Exclusive "home" environment with four spacious guest rooms offers sanctuary, privacy, comfort, adventure for your family close to beaches, zip line, waterfalls, surfing, fishing, horseback riding, jungle preserves, and charming villages of Montezuma and Santa Teresa. Luxuriate in the large pool on 4 acres w/ panoramic views surrounded by lush jungle, howler monkeys, parrots & Arabian horses... We now offer wellness retreats with acclaimed energy healing leaders.
Reclaim Your Health Wellness Adventure with acclaimed health expert and American Wise Woman herbalist Susun Weed (January 11-18, 2016).
Divine Love Spiritual Intensive with Australian powerhouse Suzy Meszoly (January 19-26, 2016).Refresh, rejuvenate and recharge for a full week of rest, fun, and deep spiritual expansion....
Qigong Medical Exercise and Meditation Retreat with Energy Healing master Paul Bloom direct from NYC (February 15-21, 2016). Learn the 5 Healing Techniques. Working with nature, we will clear and focus our minds, become vital and radiant in our bodies, and share a glorious spirit with each other...
Spend a week with us in the "Blue Zone," a top the hill overlooking Montezuma and the mountains, at the peaceful Bella Vista retreat center. Refresh, rejuvenate and recharge for a full week of rest, fun, and deep spiritual expansion. Energetic healing activation, sacred teachings, gourmet natural food, gentle yoga, profound meditation, "om"ming, hiking, swimming, waterfalls, beaches, nature preserves, jungle, islands, optional horseback riding, sea kayaking to the underwater volcano, snorkeling and more....
From the moment I arrived at Casa Bella Vista I felt at home. David and Justine are relaxed and easy going and were so ready to make my stay comfortable and enjoyable, nothing was too much to ask for. Their food was amazing, nothing out of a packet and all made from local growers produce with heaps of variety. I’d go back for the food alone. The rooms are huge with comfortable beds, plenty of space and clean. I loved waking to the sounds of the forest, the howler monkeys and slept so well that waking at 4.30am to watch an amazing sunrise on the deck was easy. Sunrise on Montezuma beach was spectacular as well. I spent a month travelling around Costa Rica after my stay at Casa Bella Vista. Nothing compared to the Nicoya Peninsula. The beaches are spectacular, the Nature Reserves are amazing, so much to see and learn, the locals are so helpful and friendly. I will definitely be going back and I will definitely be staying at Casa Bella Vista again.
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Date of stay: January 2016
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChefsSmythe, Owner at Casa BellaVista
Responded Oct 17, 2016
Geneve, hello! We so much enjoyed getting to know you during your stay with us at Casa Bella Vista and we especially delighted in our sunrise walks on the beaches together, cleaning up the beach together, and your loving and kind care and attention towards our animals, the puppies missed you so much when you departed. We completely agree that the Nicoya Peninsula is the very best of Costa Rica, which says a lot since we love all of the places we have traveled in CR over the past 25 years. Thanks so much for posting this helpful review and looking forward to your next visit to paradise. Pura vida, David & Justine & Monica-Jean Smythe
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I stayed here in Jan. of 2015 for a women's retreat. The location is excellent. Just far enough away from the town of Montezuma but close enough for easy access to the town , parks and beaches. The beautiful house opens to the pool and a view that is out of this world. The cabins and additional bathrooms are a few steps away from the main house The house and cabins are of logs and lots of rock work around give it a rustic elegance.The food was fresh local and so yummy I was as excited for meal time as I was for our daily adventures. Waking to the howler monkey is something I miss. This will be remembered with great fondness for a life time. I would love to return with my whole family. This place is what Costa Rica is about pura vida!
