Top 1% of guest reviews in this areaTop 1% of guest reviews in this area
Highlights
The great outdoors
Guests love the outdoor space here.
Infinity pool
A rare find - unwind in the stunning infinity pool
Explore, experience, enjoy
Guests like the location for activities and attractions nearby.
Discover nearby landmarks
Close to Playa Ballena
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6
Popular amenities
Infinity pool
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Barbecue
Explore the area
Uvita, Osa, Puntarenas
Playa Ballena
Place, Playa Ballena
10 min walk
Marino Ballena National Park
Place, Marino Ballena National Park
10 min drive
Hacienda Baru
Place, Hacienda Baru
31 min drive
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)
Guest Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Guest Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
Master bedroom
1 Queen Bed
2 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands
Important points below! Pura Vida!
This is the Costa Rican expression for everything that is good. It translates as pure life and is used as a greeting and a salutation. It is always spoken with a smile. Costa Rica is rated as one of the happiest places on earth. You can discover why.
Imagine secluded beaches where the jungle meets the sand, monkeys and toucans greeting you each morning, or swimming under warm waterfalls. All this happens everyday in the unspoiled beauty of Uvita.
Our rental home is situated in an old growth jungle minutes from the beach on the Pacific coast in Marino Ballena National Park, the only national marine park in Costa Rica. Ballena translates to whale. Humpbacks from the southern and northern hemisphere travel thousands of miles to have their babies in this area. Excellent whale watching, snorkeling and diving! We are halfway between Manual Antonio, the most popular park in Costa Rica, and the famous Osa Penninsula. National Geographic named our area one of the most bio-diverse areas on the planet. From the house and pool you can see the ever changing pacific ocean, local islands, incredible wildlife, rainforest, and beautiful sunsets.
The food in the area is the best in Costa Rica and maybe some of the best we have ever had - think Napa in the South Pacific. Expats from around the world have created amazing culinary delights. We can recommend at least 10 restaurants in the area. You can drink the water and eat the food and not worry.
The home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a newly-completely remodeled full gourmet kitchen, laundry room, two outside patio areas, a modest infinity pool, and a stone BBQ (boogie boards, beach chairs, beach and pool towels, a cooler, small binoculars and a telescope). Listen to the waves crashing on the shore from bed as you awake to howler monkeys calling in the trees. The jungle is right outside the door. Take a walk and see all the wonders you expect from Costa Rica.
The house is an easy accessible drive from the main road with a wide, short maintained road leading to the house. This should not be underestimated. Most homes in the area take a long drive up a steep, single lane, winding road taking up to 20 minutes from the main road, especially difficult at night. Look next to the map on the listing to where the closest beach is. If it more than .5 miles from the beach you will regret it. We are .3 miles to the beach. There will be no anxiety driving to this house. Rent a 4x4 or all wheel drive to get the most out of your trip in this area.
This is not a resort town. It is an agrarian area with beautiful farms and unspoiled beaches and jungle. It is a place to explore and discover. It will excite your inner adventurer. 5 islands are visible from our home. I don't now of anyone else that can boast that!
We would love to welcome you as our guest to Casa Ballena.
Pura Vida!
Proud of this review. It is what we strive for. Best Vacation Rental We Have Ever Booked! 5/5 Stayed Jan 2023 Janet M. I have rented over 30 vacation homes throughout Costa Rica, Europe and Australia and I owned my own vacation rental which has made me rather picky and critical. It takes a lot to impress me. But this property really impressed me! The attention to detail is outstanding. This is a lovely home is set in a gorgeous setting with outstanding views. The house has everything you could possibly need, is very comfortable, very clean and we felt very safe. The outdoor furniture is very good quality and comfortable. We never wanted to leave the awesome pool. It is very conveniently located to beaches and the towns of Uvita and Ojochal. The kitchen is very well stocked - which is rare! The fact that Mark provides boogie boards, beach chairs and a good supply of beach towels speaks volumes. Communication with Mark was excellent and he provided all kinds of information. He has a full binder of information on the house and recommendations on what to do in the area - perfect! We loved this place and will certainly stay here again when in the area.
Published Feb 7, 2023
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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, a first aid kit and 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
Bahía Ballena
Located in Bahía Ballena, this holiday home is on a river. Marino Ballena National Park and Terraba Sierpe National Wetlands reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Uvita Arts Center and Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and cycling.
