Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6111 sq m

Popular amenities

Breakfast available

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Free WiFi

Washer

Dryer

Check out the area

Cabo Matapalo, Puntarenas

Pan Dulce Beach5 min walk
Playa Matapalo9 min drive
King Louis Waterfall9 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

Casa Sonrisa is a 5-star ranking recipient of 12 Traveler's Choice Awards and 12 Excellence Awards. Recommended by Lonely Planet. Casa Sonrisa is one of four beach houses making up the Casa Bambu resort property. (If Casa Sonrisa is reserved for the dates you want, see the listing for Casa Bambu, Casa Linda, or Casa Pina .) At Casa Sonrisa our on-site staff is available 24/7.

Costa Rica vacation rentals: there are hundreds to choose from. Yet we are told again and again that Casa Sonrisa and our other bamboo beach houses are exceptional. So if you're ready to take a walk on the wild side, this is the place! This Costa Rica beach rental offers nature lovers an ideal vacation. It sits on a beautiful beach, in the rainforest, on the coast of the Osa Peninsula. This unique setting lets you experience the true Costa Rica, one of the most amazing areas on earth; relax on the beach; and enjoy countless natural wonders. All this while keeping you comfortable and secure in a private rental house on the beach. At Casa Sonrisa the ocean waves lull you to sleep and the roar of the howler monkeys awaken you to a glorious sunrise over the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf). A pristine beach is literally steps away, and the rainforest and wildlife are all around. If you love nature in all its wild beauty, this is the place for you.

After visiting vacation rentals around the country, Lonely Planet's Costa Rica recommends Casa Sonrisa as a place to stay. Men's Journal touts Casa Sonrisa in its review of Costa Rica vacation homes in its vacation guide cover story How to Rent a Dream House Anywhere: Your Own Private Resort. It says: “For the jungle experience, visit the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica’s wild southern appendage. Its few paved roads lead to tiny fishing villages, like Cabo Matapalo, where you’ll find unspoiled beaches and rental houses like Casa Sonrisa on a plot of pristine rainforest teeming with monkeys.” The Denver Post Travel section featured Casa Sonrisa in an article about Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula and Matapalo. The Fine Living Channel included Casa Sonrisa in its program Around the World in Eighty Houses, which focused on remarkable vacation houses throughout the world, including Casa Sonrisa. The Sunday Post of Scotland, an international publication, featured an article by a Casa Sonrisa guest about her vacation with us.

Our Costa Rica beach house rentals offer:

A perfect location: right on a gorgeous beach (and near several others), with a spectacular view, in the rainforest, surrounded by abundant wildlife and scenery.
A handcrafted, clean and safe vacation rental home, from which to enjoy your fantastic surroundings.
Many activities for the whole family.
Three other bamboo rentals, equally wonderful.
When natives of Costa Rica greet each other, they often say “Pura Vida,” or pure life. When you visit Casa Sonrisa, you’ll truly understand what this means.

Property manager

Kirk Ulbricht

Premier Host

Languages

English, Spanish

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Outdoor space

Ocean view

Ocean view

Pool

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

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

On-site 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 fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

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

About the area

Puerto Jiménez

Located in Puerto Jiménez, this holiday home is on the beach. Puerto Jimenez Pier and Golfito Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Corcovado National Park and Corcovado National Park Office. Travelling with kids? Consider Casa Orquideas Botanical Garden, or check out an event or a game at Fortunato Atencio Stadium. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Cabo Matapalo, Puntarenas

What's nearby

Pan Dulce Beach - 5 min walk
Playa Matapalo - 9 min drive
King Louis Waterfall - 9 min drive
Corcovado National Park Office - 19 min drive
Puerto Jimenez Pier - 20 min drive

Getting around

Puerto Jiménez (PJM) - 52 min drive

Restaurants

Buena Esperanza - 14 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Casa Sonrisa, Bamboo Rainforest Beach House located?

