Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!

Photo gallery for Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!

A modern two-story house with a balcony, surrounded by lush greenery.
A room with a wooden bunk bed, a ceiling fan, a television, and a balcony with a view of greenery and mountains.
A pool surrounded by lush greenery and palm trees.
A living room with a sofa, TV, and a dining area with a table and chairs.
A bedroom with a bed, a ceiling fan, a view of a mountain through a window, and a wooden wardrobe.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Dive into relaxation
    Unwind in the top-rated pool, your perfect spot for relaxation.
  • Your own private chef
    One of the few properties offering private chef services.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Butterfly Conservatory

Popular amenities

  • Massages in spa
  • Balcony
  • Private pool
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View map
El Castillo, Alajuela
  • Place, Butterfly Conservatory
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Lake Arenal
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Arenal Volcano National Park
    ‪42 min drive‬
  • Airport, La Fortuna (FON-Arenal)
    ‪66 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Peñas Blancas

Located in El Millon, a neighbourhood in Peñas Blancas, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. Los Lagos Hot Springs and Baldi Hot Springs are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lake Arenal and Arenal Volcano. Butterfly Conservatory and Wellness Park Costa Rica are also worth visiting. Kayaking and water tubing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and hiking/biking trails nearby.
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Map
El Castillo, Alajuela

What's nearby

  • Butterfly Conservatory - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Lake Arenal - 4 min drive - 1.4 km
  • Arenal Volcano National Park - 42 min drive - 14.6 km
  • Tabacon Hot Springs - 45 min drive - 15.3 km
  • Baldi Hot Springs - 54 min drive - 24.3 km

Getting around

  • La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shangri-La Gardens - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Soda La Palma - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Río Lounge - ‬38 min drive
  • ‪La Mesa de Mamá - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪La Ventanita - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!! have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!! located?

Located in El Millon, this holiday home is 0.3 mi (0.4 km) from Butterfly Conservatory and within 3 miles (5 km) of Lake Arenal and Costa Rica Sky Adventures. Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Hot Springs are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 25 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 25 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 25 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 25 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved the area. House and pool were great
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Location and Beautiful Place

We had a great stay here for 5 nights. Beautiful location with nice views. The local restaurants are some of the best we had on our trips so no need to go to La Fortuna and spend more for less. I highly recommend this place and would come back.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Location

This property is in a great location. Quick and easy drive to La Fortuna. Several restaurants very close by. Great property management which was very attentive to our needs.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great experience, nice house!

We had a group of 6 here and it worked perfectly. Nice pool and views of the surrounding area. Some good food spots close by too. Would stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Arenal stay

Overall good communication and good space for our trip. Drive a high clearance car for this accomodations though
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful and Perfect Views

We got what we wanted. I nice, safe, clean home to accommodate our family in the Arenal area. We were there 3 night and loved the location away from busy La Fortuna. Restaurants right around the house were great, not busy and good food.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Gracias

Great spot, isolated and well equipped! We enjoyed the pool and the view!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing place

You absolutely have to see the Region. You definitely need a car to get around. Will definitely go back.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Lovely house. Near Arenal lake and volcano which is a beautiful area. Walkable distance to local restaurants and grocery store. You will need your own car to stay here.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Adequate

It was nice. Great remote location about 20 minutes from ladortuna
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful Stay in El Castillo

What a cool little town El Castillo is! Highly recommend staying at Firefly. You can walk to restaurants, there is a really nice pool on-property and you can walk up the road to Lilander's for an amazing horseback riding tour. Agustin is incredibly nice and helpful with everything related to the house. This house is close to Sky Adventures and the Arenal National Park. Great location, lots of birds and wildlife everywhere. Really, really enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Agustin was on point! Very responsive. He met us at the check-in spot and drove us directly to the house. The house checked all the boxes that we needed for a couple of nights stay. No access to washer and dryer, which was kind of a bummer, but, they offer a laundry service which was super simple and reasonably priced. We did lose power in the evening due to a rain storm. But, they were able to restore it before morning. The home was centrally located to all the things we wanted to do. All in all, excellent property that we would highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great House

Great 3 bed room house for our family. House was just as shown in the pictures. Pool was cool. I would recommend staying at this house, going to the "Alien" restaurant two doors down and doing the horse back riding at Lilander's right up the road.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing place!!!

We absolutely loved our stay at this home. The location was perfect- it is far, yet close enough, to the hustle and bustle of La Fortuna. The neighborhood was quiet and homey. Plenty of restaurants and markets within walking distance, so many days we didn’t even leave! We absolutely loved the pool. It was so refreshing and we spent HOURS in it a day. We loved just walking around the neighborhood petting dogs, cats, feeding horses, catching fireflies and talking to locals. We were so sad to leave but made so many great memories here! And would stay here over and over!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Lovely peaceful village

You will love this little village of El Millon, especially if you want to avoid the busyness of La Fortuna (45 min away). The house is exactly as described; do expect firm beds and a lovely pool. Also minor power outages and spotty wifi; bring a candle as only 1 flashlight works. Happily the road has received significant improvements over the years, and there are a number of restaurants close by.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Firefly Retreat

Even more beautiful than the photos! A birder’s paradise. Refreshing spring fed pool. Had one minor issue during our stay and property manager Augustin saw to it immediately - maintenance was onsite within 5-10 minutes. House is on a steep hill, but there sre restaurants and activities within a short walk. Butterfly Conservatory is a must-do. I would 💯 stay in El Castillo/El Million again.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Perfect for us

The house was perfect for us. Located near the small town of El Castillo, it was just up the hill from several restaurants, the El Castillo Visitors Center, and a couple small general stores. It was just down the hill from Lilander's Horse Tours, which was great. It was about 20-minute drive into La Fortuna. The house manager met us at the Visitor's Center and showed us how to get the the property. As long as you don't need to be in walking distance of La Fortuna, I highly recommend this house.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

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

Hilltop retreat in El Castillo, Lake Arenal

We felt that the property could have been cleaner. The floor did not seem clean. The main floor also had a musty / mildew smell that we did not appreciate. Other than that the property itself is beautiful and the location is quite stunning.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful retreat.

After doing a ton of research trying to find a house that checked all of our necessary boxes, I chose the Firefly house. House was perfect. After long days of exploring and activities it was so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of La Fortuna we’d jump in the pool and just sit outside and listen to the birds. We heard the monkeys a few mornings and that was exciting. We saw a macaw and lots of toucans. There are several little restaurants along the way up to the house and a market for your basic necessities. Kitchen had plenty of pots and pans for the days we cooked at the house. We had a couple local dogs and cat that would come visit every evening looking for a few pets, they we very sweet. We were very satisfied with our stay.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Belle maison, très propre et bien entretenue. L'entretien de la piscine a revoir.Photos bien prises par rapport à la situation et les extérieurs.Maison idéalement placée pour les visites et sites touristiques. Bon accueil au niveau de la conciergerie.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

loved it. will stay again

great location all requests were immediately addressed augustine is an amazing property manager just like it looks online perfect place to disconnect from the world
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
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