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Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay.

Photo gallery for Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay.

Pool
Pool
Every night same sunset in front of the house
Playa Pinca 15 minute walk up the beach. Nice snorkeling
A typical sunset - view from the yard. Sit here with your drink.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10204.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

View map
Unknown, Guanacaste
  • Place, Potrero Bay
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Playa Potrero
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Flamingo Beach
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Airport, Liberia (LIR-Daniel Oduber Intl.)
    ‪109 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

Sleeping Porch

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay.

1st level townhome, recently remodeled and back on the market. Gorgeous pool, right on the sand!

Relax with the whole family at this peaceful place to stay.

Soft waves lap against the shoreline, and lush greenery hugs the coastline.

Nestled in the heart of Costa Rica's Potrero Bay, this exclusive beachfront townhome offers an unparalleled blend of comfort, and natural beauty.

Retreat to your private sanctuary each night, where comfort meets tranquility. Drift off to the soothing sounds of the ocean, knowing that your island paradise awaits you in the morning.
This 1st level unit is handicap accessible.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 1 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Tempate

Located in Tempate, this holiday home is near a water park and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Playa Potrero and Flamingo Beach. Monkey Park and Diamante Eco Adventure Park are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
View more Holiday homes in TempateOpens in a new window
Map
Unknown, Guanacaste

What's nearby

  • Potrero Bay - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Playa Potrero - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Flamingo Beach - 8 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Conchal Beach - 20 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Tamarindo Beach - 49 min drive - 23.5 km

Getting around

  • Tamarindo (TNO) - 33 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bar & Restaurante Arenas - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Restaurante Pleamar - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Soda Marcell - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Coco Loco Bar & Restaurant - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪OCEANA - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay.?

As of 9 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay. on 4 April 2025 start from NZ$257, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beachfront 1st Level Townhome Truly on the Sand, in a Gentle Bay. located?

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

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 62 out of 72 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 72 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 72 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 72 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 72 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carol M.

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

Beautiful location

We had so much fun! The location could not have been better. We arranged for Mel to have us picked up from the air port. His home is very nice and spacious, with an open air atmosphere in the main rooms. Bedrooms had AC. We loved being right on the beach. We were so close to everything we could mostly walk where we wanted to go. Congo Trail zip lining was fun. We even hand-fed some baby monkeys there. Our favorite restaurant was Surf Box for breakfast and coffee. At Hemmingways we had great Ceviche and Pizza right on the beach! If I go back I will rent a golf cart though.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2023
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Bard J.

AWESOME HOUSE + AWESOME OWNER = BEST VACATION EVER

We stayed at this vacation house for five days and absolutely loved it. It was completely accurate with the pictures from the website. The house is right on the water and has nice clean beaches, great for romantic walks and to watch the sunset. All the bedrooms come with working A/C. the maid service was awesome the girls kept are stuff clean and organized throughout our stay. The owner came by and showed around the town. He showed some of the best surf and snorkel spot. As well as where to eat and was able to lets get into the big resorts and allowed to use their pool and hot tub. He was able to get us some great deals at restaurants, pools and spas, and other activities such as surfing and snorkeling. This property is highly recommended for families and active or lazy groups. it really has it all.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Wonderful Place to Stay

My family (5 adults) spent a week here in March and it was truly wonderful. My father had stayed here two years ago and was very excited take us all back to stay. The house itself is literally beach front in a lovely little cove with a gorgeous view of the mountains across the way. There are four, very comfortable bedrooms that were spacious with air conditioning in each. The two best features of the house though are the enclosed lenai featuring a hammock and cushy seating and the upstairs patio which provides multiple hammocks, shade, and a stunning view of the ocean. Either one is the perfect place to unwind. The two employees for the property, Perla and Cody, are extremely hospitable. They are kind, offer helpful tips, and Cody even brought fresh mango a few mornings! The location is unbeatable. It's a 5 minute walk to three different beach front restaurants and just a little bit further of a walk to Playa Flamingo, where you can jet ski and kayak. Not to mention it's extremely close to Playa Conchal, one of the most stunning beaches I've seen in my life. Any adventure you want to take is easily accessible. Mel provides pamphlets on zip-lining and other very worthwhile trips. I would absolutely come back!
Archival

8/10 Good

Eric S.