Marino Ballena National Park - 10 min drive - 5.7 km
Catarata uvita - 15 min drive - 12.3 km
Hacienda Baru - 31 min drive - 30.0 km
Restaurants
La Choza de Alejo - 6 min drive
Restaurante Marino Ballena - 7 min drive
Restaurante Nativo - 9 min drive
Fernando’s Restaurante - 10 min drive
Kinsu - 8 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include infinity pools.
How much does it cost to stay at Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands?
As of 28 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands on 3 September 2026 start from NZ$672, 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.
Is Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Amazing Whitewater View Of The Ballena Marine Preserve Islands located?
Situated by the sea, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Playa Ballena and Pinuela Beach. Arco Beach and Marino Ballena National Park are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Words cannot describe how wonderful this home is. The photos do not do it justice. Everyday of our weeklong stay we were in awe of the view, the grounds and our overall experience. Mark goes above and beyond any VRBO host we have ever had! The home is beautiful and perfectly stocked. The pool is lovely, the grounds are stunning and the view is a million dollar view. I cannot recommend this property enough!
This property is amazing! The rooms were perfect for our family of five. The house was very clean and well-appointed. The pool was perfect to keep us cool, and the views of the ocean were stunning. Mark was great to work with and was so responsive. We own a VRBO property as well and try to offer a great experience to our guests, but we definitely learned a thing or two from Mark. He had a welcome gift for us upon arrival and had a book of suggested excursions and restaurants to try. All of this was so helpful. This was a wonderful stay! Highly recommend!
Kelly W.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 18 April 2026
Great pictures. I may steal a few for my property pictures. Thank you for the wonderful review!
An idyllic getaway.The home and grounds were every bit as perfect as they look in the pictures...Secluded enough to feel as though you are away from it all, and elevated enough to have beautiful views and a nice breeze, but close enough to town and to the major thoroughfare to make trips into town and to excursions very convenient (though still take Mark's recommendation to rent a 4x4 it is very much needed in CR!)The house itself was very clean and had everything that you need - a full kitchen, air con in the bedrooms, a beautiful infinity pool that is perfect to laze around in, destress, and look out over the ocean.Mark & Allyson were the perfect hosts - provided us with a lot of helpful inside tips and were very attentive throughout the whole process.Just the perfect home in the perfect place. We're already planning our return!
Alan C.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 20 April 2026
Thanks Alan. You guys were great guests! Would love to host you again.
We had a fabulous time at Mark and Allyson’s lovely home! We truly felt like we were in a tropical paradise. The gardens are stunning and the pool and outdoor shower kept us refreshed in the heat. Uvita and the nearby communities are readily accessible. The concierge and Mark made themselves available for any questions/concerns and went out of their way to make sure that we were comfortable. The house is extremely comfortable, tastefully decorated, and the kitchen is well appointed. We were able to make most of our meals at the house and enjoyed the views with each meal from the deck. I hope to be back again someday soon!
We could not have had a better experience. The views are amazing. The care with which the hosts took in preparing, maintaining, and ensuring we had a great stay was phenomenal.
Absolutely wonderful! The house had everything we needed. The VIEW was spectacular! The location was ideal. You felt secluded & had privacy, but it was a quick drive to town or local beaches. Communication with Mark & Rolondo was wonderful. They answered my questions right away. We were a family of 4 (16 yr old boy & 13 yr old girl). We did a private ATV tour with Jungle Tours, waterfall repelling with Costal Canyoning (private tour) & a surfing lesson & I would highly recommend all 3!! Uvita has a quiet elegance about it. The town had everything we needed (grocery, gas, restaurants, ATM,couple of cute store for shopping) yet nature was the main focus & everything felt very relaxed. Marks recommendations for food were spot on! Citrus & Exotica were delicious & great ambiance! Such a wonderful vacation!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us!!
Emily M.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 14 April 2026
Thank you Emily. It was wonderful hosting you and your family.
We had a fantastic stay at this beautiful, well-equipped property in Ballena. It was clean, comfortable, and perfectly located—close to everything but still peaceful. The host was friendly and responsive, and every detail made our stay easy and relaxing. We’d happily return and highly recommend it!
