Does A true paradise in Playa Hermosa Guanacaste have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is A true paradise in Playa Hermosa Guanacaste pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Where is A true paradise in Playa Hermosa Guanacaste located?

This family-friendly Sardinal villa is located by the ocean, within 1 mi (2 km) of Playa Hermosa and Rocio's Kitchen. Ericka's Fruit Stand and Playa Pedregosa are also within 3 mi (5 km).

A true paradise in Playa Hermosa Guanacaste Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

8/10 Good

Angela B.

28 December 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Disliked: Listing accuracy

Family vaca

The place had amazing views. The staff was very nice. The number of bedrooms/ bathrooms was very misleading. I would not recommend that an adult sleep on a pull out couch.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

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20 March 2009

Guestbook Comment

Location A+. Security A+. Pool A+. Garden A+. Housekeeping A+. Sam & Camilla made us feel like we were their company rather than just renters. They offered valuable advise and guidance on local affairs and were there to make sure that our two month stay was enjoyable. The kitchen had everything that we needed and Sam was always available if we needed anything. I told Sam that he needs to upgrade the mattresses and I am sure that he will. We have been to a few places in Costa Rica and Playa Hermosa is about as good as it gets. Larry and Cindy--Chicago

8/10 Good

Nancy C., Chapel Hill, NC

1 January 2019

Beautiful home overlooking Playa Hermosa: IMPORTANT to read all of the reviews before booking!

Sam and his wife and that staff that care for the home are delightful and made us feel very welcomed. (Marvin and Sonia just did a great job of quietly working around the home). They went out of their way to accommodate our needs. They had beautiful flowers for us, Christmas decorations and other wonderfully welcoming touches to the house. The home itself is quite beautiful and the view from the upper deck over the bay is beautiful-its about a 5-minute drive to the beach. There are 2 grills and Marvin moved them so they were both on the same level. It's important to realize that while the VRBO homepage indicates that the home will sleep 18 with 7 rooms, the building itself has 4 separate units--1 is a separate apartment which sleeps a couple. 2 are on the bottom of 3 floors and I think sleep 2 each. The owners stayed in one of them while we were there. When I booked, I didn't realize this arrangement and ended up not having enough rooms for our party. When you book, make sure you say how many bedrooms and beds you need. There is a master with a bath on the middle floor; 2 other bedrooms and pull out bed (not comfortable but you can ask for the blow-up mattress and put it under the bed mattress) on that floor that share a bathroom. There is a room on entry level with bunk beds: mattress on bottom bunk not comfortable. The last "sleep space" is a pull out bed on the main floor. Realize that the total sleep space for 18 includes these 2 pull out sofa spaces that are not private. A couple of other issues: while the showers were nice and had hot water, none of the sinks had hot water. There is no dishwasher. The outdoor shower doesn't work (but there is a hose). Kitchen has a lot of dishes and utensils. It would be great to have deep sided bowls and to replace some of the pots and pans whose no-stick surfaces have begun to peel. The last sentence, of course, is common with rentals but with a lot of cooking with large numbers that would be great. For a rental that sleeps up to 18, there isn't a place to gather and sit around and talk easily. There are 2 tables (one inside and one on porch) which seat about 6 each. Having said all this, we had a great time, we made it work. Just be flexible if you rent this property--its in a wonderful place and feels like you're in the trees.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Dave W.

12 February 2019

Very nice property, clean and well kept property

Good

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

jenny s.

