Entire home

Privacy, Elegance, Security, Private Pool & Nature Reserve

Photo gallery for Privacy, Elegance, Security, Private Pool & Nature Reserve

Pool
Exterior
Dining
Outdoor dining
Beach nearby

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathrooms418 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
  • Parking available
  • Pet friendly
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Privacy, Elegance, Security, Private Pool & Nature Reserve

Corona Virus note: Villa Tekla is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between visits. The open nature of the house is excellent insurance against the spread of any airborne disease.

Villa Tekla is a distinctive three-level Spanish-Moorish eco-friendly open hacienda designed for the tropics, on 5 acres of forest and landscaped grounds, quietly situated 200 meters off the main road. It has extensive patios and is fully furnished. It can easily accommodate three couples and is suitable for families traveling together. Features include a private swimming pool and high speed WI-FI.

The spacious lower pool level room has a library, bathroom with shower and a king-sized bed with a private entrance accessed by the patio staircases. It has a separate entrance and is totally screened.

The main floor is open-plan with living, dining, and kitchen areas surrounded by wide arched windows protected by artfully crafted Spanish grill work and wooden shutters.

The main-floor bedroom is netted and has a king canopy bed and ample storage. There is a net tent covering the entire bed for extra comfort.

The screened top floor has two single beds and the views from there are spectacular.

The large tiled patio has seating and a charcoal barbecue.

All linen is provided. Our maid has access to our washer-dryer and can do your clothes at a reasonable price. Otherwise, twice-a-week maid service and gardening services are provided at no cost to you. Cable TV, broadband internet, and wi-fi are all free.

The property is 1 1/2 miles from the thriving fishing town of Quepos and an easy walk or drive to the sweeping tourist beaches that continue into Manuel Antonio's National Park, which has become one of Central America's tourist meccas. Several smaller and more private beaches can be accessed, and we can provide directions to them. Though at nine degrees latitude, the climate is benign, with lovely breezes, the temperature ranging in Fahrenheit from the low 70s to the mid-80s, depending on the season.

Villa Tekla provides a chance to enjoy a unique tropical experience, available nowhere else in the Manuel Antonio area. Surrounded by five acres of forest, you will have complete privacy as you enjoy a sunset drink around our pool while gazing upon the distant mountains and the sea, while toucans, squirrel monkeys and kinkajoos cavort in the trees. Yet you are only minutes away to stores, fine restaurants, and the incredible beaches that have made Manuel Antonio world famous.

Forbes Magazine has just named Manuel Antonio as one of the world's 12 best national parks: "Here is a stunning combination of beaches and coral reefs, perfect for snorkeling and exploring the area’s famous tangle of mangroves. Rainforest jungles remain untouched habitats for Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths, iguanas, Central American squirrel monkeys and birds of extraordinary colors. One of Costa Rica’s smallest national parks, Manuel Antonio is nevertheless one of its most popular, with activities ranging from white-water rafting and sea kayaking to horseback riding on one of the park’s four beaches."

There is a chef available at request who works miracles with the area's fresh produce, seafoods and meats. Unique to Villa Tekla are the reasonably priced guide services of our close friend Melvin who is thoroughly bilingual (he lived with us in Canada as a child), has 20 years experience leading rafting and hiking tours, and knows the region like no other.

The owner, novelist William Deverell and his family welcome you to their home.

Additional Information:

House Manager

Rebecca Wells is our villa manager in Manuel Antonio who lives only a few minutes down our road. Rebecca can be reached at the numbers in the contact link. She and her husband Jacob are completely bilingual and will help you with any problems, and will assist you with arrival arrangements.

Maid and Gardener

Our maid comes mornings twice a week for four or five hours. If you would like additional help, Rebecca can arrange for that at the maid's regularly hourly rate, and she can also be hired as well to do your personal laundry in the washer/dryer. Our gardener comes twice a week, early in the morning, for grounds maintenance. Someone also drops by once or twice a week to do pool maintenance.We hope you will treat our staff with trust and respect - they have ours.

Linens and Towels

We supply all essential household goods, including linens and towels, but please do not take our towels to the beach.