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Date of stay: January 2015
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Location
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at BellaVista Lodge and Art Center in January 2015. The weather was perfect and the place was, as I spected from Justine Smithe, Susun Weed's daughter, so well picked, in what is said to be a blue Zone, this is to say, one of the healthiest places in the planet, and surrounded by a beautiful view. The old house was well rebuilt, keeping its rustic charm and most of its valuable wood. It is very spacious, comfortable, eloquent in every detail, full of healthy and abundant food, carefully and artistically cooked by professional chef David Smythe. The swimming pool is maintained by sea salt and in general all things about the area and the house are intended to be healthy, practical and artistic. I enjoyed listening to the stories about the house that the Smythe told me and that made me pay attention and learn about each of its conscious details. Also the Smythe taught me a lot about the flora and fauna, as well as the life style of the ticos. I loved their curiosity and willingness to share all their wisdom about Costa Rica and I was impressed by their capacity to manifest the dream of that house and property, their organization skills and their fun good taste for food, landscape and decoration.
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Date of stay: December 2014
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Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Â All of the rooms are comfortable.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChefsSmythe, Owner at Casa BellaVista
Responded Oct 17, 2016
Carmen, thanks for the glowing review. We love every minute we spend with you, where ever we are, but having you come to our retreat center in Costa Rica was especially special. So glad to know that you felt the healing effects of the Blue Zone too! We love to share our experience of Costa Rica with visitors, the cuisine, culture, nature, and so much more...its an honor and a pleasure to host guests visiting one of the most relaxing and stimulating peaceful places on the planet. Pura Vida, David, Justine, & Monica-Jean Smythe
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Located in the Delicias area of the Nicoya Peninsula, BellaVista holds the true spirit of Pura Vida in every way! I was lucky enough to spend time at a Wellness retreat, at this beautiful place. Tucked away on a private and quiet acreage, with gorgeous views of the peninsula, while still close and convenient to many sightseeing attractions - beaches, jungle hikes, waterfalls, and the charming village of Montezuma. Hosts David and Justine Smythe, have taken their many years of expertise in the culinary and hospitality world and created a rustic yet elegant, paradise. My room was upstairs in the main house, with teak wood, big open windows and a balcony which was perfect to take in the view of the ocean, mountains and sky, and listen to the howler monkeys. Each delicious meal was thoughtfully prepared with locally sourced and fresh whole foods. I took special pleasure in a daily dip in the artfully tiled swimming pool each day, while contemplating the horses as they grazed in the field below. How much more relaxing and beautiful can you get?! Hammocks hung around the big veranda surrounding the house, invite you to unplug, read, or nap. Do you want to relax, have fun and unwind in a beautiful and magical place? Then BellaVista is your place.
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Date of stay: January 2015
Rooms
Service
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChefsSmythe, Owner at Casa BellaVista
Responded Oct 17, 2016
Niko, it is our greatest delight to take care of guests at our homes in Costa Rica and New York, and we are grateful to hear your experience of the Nicoya Peninsula was rewarding and "perfect". We also adore waking to the sounds of the howler monkeys, admiring the Arabian horses in our meadows, and all the other delights of Casa BellaVista and the surrounding areas....thanks so much for taking the time to so eloquently share your impressions while here because it helps others to plan their perfect getaway too. Pura Vida, David & Justine & Monica-Jean
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I was looking for rustic elegance with a touch of history when I traveled to Costa Rica for a Wellness Adventure. A place off the beaten path, yet amenable for a seasoned traveler. BellaVista Lodge offered everything I hoped for. My room was airy and open with pure teak walls, a comfortable bed and howler monkeys as the morning alarm! While casual and comfortable, Bella Vista Lodge & Art Centre has wi-fi access, a hand-tiled swimming pool at the perfect temperature for a refreshing dip on a hot afternoon, an outdoor barbecue area and comfortable hammocks with gorgeous views of the resident horses and countryside. Hosts, David and Justine Smythe's thoughtful renovation of a "broken" cattle outpost from a bygone era captures the charm of an old time hacienda. Situated atop a beautiful hill with a panoramic view of mountains, ocean and jungle, the stone and wood construction holds the genius loci of the Las Delicias district of the Nicoya Peninsula. The main house is opened and closed each morning and evening as there is no glass in the windows just wooden shutters to fend off the occasional wind and rare rain that visit in the dry season. Steeped in gracious living from their life work in hospitality and the culinary arts, the Smythes cook up delicious meals with fresh local produce, fish, meat, eggs and dairy. Shopping at the local farmer's markets, going to the fish markets in small fishing villages and visiting a local goat farmer's cheese house offered a look beyond the routine tourist hot spots. The quaint village of Montezuma with its casual night life, small shops and beautiful beaches is just a 10 minute drive away. The Smythes have a repertoire of knowledgable guides and locals that offer curated tours of the jungle and wild life preserves in the area. I especially enjoyed an afternoon hike to a waterfall and pool for a swim. A trip to Tortuga Island by boat topped off my fantastic week in the Blue Zone of the Nicoya Penisula!