15 January 2018

Excellent Vacation Home

We stayed at Villa Camilla and had a fantastic vacation. We had a total of 4 families (8 adults and 9 kids) and rented the main house and the studio. The kids used the pull out couches and the bedrooms (including the studio) accommodated all adult couples perfectly. Sam arranged for transportation from the airport which was appreciated, and when we arrived at the house, Sam and Sixto (on-site groundskeeper/staff) were there to welcome us. They gave us a tour of the house and made sure we understood all the ins and outs of the property. As questions came up during our stay, Sam and Sixto were quick to respond and were very helpful. The view is amazing. The house sits on a steep hill and provides views of the ocean. The driveway is steep but we managed with 2 rental cars, one was even a manual! The walk to the beach is about 10-15 minutes and not a bad walk. All kids did the walk several times without too much complaining. There is a market that is also about a 10-15 minute walk, it is small but had everything we needed. There were several dining options along the beach that accommodated all 17 of us and had good food. The two pools at the house were on the smaller side but none of our kids complained. They were up and in the pool at 6:30am some mornings because they couldn't wait to swim! I have to say, Sixto and his wife Pastora were invaluable. Sixto would check in with us daily and made sure the grounds were safe and clean. Pastora did our dishes and laundered towels along with a few personal items, daily! We didn't ever feel like we needed a dishwasher or washing machine because the staff took care of it. Pastora even made a delicious dinner for us (for a very reasonable extra fee). They also have a very cute little boy that was fun to have around :) Overall, this property was perfect for our needs. Sam, Sixto and Pastora went our of their way to make us feel welcome and safe.

Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Cora O.

7 April 2017

A truly awesome experience from a breathtaking viewpoint and beautiful surroundings. Just awesome!!

There were 13 of us at some point and Villa Camelia was very accommodating. The home was very nice and filled with warmth and welcome. Sam, the owner, bent over backwards to ensure our vacation was a pleasant experience. His staff, who didn't speak any English, did understand the true meaning of customer service. They were at our beckoned call, no matter the time of day or night. We felt we got our money's worth as we enjoyed the pools, home cooking, closeness of the beach, shopping and restaurants, and all the fun we all had together. We are going through withdrawals right now because our visit to Costa Rica was the most!!!! Sam even referred us to his neighbor, Renee, who was essentially our driver for running around to close venues. He would make multiple trips to safely and quickly get us to our nearby destination and at great rates!!👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽 We had a couple of challenges with water shortages in the subdivision but we lived through it until we figured it all out!! The vacation was a huge success and EVERYBODY had an absolute ball. I do recommend Sam makes it clear in his home description that the house has 3 separate entrances and they are all priced separately. Even with this misunderstanding, he was the most accommodating. He promised our vacation would be great and he delivered! Thank you to Sam and his staff and his neighbor. You guys all Rock!!!!! #highlyrecommended

Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

Cristine S.

3 January 2017

Great for families!! Single group of adults should choose another property

This property is beautiful but is configured to accommodate families. I rented this property with 5 other adults(not couples). There are only 3 adult bedrooms and one bedroom with bunkbeds. The rest of the beds are sofa sleepers in common areas. There are also only two pools. The one off the living space is a whirlpool with no heat and very small. The actual pool is situated down a steep staircase with no railings and has the apartment overlooking it where the owner stays. Not optimal. The beach is a fair hike away which isnt bad except the hike back is uphill and the last bit to get to the house is ridiculous. Playa Coco is a quick cab ride away and even has a Hard Rick Cafe as well as some bar/danceclubs. To get in and out of the gated community you have to get the attention of the groundskeeper.... This is not an easy task at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning when he is sound asleep. The daily maid service was a nice touch. We did not use it everyday but it was comforting to know it was available.

Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Susan R., Minneapolis

3 December 2016

Throw Out Expectations: You are in a Foreign Country

There are no addresses in Costa Rica so directions are sketchy. We came in three rental cars and all got lost. The coordinates were not accurate. Villa Camellia is an inspiringly beautiful home, spacious, well furnished, clean and functional for large groups. It also has a great view on several levels and two sun-warmed pools. What it doesn’t have surprised us because we were in an American state-of-mind. There is no dishwasher, not even pipes for hot water in the kitchen. Showers in the house have instant water heaters but the sink is cold only. Toilets get plugged up easily so we had to teach the kids that, here, we must put toilet paper in the wastebasket. Villa Camilla is near Playa Hermosa and Playa Coco. The driveway is scary steep and curves and goes back down at the other end. You might want four wheel drive and certainly automatic transmission. There are 3 units here: house, condo and studio apartment, rented and priced separately. Be clear on how many bedrooms you want if you do not want to sleep on sleeper sofas. The apartment is down three levels which you get to on outside stairs which have no railing or lights. The condo is on level two. There are separate keys for the house and studio and only one key each. The staff, Sixto and Pastoria are always available. We were especially happy with them and the owner, Sam, when they took care of us and the house when the be ry unusual hurricane was predicted. Fortunately, it missed us.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Christopher M.

