Montezuma Sanctuary: Spacious Hill-top Villa w/Spectacular 360-Degree Views

If you want to truly connect with nature, this property is a must! From the river in the back to the morning sunrises out of the front. Only a few minutes from Montezuma and all of the activities. The Host was extremely helpful in going above and beyond in making our stay a great one. Would give more than 5 stars if possible.

From the moment we entered to villa we knew we were lend astray. The furniture was old and falling apart. The beds were horrible. The bedding smelled moldy. My son legs were bitten every night. The worst was the owner's nosing in on our time. At first we thought ok, but her midnight showers in our bathroom and her inviting guest to view the place sent me over the edge. I hold VRBO responsible for not screening the property. Pictures posted were over 10 years old.

I spent a three-day weekend with some friends at this 27-1/2 Acre, Wildlife-Sanctuary Villa and had the time of my life! Eventhough I am not a foreign tourist (I’m a Costa Ricanliving all my life here, I have rented many vacation homes in Costa Rica, and this is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. For example, I woke up at 5:30 a.m.on Saturday, and as I wassitting on the porch drinking my morning coffee, looking at the amazing view of the Sea, suddenly, a family of monkeys started coming to the mango trees. At the same time some little guatusas and pizotes were running across the grass in the garden, where there were hundreds of beautiful butterflies and all kind of little birds... later on I saw two little baby deer and foxes. I felt so blessed to be among these magnificent creatures! I said to myself, “This truly IS a “Sanctuary” not just for the animals, plants and birds but for ALL living creatures, such as myself! This wonderful Villa has so many comfortable spots to sit, read a book or just meditate. I said to myself, “Who needs a swimming pool, with chlorinated water, when you have a fresh-water riverwith natural swimming pools and all kinds of waterfalls just 50 meters down the path!”The town of Montezuma is less than a 5-minute drive (20 minute walk), down the hill, as are the miles of gorgeous beaches there. This rental property has everything that one needsin order to have a marvelous vacation; just make sure you try to stay at least 5 nights in order to fully relax into this magical paradise. I guarantee you will let go of all stresses and strains. I wish that I could have stayed longer, but I had to return to my home to go to work. This is truly a little piece of heaven and I felt honored to spend my weekend there. I thank you Kati for deciding to dedicate your land as a Wildlife Sanctuary and for donating ALL THE INCOME to supporting it as a not-for-profit entity!!!

this house is amazing! nestled deep down a beaten road , which can be a little difficult to find at first, but easy and worth it when you do. its up on a hill over looking the ocean with all open windows and breeze. they have one enclosed room but we didnt even go in there really. we had a problem with bugs the first night just because we didnt know there was 2 different kind of lights for night time to not attract the bugs. it got a little hot in the morning but we had a fan which was nice. the upstairs shower was my favorite thing! also was super sad to not see any monkeys.. but they were definitely heard. the caretakers loft is kinda right off to the side of the house which was fine, he was super friendly, we just felt kinda bad playing any music late or being loud. its super close to town but we never wanted to even go there , the house was hard to leave. and katy was super helpful and accommodating and quick to answer any questions. my boyfriend and i cant wait to come back and show our friends this magical place! thanks katy !

We just returned from 4 days and nights in paradise! This home is truly a sanctuary. It's a five minute drive from Montezuma town and beaches but feels like a million miles away. The owner, Kati, and Johnny and Perla, caretakers next door, were very helpful. We changed the number of guests coming several times and everyone was accommodating. Kati advised us to rent a car with Mareks from Carcosta Rent A Car. We were very pleased with the service and the price. I will recommend Montezuma Sanctuary to friends that are comfortable in nature. Although the home is luxurious and everything you could need is provided, it is wide open. One bedroom has screens on the windows but there are barely walls anywhere else. It feels like the easiest and most elegant camping trip ever. There are mosquitos nets over the beds but I would definitely recommend bringing insect repellent. We saw and heard a lot of wildlife. We ate out some (delicious meals at Cocoral and Organicas) but mostly cooked in the well-equiped kitchen. Evenings are beautiful and relaxing. There are 4 hammocks and, at least in June always a breeze. There is a small TV, so we didn't miss any soccer games. The property is great for exploring. There are many fruit trees and a fun hike to a river and water fall.

This was a great place to relax. The husband and kids (9 & 10) had a wonderful time at the falls located on property. Very short drive to town/beach Montezuma. The open-air quality of the house was great. First morning, howler monkey family had breakfast with us (in their own tree, next to the house)! Renting a car (in Alajuela) was very handy...allowing us easier traveling freedom. Could also be a nice middle location to visit various sites along that side of Nicoya Penninsula. Johnny had the site prepared and ready. We didn't really need much from him; however, he was close by if anything was needed. The kitchen was very nice. We were able to save money cooking our own dinners (bought groceries in Alajuela beforehand as it was cheaper). We didn't spend much time in the town of Montezuma as we had everything we needed already. The beaches were very nice and a great place for the kids to play, but watch out for the riptides. The beaches also were not crowded at all. We would definitely rent this location again. The relaxing trip was very much needed! Thank you!

