“Wow! You'll love the Red Sunset!” Are you looking for a luxury guesthouse near Lake Arenal and Arenal Volcano? If so, look no further and book yourself into the Red Sunset. My husband and I, along with six friends, spent a week in March there. We are so glad we did! We found the accommodations to be everything they were advertised and more. The views are amazing and the house, pool house and grounds will give you plenty of opportunities to relax and explore. While the guesthouse is excellent, the very best feature is the owner/operator Patrick. Patrick met with us each day to help us plan activities and make reservations with the best tour operators. His local knowledge and recommendations were spot on each day, and his help was invaluable. The breakfast provided each morning was a highlight unto itself. Come prepared to eat well – you won’t be disappointed. We’ve never had meals of this quality at similar style lodgings. We also took advantage of the optional evening Chef services. While there were several great places to eat in the Lake Arenal area, all of which were recommended to us by Patrick, you won’t beat the meals prepared by Patrick and his wife. Our favorite was the Chicken Parmesan – sorry, Mom, but it was the best we’ve had anywhere! The Red Sunset was the perfect place for our Costa Rica vacation. We arrived as guests and soon felt like family. We’re glad we chose the Red Sunset!

“Near the Beach = fun!” i had a great time with my stay in Costa rica being right by the beach and having the pool right outside. The pool is gorgeous and always warm for late night swims! I am looking Forward for planning my next trip here!

“Unforgettable views and experience” We arrived back in the States on early Monday morning, and our regular work and family routine immediately slapped us in the face. What a harsh reality check after our amazing Costa Rican vacation! We had a fantastic time in Guanacaste, and Cass Fiesta was everything we imagined it would be - and a little bit more. The views were indescribably gorgeous. I would have been content to sit on the upper deck or poolside all day long and watch the sunshine and clouds change throughout the day. Casa Fiesta was such an incredibly relaxing setting. The house itself is beautiful and well-stocked with everything needed to enjoy an extended stay. It feels like a remote and exotic location, but the beach, groceries, and restaurants were only a 5-10 minute drive down the mountain. The pool was a refreshing respite from the afternoon sun, and the hilltop temperatures were very comfortable - especially in the evening while enjoying sunset and twilight. The howler monkey calls and exotic bird fly-bys in the morning were enjoyed immensely on the deck while sipping coffee. Simply amazing. Casa Fiesta also benefits tremendously from Diego and Jennifer's presence. We especially enjoyed Jennifer's meal (arguably the best we had all week!) and Diego's sage advice. Diego also took us whitewater rafting on very short notice and arranged everything. We couldn't have done it without him. As our vacation transitioned to other locations in Guanacaste, I found myself missing the scenic view from Casa Fiesta and wished we could have spent the entire duration on the seaside mountaintop overlooking Portrero. Thanks again for accommodating us, and we look forward to planning our next Costa Rican journey at some point in the not-too-distant future.

“great location” we have stayed here for the last three years and the group I travel with have stayed here even longer. There is a small pool in the center of the house/villas and you can walk to the beach! It could use a few new pillows, but overall it is clean and they do come in daily to clean up after you. Dave Malbon is a really nice guy and extremely helpful! WE love this spot in Costa Rica!

“Wonderful. Relaxing.” This penthouse rental was better than expected. The photos do not do the space justice. I recently (Aug '13) traveled with a group of 9 everyone felt quite comfortable. We enjoyed having goregous views of the sunrise and beach.Phil and Evelyn were very accomodating in the planning process (nine people=tons of questions) they were extremely helpful and we greatly appreciated that. The rooms were a perfect size (even with three of us sharing a room, we did not feel as if we were on top of each other). The location is perfect; close to just about any and everything you could need while staying in Jaco, transportation/bus stop, supermarket, restaurants, and drug stores. Not to mention the apt is equipped with plenty to make you feel right at home. We did take a ride to Herradura beach (the sand was a bit softer than the sand on Jaco beach) which was no more than ten minutes but enjoyed the pool nearly every morning. The staff at Daystar were very friendly and helpful as well. In inquiring about certain activities, the ladies were very candid and spared us disappointment. I highly reccommend this unit.

“nice, clean and spacious!” we booked casa alemendro on-line with greg the owner and were very pleased with the apartment. it was much bigger than i expected and very tastefully decorated. the kitchen was open and well stocked for our group. the location is perfect, just a block from the beach and within walking distance to zwart cafe and ginger, two great breakfast spots. we enjoyed many nights on the patio and saw monkeys, birds and squirrels right from the table. i would highly recommend this accommodation and thanks to greg for his hospitality. hopefully we will be back!

“Awesome and Totally amazing!” The Condo: This was our first visit to CR and at the risk of sounding very repetitive, I am going to say it anyway. This Condo is absolutely amazing! We were actually taken back by the views, the weather, and beauty of it all. The condo itself is very well maintained. The beds are very nice and excellent to sleep on. there is usually a very nice breeze that can get strong at times so you need to be careful of the bedroom doors. The condo is relatively close to the beach at say 200 to 250 yards. The local terrain is very hilly and as such it us a little bit of a walk uphill when you come back from the beach. Our Garmin and Trackit Maps didn't show Oceanica on any of the categories so you may have to use the resort right across the street to find it as addresses are not used in CR at all. We give this one 5 star rating!!! Well worth the time to visit. Daphne: Daphne was absolutely the best host you could ever ask for! She provided all the information I asked for and needed. She even graciously helped with the car rental (Economy). Daphne is indeed kind and tremendously gracious. Restaurants: We chose to eat at the local restaurants (locals call them Sodas). There are a good number of these within say 5 miles and all are wonderful. Local CR cuisine is amazing and filling. Even though we do not speak Spanish it wasn't that hard to figure out and order food. Ticas and Ticos are wonderful people. We would definitely go back in a heart beat!

“Spectacular!!!” Our stay at Hacienda Encantada during the days 21 to 25 July 2013, it was an unforgettable experience. Comfortable, clean and everything you need to have fun with the family. The landscape, the rainy season, and the ambient sounds of birds and animals were elements that made us feel at peace and in communication with nature. Although the way to reach the house was a bit difficult, the same was not reason to stop enjoying all of the wonderful of the place. Talk with Mayquel on the customs and way of life of the inhabitants of the area, it was very interesting. Without a doubt, we would love to return. Thanks Marty.

“My daughter and I enjoyed the guesthouse and Montezuma, especial” We only had time for two nights in Montezuma, yet this guesthouse served our needs well. Ype was a great host with lots of information on where we were traveling(we drove ourselves) and met us in Montezuma when we arrived. We had a four wheel drive which was helpful for clearance on the road to the guesthouse. The best part of the house is the wraparound glass walled veranda on the floor with the guest bedrooms. Many of the windows are open and the views and breeze were wonderful. We felt very secure as the property is gated. The trip to Montezuma takes about 10 minutes due to the road, but we got used to it quickly. The breeze was quite nice when we were there, but not sure how comfortable it would be sleeping without a/c when there is no breeze. This is a very nice place--wish we had more time to go exploring Malpais.