Quiet, beachfront cottage with authentic Tican feel.

My wife and I stayed with our 3 adult children for a week in Feb. The place was as advertised, comfortable but not luxurious. The furnishings are dated; several of the light bulbs were out which made the LR/DR area darker than it should have been with a bit of a dingy feel. Although there was a strong breeze, the LR/DR area never cooled off. Only the BRs have A/C, so the LR/DR is quite warm even with fans running. Wifi worked great. Perla and Cody are lovely and very accommodating. Some may find their proximity and constant presence intrusive, but because they are both delightful people, we didn't mind at all having them around. They speak virtually no English, but this was not an issue for us since we're Spanish-speaking. Because of the high winds the week we were there, the sea was too murky for snorkeling or spearfishing to be very worthwhile, although Cody did manage to get enough fish for us! All in all, a great find at this price point!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Greg T.

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

Great place

We've just come back from a week here and have nothing but good things to say about Mel and the property. It was exactly what my family and I (we have three teenage boys) were looking for when we decided to come to Costa Rica. The property is exactly as you see in the pictures. It's not fancy or updated to any great extent, but when you spend all your time outside, it doesn't need to be. It is right on a beautiful, calm and peaceful beach, perfect for swimming, or just sitting in a hammock chair watching the day go by. A grocery store is 20 mins walk away, and numerous restaurants are even closer. (all walking the beach) Inside, the house has everything you need - comfortable beds, a/c and fans, as well as a well provisioned kitchen and plenty of space. We highly recommend the day bed at the back of the apartment for afternoon siestas. The breeze and the sound of the surf made that spot very popular. What makes this property really special tho is the local knowledge Mel has from his 30+ years of visiting and living in Costa Rica. We took full advantage of this, travelling with Mel to a different beach each day to enjoy surfing, snorkelling and swimming. He also gave our boys surfing lessons. He has relationships with locals who cooked us amazing meals, did a daily cleaning and laundry service and took us out multiple times on their boat for fishing and snorkelling expeditions. (all of these for a reasonable fee). Oh, and he also arranged airport transfers for us. It's worth noting too that we were quite happy to interact with Mel a great deal on our trip, but he's very conscious that this may not be for everyone, so he'll leave you in peace if that's more your thing. Overall, this was a great trip and we hope to be back some day.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tom R.

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

'One of a Kind'

Palma del Mar is ‘one of a kind’. Our 9-day stay enabled us ample time to experience the Costa Rican lifestyle in a totally authentic way. This was different from previous visits to Costa Rica resorts around the country. In a beautiful setting, Palma del Mar is an older, “open air” house some 50 yards from the gentle surf. Cody lives on site in a separate quarter. Yahira lives in the area and comes to do housekeeping daily (exc. Sunday). Luna, the gentle little house pup (and Cody’s roommate), comes and goes and loves to visit with you if you wish. Cody and Yahira are kind and thoughtful people who were available from Day 1 to assist in many ways. They wanted to ensure we were enjoying our stay and had that in mind each day. Yahira cleaned every morning including guest laundry as needed. She is an excellent cook and frequently prepared us fresh juices, fruit salads, and traditional rice and beans. Her English is limited as is our Spanish, but no problem thanks to Google Translate. Cody was on hand and available to ensure property security, to make tour and transportation arrangements, to build bonfires, to arrange for fishing and snorkeling, etc. He is very capable and resourceful. He is also an excellent cook - his ceviche made from freshly caught yellow jack, was ‘simply the best’. Cody’s English is passable and he also uses Google Translate when needed. Please compensate and tip Cody and Yahira generously; they are deserving! We plan to see them again on a future visit to this place on Potrero! PS: Shout out to several local businesses at which we were repeat customers…all are walkable via the beach; and we occasionally used taxi or rented golf cart to get into town. The Beach House (0.1 mile), Hemingways (0.6 mile), Nita’s Coffee (0.7 mile), Café del Sol (0.7 mile), Merkdo (0.7 mile).
Stayed 9 nights in Jan 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lucinda G.

