We enjoyed 2 spectacular weeks at Casa Uvita. The house, forest and views were every bit as spectacular as advertised. We didn't expect such a warm welcome from our hosts; they made us feel comfortable, welcome and safe the whole trip. Michelle lent us two of her bicycles to go with her on a morning cycling trip (I was a bit hesitant at first given the last time I was on a bike was over 20 years ago – but it was super fun!). My favourite part of the morning was getting to see and take some great photos of the Scarlet Macaws having their breakfast in the trees. We also had the opportunity to use Michelle’s boogie boards to catch a few waves.

Casa Uvita is a luxury house in a jungle setting that is off the grid and fully run on solar power. We loved that we could be close to nature, while leaving a light footprint. The weather was very hot when we were there and we found that the fans and cross-breezes through the house kept us comfortable at night for sleeping, however, if you are looking for cold, air-conditioned rooms, then this probably isn’t be the place for you in the high season. The pool was amazing! It felt refreshing all day in the heat, and at night, when the air cooled off, it almost felt warm. We just loved it!

Every morning we'd wake up with the howler monkeys and enjoy coffee on the deck, watching the toucans and parrots play. The town and beaches are all close and comfortable (just make sure you rent a 4x4 :) ). There are stunning nature walks right around the property, including 2 stunning waterfalls and many inspiring ocean views.

Michelle and her team were 'above and beyond' generous with their time and knowledge - we arrived as customers, but left as friends.

I booked this property for myself, a friend and my parents. It was paradise! Luxury in the heart of the jungle. We loved the outdoor spaces where each of us could have private time. The sounds of the jungle surround you and we felt good about the house being off the grid. We mostly just lazed about the pool, as we never wanted to leave the grounds! However, we did take advantage of Michele's tour of the nearby waterfall, Ballena NP beach and the town of Cortes. The howler monkeys provide an early morning wake up call and we were entertained nightly with the ongoing soap opera of the toucans and parrots in the trees above. I cannot recommend this place enough! If you are in the Uvita area, book Casa Uvita.
Thank you Michele! We hope to meet again!

We stayed just under a week at Casa Uvita. In short it was a amazing experience. Michelle was very accommodating and helpful. We had planned to stay in Manuel Antonio however the accommodations we had booked closed shop and we were stranded. Michelle was very helpful in helping us find alternative accommodations while in Manuel Antonio.
Staying at Casa Uvita was magical. From the waterfalls to the daily visits by toucans,parrots and monkeys we were amazed and humbled to be in the heart of such a unique environment. Also, Michelle was very helpful in us seeing some endangered scarlet macaws!
I would highly recommend this off grid experience to everyone.

Humbling to live in a part of the world with such acoustic beauty.....
Despite the early wake up calls of the Howlers, having an afternoon nap by the pool made up for it!. A sloth sighting along with the Toucan party were amazing but the cocktail hour announcement of the howlers made us all smile. Michele is a most gracious host, along with Carlos and Argentina made our stay as they say..... Pura Vita!
Thank you for much a lovely visit!

