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Playa Potrero - beachfront Villa, big private pool: Bella Catalina

Photo gallery for Playa Potrero - beachfront Villa, big private pool: Bella Catalina

Outdoor dining
On the beach, beach towels
Outdoor pool
Aerial view
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.4 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

7 bedrooms6 bathroomsSleeps 14232 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Hot Tub
  • Pool
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor Space

About this property

Entire place

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

Playa Potrero - beachfront Villa, big private pool: Bella Catalina

Watch dolphins and whales from the terrace of this spectacular oceanfront villa

Enjoy breathtaking sunset views of the Catalina Islands from Casa Bella Catalina, a stunning private property on Playa Potrero's beachfront.
PLEASE NOTE: Based on our typical average rate, we are offering a special rate until November 22 due to ongoing construction next to the villa. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

This beautifully landscaped property consists of three different buildings: the main villa and two adjoining buildings next to the gate entrance.

In total, this villa features seven bedrooms, five full bathrooms, one half-bathroom, and a mind-blowing huge outdoor area with a spacious covered BBQ terrace. All seven bedrooms have remote-controlled air-conditioning.

On the first floor, you'll find an open floor plan, which includes two queen-bed bedrooms, that have open transoms above and curtained windows into the living area, two very nice bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, dining room, and living room, all opening onto the terrace and pool.

On the second floor, you will find the ample master bedroom suite with unforgettable views of the flamingo sunsets. The master upstairs is large and has a king bed and an interior vanity with a double sink, while the toilet and shower are outside on a balcony overlooking the courtyard.

The additional four bedrooms are located in two separate Casitas on the property. The smaller Casita has a king bed and a full bathroom, with the shower being on an outdoor patio. The larger casita has three bedrooms: one queen bedroom and two rooms with two twins each. This casita provides one shared full bathroom, The spread-out nature of the sleeping arrangements is good to give all guests their privacy.

The villa is equipped with modern comforts, including Fiber Optic Wi-Fi, Smart TV, a washer/dryer, and a fully equipped kitchen with breakfast bar.

The beachfront outdoor living is over-the-top good. There is no better outdoor space for a large group on the whole beach strip in Playa Potrero (Guest review!!). Huge covered outdoor kitchen/eating area, fire pit, gazebo at the edge of the property, grassy areas with lounges. There you can sit in the shade of the surrounding palms while enjoying the view, the sunset, or a good book. You can also have a great time in the pool with an extended lap lane or unwind in the jacuzzi with jets. It's a perfect way to beat the heat! Please note that the jacuzzi is not heated, the jets are only on from 4 pm to 10 pm, and the pool cascades are only available during pool pump hours. And all this outdoor space is located directly at the beach of Playa Potrero.

Casa Bella Catalina is within walking distance to groceries, pharmacies, and restaurants in Playa Potrero. It's just 3 km from Playa Flamingo and the brand-new marina, which offers dining and shopping. Playa Flamingo's mile-long white sand beach is perfect for swimming, while the nearby surf town of Tamarindo is famous for its surf lessons, shopping, and vibrant nightlife. Playa Grande, known for its surfing, is a short drive away.
We recommend renting a car to explore the area.

Our team can assist with car rentals, tours, airport transfers, and at-home services such as massages or a private chef. As our office is nearby, we are happy to help with anything you need.

Experience the beauty and charm of Casa Bella Catalina!

Please note: The main guest must be 21 or older to rent our property.

Property manager

Tropical Homes of Costa Rica

Languages

English, German, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Private pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Spa tub
  • Massages

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Blender
  • Ice maker

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 7 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

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

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No elevators
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Concierge services
  • Limited housekeeping
  • Safe
  • Chef
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near the ocean
  • Near the sea
  • On the waterfront
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near the bay
  • In a village

Things to do

  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Water sports equipment
  • Boat on site
  • Kayak on site
  • Hiking nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Marina nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Scuba diving 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)

General

  • Locally-owned & organized tours & activities
  • Unit size: 2497 sq ft (232 sq m)

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

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 not 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
This property accepts cash
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
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

This property does not have elevators

Property is also known as

366007

About the neighborhood

Map
Potrero

What's nearby

  • Playa Potrero - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Flamingo Beach - 6 min drive - 3.9 km
  • Playa Prieta - 9 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Penca Beach - 9 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Conchal Beach - 50 min drive - 19.8 km

Getting around

  • Tamarindo (TNO) - 34 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Coco Loco Bar & Restaurant - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Las Brisas - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Amigos Tacos y Beer - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Gracia - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Soda Marcell - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Playa Potrero - beachfront Villa, big private pool: Bella Catalina have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Playa Potrero - beachfront Villa, big private pool: Bella Catalina pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Playa Potrero - beachfront Villa, big private pool: Bella Catalina?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Playa Potrero - beachfront Villa, big private pool: Bella Catalina?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Playa Potrero - beachfront Villa, big private pool: Bella Catalina located?

