House in Playa Grande, Guanacaste

Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property!

Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property!

Photo gallery for Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property!

Relax by the pool
Lounge Area
View from Pool into Lounge
Indoor path by Bedrooms
From Bedroom 1 view

Overview of Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property!

8.6 out of 10 Excellent
5 bedrooms5 bathroomsSleeps 18465 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Check out the area

Playa Grande, Guanacaste
  • Popular LocationGrande Beach13 min walk
  • Popular LocationTamarindo Beach39 min drive
  • Popular LocationPlaya Langosta48 min drive

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 18)

Bedroom 1 - Guaria

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 2 - Cariblanco

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 3 - Gecko

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 4 - Guacamaya

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 5 - Baula

1 King Bed

5 bathrooms

Bathroom 1 - Guaria

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2 - Cariblanco

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3 - Gecko

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4 - Guacamaya

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5 - Baula

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property!

Villa Casa Serena is a sanctuary to enjoy the beauty Playa Grande has to offer. Along with miles of soft sandy beaches, and wildlife, it makes this beach house rental a tropical paradise. It is a perfect choice for guests looking for privacy during their vacation in Costa Rica. Once you enter Casa Serena, you drive along a well-lit driveway until the Villa comes into view. Upon entry into the enclosed walled entry, you walk along a path full of tropical trees and plants into a spacious living/dining area.

Outdoor dining with ceiling fans provides comfortable breezes. An informal dining area, hammocks, and lawn chairs allow you to pick the perfect spot while watching the sunset or dining al fresca.

The main living area encompasses an outdoor living space with furniture that your body will melt into; as beautiful plants line the pathways. Hungry? Open up a world of cooking opportunities, as it is always prime outdoor grilling season. Cooking outside is part of the fabric of the culture in Costa Rica.

Villa Casa Serena has 5 uniquely designed bedrooms accommodating up to18 guests, each with a private bathroom and full view of the swimming pool and lounge area. The master bedroom has one king size bed (sleeps 2), the remaining 4 bedrooms each have two queen beds (sleeps 4). Each bedroom has closets, ceiling fans, air conditioning, enclosed ceilings, and tiled floors.

As you enter the self-contained kitchen you will notice that it boasts white flat panel cabinets with black countertops. Top-of-the-line appliances, sensor lights under each cabinet, and the built in stove top have been carefully thought out. Inspiration for an industrial kitchen has been designed to fit this custom made configuration.

Evenings in Playa Grande are quiet so the outdoor areas make it a great spot for eating, lounging, and entertaining. The lighting features throughout the property give the house a warm ambience at night.

Casa Serena has had extensive upgrades to the property and it was remodeled and updated with an impeccable, and unique design, preserving the rustic feel of a Costa Rican home. With the beauty Playa Grande has to offer, we believe an escape to Villa Casa Serena will be one of the most memorable vacations of your life. We hope you learn to escape the day-to-day by creating unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.

Events: If you would like to hold a celebration or wedding at Casa Serena, please contact me directly as the pricing does vary based on head count and what is being requested.

We sincerely hope you; your friends and family can get away to experience the beauty of Costa Rica in this beautiful beachfront property, your vacation home is waiting!

Pura Vida!

Property manager

Máximo Alvarez-Garmón

Languages

English, Spanish

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 3:30 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
We love kids!!

Events

Events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Check in: Arrive by 3pm Check Out: Vacate the property by 11.00am Laundry: The laundry room with a washer/dryer is located next to the kitchen. Beach

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
Parties and events are allowed on site
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Playa Grande

Located on the beach, this villa is in Palm Beach Estates, a neighbourhood in Cabo Velas. Reserva Conchal Golf Course and Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Tamarindo Beach and Conchal Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Las Baulas National Marine Park and Monkey Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Grande Beach - 13 min walk
  • Las Baulas National Marine Park - 7 min drive
  • Tamarindo Beach - 39 min drive
  • Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course - 44 min drive
  • Playa Langosta - 48 min drive

Getting around

  • Tamarindo (TNO) - 30 min drive

Restaurants

  • Nari - 32 min drive
  • Patagonia Argentinian Grill & Restaurant - 33 min drive
  • Pico Bistro - 32 min drive
  • Medusa Bar - 33 min drive
  • Bamboo Sushi Club - 33 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property! have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property! pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property!?

