House vacation rentals in El Castillo

This is our second time staying at Casa Gisela, we love this home and neighborhood so much.

We had an incredible stay in La Fortuna with our family, including our 3-year-old and 1-year-old. The home is perfectly situated right at the base of the volcano, offering unobstructed, stunning views—we could see Arenal from the living room and even while relaxing outside. The host was extremely thoughtful, leaving cold beers and champagne in the fridge for us, which was such a warm welcome after a long drive. Communication was excellent, and the concierge-style service made it easy to plan activities that worked for both adults and young kids. The space felt peaceful, safe, and well-equipped for a family. We’d absolutely recommend this place to anyone visiting the area—especially families looking for comfort, scenery, and great hospitality.

Wow! What an amazingly beautiful home for a group to share! Loved the spacious place and clean accommodations, large outdoor seating area and the pool is perfect! Just from the house we saw a sloth, toucans, & lizards. We felt very safe with having a locked gate. The privacy was nice. I hope to be back soon!

We loved staying at Casa Santa Fe! We even wish we could go back because our time there felt too short. When we arrived we had complementary platano chips and traditional Costa Rica drinks waiting for us. The space was very clean and made us feel comfortable. The pool was amazing and a great addition! We enjoyed our nights in watching TV together on the couch on rainy nights. As well as the variety of options of excursions to do and good restaurants to eat at! Danny was also very responsive and helpful, which we appreciated, it being our first time in Costa Rica. Even after our stay, he was helpful in offering us new options for another Airbnb when we needed it. We would definitely stay again!

This spot was a little bit difficult to find, but don’t let that discourage you. The home was beautiful. The rooms are located outside. It is very close to downtown area. Definitely recommend this.

Cozy home, just as described. Comfortable beds Great location for our family of 6 to do all the activities in and around La Fortuna. When we weren’t out exploring, our kids were in the pool, which was so enjoyable. There was a mixup when we first got there with another family who mistakenly was in our place. But it was quickly resolved and we were left a fruit basket the next day.

The other reviews are correct. This place is even more beautiful in person. We did not the amount of space, how clean it was, and how luxurious it felt. It was like being in a resort. Even the way its designed was gorgeous. It was 4 adults and 2 kids and we all loved it. The kids especially loved the pool and how low it was and we loved the convenience of the market directly across the street. Also everything is a short taxi ride away. And to top it off, the one day pass at Las Logas Resort was awesome. We spent hours there walking the grounds and enjoying the hotsprings pools!! This is definitely one of the best airbnbs we've stayed at offering so many amenities withing close proximity to downtown and other attractions. Also the host Rebecca was very responsive! Be careful to follow the instructions when checking in because you will be lost. Thanks again Rebecca!

If you're looking for a truly special place – one that's off the beaten tourist path but still close to all the attractions – this is the perfect home for you! Nita and Marty's house is located about half an hour from La Fortuna. It's beautifully and uniquely designed, with plenty of games and activities for kids. On our first day, we were greeted with a lovely basket of breakfast essentials – such a thoughtful touch that really set the tone for our stay. Nita and Marty were incredibly helpful and available whenever we needed anything. The garden feels like a real part of the jungle, with lots of wildlife around – including the sweet dogs owned by the hosts. There's a trail from the house that leads to a beautiful creek, and at night, it was amazing to hear the jungle come alive. Thank you so much for a truly enjoyable and unforgettable stay!

We enjoyed our stay! It's a nice, clean home with scenic views in an authentic, safe community. We bought a few basics for breakfast (eggs, queso blanco, milk, coffee, juice) at the nearby community mini-market (a few blocks away) so we could make breakfast at the place. If you want fresh fruits & veggies, you should stop at a bigger market on your way (La Fortuna? Or El Castillo?). We ate dinner twice at the nearby La Terraza restaurant, which was good. We loved the batidos de fruta (fruit smoothies/shakes - 'de leche' ('of milk') . My favorite is the batido de papaya (de leche). My kids also tried the strawberry, pineapple, maracuya (and I think others, too!). We enjoyed the dishes we had there, too. Internet at the house can be spotty, but there's some cell reception, too. If you're on vacation and just checking your email from time to time and researching things to do in the area, it's fine; if you're looking to be a digital nomad, this is probably not the place for you.

Incroyable séjour, une vue à couper le souffle, petite villa paisible au milieu d’un ranch magnifique, possibilité de faire du bateau (la capitaine nous a déposé déjeuner dans un excellent restaurant),du cheval et en bonus un très bon massage en fin de séjour ! Cet endroit est paradisiaque ! Je recommande vivement l’expérience !

La comunicación con Albita fue excelente ! Estuvo muy atenta de nosotros y nuestros perros ! Gracias ! La casa es muy linda y con todo lo que se necesita🙏🏼

An incredible view in an amazing area! We hope to return again!