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

Great family vacation

I rented Palma del Mar for its access to the water, and it did not disappoint! After a long trip, it was great to be picked up at the airport by Mel and driven to the house. We arrived as dinner was being prepared by Uhira. It was delicious! We had made arrangements with Mel to be picked up and for dinner to be prepared the first night. The house is spacious and open. This time of year it is hot (90) during the day and cooler (75) at night. The bedrooms are air-conditioned, and fans are throughout the house. We turned on the bedroom acs late in the day to cool the bedrooms and turned the acs off at night but left the bedroom fans on at night. The mornings were lovely and cool. It was amazing to wake up and walk out the door across the lawn to the beach. The beach is quiet with a few walkers in the mornings. It is pretty quiet during the day too. You can walk to restaurants in either direction. The real reason we went to Palma del Mar was for fishing. Our boys are 12 & 14 and they love to fish! They were up by 5 am each morning to head to the beach to fish and they went back down the beach at night to fish under the lights. Cody made himself available. He took the boys out (for a fee) 4 times fishing! He made dinner one night for us including ceviche with fish he had speared. He got us lobsters one night. We were able to use his kayak. Mel has paddleboards, surfboards and boogie boards available too. Mel was helpful with so many things. We even spent a day with him on an adventure! We also rented a car for 2 days from a local car rental company. They dropped off the car at the house and picked it up! We went on some amazing adventures, but the highlight of our trip was relaxing and the boys going fishing on Cody's boat and from the beach. The house is close to so many things! Mel was kind and helpful- he has been visiting CR for 37 years! A gem of a host and we are so grateful to have shared his slice of heaven called "Palma del Mar'!
Stayed 9 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patrick M.

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

Beautiful location!

Our family of 5 just returned from a week long stay at Mel’s house. It’s in a beautiful location: a small cove that was not crowded at all (our girls truly were the only ones on the beach most days). The waves can get big but most of the time they are the perfect size for just bobbing/hanging out in the ocean. There is a shaded table on the beach that was a perfect spot for us to hang out and read/watch the kids. Owner/staff: Mel was incredibly helpful leading up to the trip. He happened to be in country while we were there, and was kind to show us around some of his favorite places. He has been living part-time in CR for many years, and it is clear that it holds his heart. Yahaira is the cook and housekeeper, and she was wonderful. We highly recommend asking her to prepare a traditional welcome dinner ($40 + groceries). We ate the arroz con pollo leftovers the entire week and they were so good. We paid Kody for a morning of fishing, and we all caught something with his helpful teaching. After fishing he took us to a cove where we could snorkel. That night he came over and cooked fish for dinner-it was wonderful. The house has belonged to Mel for 30+ years. It is simple and has not been updated recently, as mentioned in other reviews, but we were comfortable and the location is wonderful. The AC in bedrooms works great, and we slept well. The common areas have strong fans, so even though those areas were warm they were fine. Be aware that you will need to bring soap/shampoo/etc (this is posted on the listing). There is a large market about a 15 minute walk from the house, which was very helpful. Things to do: We did the basic zip line course at Congo Trail (short drive from the house) and it was great. We visited Conchal Beach (all sea shells)-highly recommend for a morning or afternoon. We took a trip to Tamarindo for lunch and some shopping, which was fun. We ate lunch one day at Pleamar, a restaurant that is a short walk down the beach from the house. Excellent ceviche and really good fried fish. We came to Costa Rica to disconnect and have some relaxed family time. This house helped make that possible. We are thankful for the hospitality of Mel, Yahaira, and Kody!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022
Verified

6/10 Okay

Elizabeth B.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication

Location and view are what this property has going for it

Pros: Great location, nice view, affordable. Cons: This is a NO-FRILLS property. Be prepared to pay additional cleaning and property manager fees in addition to what's stated in the listing. Overall this house needs a deep scrub, several fresh coats of paint and some new furnishings.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Daniel D.

