“Tropical Ranch Paradise” Where to start! After having spent a wonderful week in June at their other property, Casa Cielo, nearer to Monteverde, we spent the first week of July at Rancho el Rio. As always, Veronica was the perfect host and there to greet us upon arrival. We then took a quick tour of the property to get our bearings and so we'd know where to pick the bounty of bananas, mangos, avocados, coconuts, starfruit, etc, from their trees. The cottage is perfect, lots of space with a great patio for relaxing and cooking on the BBQ while watching the river run by. An astonishing variety of birds are constantly on the move around the property and Veronica's son, Stuart, provided us with a great tour during which we saw Spectacled Owls, Keel-billed toucan, Chestnut-billed toucans, tanagers, and many others. While hiking on our own we came across Howler Monkeys, parrots, and many others. During the week we spent a day at the beach at Playa Dona ana. A beautiful location near Puntarenas but because of all the rain the water was like chocolate milk...best left for the dry season. A highlight of the week was our horseback ride with Veronica, Alex and Stuart up to a waterfall. None of us had been there before and it was a real treat! Like something from a postcard with a beautiful pool at the bottom to swim in. To make it complete, a Blue Morphos butterfly entertained us during lunch. After the horseride we thought we could use a long soak in hot water so we travelled to arenal and Tabacon thermal resort for the day (an interesting 3 hour drive from the ranch). A gorgeous place with lots of natural-looking lounging pools for adults and a larger pool for the kids. All in all, it was a terrific vacation to a beautiful location that was made even better by the wonderful family that shares it!

“Beautiful Mountain aery” We join the chorus of praise in heartily endorsing Casa Cielo. This cosy mountain aery of an a-frame sits just over the crest of a ridge in Lindora just off Rte. 606, about 3 km south of Santa Elena. Casa Cielo features an open floor plan with a kitchen, dining and living room main floor and a bedroom with a large tub and porch upstairs. There is also a loft bed, accessible with a ladder. The house can easily accommodate a couple of people and 1-2 children. We particularly appreciated the attention to detail and all the amenities. Our host, Veronica Sheehan, has written out clear instructions for everything. The house includes a washing machine and things like a coffee grinder, blender and enough cookware to be easily self-sufficient. And, speaking of coffee grinder, Veronica and her husband, Alex, grow their own organic coffee and kept us in s steady supply over the course of our stay. What a treat! The view to the West is spectacular: overlooking a valley below and the Nicoya Bay and Peninsula in the distance. The sunsets were stunning and we would sit on the porch each evening to take in the vista. The bird life is rich and diverse. We saw toucans, toucanets, mot-mots, and a host of flycatchers and seedeaters. Howler monkeys were often heard around dawn echoing across the valley. On our arrival, we were greeted by Veronica and her son, Stuart, who had prepared lunch for us. Veronica got us oriented to the house and things to do in the area. After lunch, Stuart gave us a tour of the property. As a budding naturalist, he is very observant and pointed out plants, birds, insects and other denizens around the house. Veronica is a delightful host: thoughtful, attentive and more than happy to help arrange tours, guides, and to suggest activities. We encourage you to check with her as she has a good handle on the many options available to you. We highly recommend Casa Cielo! Be sure to book ahead.

“The only Place to Stay In Monteverde” We (Group of 4) booked this place on a whim based on the pictures on Vrbo.com. It looked amazing online, but as it turns out, it is even better in real life! The house is rustic, charming, beautiful, and accommodating. Veronica met us when we arrived, walked us down to the house, and we were greeted with a warm "snack" (more like a meal) of fresh homemade tortillas, fried cheese, plantains, fresh lemonade, and more. She also helped us book tours, arrange cabs, catch buses - a full service experience. You have to get dinner made by Veronica's neighbor Gisette - $10 a person, homemade food, delivered to your door, with dessert and drinks. The meal was abundant and delicious. The only problem you may have with this house is it is hard to leave it! It is so beautiful. And as advertised, a birder's paradise. Best place we stayed on our 2+ week trip to Costa Rica!