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Date of stay: January 2015
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Â My room above the kitchen was in an busy area of the main house. The 2 rooms in the cabini away...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I had a fantastic experience at Casa Bellavista. The location was incredible with a fabulous view. The home has a unique design, spacious, comfortable and very welcoming. It was well kept as was the property surrounding. The large pool was very inviting, clean and overlooks a gorgeous view of the peninsula. The property is serene and with the addition of two horses on the land, very magical! It was amazing to be awoken by screams of the howler monkeys, and I loved seeing an abundance of hummingbirds with my morning tea! The Nicoya Peninsula is a beautifully wild area with amazing places to visit. What I liked best was the remoteness of the Casa Bellavista, I felt like we were in our private world.
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Date of stay: January 2015
Value
Rooms
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you like a private get-away on a mountain/hill top this place is for you and your family! An abundance of fresh air, clean water and a view that fabulous in all directions~ The main house feels fresh and comfortable.....with a complete gourmet kitchen that opens to the pool and views beyond....Awesome! The 2 new cabins are roomy and finished with real wood walls....excellent bedding.....shared bathrooms are just around the corner~ I was always up with the beautiful showy sunrise to listen to the amazing number of bird sounds and watch the wildlife around the jungle/woodlands, but the most amazing sounds of all are the Howler Monkeys! The mornings are a symphony and a show of slender! The thunder and lightening performances are "enlightening"~ Montezuma is a car ride "down" the mountain, with fun shopping and yummy food~ The pool is a cool delight for the body and mind~ The guided hikes through the local parks are the only way to go! !ENJOY your yourself and relax...it's easy while your here!
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Date of stay: January 2015
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LOCATION is everything folks and this is the very best that the Nicoya Peninsula offers; this amazing wooden abode is perched on the top of a hill, overlooking the ocean and the mountains, and its far enough from town to be really peaceful, but in ten minutes you are at the beach and in the artsy village of Montezuma. Go 20 minutes by car the other way and you are in the hip surfer town of Santa Teresa. I wanted to relax, to chill, swim in the gorgeous dolphin pool, have the cooling breezes and easy access to beaches and I got it all, plus the incredible parrots, howler monkeys, ylang ylang trees and close enough to the Montezuma Falls and zip lining, great vegetarian restaurants while being hosted by the friendliest, hip New Yorkers who are the royals of innkeeping.
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Date of stay: February 2015
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â Vista Del Mar has a panoramic mountain AND ocean view, so relaxing and expansive!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
March 2018 was my second visit to Casa Bellavista and it was even better than the first 2 years ago! The property is beautiful, the 'cabinas' are fabulous, I LOVE the pool and the FOOD …. oh the food. It's really a haven in every way. My qigong teacher hosted a qigong and meditation 7-day retreat at Casa Bellavista for a group of 10 students. What I loved most? ~Early morning practice & meditation on the beautiful deck listening to the monkeys and birds as the sun came up ~Mouth-watering meals prepared by David & Justine served on the veranda around a big wooden table listening to each other and the music of the cicadas ~Playing and cooling off in the pool before and after practice ~Returning to my air-conditioned 'cabina' for a nap or to read on the porch or to my comfortable bed for the night There are too many extras to count so I'll just say this: From sunrise to sunset, a 'Pura Vida' experience that I look forward to having again next year!
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Date of stay: March 2018
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Â Rooms are spread around the property. Each is unique & beautifully decorated in a theme. ...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of PuntarenasMontezuma
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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