While many other reviews mentioned it, I’ll have to note here again: the view is amazing. I enjoy taking so many photos through out our trip as the view is spectacular and it chnages quickly at different times, different weather. The weather has been kind to us so it only rained very hard mostly at night and few hours in the afternoon (mid June). Sitting out on the deck in the morning is peaceful and not too cold. All of the descriptions are accurate. The road coming here is rough but so is almost everywhere else in Monteverde. Definitely one of the best Airbnb places we’ve been.

Had a great stay at The Star House. Beautiful sunsets and rainbows. My kids loved watching the leaf cutter ants out in the yard. Also loved watching the hummingbirds and even a toucan from the swinging bucket seats with a cool gentle breeze. Very peaceful and relaxing. Comfortable beds and plenty of hot water from the solar powered water heater. Kitchen well-equipped, including coffee. Would definitely stay here again!

We had an unforgettable stay at Jessy’s beautiful home in Monteverde. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the breathtaking views and the peaceful, natural setting. The floor-to-ceiling windows made us feel completely immersed in the cloud forest—it was like waking up in the middle of a dream. Jessy was an exceptional host—kind, thoughtful, and welcoming. She even left us a sweet note and some local treats to sample, which was such a lovely touch. The home itself was spotless, the beds were incredibly comfortable, and the jacuzzi was the perfect way to unwind after a long day of hiking and exploring. If you’re looking for a quiet, secluded getaway where you can truly connect with nature, this is the place. We can’t recommend it enough and hope to return someday!

Such a special place where we were warmly welcomed like family. Anyara took us on a tour of the beautiful property and showed us the frogs. The family has created such a wonderful refuge, full of life and beauty. Our lodging was comfortable and clean. We got a great night sleep and had a fabulous morning exploring more of the property. We received recommendations for dining that proved to be top-notch. We were only able to spend one night and wish we had more. Came as guests and left as friends. I will come back to Costa Rica just to spend more time here. Worth stopping even for one night. Magic!

Amazing property. Felt more like staying at a high end resort. Extremely clean with great outdoor space and pool. Well stocked and safe with a gated entrance. Highly recommend.

This cute little place was perfect for the two of us. Having the AC in the bedroom was so nice and made for a good nights sleep. We enjoyed sitting on the back patio and watching and listening to all of the birds and watching the cows who are right next door. Fortuna Waterfalls is close by and it’s a quick trip into town. We would stay here again.

Our stay at this house was simply spectacular. The design is beautiful, very eye-catching, yet incredibly practical. Everything is thoughtfully arranged to make you feel comfortable and at home from the very beginning. The kitchen is fully equipped. The bathrooms are spacious and functional, and the beds are truly comfortable, ensuring a restful sleep. Another highlight is the location: in a peaceful, nature-filled setting, away from the tourist crowds but still close enough to all the main attractions in the area. Exactly what we were looking for. What surprised us most was the sense of serenity the house offers. It’s not just a place to stay—it’s an experience in itself. That’s why we recommend that anyone visiting not only use it as a base to explore the area but also take time to enjoy the house itself: the peace, the natural surroundings, and the special moments shared with loved ones. Another plus is the host, Esteban, who took great care of us.

Aqua Vida is simply amazing. Words cannot describe how you’ll feel when you see everything you get with this property. It’s off the main road in La Fortuna but it’s very safe and peaceful. You get all the privacy you want while being 5 minutes away from everything in town. A huge natural spring pool, a covered area where you can cook, have your meals or just hangout, a huge yard to play in, a stream going through the property with beautiful trees and absolutely stunning landscaping. All this and you’re still not even in the house. Book this place. You’ll be happy you did.

El lugar es tal cual se observa en las fotos, la vista es inigualable, la casita tiene todo lo necesario para cocinar y los anfitriones son muy amables, privado y cerca del centro de tronadora, excelente.

The place exceeded our expectations—it was even better than the pictures! Maria was an incredible host, super welcoming and full of great recommendations for things to do in the area. Everything was exactly as described, if not better. Spotting cows during the day added such a charming touch to the experience. The home was spotless and beautifully maintained. I genuinely wish I could have stayed longer, and I’ll definitely be coming back. Highly, highly recommend staying here!

From the minute we walked through the doors we were in love! The place is gorgeous inside and out with breath taking views. We wished we had booked for longer because of how amazing the place was along with all the adventures you could do in the area! They booked massages for us and zip lining making things so seamless. 10/10 recommend this place and we can’t wait to come back again in the future!

Overall our stay went well. The host was excellent. The house and everything was just as listed. Here are the things that I didn’t see many reviewers mention so just want to make these things I experienced clear in case someone else like me would find it helpful. 1. I rented a van. The final road to get to the house is very bumpy. You don’t need a 4x4 but I would personally recommend it just for complete piece of mind. Driving on that road at night while it’s raining was a bit scary for me as there are somewhat steep hills and the tires can skid sometimes. I personally would not want to do that again. 2. If it rains, the rains is very loud when it hits the roof. I had no issue. 3. Perhaps it’s dependent on season, but I had to kill multiple crawling bugs. No fault of owner, just how it is in that region. 4. Not very walkable so just prepare accordingly. 5. Water wasn’t warm on my first day. 2nd day it was. Still was a great experience but just be ready.