Communications

We have two TV sets for your use, with 66 cable channels, as well as DVD and VCR players, and a small library of movies. A high-speed Internet service will provide those who bring laptops or netbooks with a fast, reliable wi-fi service at our cost, for which Rebecca will provide a password. A 22-inch external monitor, USB keyboard and mouse are available at no cost. Our house telephone line does not permit international calls. There is Internet cafe nearby and more in Quepos.

Waste disposal

Please follow basic ecologically sound practices. There's a recycling container in the kitchen which the gardener will sort and empty from time to time. The maid will dispose of garbage, but if you need to do so yourself, you may place bagged garbage into a neighbourhood bin just down the road which is emptied regularly by the municipal service.

Garden

Enjoy any fruit that ripens in the orchard. Bananas, papayas, pineapples, grapefruit, lemons, limes, sour and sweet oranges, mangos, coconuts, avocados and guayabana grow in front of and below the house. Many of these are seasonal, however, and our gardener will offer fruit as it comes available - or ask him to pick for you. Please don't pick fruit yourselves.

Water

The water, as in most of Costa Rica is potable, though many locals and visitors prefer to buy bottled. We are on a septic system, so please do not flush non-biodegradable items (dental floss, tampons, condoms etc.) which clog the septic tank.

Power

We are on the same voltage system as North America, and will run your hair dryer and all our power devices. The refrigerator should not be kept open, as that risks motor burnout.

Keys

Rebecca will give you all necessary keys, and explain their use and the security rules. No one else but she and you will have access to the dehumidified storage unit.

Groceries

An eight-minute walk toward the beach brings you to a supermarket named Super Josette, which has everything you need: fresh meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and a wide selection of juices, beer, wine, and liquors and an excellent juice and wine selection. Fresh-baked bread and pastries are available at a bakery only several minutes away. There's a wide range of stores in Quepos to suit every need. However, the freshest produce is available Friday evenings and Saturdays, five a.m. till noon, at the Farmers' Market on the Quepos seawall. For simple items (milk, sodas, soap, toilet paper) turn right or left from our gate, and there are pulperias two minutes walk in either direction.

Money

U.S. dollars can be changed at any of several banks in Quepos and Manuel Antonio. The closest are the Promerica Bank and Banco de Costa Rica, both a 15-minute walk toward the beach. There are ATMs there and in Quepos that take bank cards. All businesses and restaurants accept U.S. dollars, and almost all accept major credit cards.

Restaurants

There are many simple-to-high-end restaurants within easy walking distance of the villa, several of which offer the best dining experiences available in the Quepos-Manuel Antonio area. Don't hesitate to ask Rebecca to recommend any of them and give information about quality and pricing.
We can arrange have a private chef come to the house to cook for you and your guests, please let us know if you would like to arrange that.

Traveling

We know this area well (we've been coming here since 1980) but for newcomers we strongly recommend a good travel book such as Lonely Planet or the New Key to Costa Rica (house copies of these should not be removed). It is a good idea to look at www.quepolandia.com (click on "visitor resources") before arriving, for current information about restaurants, transportation, and local events. The free monthly print version is available at many stores. Lynch Travel, in Quepos, is helpful, especially with local flights.

From San Jose's international airport, Quepos is a twenty-minute flight away, or you may enjoy bus ride of a few hours or rent a car, or hire a taxi. Rebecca can assist you with local travel arrangements, including current taxi rates. All taxis become collectivos, charging a flat price per person when they return from the beach toward Quepos. The Quepos-Manuel Antonio bus runs every half hour, more often at busy times. The nearest bus stop (5 minutes away) is in front of Manuel Antonio's soccer field.

Insect tips

Nature is in balance here, and because of the bountiful bird life, insects are rarely a problem. We are rarely bothered by mosquitoes, but for those who react to them, we recommend lotions and the use of our mosquito nets at night. For those who prefer not to use the nets, the pool-level bedroom and bathroom are entirely screened off. The larger bugs are totally harmless and some, like scarab beetles, are a marvel to watch. The fireflies are a delight.

We tend not to use non-organic insect sprays, though we keep organic ones handy: bugs simply don't like white walls and yellow lights, they don't like not having hidden spaces to crawl into, and they are bored by people who put food away and keep the dishes clean.