Nestled on the beach, this Tempate vacation home is just steps from Potrero Bay and Playa Potrero. Flamingo Beach and Penca Beach are also within 3 mi (5 km).

Playa Potrero - beachfront Villa, big private pool: Bella Catalina Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 18 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 18 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 18 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 18 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 18 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Chad B.

Liked: Cleanliness
paradise
I work in the travel industry and, as such, I wanted an extremely localized vacation. This was what I wanted (and needed). Thanks!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Aaron S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Costa Rica Vacation
Very unique home! Outside area was fantastic! Location overall is nice closed to restaurants and shops all walking distance. Construction at this time on both sides of home so some noise and dust.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

Michael R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Good place, fantastic location, 6:30am construction.
Was here with a total of 8 people, all friends, no couples or kids. Check-in was wonky. The contact had provided me with the location for their office address to stop by and pick up keys, sign the damage waiver, etc. However, our group came in two vehicles, one went directly to the house to wait, and I went to the office. There was already someone at the house checking in members of the group, we didn't need to go to the office. Could have sent us all to the house instead. The house is as advertised, make no mistake about that. The picture are accurate. The house and layout is a bit strange though. However the house was probably built in the 80's or 90's, and renovated or added on at least once. The main house has 3 bedrooms, all air conditioned, however the upstairs one is only accessible by going out the front door and up a spiral staircase (watch your toes). Outside in front (street side), there's a shed/laundry, and the apartment with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom and a common sitting room. Would be good to put kids in, not adults. The house had a few things really in need of repair and replacement. I don't want to go into all of them, but management did eventually fix most of them, except the main kitchen sink because the faucet leaks all over the counter and floor. Closet doors that don't open well, fans inoperative, and the hamster that provides water pressure is getting old. Walk out of the house and you have WOW! There's a ton of trees and foliage on the property, the covered area near the beach end, and a firepit that was designed by someone not familiar with thermodynamics. The pool is bigger than you think, and clean! The yard is maintained really well daily. Housekeeping comes in every other day, except weekends. The staff really kept the place nice and clean. Beach is right there, but there's lots of sharp stuff in the sand right in front of the property. My feet got cut up from broken tile and sharp thorns. FYI the neighbors between the sailing center and the house are building a new building. At 6:30am weekdays. There's an open lot on the south, some people drive in and use it as a campsite. The previous comment about the loud music (lol), it's the bar about 100m north of the property. Good sangria, lousy food. They have some DJ's and fun stuff going on there, kind of beach party atmosphere. I'd stay again but with less ppl. 8 single adults was way too many.
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cori T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great beachfront property!
Very unique beach house. Loved the pool and yard space, very nice beach frontage and walking distance to bars and restaurants. The check in process and service was great, we would stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2021

6/10 Okay

Michael N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Spring 2020 stay
Little background on our situation: 2 families of 4 stayed in this house. From the exterior the house looks very inviting. Nice stonework and the yard has some soft green grass! Once inside, we noticed that the house had a musty smell on the main level. Turned out that we need to run the shower and sink for a while in one of the bedrooms and flush the tiolet. It didn't smell like sewer, but there was some stagnant water in the pipes. Once we did that and left the doors open for approx 30 min, the smell disapated. The mainlevel of the house has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. One of the bathrooms is accessible from the living area, but it would have been nice to have a 1/2 bath for 'public' use. To access the 3rd bedroom, you have to go outside the house and go up a set of steps to gain access to that bedroom. Inconvenient and not very settling if you are a parent of younger children. The 4th and 5th bedroom are in a completely separate building. Again, not very settling for a family with young children. There was a bathroom out in that building. There were no common condiments in the house (salt, pepper, etc...). The market is only a 5 min walk, but found it odd the shelves were bare. The lighting in the house is OK at best. Not near enough lights to properly light up a room. The room colors are dark, so more light would have been beneficial. Plus the light switches are spread out in 3-4 different areas and thus a little confusing to figure what what switch did what. The AC units in each bedroom worked fine and sleeping was comfortable at 70 degrees farenheit. The outdoor pool and sitting area are very nice and large. Lots of iguanas running around the fence that surrounds the yard. The beach is sandy, but HOT. The Costa Rician sun warms the volcanic sand up and it is too hot to walk on between 11am and 4pm. Once you get down near the water, the sand is again cool to walk on with bare feet. The slope to the beach is not flat, slight incline, but not a difficult walk. I would definitely go to Costa Rica again, not sure I would stay in this house again though. Seems like a high price for what we received and based on our previous VRBO bookings.
Stayed 9 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Micah R.