Check-in begins at 3:30 PM.

What time is check-out at Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Casa Serena, Playa Grande. A recently refurbished private beachfront property! located?

Located in Palm Beach Estates, this beachfront villa is in the city centre, 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Grande Beach, and 2 mi (3.2 km) from Las Baulas National Marine Park. Conchal Beach and Ventanas Beach are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 14 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews" "

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Check-in

8.4/10

Communication

10/10

Location

8.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Ronaldo

Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Bruno D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
One of the best beach vacations! If you want quiet, here it is!
In summary, the house was not perfect, but the quiet sandy beach, staff service and overall quietness of the area made our trip one of the best beach vacations. We were 10 people, kids/adults. Let's start with the bad: 1. What the pictures don`t show is the wear and tear. 2. The house is large and has a lot of outdoor living spaces out into the elements! It’s worn out, over-used, a lot metal is rusted. 3. Kitchen needs some TLC (broken cabinet doors, leaking DW and fridge) 4. Bathrooms: 4 out of the 5 BRs had issues (broken doors, blocked drain). 5. Land is large, lot of unkempt areas and pile of garbage lying around, not inside the house, but around the grounds. Not a showstopper. 6. Rental might be a bit expensive for what you get. 7. And of course, ants and crawling bugs, but it is a tropical forest after all! Now the good: 1. The owner, Maximo, seems very nice, is very responsive and answered all our questions. 2. Access to the beach was just amazing. 100 feet off the main gate. Easy flat access, very private and nobody around when we were on the beach. 3. Beach: Beautiful 5-km white sand beach, with perfect waves for swimming or surfing with at very few people around (40-50 people on the whole 5-km long beach!) 4. The house keepers, Simon and Saray, were absolutely amazing. They live on the grounds in a separate house and are around day and night. They responded to our requests in a timely fashion, fixing what was broken, providing additional towels when needed, even setting up a beach tent for us on the beach, helping to carry some of the chairs to the beach, and even helping pack up the car when we left. They made a huge difference. There were always notifying us if they had to leave for different reasons. You forget about the bad with them! 5. We got one meal prepared by Saray, very tasty! It was enough for 2 suppers and 2 lunches, and some. 6. They kept the common grounds and pool clean in the morning but didn’t go into the bedrooms unless requested by us. 7. There are a few small stores and restaurants less than a few hundred meters away, very affordable. 8. From the house, you can reach Tamarindo in about 15 minutes by foot and a dinghy across the crocodile infested Tamarindo Estuary (for $1-2/person). Dinghies run from about 8AM to 5PM…or drive to Tamarindo, in 30-40 minutes! No bridge across the estuary. 9. Tamarindo is a beautiful town full of grocery stores, restaurants, shops, hotels, and nightlife.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

6/10 Okay

Kathryn E.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy
"Luxury" Beachfront Property quite rundown. Pictures not fully accurate
This is a unique beachfront property, with wonderful potential, but is quite rundown. I messaged the host first in hopes of getting some helpful feedback, but it was not, so I will just give you fair warning. Background: I am an ex PeaceCorps nurse who worked and lived in Costa Rica. My husband is Costa Rican. We are part owners of a lovely hotel across the street and friends with all the other business owners there. We have rented at least a dozen homes at Playa Grande over the years for our friends and family and have only had fantastic experiences. This year we made a late decision to come before Christmas and this was the only property of this size available. Briefly, the place needs TLC. Moldy, and rotting decks and Supporting posts to main room. Broken and decayed light fixtures, ceiling fans dont work, leaking refrigerator, plugged and overflowing dishwasher, no items at all in kitchen( not even soap, trash bags, salt or pepper. Broken cupboard doors. No beach equipment whatsoever, ( Beach chairs, umbrella, sand toys) No information info upon arrival ( WiFi code, info on house, nearby activities, tours, stores). A completely rusted and corroded BBQ which was not safe to use. Finally, there is no Irene, wonderful cook on the premises. Instead a new couple from Nicaragua who had no idea about anything in the house, cooking, cleaning, laundry. I told them that it was not their fault that they had no training and that I would clearly not blame them, but the owner. The positives: The rooms are small, but adequate. Each is independent and opens to the outside only (no connecting) The pool is small but heated . There is an upstairs cabana built with views and sounds of the beach and monkeys. Beachfront. We had a beautiful time at the beach and in the pool with our family and friends. We ate out most nights and truly enjoyed the the area, as always. I have photos of all these issues if anyone wants to see them
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