A well-trimmed lawn keeps bugs away from the house. The nightjars and the flycatchers and the swallows and the blue-grey tanagers and house wrens do the rest. Tiny ants, however, will sometimes mysteriously appear, and they do an efficient job of cleaning up - if you haven't - but disappear if there's no work available.

Property manager

Daniel Deverell

Languages

English, French, Russian, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • Near the beach

Pool/Spa

  • Private pool

Internet

  • WiFi available

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car not required

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Electric kettle
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Breakfast available for a fee

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Towels provided
  • Hair dryer
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite service
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Books
  • Stereo
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Smoking not permitted inside the house

Services and conveniences

  • Limited housekeeping
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In the mountains
  • In a rural location
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • In a village

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Golfing on site
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Marina nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 4500 sq ft (418 sq m)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is not required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Amazing Value Elegance Privacy Near Stunning Beaches Pool Views
Amazing Value Elegance Privacy Near Stunning Beaches Pool Views
Amazing Value Elegance Privacy Stunning Beaches Pool Views Villa
Amazing Value Elegance Privacy Stunning Beaches Pool Views Villa
Amazing Value Elegance Privacy Near Stunning Beaches Pool Views
Amazing Value Elegance Privacy Near Stunning Beaches Pool Views
Privacy, Elegance, Security, Private Pool & Nature Reserve Villa
Amazing Value Elegance Privacy Near Stunning Beaches Pool Views
Amazing Value Elegance Privacy near Stunning Beaches Pool Views.

About the neighborhood

Map
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas (province)

What's nearby

  • Manuel Antonio Nature Park & Wildlife Refuge - 19 min walk
  • Playitas Beach - 5 min drive
  • Biesanz Beach - 5 min drive
  • Playa La Macha - 5 min drive
  • Manuel Antonio Beach - 12 min drive

Getting around

  • Quepos (XQP) - 14 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪El Avión Restaurant - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Emilio's Cafe - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Magic Bus - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪El Patio de Café Milagro - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Café Agua Azul - ‬12 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Privacy, Elegance, Security, Private Pool & Nature Reserve pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Privacy, Elegance, Security, Private Pool & Nature Reserve?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Privacy, Elegance, Security, Private Pool & Nature Reserve?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Privacy, Elegance, Security, Private Pool & Nature Reserve located?

Situated in the mountains, this villa is within a 15-minute walk of Mountain Top Park and Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio Nature Park & Wildlife Refuge and Pará Beach are also within 1 mi (2 km).

Privacy, Elegance, Security, Private Pool & Nature Reserve Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 45 out of 55 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 55 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 55 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 55 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 55 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Candace P., Sauk City, Wisconsin USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Villa Tekla stay
Good value for the money. Lots of wildlife visible on the propery. Nice pool and outdoor shower. Little market and several restaurants in easy walking distance. Property manager very helpful during our stay. Please note that some windows are not screened
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Margaret N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Jungle accommodation
House and location absolutely wonderful with jungle garden and many different birds and mammals. Easy access to the beach, restaurants and shops. Only problem was noisy motorbikes
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Courtney C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Place!
We loved everything about our stay! The property is gorgeous. It's a lovely open air home on great grounds with lots of animals to see, a private pool, and everything you could need. The location is awesome. Very close to beaches, Manuel Antonio Park, and restaurants. I'd stay there again, in a heartbeat.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tim S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing stay at Villa Tekla
My kids and I spent six amazing nights at Villa Tekla early June. I was looking for an authentic and comfortable Costa Rican house during our time in Manuel Antonio. This place greatly exceeded all expectations! The house and grounds were beautiful and well equipped with everything we needed. The pool was so refreshing. The local market and restaurant were a stones throw away and there are tons of close shopping and dining options. The property manager, Rebecca, was a pleasure to talk to and gave us countless recommendations for restaurants, beaches, and other activities in the area. We tried most of them. We did rafting with Melvin as recommended by Daniel. This was one of the best vacations we have had and owe a lot to our stay at Villa Tekla and the beautiful surrounding areas of Manuel Antonio and Quepos. Thank you Daniel for sharing your family home with us! Hopefully, we will make it back someday!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristin C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Gorgeous villa!
I can’t say enough about how amazing this property is! So serene, relaxing, so many beautiful flora/fauna & fruits, able to see a variety of animals and insects, & great location to walk to many places. Rebecca was wonderful as a property manager and gave us history of the property and a tour which was a nice touch.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bryan R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Secluded villa perfect for wildlife lovers
Traditional open air Costa Rican villa with beautiful surroundings. Plenty of space for families and a fabulous pool to relax in privacy. Great location close to beaches, restaurants, and a small grocery across the street. Wildlife sightings included!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steve A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Monkey heaven
Amazing unique experience. Overall anticipation of the stay was skewed by a review stating Scorpions on the property. This was not the case, there were very few bugs during our stay and our only complaint was we didn’t stay longer. Howler Monkeys on day 2 morning, family of capuchin monkeys right on the pool deck and a spider monkey visit for morning coffee. Our only comment was the locking of gates slightly marred the overall experience. Location was great, close to the Beach and Quepos, corner store and Soda literally steps away. Layout of the house, deck, pool and open air concept, surrounded by jungle was spectacular. And “Petey”the pool Iquana was great!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alexis A.