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

Great Beach front villa

Location! Location! location! I just spend a magical week at this house right on Potrero beach. Nice quiet beach. There are two restaurants on the beach within walking distance. There is a village a few minutes by car for groceries and a fresh fruit and vegetable market. There are also several other beaches to discover just a few km by car. You are 20 minutes from Tamarindo, if you want some tourist action. Lots of activities to do in this area: fishing, nature, turtle, beach, ATV, horseback riding… The house is super clean. For an extra, Yahira will clean and wash your laundry every day. In addition, I recommend the delicious welcome dinner prepared by Yahira. Cody, a very nice guy, who lives on the same site can advise you and help you find all kinds of activities. I went fishing with Cody. I ate fish every day. Cody caught me lobsters. You have to pay Cody for his services and the fish. Cody made me some delicious mango juice from the mango tree on the property. By far the best value in this area according to my research. I'm going back next year. (Sorry for the bad english I am french Canadian)
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Larry V.

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

Palma Del Mar

Cody and Yahida did a great job of welcoming us, keeping our house clean and organized and arranging taxis and excursions. Friendly and courteous. They are indispensable help for 1st time visitors and on subsequent visits they are just a luxury. Location location location. Restaurants along the beach and in Potrero are all walking distance along the beach with access from this beachfront property. This property location is very safe and secure. This was our second visit and I’m sure we’ll be back soon.
Stayed 15 nights in Feb 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melissa W.

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

Location is amazing

My family and I enjoyed our time here. Cody was absolutely wonderful, he was there to help with absolutely anything we needed. Took my husband and boys fishing and we cooked the fish for dinner! The lady that cleaned was very sweet and cooked us a wonderful welcome dinner. Location is unbelievable, so close to the water. Just steps away from restaurants . This property is no frills though. Air-conditioning units only in the bedrooms. No AC in the common areas. There were lots of bugs inside. Overall we enjoyed our week here!
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Steven M.

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

Great location

Our group of 6 adults was supposed to stay at Palma de Mar in November 2020 but our plans were cancelled due to Covid. Although our host Mel has a no refund policy, we were grateful that he allowed us to transfer our reservation to November 2021. We very much enjoyed our stay. Great beachfront location.
Stayed 10 nights in Nov 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

amanda w.

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

Unbeatable location, wonderful stay!

Overall this is a great place to stay and our family had a wonderful time. My husband and I traveled with our 4 kids ages 3-8. This is a typical Costa Rican house right on the beach. I’ll write an honest review here, as I think it’s fantastic as long as you have the right expectations. Highlights: -Location: right on the beach. Walk out your house, cross a lush garden, open the small gate and walk onto the beach. Can also walk to a couple of restaurants on the beach from the house. -Codi & Perla: They live in an attached place behind the house and are available for anything. Perla will cook you an amazing meal for $40 plus cost of the food. She does a little light cleaning maybe every other day. She will also do your laundry. She is warm, friendly and an amazing cook! Codi is an expert fisherman and for a fee will take you out on his small boat. He took my husband and 4 kids and they had a blast. He also built us a spectacular bonfire one night. They are both wonderful and kind. -A chance to experience Costa Rica in a more authentic way - living in the culture, and not at a resort where you get very little of the culture -That being said, this is not a resort or fancy condo. It’s an older house on the beach. There are some bugs. The bathrooms and kitchen are old. The furniture and mattresses (except one bed) are not new. If you want more of a resort feel with brand new updated everything, this isn’t your place. -Overall we are so glad we stayed here. It was a beautiful way to experience Costa Rican beauty and culture. Definitely recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cheri R.

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

Accommodating owner!

Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic/COVID 19 and travel bans, we were not able to travel to this location in April 2020. Mel N. was extremely personable, kind, and accommodating throughout this difficult time. He took the time to actually connect by talking with us and showing compassion. He took it upon himself to re-schedule our booking for next year despite his own hardships. Our family feels very fortunate to have booked at this location due to Mel's support. God bless you Mel! We REALLY look forward to our trip next year!!!
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anna G.