8/10 Good

Natalee J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Like your own private resort
We a large group of 14 stay at the property and we truly enjoyed the stay! The on-site property managers (Simon & his wife) were absolutely fabulous. They did not speak English, so we used our broken Spanish & Google translate to communicate, but they were so helpful and friendly. They cleaned the outside areas every morning, and were helpful with anything we needed. When we checked in, we realized that laundry was not onsite as listed & this was the second half of our 2 week vacation - we had all planned on using the on-site laundry. Simons wife (I wish I remembered her name) offered to do our laundry since we couldn’t, so we gave her a load and she ended up doing it by hand for us! Had I read the reviews and listing a bit more intently I may have realized this - but there is no indoor space to hang out. The only way to get away from bugs is to be in your bedroom. It worked out fine with lots of bug spray & citronella but we all left with a lot of big bites. That comes with Costa Rica, however, a netted area or a place to escape for a little while as a group would have been nice. That being said, we loved all of the games and activities available on site. The beach was beautiful and that private entrance was awesome for us to have, we loved being able to catch sunset nightly. We also liked that we were away from the busyness of Tamarindo. The town is about a 40 minute drive, or about a half mile down the beach you can jump on a water taxi to take you across the river for $2. Overall it was a great stay & we were sad to leave
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sierra S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Unique beach front home great for family
We enjoyed our stay at this wonderful property that had plenty of room for one large family. We especially enjoyed cooking at the outdoor kitchen while the kids played ping pong and swam in the pool. Having the beach just outside the door was an absolute treasure and we loved waking up to the howler monkeys in the trees each morning. Playa grande is a wonderful quiet area with all the amenities to make your stay comfortable. Would definitely recommend to others.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Máximo Alvarez-Garmón

Host profile image
Hello, my name is Máximo and I am the Property Manager of Casa Serena in Costa Rica. During the remodel, I stayed on the property and it was such a privilege to see it evolve from a run down property to the magnificent home it is today. At Villa Casa Serena you are invited to make it your home away from home. I truly think you will love this place as much as I do. If there are any questions, i'd love to be able to help you. Pura Vida!! MAXIMO

Why they chose this property

Casa Serena is a such an amazing place that photos do not do it justice. From sunrise walks on the desolate beach to the sunsets sitting by the pool or wiggling your feet in the sand - it's like no other. With 5 private acres with a beachfront view, you can't go wrong!

What makes this property unique

As you enter Casa Serena, you get the "wow" factor and you will feel you're on a trip of a lifetime. Costa Rica offers so many exciting adventures and then you get to come home and relax in your own personal slice of beach heaven. Casa Serena is located in Playa Grande, which is a small town, and it is detached from the busy life offered in Tamarindo. It really makes you feel like you feel like you're on an island with very few people. There is no denying that nature has wrapped you in its arms, you’ll lie in bed at night and hear the waves crashing on the moonlit beach. The howler monkeys might climb through the trees in the early hours and wake you up but it is a spectacular noise and one I have come to love. I could keep telling you how unique Casa Serena is but the only way you will truly be part of the story is to come see for yourself.

Languages:

English, Spanish
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