Beautiful
Amazing place Very comfortable. Would ise it again!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Craig H.

Outstanding
We traveled CR quite a bit on this trip and stayed in 4 different places. This one stole the hearts of all 10 traveling. Such a great place to stay, relax, and have fun.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Morgan C.

Beautiful, tropical paradise
We had a fantastic time at Casa Bella Catalina. You were truly in your own private tropical paradise. The avocado tree in the front yard, lime tree and mango trees in the back were such a treat. We got to watch the iguanas eating all the mangoes before they ripened : ) The howler monkeys gave a chorus each morning and night. We kept hearing this banging on the roof each night, only to discover it was actually the monkeys! We would find little paw prints all over the chairs on the top deck. The house was beautiful. The pool was like bath water- our 4 year old loved it as it had a gradual decline and he could play all day. The beach as well was gorgeous. We also went to Playa Flamingo for the white sand/clearer water beach. The house is in an excellent spot as you are able to walk up and down the beach and there are several small restaurants you can eat at. The one thing that was a possible down side was the first night we got there- starting around 8pm to 2am, the bar next door had LOUD music and karaoke that kept us all awake. I was terrified this would be every night, but when we asked, it was apparently due to an anniversary party. We had no other problems, there is live music on Fridays, but it was no problem at all. Alex drove us from the airport to the villa- he was awesome. So nice, gave us a lot of pointers, stopped at the store for us. We then set up a river safari tour with him which was equally as nice. Edwin was also very pleasant, who drove us from the villa back to the airport. Miguel cooked for us 3 nights- this was delicious and such a treat. The fire pit is an extra bonus- my son loved collecting wood for the fire and then making smores!. It was so nice having the grocery store within walking distance- and I felt the prices weren't unreasonable at all. Absolutely loved this house and our vacation. We love Costa Rica- it is a beautiful country and has the friendliest people. What I think we will miss the most is the delicious fruit- you can't get mangoes or pineapples anywhere in the world like in CR.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2018

10/10 Excellent

joe c., I

Perfect Beachfront House
We stayed at Case Bella Catalina the first week of April and were delighted with the house. It is spacious, has nice large bedrooms, and a great kitchen and living area for families. It is a beautiful home. The pool is fantastic as it offers both sunny and shaded areas and has a great ramp area to wallow . There were many beach loungers to go around for our party of six. The palapa located right at the beachfront was my favorite spot on hot sunny afternoons (everyday this time of year). It offered shade (from the mid-90's temps) and a great beach lounger or hammock for reading. The beach was also a good hangout and there was a floating dock about 300 yards off shore that we swam to daily. The house is located within a few blocks of several quality restaurants and nice little grocery store that sells liquor. The neighborhood felt very safe as does the entire country of Costa Rica, one of my favorite places on earth. Nonetheless, the house had a security system and safe as we travelled many long days on adventures. Tropical Homes staff (Roxanna and Rita) were extremely helpful in helping us find quality adventures (Selvetura Park @ Monteverde and Vandara at Rincon de le Vieja). Staff were also quick to respond to an issue we had with one of our doors and sent some one out the next day to fix it. The only negative comments I would make regarding the house were the kitchen supplies which were sparse. Would have been nice to have a few more hand towels, handiwipes, a floor mat, cooking oil, etc. Also, in group of six, no one was interested in staying in the back house (casita) since you had to go outside to use the bathroom. As such, we used only the three bedrooms in the house and since our party was six, it worked. The cleaning service and the pool keepers were also great. Thanks for a great stay. Joe from Milwaukee
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2018

8/10 Good

Jane J., Melbourne, FL (USA)