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

Reschedule

This is an unconventional review since my family had to cancel/reschedule our vacation to Costa Rica due to the travel restrictions surrounding the corona virus. We were so looking forward to this trip and staying at this house. We decided to reschedule/cancel only two days before we had planned to leave, so I was concerned with losing money/unable to reschedule. I called Mel and he was so understanding and flexible with the whole situation. He immediately told me, we would not lose any money rescheduling. He spent time with me on the phone and emails, making sure we could find a week later in the year that would work for our family. He also contacted the driver we had hired to explain the situation for me. He has been an amazing owner to work with and we cannot wait for our trip later this year!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James L.

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

Great spot on the beach

Great time staying here
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James R.

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

Great Tico Experience

If you are looking for an amazing stay at the beach where you can hang with the locals and feel part of the community, this is your spot! We were looking for a Tico experience, and that is exactly what we got! The beach was PERFECT, a walk out the front door for a cooling swim. No rocks just a continuous, uniform, gentle sand slope and no undertow. We were in the water many times every day. So much that we felt the swells later in the day when on dry land. The boogie boards, surf boards, kayaks and water toys were there for our use and we always had the beach to ourselves, it was wonderful. Perla and Cody the house and grounds keeper were awesome to say the least. They gave us tips on restaurants, grocery stores (within walking distance) and nearby beaches. Without their help we would have missed a lot. Fluency in Spanish definitely helped and allowed us to really get to know Cody and Perla and speak with the locals, but it is not essential. Perlas' welcoming dinner and Codys' personal surfing lessons, catamaran fishing, ceviche cooking and snorkeling excursions will never be forgotten. If you are old enough to remember the movie “Swiss Family Robinson” that gives you a flavor of the adventure. The home is spacious with four air-conditioned bedrooms, a TV space if you want to sit and watch a movie and a large dining room for dinner. Very Tico, including a rooftop view of the bay and bird life. It was a perfect home base for doing all of the ECO tour things or just hanging out, reading a book in the shade and watching the waves. YES, we will come back, Pura Vida!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Catherine D.

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

Palma Del Mar

As other posters have said, Perla and Kodi were always willing to provide any extra services with good cheer. We were a party of 10 for two weeks over the Christmas holidays. The house is better suited to 8 so everyone gets a room to sleep in and store their gear. Lots of space outside to spread out during the day. Location on a nearly private beach was ideal. The children loved the beach as it was mild surf most days, one very windy day bring the exception. Mel was easily reached by phone or text for any questions. A good grocery store not far but a car was pretty much necessary for keeping supplied. I would love to have had a gas bbq grill outside to cook on which would have saved having to fire up the cookers in the kitchen. All in all, good value for the cost.
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

john s.

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

Beautiful location

At this location we walked to rent a golf cart which you can drive on the roads. This was fun and a great way to see where everything is located. We also took the cart to a car rental which was also not expensive which we used for sightseeing golfing and shopping. Cody and Perla are great people. They will help out with what ever you need. Went fishing with Cody which was a great experience. The ocean water is so warm as I swam several days before 7am. We hope to visit again but next time for more than a week.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brian V.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Playa Potrero Playa Del Mar - great location and excellent, memorable hosts in Perla and Kodi