We stayed at the Montezuma Sanctuary house for 1 week after a week in Samara. All five of us really enjoyed the experience. The house is really spacious with both bedrooms very large and well laid out .It has a tasteful bohemian flaire but this just helps everyone relax more as you don't worry about stuff. The upstairs bathroom and bedroom deck are an experience in ithemselves as you really feel like you are outdoors with amazing panoramic views from the shower and whole bathroom. We thought we'd have more problems with bugs but the constant breezes prevented any problems and kept the house cool at night. There is tons of wildlife everywhere. We had capuchin monkeys try and come into the kitchen to steal a chocolate bar and there was a troop of howlers that set themselves up in the trees right beside the house for 2 days. We saw tons of birds ,lizards, frogs, a deer and lots of pizotes on the property. You saw a lot when you walked down the entrance road especially in the morning. The path down to the river is rather steep but well worth it as the river area is beautiful and private. You can swim in numerous rock ponds and waterfalls and we liked the hike along the river where we saw more wildlife. The downstairs kitchen/ living area is huge with lots of very comfy lounge and rocking chairs and the kitchen is well stocked with equipment. There is a nice juicer that we used to make fresh lemon and lime juice from trees on the property. We did have some problems with the car rental but Kati was wonderful in helping us resolve the problems. We would definitely recommend this house especially if you want to get away from it all but still be close to Montezuma.

This amazing villa is perfect for either couples or families. To start Kati, the owner, is as kind and helpful as can be. Weeks prior to our travel she provided directions, suggestions for car rentals, travel recommendations, and packing recommendations for the area. Whenever we had a question she was 100% responsive. Our plane was supposed to arrive in Liberia but detoured to San Jose late afternoon. Kati welcomed us into her own home there, fed our whole family of five, (children ages 6,4 & 4), coordinated with the car rental company, found us a fantastic hotel for the night and drove us there!! When we finally arrived in Montezuma we felt the Villa exceeded our expectations. The house is gorgeous and comfortable. It is uniquely beautiful and wonderfully situated on a picturesque property. The views look like photos right out of a travel magazine, with an almost a 180 degree view of the ocean. We heard Howler Monkeys every night, saw parrots fly by every morning, hummingbirds whizzed around day and night, and the list goes on. We spent time every day at the river behind the house, which is a bit of a steep trek so you definitely need to wear something like sneakers or Tevas (as Kati will recommend), but the river is worth it and our young children were able to go up and down. We found some great water holes where they could jump from rocks into the water and swim around (with floaties) as well as shallow areas for exploring. Kati gave great recommendations on where to eat and visit in Montezuma, Cabuya, Malpias & Santa Teresa. We felt all of the beaches were very easy to access. We loved that several of the hotel/cottages where we ate allowed us to stay and use their pools after lunch. The kitchen in the Villa had everything we needed to prepare meals and we really enjoyed eating in several nights. Breakfast was the best, sitting on the patio watching the birds and butterflies dance around us. Sleeping upstairs was a dream. Although the days were hot the early mornings and evenings brought nice breezes. We liked that the downstairs bedroom had windows and an air conditioner as that was perfect for our children. All three children were able to sleep comfortably in the downstairs bed. I think two of our favorites things were taking showers in the upstairs bathroom where you are at tree top level and gazing at the ocean the whole time, as well as sitting in the swing on the upstairs balcony watching the sunrise or set. Missing it already!

Thank you Kati, Johnny and Perla. Words cannot express our experience at this incredible property. From the howler monkeys singing at daybreak to the lush landscape to the birds and Miguel the resident pizote leisurely walking the grounds you become one with mother nature instantly. We truly enjoyed the openness of the home, the views and the wonderful Pacific breezes rolling up the hill. Johnny was always there when you needed something or had a question but never intrusive in any way. He and his wife Perla were very sweet. We even exchanged some delightful foods with each other during our stay. Kati was very engaging from my first inquiry about the property. We communicated via Skype and shared many great conversations. She was very helpful in what to do during your stay making great suggestions. She referred us to an independent car rental company that saved us quite a bit of money by the vehicle being a little older, but it served its purpose and we were pleased. We had been in Costa Rica for about a week when we arrived at the sanctuary. Already feeling a little decompressed from our busy lives in the states. However, the week at the sanctuary gave new meaning to recharging your batteries. Other than an occasional phone call we were totally tuned out from the rest of the world. It was fantastic. If you enjoy mother nature and all she has to offer, visiting this sanctuary is a MUST DO! The proximity to town was perfect just 5 minutes down the hill and you were at the beach, restaurants cafes. As with the rest of Costa Rica the people are incredible. Always helpful and with a friendly smile Pura Vida is truly defined. We will return to CR and stay at the sanctuary again the only question is when? Don't look any further, this is the place to BE!

We came to stay at the Villa for 5 days and I'm not going to lie, as city dwellers we found it quite a contrast! It's quite true, there is a gorgeous waterfall literally steps away from the villa (the path is steep and I'm not unfit and I found it a 'medium' in terms of effort needed to get up and down). The villa is lovely, very simple with no distractions which meant we really did slow down and relax. As we came at a hot time of year, we did find ourselves cooling down in the downstairs room that has an AC unit a few times during our stay. The 4 of us (2 adults 2 kids) spent most nights in the upstairs (open) bedroom and awoke each morning around 4am to the howlers which was quite magical. Contrary to other reviews we did feel we needed to use the mosquito nets but maybe it was the time of year we visited....and they love to bite me. The kids favourite moment was meeting the pizotes that frequent the villa and one morning we were treated to greeting from a family of at least 10! We felt that having a car to travel to the beach at Montezuma was pretty essential - maybe if we didn't have kids and the heat wasn't so intense then we could have enjoyed the walk to the main road and the bus into town. Embarrassingly our Spanish is not great but we did manage to communicate with Johnny when we needed anything at all. The most important and valuable thing I have to say is that Kati the owner was amazing. Although she mainly resides in San Jose, from the moment we first enquired about the villa she was so incredibly helpful. She called the ferry for me when I was confused about the timing of it, she recommended routes to drive and places to visit. She couldn't have been more helpful - and more available. This really helped to ensure that as a family we had a great stay.