Liked: Cleanliness
True Costa Rican experience
Magical, this property is truly one of a kind. We all enjoyed ourselves and hope to be able to come back again! The resident geckos and iguanas were our oldest daughters’ dream, the pool and private yard were amazing and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Every morning we saw scarlet macaws fly over and a couple mornings we were awakened by the howler monkeys, yes they are loud but we are here for the wildlife, culture and all the experiences so it is perfect! Until next time - Pura Vida!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

H B., Mineral

Liked: Cleanliness
Beyond our Expectations!
Villa Tekla is unlike any other VRBO. It is set on a large piece of property full of beautiful trees and flowers and you have so much privacy. The long gated driveway ensured that we were away from the street and we always felt safe. The house is an open concept with views of the mountains and cooled by the breeze & indoor fans. The upstairs bedroom was like being in a tree house! The house was so accessible to many things. We were ½ block away to the corner convenience store which had everything from food to wine and beer. Next door was a Soda (small local restaurant ) and the food was delicious! The house is very close to Manual Antonio Park (where we saw so many sloths), beaches, Quepos, & restaurants. Ronny’s place has an incredible beautiful sunset. We enjoyed our early morning coffee watching scarlet macaws, toucans, & playful capuchin monkeys. We saw large iguanas sunning themselves near the pool. We swim laps early in the am or took a plunge after a day of hiking. The hosts, Daniel & Rebecca, are very responsive. Rebecca was invaluable with recommendations of various activities. She connected us with a local taxi driver that was friendly and reliable and we used him exclusively which gave us much peace of mind. Mel, our tour guide, made arrangements for us with reputable guides & took us to the spectacular Nauyaca Water Falls. Mel took into consideration our capabilities for the hike to ensure that we all had a wonderful experience!
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Renee W., Port Orchard, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Unique and Private
We loved our stay, the home is so unique! It was awesome to be surrounded by so much flora and fauna. It also felt completely private and off the beaten path, even though it was so close to town!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect vacation home
What a welcoming home. Enjoyed the pool and the surrounding jungle environment with wide array of plants trees and birds and animals. The house manager was always available and helpful to us. Love that a small store was right across the street.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Keli R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just Absolutely Fabulous!!!
The Villa Tekla was everything described and beyond. The property was clean, well stocked, and conveniently located to most things, especially the supermarket which was barely a half a block away. We went as a family of 3 generations, and the property accommodated all of our needs very comfortably. We had several daily visitors that came on to the property, such as iguanas, monkeys, birds, among many others. We did not see any sloths, but I've heard they do visit. There was a frog that came to visit us every morning, and a dog that just appears in the kitchen. The dogs in general all over Costa Rica are sweet and mild tempered, and some have collars and some don't. They roam about freely and seem to just pleasantly co-exist with humans. We welcomed all doggy visits, and they welcomed us! The caretaker of the property told us about a nature walk on the property that I did not get the opportunity to explore. But I hear there are many other creatures to see that have taken up residence. If only I had more time! The hosts were attentive, accommodating, and quick to respond. They really know what they're doing and run a fabulous VRBO. They hooked us with a private chef, and we had the most amazing meals right in the living room of our amazing house! Our stay was beyond any of our expectations, and we highly recommend this VRBO without hesitation. We spent only 4 days there, but left with a lifetime of memories! We LOVED it! Thank you, Rebecca and Daniel!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