The compelling reasons why we booked this house for our Costa Rican vacation was the location, the feedback on the live in property hosts Perla and Kodi and most importantly that the property has most of the rooms on the first floor. We have a child with muscular dystrophy who can walk short distances but cannot navigate steps much less stairs. Mel, the owner, responded before we booked that there is only a small step in the living room area that leads to the back door that leads to the beach. Our son was easily helped to navigate that step during the week. Mel and his communication is spot on. Mel provides great overview and context of what to expect at his property and the experiences in the area. A favorite aspect of this rental is that he Pacific Ocean that is Potrero Bay shoreline is literally about 45 steps around High Tide and 50 steps or so at lower tides from the back door of the house. It is a quiet beach area with safe surf and currents most of the time that will allow you to have relatively private, safe beach fun with your family of all ages and capabilities. Other more popular beaches are close drives like Playa Flamingo (big waves and strong surf and great sunsets) and Playa Conchal (comfortable crushed shells white sand beach. We enjoyed a day trip about 30 to 40 minutes away heading east of Potrero up the Monkey Trail road to the CONGO TRAIL CANOPY TOUR for Ziplining adventures and an ATV Tour. The ATV tour was on their property so our 8 year old to 13 year old kids were able to drive their own ATV's. We recommend this excursion Perla and Kodi will perform great service with their cooking and fishing and leading adventures and showing you around for unspoken fees (tips) that are great value and will enable you and your family to have a very memorable vacation. We paid Perla $30 to cook amazing meals for our family and she would put up the leftovers and clean the dishes. We paid/tipped Kodi about $40 to take our kids on a 2 hour or so fishing / snorkeling adventure in the morning where he would catch a lot of fish spearfishing and then have him clean the fish for us for us to cook or have Perla cook an amazing meal. The experiences our kids got on those daily morning fishing trips is priceless. This would have been a $100 to $150 excursion. In summary, renting Palma Del Mar in Potrero will provide , memorable, relaxing vacation for your family and feel like adding Perla and Kodi to your family. Pura Vida!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessica V.

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

AMAZING !!!!

Where to being! This house is truly a gem. The beachfront location was amazing. Literally steps away form the ocean. Felt great waking up to the sound of the waves and being able to talk our morning walks on the beach with the family. The house in a great location close to many other local beaches and hot spots. The house was clean, comfortable and always felt safe. Our family of 7 (ranging from 5- 55) stayed during the month of July and could not have asked for better place. Mel was in constant contact before and during our vacation which was great as he provided tips on local hots spot, grocery shopping, restaurants, local transportation, shuttle service to and from airport, excursions, activities, etc. This house is the full package. Cody and Perla (caretakers) were very helpful during our stay. Perla made sure the house was clean and comfortable. I would definitely recommend the welcome diner. On our first night there, Perla cooked arroz con pollo (traditional chicken and rice) which everyone truly enjoyed, and even had leftovers for 2 days. Cody was amazing; always super friendly and helpful in many ways. To name a few, he set up bonfires; brought down coconuts right off the tree on property; took us snorkeling ; gave surf lessons, set up a jetski session; took us to a private beach on his boat (amazing!!). Cody also caught fish, lobster and squid for us which could not have been better as we all the enjoyed fresh seafood right out of the ocean. Perla's was great with cooking the catch of the day for us, and let me just say that we were all very satisfied and licking plates of how delicious it all was. She made the fish into a ceviche; and OMG the lobster and squid were exquisite! The squid was cooked in a white sauce that was just simply mouth watering and the lobster was perfectly done and was soooo yummy!! Honestly, we couldn't have asked for a better place and people to deal with. Mel, Cody and Perla were truly helpful throughout out trip and made it all that more memorable. Our family is very grateful for the time they dedicated in making sure that we were all happy, comfortable and enjoying ourselves. We will most definitely be back to this one of a kind beach house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Great vacation in Playa Potrero

Our family of 5 really enjoyed staying in Potrero. The beach is quiet compared to neighboring beaches. You can walk 5 minutes in one direction and have a great meal at the Beach House Restaurant or 10 minutes the other way and eat at the Sailing Center. One of our favorite activities was to charter a sailboat from there and go on a snorkeling trip with one of the local captains. Two nights in a row we had a visit from large sea turtles, the second night, we witnessed her come in from the water, dig a hole, lay eggs and head back to sea. We explored many of the nearby beaches, the Diamante Adventure Park and enjoyed trying some of the great restaurants in the small town of Potrero. I definitely recommend this rustic, old school beach house.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Larry V.

Palma Del Mar is a Great private beachfront home.