3 April 2016

Beautiful villa with an amazing view of the pacific...

My family and I had the pleasure of staying at Casa Camilla in February 2016. We had the idea to do a vacation rental as a family for a couple of years but were nervous about all of the moving pieces of getting all 11 of us together (4 couples and 3 small children). We had never done a vacation rental before and so this piece was a big unknown. We had high expectations and these were exceeded by both the quality of the accommodation as well as the exceptionally accommodating and welcoming owner and staff. We rented the main house as well as the studio apartment and this was plenty of room for our group. The house is just as lovely in person as the pictures appear (maybe even nicer) and was sparkling clean on arrival and throughout the stay. The ocean view from the house is spectacular and we were about a ~10min walk from the beach. We walked to Playa Hermosa most mornings with our children (2 and 4), who were thrilled to see the howler monkey family in the trees on the way every day. We also repeated the journey many evenings to enjoy dinner and a cocktail at one of several beach front walk-up restaurants. This was a fantastic spot to enjoy the sunset. We are a family that doesn't mind walking so this was a pleasure for us to have a bit of walk to the beach. Of note, the hill to the house is a bit steep and my sister, who has a 7 month old, preferred the short drive (there is lots of parking at the beach as well, so this was not a problem). It is also about the same walk to a small grocery store, so it was easy to keep the kitchen stocked. One thing I would like to note as well about the location (especially for those travelling with small children) is that was very nice to be a bit away from the beach and on the base of the hill hill as it does get very hot during the day and most times we had a pleasant breeze on the upper deck. Sam, the owner, is outstanding and makes you feel welcome in his home. True to the other reviews he welcomed us on arrival, ensured every detail was taken care of during the stay and provided excellent recommendations on local attractions. The couple that maintain the house and grounds could not be nicer. The house was cleaned several times during the day, our laundry was done each day and they were so kind to accommodate their upkeep of the house around the napping schedule of our baby and toddlers. Thank you sincerely Sam, for such a wonderful vacation experience. We hope to visit again soon!

Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

12 February 2014

A Taste of Heaven in Playa Hermosa

Two totally outstanding weeks in the sun with family and our new Costa Rican friends. Our hosts Sam and Camellia were most welcoming and hospitable. The villa is truly beautiful with a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. Wildlife abounds, tropical birds and the wakeup call of the howler monkeys. All very pleasant. Just a short 5 minute ride into Playa del Coco for the touristy shops , night spots, restaurants and the Playa del Coco beach. All very charming. The locals are friendly and willing to help. We enjoyed the easy access to the beach of Playa Hermosa and our almost ritual breakfast on the beach. The big surprise for us was the number of Canadian snowbirds who have chosen Costa Rica as their winter escape from the cold. Food and beverage prices are quite reasonable and the food is great. Be adventurous here try the local food. We were never disappointed. Sam was great when ever we asked for recommendations. We were able to arrange for an English speaking on call cab driver and on Sam's recommendation a wonderful tour on the river for six in a very comfortable pontoon boat. Lots of wildlife here. Crocodiles, tropical birds, howler monkeys, White faced monkeys. Tico Tours is right in Playa Hermosa and offers many different tours at reasonable rates and smaller groups of six to eight. All more personal and much more comfortable than some of the bus tours offered. Definitely contact Tico Tours if your planning any excursions. The country side has everything from beaches to jungles to mountains, all of which is beautiful. The staff at Villa Camelia, Antonio & Josie were delightful and their little girl Stephanie is the Spanish version of Shirley Temple. The Villa is gated and beautiful. The locals are very friendly and peaceful. Where else can you travel to and drink the tap water without fear? You can't beat the weather 30+ and the sun shines every day. Costa Rica will see us return again.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

5 February 2014

Fabulous Villa in Beautiful Playa Hermosa!

