A. Jul 11, 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Ballena Bliss This is a beautiful home, very spacious and well-appointed…including beach chairs and boogie boards! The sunset view, nice landscaping, along with easy access off the highway made for a very pleasant stay. Thank you for hosting us. ##### Jessica A. Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Colleen F. Jun 2, 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Amazing House With A View Our family of 5 had an amazing stay at this home. It was the perfect hub to do everything we wanted to do and the views are better than the pictures. Mark is very responsive to questions and provided many recommendations. He emailed info to us after we booked and there is also a binder at the house. We did an all-day private boat tour with Martin Adventours and highly recommend them. It cost us less to combine sportfishing with snorkeling at Cano Island and we had the boat all to ourselves. Our tour guide and captain were exceptional. We did the Sierpe Mangrove tour with David. David was sick but Adriel took his place and he was wonderful. We saw more animals than we expected on this tour - amazing birds, some with babies or eggs, squirrel monkeys, a howler monkey, boa snakes, and a sloth. Highly recommend! We ate at the soda in Uvita, Bagel Time, Pizza Time, La Percela in Dominicalito (where we saw capuchin monkeys). Beehive restaurant in Uvita was our big splurge - pricey but the food and service were phenomenal. We even tried Pollolandia for one meal. All the food we had was delicious. The local supermarkets had everything we needed and the beaches were close and beautiful. We took road trips to the Boruca village and Don Emilio's coffee farm (visit the amazing waterfall up the road too). Both were worth the drive. From the house we saw toucans, agouti, scarlet macaws, iguanas, and many birds and the howler monkeys came out on our last night. Vacation of a lifetime! ![View from house ](https://a.travel-assets.com/ugc/hotel-reviews/651f9a61-73ac-4aa6-a829-61e0fb89edc1-1748894207624.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=204&ra=fit&q=high) ![We loved the pool ](https://a.travel-assets.com/ugc/hotel-reviews/2c02a507-6717-40e3-9cd2-e0cf9020ce79-1748894207615.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=204&ra=fit&q=high) ![our resident agouti ](https://a.travel-assets.com/ugc/hotel-reviews/7f7c4b94-632d-4b7c-8ac1-f241b7613402-1748894207661.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=204&ra=fit&q=high) ![missing this place already](https://a.travel-assets.com/ugc/hotel-reviews/71a7e43b-101f-4395-8e19-949eccf905a4-1748894207625.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=204&ra=fit&q=high) ##### Colleen F. Stayed 7 nights in May 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Heidi M. Oct 14, 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Absolute Paradise This home was the perfect place for our vacation! Mark the home owner provides everything you may ever need to know about vacationing in Costa Rica. It made planning our trip so easy. The home is exceptionally clean and comfortable. We loved cooling off in the pool and watching birds from the patio. This home was absolute paradise! ##### Heidi M. Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Pam G., Coppell Feb 25, 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Yoga deck! This house is centrally located and near lots of great restaurants and black sand beaches. A 4 wheel drive SUV is mandatory! The VRBO host and local assistant (Roland) were really helpful and knowledgable about the area! ##### Pam G. Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Beth L. Jan 30, 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Beautiful Home, very pleased Beautiful home with a spectacular view. Beautiful view from the pool. Saw all kinds of Toucans and birds. Heard the howler monkeys, but they never came to the house. The owner was very helpful in scheduling excursions, etc. I would definitely stay here again. ##### Beth L. Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Cynthia F. Mar 19, 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Unique spot in Uvita! The setting was amazing and the view was incredible. We had all the comforts of home and truly loved the house. I would go back in a heart beat. The owner was very helpful from the beginning to the end of our stay. Great memories were made that we will all treasure. ##### Cynthia F. Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Erica L. Jun 26, 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Incredible Property The pictures don't do this property justice! The views are incredible. The property is clean and fully stocked with everything. Both the owner, Mark, and the property manager were responsive and so helpful throughout the week. Costa Rica is pure magic, we can't wait to plan our trip back! ##### Erica L. Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jacob R. Sep 11, 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Just book it already We spent the week sitting on the patio or soaking in the pool, watching and listening to wildlife, from monkeys and agoutis to toucans, hummingbirds, and all kinds of other exotic and rare birds (you should seriously consider downloading the Merlin Bird ID app!). We watched humpback whales breaching in the sea, enjoyed the company of geckos and basilisks, and were very happy with the level of comfort and privacy. It was quiet but not far from groceries and anything else you want/need while in the country. We've stayed at 7 or 8 villas/houses in Costa Rica, and this is the one we''ll go back to. Everyone was very responsive and made the entire process seamless. We can't recommend this place enough. ##### Jacob R. Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jonathan Y., North Andover Dec 15, 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Fabulous 5 Days This was my parents first time to Costa Rica and we wanted them to have a wonderful experience. Ballena did not disappoint. The house was well appointed, clean and spacious... and the views - just amazing. But it was the morning and sunset experiences that made this a great experience. The sounds and sightings from the birds, iguanas, howler monkeys and agotis made it extra special. The sunset views are the best too! We hope to visit again Ballena. ##### Jonathan Y. Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jayne K. Dec 29, 2021 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Fantastic Sunsets! Beautiful!!! A word of advice - unless you can arrive in San Jose by 10ish you should plan on staying in San Jose and driving to the property the next day. Much more pleasant than driving at night. We had an absolutely wonderful time. Loved the pool and saw lots of wild life! Incredible sunsets every night!!! ##### Jayne K. Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2021 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Laura S. Feb 20, 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### A beautiful home base! We had a perfect stay with our family if 5. Mark’s house is lovely and comfortable. Rolando was close by and helpful to get us settled in. The view and pool were exactly what we were looking for. Mark had many recommendations for food and activities near by and each one was spot on! We loved Arco beach and Playa Ventanas which are very close (less than 10 mins). We are very happy we chose this as our home base and would definitely do it again! Thank you for having us! ##### Laura S. 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