There were 10 of us at Palma De Mar for the first 10 days and we had an absolutely great time. The property which was directly on the beach was looked after by Perla and Cody. Perla shopped, cooked dinner and cleaned up the mess for us for those first 10 days which made it a real holiday for all of us. We ate the leftovers the next day. Perla did our wash and cleaned constantly. The house layout was perfect with 2 bedrooms and a full bathroom on each side of the house. There were fans in every room to keep you cool and the cool breezes off the ocean, which was right out front also helped to keep us cool. Air conditioners in each bedroom kept us cool at night. For me one of the highlights was the fishing off shore with Cody as often as I wanted in his small boat. We caught many fish and wide varieties of them. The weather every day was perfect and started with coffee at the beach in the morning, walking down the beach to so many great restaurants, grocery shopping and just for the exercise. We’d have cocktails at the beach in the afternoon and watched the great sunsets in the evening. Cody had large bonfire at the beach for the kids to roast marshmallows, got the grandkids on the surfboards in the waves and climbed the trees on the property to get coconuts for the kids. My wife and I stayed on by ourselves for the rest of the month and found it hard to leave. Thank you Mel, Perla and Cody for hosting us and we hope to see you again next year.
Stayed 28 nights in Jan 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brienne G.

A True Costa Rican Gem💎 🌴

Just wrapped up a 9 night stay at this GEM! As advertised, there is nothing fancy about this beach house. It’s truly authentic which is why it’s so special. There are 4 good sized bedrooms and two bathrooms. Beds are very comfy with light airy bedding for those hot nights. All rooms also have AC which we never used. There are very powerful ceiling fans throughout the house. That combined with the open air design of the home was enough to keep it cool and comfortable. The upper level has a great hammock and hanging chairs, and allows you to look for miles toward Flamingo and beyond. What also sets this house apart from others are the caretakers Perla and Kodi. They live on site in a suite at the front of the house. They are basically there for you if you need anything...or will let you have your privacy. You pay a reasonable cleaning fee up front to Perla- and she comes in to tidy every couple of days and will do all the little things you don’t want to. Kodi is a fisherman and can organize any boating/fishing/snorkeling excursions you may want to take. We took Perla up on her welcome dinner. She bought the groceries, cooked an amazing meal and cleaned up for $30 plus the cost of groceries and a tip. I highly recommend this for your first night or anytime throughout your stay. Perla has a 9 year old daughter Aris who spent many hours playing with our twins and helping them learn some Spanish. We were even invited to her birthday party at a nearby resort! Playa Potrero is incredible. A smallish quiet bay with gentle waves, perfect for kids and swimming. There are lots of boats which is fun to watch all the locals fish and work all day long. Out front of the house is an awesome Rancho with seating for 6, providing beautiful views and nice shade. Don’t forget to check out the yoga at Bahia Del Sol, a 6 min walk down the beach. 8:30 Monday - Saturday...Hatha and strength classes. They were FABULOUS The only thing I would caution is if you’re not a dog lover. There are two dogs on site and many other dogs in the neighbourhood. They often like to “talk” to each other at night. We’ve found that when you live amongst the locals in any foreign country, this is just part of life...but all were super friendly. In my opinion, Mel could charge much more than he does considering the location, safe beach and great restaurants nearby but I’m guessing he just wants to share his little piece of paradise with others. Highly recommended! Pura Vida♥
Stayed 9 nights in Jan 2019

About the host

Hosted by Mel Norrbom

Host profile image
I am a semi-retired realtor. I've owned this home since 1993 and have vacationed here yearly. My four children grew up coming here and have numerous fond memories. I am co-owner, bi-lingual and live in California. The other owner is Alfonsina Espinal DeLeon. Affectionately called, Perla. Perla is co-owner, on-site hostess, chef, chauffeur and local activities coordinator.

Why they chose this property

If you would like a safe, fun and NOT a "all inclusive" Costa Rican experience... this is your place. We offer a comfortable, very clean home.
Very characteristic of the Costarican beach lifestyle. Our amenities are significant but in a traditional Costarican setting. We are happy to accomodate in any way we can.

What makes this property unique

We have taken the time to put in beautiful lawn areas filled with tropical plants, coconut palms, mango tree and various kinds of banana trees all right on the beach. You don't have to go anywhere, you are already there but if you have to go somewhere there are resort activity zones close by in both directions.

Languages:

English, Spanish
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