We had a fantastic two weeks at Villa Camelia - Sam and Camelia are amazing hosts and tended to our every need! The villa has absolutely breathtaking scenery, is beautifully appointed inside and out and situated perfectly to easily access all that Hermosa has to offer. We couldn't have asked for a better place to enjoy our first visit to Costa Rica! Thanks also to Antonio, Jose and Stephanie for their help and friendship during our stay. Sam and Camelia, thank you so much for your hospitality - loved every minute and can't wait to return someday!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

5 February 2014

Fabulous Villa in Beautiful Playa Hermosa!

We had a fantastic two weeks at Villa Camelia - Sam and Camelia are amazing hosts and tended to our every need! The villa has absolutely breathtaking scenery, is beautifully appointed inside and out and situated perfectly to easily access all that Hermosa has to offer. We couldn't have asked for a better place to enjoy our first visit to Costa Rica! Thanks also to Antonio, Jose and Stephanie for their help and friendship during our stay. Sam and Camelia, thank you so much for your hospitality - loved every minute and can't wait to return someday!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

11 July 2013

Beautiful Costa Rican home

This is a beautiful home with excellent view of the bay from all 4 levels of the house. There are two small pools but they were large enough for a swim after returning from the beach. It is located near Playa Hermosa, but it is quite a walk considering the uphill trek near the home. Our group preferred the 5 minute drive. Pictures on the website are accurate. Green hills (although we went at the beginning of the raining season) surround the property. The roads in the gated complex are very steep. When we arrive the home was very clean and ready for us to enjoy our stay. The on site staff was very helpful, including cleaning every day. The owner, Sam, was cooperative and responsive, even quickly responding to emails while we were at the home. We had a large group of 12 so we used the main house and the lower apartment. If you have a large group visiting Playa Hermosa, and near by beaches, we would recommend this home.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

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14 March 2013

A completely enjoyable stay!!

After considering multiple hotel rooms for a family gathering to celebrate our parents 50th anniversary we came across this wonderful property which exceeded our expectations by a far margin! The spacious house was clean, comfortable, easily accessible and had a remarkable view of the ocean. We had a total of 10 people and although a little tight for sleeping arrangements it was by no means unmanageable. The owner was very quick to return our emails and answer the questions we had. And he provided a very helpful and accurate set of directions, description and contact information. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to use such a pleasant location to make a very special occasion one that was enjoyed by all and one that we will treasure for many years!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

7 March 2012

BEAUTIFUL PLACE

We were 9 people ranging in age fromm 11 to 74 and each one of us truly enjoyed our vacation. A wonderful, caring staff even made our experience better.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