darrell w.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Total Natural Experience
If you love a natural experience, this is the house for you. The lack of glass windows has its pros and cons with the pros outweighing the cons. You can hear the howler monkeys in the morning but have to safeguard against the racoons at night. The pool is excellent and the house airy and cool. Monkeys visited on 3 days. Rebecca, the property manager, is the best! It may not be for everyone, but we enjoyed it immensely..
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nic P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay in the rainforest!
This is a wonderful open-air villa a short walk from the supermercado and multiple restaurants. Rebecca helped arrange tours with reputable guides, and our kids spent hours in the pool every day. A great visit to Costa Rica and Manuel Antonio!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Kate K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful house - not for everyone
We really enjoyed our time here. The open air home was really lovely. It is hot and humid in this part of Costa Rica so be aware that having no air conditioning can be difficult during the hottest parts of the day. We ended up being gone at those times or spending lots of time in the pool, which was so wonderful. Rebecca, the property manager, was excellent to work with, very responsive. We loved the soda and market across the street. We also loved (most of) the wild life we saw right on the property - capuchin monkeys, geckos, iguanas, and on the last day a sloth. I do think there are some things I didn't realize before booking that I would have liked to have known. There are bugs, of course, which we expected and weren't too worried about. I didn't realize there would be scorpions which is a bit more concerning than mosquitoes and spiders. We saw 3, one was perched on my bare shoulder one night while I cooked dinner. Luckily my husband swiped it off before it could sting me. But we were on high alert after that. The other thing I didn't know about ahead of time was the raccoons. We followed all the rules and kept the kitchen clean and garbage empty. But the raccoons stalked the house at night, again keeping us on high alert because I definitely wasn't interested in having them in the house. To conclude, the house, location, and communication are all wonderful. But we didn't always feel "vacation relaxed" because of some of the critters that had easy access to the house.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Val S.

Liked: Cleanliness
One month in Manuel Antonio
Our family of 5 enjoyed our month-long vacation in Manuel Antonio staying at Villa Tekla. It truly felt like our home away from home. The house was equipped with everything we needed to feel at home, cook, and enjoy the area. The location was great- Cerdo Feliz became our favorite spot to grab a bite- and the bus to Quepos and the beaches was a quick walk up the road. Villa Tekla felt like a private retreat while also being easily accessible to all that the Manuel Antonio area has to offer. Rebecca, the house manager, was wonderful to work with- she was able to answer all of our questions and ensure that we felt settled in. I highly recommend Villa Tekla to those looking for an authentic coastal Costa Rican experience. We enjoyed the animals that visited on a daily basis- monkeys, lizards, geckos, birds, butterflies, iguanas, and more! It is an experience that we will never forget. If and when we travel back to the area, we would be sure to stay here again. Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us!
Stayed 28 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Janna A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Unlike anywhere else!
Wow, this was an experience! The house is gorgeous and like nothing you'd ever find in the US. So many beautiful details; this home was clearly built with love. From both the inside and outside, all you see is jungle. If you are squeamish about bugs, though, you would not enjoy it here. Most don't bite and the netting around the beds was effective, but they are an inherent part of the property and like everything else in the jungle, insects run large. Same with geckos/anoles - they're cute and harmless, but you have to be ok with seeing them run around the walls and ceilings at night. And if you're worried about animals outside (iguanas, monkeys, agouti, raccoons), well, you're probably not looking at houses in Manuel Antonio in the first place. 😊 The same iguana hangs out in the same corner of the deck every day...we named him Pool Boy. If the prospect of no air conditioning worries you, it was really hot during our stay (high 80's with 90% humidity) and with all the fans running high we were still pretty warm until well into the evening even though the sun sets at six. It was never too hot to sleep, though, and if it had been ten degrees cooler it would have been perfectly pleasant during the day. The check-in process was super easy and the house manager, Rebecca, was prompt and responsive to all our questions and needs (including replacing the propane tank when it ran out while we were cooking dinner). Finally, it is SO convenient having the Super Joseth store less than 100 feet from the end of the driveway! It had an impressive selection of products - especially considering the location - including produce and a meat counter. Bottom line, stay here if you want your lodging to be part of your adventure story, not a break from it.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Stay
Great staff that went above and beyond to facilitate our Costa Rican vacation. Wonderful home exactly as described filled with wildlife encounters and beautiful grounds.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nathan H., New Boston, New Hampshire, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic House in a fantastic location
This really is a wonderful house. We really loved our stay and would love to stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lana A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family vacation
We had a wonderful time at Villa Tekla, we saw many types of wildlife including toucans, monkeys, and iguanas. Nature is loud so you may need ear plugs for the night. We weren’t too warm though, the open air is cool enough to sleep comfortably. We appreciated the cooler and beach and pool toys. Rebecca was lovely and gave us great information. The soda restaurant around the corner was wonderful. The open air bug situation takes some getting used to but we managed just fine.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katharine C.