Casa Uvita is even better than the reviews or pictures! The pictures of the house are very representative of what you will expect when you arrive, although they don't do the house justice. This is definitely a case of seeing is believing and trust me, once you arrive then you will not want to return home. The home is eco-friendly right down to being solar powered.
We booked Casa Uvita for our 20th Anniversary and our 2 teenage sons enjoyed the trip as well. My husband arranged to have flowers for our Anniversary and they were better than any I could have received from a florist! Carlos and Antonio made bouquets from the gardens and the flowers literally took my breath away!
The property is well maintained and you are treated with the utmost care from the caretakers Carlos and Argentina. Carlos and Argentina also agreed to make some authentic meals for us that were so flavourful and better than anything we could had dining out. The tamales that Argentina made for us the day before we left were to die for! They tidied when we were out and even did laundry for us part way through the trip.
We spent a few days relaxing by the beautiful pool. The pool was so clean and the surrounding garden and jungle just adds to the atmosphere of being immersed in Costa Rica. On Christmas Day Carlos took us on a trek to the nearby waterfall. We all enjoyed the pristine water and the the boys took turns jumping from the edge into our own private oasis! On the way home, we collected some coconuts and Carlos prepared Pipa Frias in front of us as a refreshing treat after our hike.
We were fortunate to be able to enjoy some excursions during our stay. Michelle recommended the following adventures which you will have to look up on Trip Advisor for our reviews to fully appreciate. We tried the canyoning with Carlos and Deigo of Bahai Ballena Kayak and Tours. It was quite exhilarating and they stressed safety throughout. We would highly recommend them if you go canyoning. We also went white water rafting with Filipe of Autentico Adventures. Again, he was very knowledgable and delivered a trip that far exceeded our expectations. I don't think there would be better tours available for these kinds of activities because they were so professional and so well done! We were quite lucky to have taken a night hike with Ronnie as guide as well! If you are into snorkelling and want to visit Cano Island, we would recommend Perla del Sur out of Sierpe. We were able to do 2 shifts of snorkelling and then have a luncheon on the shore of a beautiful beach.
We couldn't visit Casa Uvita and not talk about our excursions to the nearby beaches. We visited Marino Ballena and walked to Playa Arco. Both are beautiful beaches but must be seen to be appreciated. Playa Uvita is a must! The scenery while walking 'the whale's tail' was breathtaking! This is not a good beach for swimming but I hear there is good snorkelling along the reef. One of our favourites was a local beach just before Dominical, Playa Hermosa. You do not have to pay an entrance fee and this beach has surfers, vendors, and lifeguards if you swim between the flags!
All in all, I would definitely recommend Casa Uvita to friends, relatives, and anyone looking to have a relaxing get away in an ecofriendly environment that is surrounded by nature (the bird watching is incredible!)
Thank you to Michelle, Antonio, Carlos, and Argentina for extending such warm hospitality!

This was the perfect location for our family of 4 children (ages 4,6,8,10). The home is spacious and could have slept 2 more easily. It is immaculate and very well maintained. A gem!

There is no air-conditioning, which awesome! You feel like you are in the jungle - you can hear and see the wildlife. You have a gorgeous pool and you will spend a lot of time in there. If you still find you are hot a cool shower before bed does the trick.

Howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, sloths, toucans, parrots, and iguanas all made regular appearances during our 3 week stay. You'll spend lots of time in the hammock on the upper deck watching the jungle.

The property owners (Michele and Antonio) are fantastic. Very friendly and extremely helpful in arranging local excursions. You will not feel that they are intrusive and they are almost always around if you need them - AND they are very lovely and interesting people to talk to! One of them is usually staying in the originally built cabin next door. It is quite private from the custom built home.

The property maintenance / housekeepers / sometimes cooks (yummy fresh tortillas, huevos rancheros, fried rice, banana pancakes, stew) / excursion leaders (to local waterfalls) simply made the trip! Carlos and Argentina, we miss you!

You will need 4 wheel drive to access this property (it's a standard Costa Rican road). The road up the mountain is very rocky. The coastal highway is excellent since it was paved in the last few years.

We enjoyed eating at La Parcela (stunning views), The Dome (they have small tubs of homemade ice-cream), Citrus (fine French fusion dining in Ojochal), Baker Bean, Por Que No, and The Goathouse. The local farmer's markets in each community are also worth visiting.

We explored many of the local beaches. Playa Uvita is excellent for the kids surfing. Very safe. We went snorkelling out on the Whales tale a couple of times and saw lots of tropical fish. Just south of Uvita is Playa Ventanas which is family-friendly and has interesting caves.

Dominical and Ojochal are both worth exploring. We went to Hacienda Baru (definitely read the book "Monkeys are made of Chocolate" if you want to understand about Costa Rica's wilderness history - the author is Jack Ewing). A trip to Altura's wildlife sanctuary is worthwhile to see and learn about local rescued wildlife.

Michele arranged a 5 hour horseback ride to a local waterfall and the beach. The kids are still talking about it. Saul and his son picked us up from the front door with a horse for everyone!
We went to Manual Antonio Park but it was very busy and touristy - you are living in the real Costa Rican wilderness at your palace -- "Casa Uvita"!