Beautiful views & Property
This home is located directly on the Beach and within walking distance to some great restaurants. There were 7 of us in our group. The house has a beautiful, rustic feel. The pool is very inviting and the grounds are beautifully landscaped. The top bedroom is the only one with a king bed and the bathroom has an open shower, so it gets pretty warm in the bathroom. The casita has 2 bedrooms with a layout of each room besides each other and located on the street. Luckily one of our friends took that room, but it has some issues. The window coverings are see thru, so it is not very private especially at night. Although it has a kitchen like area, there is no refrigerator or shelves/microwave (it would be really nice to have that) The bathroom is odd. You have to exit the inside of the home to use the bathroom that is located next to it. It is very warm, no windows & uncomfortable. Plus if you use this bathroom at night, the door locks on the casita as it is a self-lock deadbolt, so you lock yourself out if you forget. We used a rock to keep the door ajar to keep this from happening. Not a great set up. Comfortably, I would say no more that 6 people to use this villa. Regarding food, Good pizza; 2 for 1 on Tuesday nights next door. There is a hotel a few steps further at Bahia Del Sol has a good breakfast as well as 'The Shack" (a little farther away). Lots of restaurants to choose from within walking distance. You can also walk on the beach to some of the restaurants. The Beach House is another one located directly on the Beach. This is not a a huge tourist destination in my opinion, which is exactly what we liked (not like Tamarindo). We absolutely loved this area and the home overall. If you do cook in the villa, be aware that the oven only goes up to 390 degrees. We used it once. but ended up cooking on the cooktop to finish cooking some potatoes. We went to the hot springs, waterfalls, and volcano (Ricon de la Vieja) without a guide. Had a great time. Should be about 1 1/2 hours away. We did get lost using our gps. So beware when traveling with a gps. Also went to the Monkey Farm Rescue. Interesting to know about the wildlife and what is happening in the environment. They are all volunteers and do a great job of helping. Overall, we had a great time, the views are spectacular, love that you can walk or bike to restaurants, grilled out one night & hung around the pool. Everyone was very friendly. I would come back again. Lots of Mosquitos-
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2018

8/10 Good

Shelley S.

Costa Rica is beautiful!
The house was a great location. Between beach, pool, restaurants and other amenities, you couldn't beat the location. It would have been great to have more pool and beach amenities as I am used to that from other VRBO beach rentals. Kitchen staples would also be great. Despite all that we loved Playa Potrero, the beach was fantastic and you couldn't beat the sunsets! Nancy, our housekeeper was lovely and did a great job.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2017

10/10 Excellent

Rita C.

60th Celebration
What a spectacular home to celebrate my husband's 60th birthday with family and friends. This home was absolutely gorgeous....the grounds are your own private oasis. Not only were there beautiful flowers and plants, we also had mango, lime, lemon, avocados, coconut palms and banana plants. There was a family of iguanas that visited with us regularly, as well as the monkeys that hung out across the way. As for the view, what can I say, it was magnificent. Whether you were sitting under the covered patio or relaxing on the hammock or lounge chairs, the ocean was breathtaking and just steps away. At night we sat around the fire pit and enjoyed the sounds of the surf. Nancy our housekeeper was wonderful. She was there 3 times during the week and kept the home in perfect order. The gentleman who took care of the pool (i'm sorry but his name escapes me) was there every morning to take care of the pool and the grounds. The managing agent, Jesus, from Tropical homes was very attentive. He was there to greet us and was quick to respond when we had a few minor issues at the house. The location was ideal. We had at least 6 restaurants which were in walking distance from the house, as well as a small market. My suggestion would be to stop at the larger supermarket before coming to the house and stock up, as the small market was somewhat pricey. If you are looking for adventures, I would highly suggest using Flamingo Adventures, just down passed the market. Franco was extremely accommodating and Andres our guide was unbelievable. Their rates were great and we were able to have them take our group of 9 to Tamarindo and Flamingo beach for dinners at very reasonable prices. When we return, we certainly will contact them for our travels while in Costa Rica. Looking forward to return to Costa Rica sometime soon. Pura Vida, Rita & Rich
Stayed 7 nights in May 2017

10/10 Excellent

Melissa O., Locust Grove

Simply Amazing!
This could not have been a more perfect place for our group! Everyone fell in love with this place; we are already discussing our next trip! Very clean and spacious house. The pool out back and the beautiful landscape makes you think you are in a tropical paradise. The a/c in the guest house did not work properly the first night, but when I called the next morning the office sent someone over immediately and it was fixed in no time. I also cannot rave enough about our chef Ander; he was amazing and everything he cooked was delicious! We ended up going to his restaurant for lunch one day after we had checked out of the house and checked into our all inclusive resort. I highly recommend him when choosing a chef for your meals. We look forward to coming back soon; Costa Rica is a beautiful place and to find a gem like this house made our experience top notch!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2017