This family-friendly Puerto Jiménez holiday home is located on the beach, within a 5-minute walk of Osa Peninsula and Pan Dulce Beach. Playa Sombrero and King Louis Waterfall are also within 2 miles (3 km).

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

6.0/10

Amenities

6.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Diane M.

28 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Off the grid awesome

We had an excellent off grid experience with Casas SonRita. The only thing that would be better is if we did not travel here at night that was a mistake. The timelines are not in the direction that so it was pretty stressful getting there at night. Once we were there everything was as expected. Surprisingly very few bugs. How old are monkeys did wake us up about sunrise or a little before so if you’re not expecting that bring earplugs - we got used to them serenading us. Corcovado perk was good exercise, but we saw a few animals and most of the animals were around areas where people were even the sides of the roads. It definitely helped having a guide with a spotting scope. William was awesome except spoke no English, so it helps to have a little Spanish with him. The tours they arranged were amazing, especially the boat with captain, Josh we saw a whale and her baby right by our boat. Dolphins were everywhere and the kids got to swim with him which was wonderful or I should say the dolphins swim with the kids! Overall it was fantastic.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa V.

9 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Vacay

property is exactly as described. Host provided us with very helpful information and set up tours for us. Manager William also very accommodating. We had a great stay!

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth F.

8 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bambu-tastic!

What an amazing experience! I just can't give enough praise to Team Bambu for thinking of every last question and concern during our 3 nights in Casa Sonrisa. The house was beautiful and well appointment with everything one might need off grid, but the staff truly went above and beyond. We left Cabo Matapalo feeling like members of the family having enjoyed some time with William and Leda and Olive. Elena was right there to help with arrangements and answer questions even on short notice. And they even retrieved an item that was inadvertently left behind. The animals and the bay and the beach and the hammock - It's all just so wonderful. If you're on the fence, just go! You won't regret it!

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kevin

27 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, communication

First time living in an open air house. The experience was unforgettable. Kept closing the front door just to look at the wide open walls. Everything we needed was provided. Perhaps the only thing to improve would be to improve the signage should someone not have cell phone service. I was amazed that we found the place in the dark. Thank you so much for sharing your slice of heaven on earth with us.

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica H.

13 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing location and hospitality

Casa Sonrisa was even better than we thought it would be! From the outdoor living room you can check the waves breaking at Pan Dulce and the house gives you an authentic Costa Rica jungle experience but with a well stocked kitchen, comfy beds, and a huge dining table to gather around at the end of the day. William was an absolute hero and took care of us throughout our stay. He helped us fix our flat tire and our never ending car problems . I highly recommend!

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

About the host

Hosted by Kirk Ulbricht

Twenty-seven years ago, while visiting friends on the Osa Peninsula, Kirk found his heaven. He bought six acres of overgrown cow pasture by the Golfo Dulce, cleared it of brambles and weeds, and began to transform it. With neighbors, they planted 1,000 trees (now part of the monkey trail) and built Casa Bambu with the help of local friends. Kirk completed a second bamboo house, Casa Linda, in September, 2002; a third, Casa Piña, in August, 2003; and a fourth, Casa Sonrisa, in December, 2007. All the houses are solar-powered with artesian wells, beautiful tropical yards and on a pristine beach.
Back in the U.S. Kirk has been a 'green' builder and home designer in Austin, TX. His houses are ultra efficient - utilizing passive solar techniques, proper siting and other applications that conserve energy while providing comfortable shelter. His heart, however, is in Costa Rica, where he relishes life in the rainforest and can fulfill his lifelong love of the sea.

What makes this property unique

Unique pristine wilderness on a gorgeous unspoiled surfing/swimming beach with wildlife all around.
World-famous birdwatching, ocean kayaking, rainforest tours, on foot or horseback (including world-famous Corcovado National Park), Golfo Dulce boat tours, wildlife sanctuary tours, pristine beaches, Puerto Jimenez is a 30 minute drive and offers several banks, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, and grocery stores, We can set you up with great guides, as well as lodgings in San Jose and in-country travel.