Liked: Cleanliness
LOVED it!
Villa Tekla is a beautiful property. We all loved the pool (my kids especially), and the open air kitchen and living room. We saw a sloth and monkeys on the property (and some devious racoons :) ). We could have relaxed all day in the hammock, but it was also close to lots of fun activities. The kitchen was well-stocked for cooking and eating in too. All and all, we had a fabulous stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Silvia E., San Jose

Liked: Cleanliness
Family trip
We were a family with kids from 8 to adults of 65, we all found the house ti be comfortable, it has everything we needed to cook, we were surprised you do not feel hot inside the house even when the noon sun is burning outside. The pool is warm all day long. Beaches are nearby by car. We loved the place. The dog had so much fun exploring the property. We would definitely go back
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

8/10 Good

Ela C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely home
Villa Tekla was a wonderful place to stay. Our family of four spent a fantastic week at the house and we would recommend it! It is spacious and has a really lovely pool, although the pool has little shade for most of the day, so we didn’t use it as much as we were hoping to (we just couldn’t be in the sun all day between the beach and the pool). We used the pool In the morning and late afternoon and spent the heat of the day in the living room playing games and reading. There were no beach towels or beach items we could borrow even though a main activity in the area is to spend time at the beach, so we had to buy a cooler and towels and such. It is best to do so Near San Jose before you arrive in Manuel Antonio. There is a corner store and meat counter right across the road which made it so easy to cook meals at the house. The gardener was really wonderful to speak with (in Spanish) and left us with the most amazing grapefruits from the property, which is full of fruit trees of all kinds. The property feels very private even though it is on a busy road - we were extremely comfortable and very much enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

vernie h.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful stay amidst jungle Paradise
The villa was a perfect stay for the group of 6 friends. This was our last accommodation and the end of our leg of the trip. Communication was excellent with Daniel (owner), always keeping us posted until our arrival. Rebecca the host and manager greeted us and gave us loads of useful information. There were no classic windows which took me a couple of days to get accustomed to and loved the idea of open air concept. The 6 of us had enough room to be in separate areas of the villa. The lap pool was incredibly ckean warm and wonderful to swim in. The backyard was well manicured but beyond was the jungle making full of noises at night which was amazing. We were fortunate to see capuchin, tita monkeys, a sloth, iguanas, and hear howler monkeys at night and the many colourful birds. Beaches are close by. Thank you again Daniel for sharing your home to us. We had a fantastic time and a great memory to treasure forever.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mary B., Denver

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful home adjacent to open space
We were very comfortable at Villa Tekla. Rebecca was very helpful, as was the owner. There were excellent restaurants and activities nearby. All of the bedrooms are now screened, and the upper two bedrooms also have bed nets. The screens on the middle bedroom had gaps, so we used the bed net. We had no problems with mosquitoes or other critters. There were geckos in the house, but that did not bother us. We heard the monkeys at night sometimes, but they did not keep us awake. We never saw a raccoon in our 7 day stay. It was fun to sit by the pool or in the living rooms and watch the monkeys leap through the trees. The iguanas were also a treat. If you are looking for an air conditioned tourist hotel, this is not the place for you. If you want to stay near Manuel Antonio Park, see animals right outside your window, swim in the lap pool, and sleep comfortably near nature, this is a great property.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019