14 January 2012

Practically a Fairy Tale Paradise

As experienced travelers, we are sometimes disappointed with our accommodations, often we are surprised, but this was the first time were totally blown away! Savino and Camellia are two very fabulous people who want to ensure your stay is a memorable one, and memorable it was! The Villa is nestled in a hillside jungle paradise. There were numerous birds singing from dawn to dusk, monkeys swinging in the trees, bats migrating in the early evening, butterflies adoring the numerous flowers abundant on the grounds and other sights too numerous to mention. The vistas from the Villa are breathtaking, whether you are marveling at the shining waters of the Pacific, or watching the moon light dance on the hills. We were continually captivated by stunning scenery painted by nature. The Villa is close to Playa Hermosa and many locals choose to walk the 15-20 minute downhill stroll to the Pacific waters. The website advertising the Villa is accurate, but can’t portray how truly wonderful the experience can be. You just need to slow down and smell the hibiscus! The Villa was certainly modern. We had read in a guide book to make sure to bring a 3 to 2 prong electrical adaptor for our few electrical items we used. However, the Villa outlets were the 110v three prong type you would find in your home. The kitchens had marble counter tops, and the floors were pristine tiles. The split level arrangement gives you a bit of exercise, but it is certainly manageable. Even internet service was available! Our expectations were exceeded in every respect. Shopping is reasonably close by with a variety of bars and restaurants in close proximity. There are secret beaches known to the locals. Savino and Camellia shared many of these secrets with us, which certainly enhanced our most amazing stay. Their personal attention helped make our vacation a “dream vacation”. The Villa staff was friendly and helpful, and although they did not speak English, there was always communication which was understood. The staff went out of their way to help with the little things which tended to spoil and pamper us. We really were staying in a Villa! We wish we had a staff at home to help us tend to some of the niceties that we came to enjoy during our stay at the Villa. Savino and Camellia speak perfect English and good Spanish, not to mention fluent Italian. I wonder how many other languages they speak? Our stay at the Villa was one of the most relaxing vacations we have taken in years.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

10 February 2011

Holiday Stay at Villa Camellia 2010

My sisters and I stayed at Villa Camellia over Christmas week with our husbands and children (ages 21, 19, 13, 13, 10). The villa is gorgeous - very large, immaculate, and well appointed. Walking in the front door, we were greeted by a Christmas tree complete with lights - there were holiday lights on the patio as well. We really appreciated this personal touch and attention. The main villa has 2 levels. On the lower level, there are 3 bedrooms, one with an en suite bathroom. Another full bath on this level is for the other 2 bedrooms. Upstairs in the main villa is the living area, patio, kitchen, half bath, and 4th bedroom with bunkbeds. The main villa also has a hot tub on the patio. We also rented the condo which has 2 bedrooms and a full bath. The condo is reached by walking down steps to a lower level. More steps down lead to the pool area and a large patio. Gas grills are located on both patios. The property is huge and the landscaping is breathtaking. The caretaker, Sixto, and his wife are amazing - the pool and gorgeous grounds were cleaned and attended to several times a day. Sixto's wife even washed our clothes several times - a wonderful treat while traveling. Sam is an amazing host - he was always available to talk to us and help us out with any problems or questions we had. We had an issue with our rental car and Sam was very helpful. He even accompanied my brother-in-law to the hospital on Christmas Day to get stitches on his hand! Clearly, this was above and beyond our expectations and we were very impressed with this hospitality. I would highly recommend renting Villa Camellia for a very relaxing vacation in a home away from home. FYI - a great place for dinner and cocktails is called Sueno - and it is within walking distance of the villa. We went twice in one week! Great surfing can be found at Tamarindo - and board rental and lessons are available at The Secret Spot. Zip lining is great at Witches Rock! It was a wonderful trip!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

13 March 2010

What a find! Our week-lo...

What a find! Our week-long stay here during the Christmas holidays was everything that we had hoped for. The location to the airport and the beach, the expansive home, and the friendly host (Sam)and his staff went out of their way for us (all 15 members of our extended family). We used Tico Travel (Bernal)instead of rental cars (very reasonable and exceptionally good). We would do it again in a minute. Thanks, Sam, for going out of your way for us. It was a terrific week!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

12 March 2010

Sam, Thank you, So much...

Sam, Thank you, So much for meeting us at the airport at night and showing us to your lovely home. My family had the best vacation we could have ever asked for on my 25th anniversary. The home was much more than what we expected. The house was always clean when we got back from our trips out. Talking to the family since we have been back, everyone wanted me to tell you how happy they were with the tour guide you suggested. He was great! The location of the villa was asbsolutally perfect, we had a full view of the bay during the day and breathtaking sunsets at night. We hope that you will have us back again. Next time we want to stay much longer though.Oh another thing I must tell you is that the gate was always open when we were coming up the drive. We all felt very much at home and secure. Thank You again, Walter and Kristi Hayes Seattle, Washington

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