I took my family back to the Uvita area for our first international trip. Mark provided loads of good information and stayed in contact with us and the property manager throughout the trip to address any issues that came up. Beds were comfortable and place was fully stocked. I didn’t want to use the a/c but my family did so it came in clutch :) Great location, close to beaches.
Our stay at Mark and Allyson’s place was fantastic! Well situated with everything we needed. Pool was very nice to have, and the birds in the yard were incredible. We had a daily toucan visit us. Will definitely be back! Loved it.
We spent 2 months and loved it here. It was easy to settle in to the natural beauty surrounding the home and area. Hosts were very accommodating and responsive. Lots to do. Location, the home and the view were all spectacular.
My family and I spent 5 days at Mark's house. Not only was it a wonderful house but the wealth of information that Mark provided took all of the guesswork out of vacation research. Every recommendation we followed turned out great: David's river tour, Adventuras Bahia, Jungle ATV, and Arcos Beach and the hikes around it to name a few. Mark was incredibly attentive checking in and ready for any question or unexpected event. We wish we could have stayed longer and can't wait to to come back! The house was as beautiful as described and super comfortable.
Nikki L.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 July 2025
Thank you. You picked the best excursions given your short stay. So much more to do :-) Looking forward to your return. We are very proud that we have many return visitors.
This is our second year staying here. We love the property, the owner and the property manager. Everything was wonderful…no issues… and we hope to be able to come back soon! It has become our home away from home 😃
Three weeks flew by at this luxury estate. Mark was a responsive and generous host. The views are spectacular and every detail high end. Definitely want to come back.
Angela A.
Stayed 20 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 1 September 2024
Angela, that is so kind of you. So glad you had a wonderful stay! I would say well equipped villa vs luxury estate but I will take it :-)
Costa Rica house What can I say about this stunning house. We have wintered away 13 years, all different places and I can say this was my favorite home. So warm and welcome. The grounds are breathtaking and the gardens pristine. The garden folks come every Monday and are such lovely folks. The grounds, flowers, hidden spots pure magic. We stayed 2 months and have had everything we could possibly need. Mark and Rolando were so receptive to any questions about house, area in general , great ideas for where to eat. I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you of biodiversity.,If you want to experience howler monkeys at 5:00 every morning, this is your place. It’s quit thrilling and probably once in a lifetime. Welcome your house geckos, they eat bugs and I used the leaf blower ( thanks Mark!) to blow out the floors through the French doors. 3 sets facing the ocean. Geckos are messy but good luck. Ceiling fans inside and out kept things cool. The pool in the afternoon and beach walking was a welcome site. Thank you Mark, Gary the gecko, all the magic birds ..Ethan the ever present roadside hawk and lovely afternoon rains. Really she deserves 10 stars! PS. Also saw whales. Warm Regards Kathy and Bob M.- [ ]
Kathy M.
Stayed 58 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 6 March 2026
Kathy and Bob, Thank you for the wonderful review. Yes Gekos are good luck. Or so the story is told :-) Love to have you back again some day!
Mark
The house is lovely; especially the open living living area, wood doors and windows, and patio. The grounds are beautiful and very well maintained, with a beautiful view of the ocean. Also, the house is in a great location, close to many attractions (e.g., beaches, hikes, waterfalls, swimming holes), as well as grocery stores and restaurants.
We had an exquisite stay in this beautiful home. Our family loved everything about our time in Uvita. The views, the birds, the amenities. Thanks to Mark for taking such good care of us and for being a wonderful and welcoming host. We can’t wait to return. ¡Pura Vida!
This is a beautiful home, very spacious and well-appointed…including beach chairs and boogie boards! The sunset view, nice landscaping, along with easy access off the highway made for a very pleasant stay. Thank you for hosting us.
Our family has stayed at many properties in the area. This location of this house is what sets it apart for us. We've gone a half hour up the mountain to get to houses, this was 1 minute. There's a little highway noise because of it, but not annoying enough to take away from the close proximity to everything and the amazing view. We would definitely stay here again.
Todd A.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 23 October 2024
Thanks Todd! Yes most rentals are brutal drives up one way, dirt steep roads. No fun having to back up when another driver is coming the other way. Thats why we bought this place. There can be some highway noise but you also hear the waves crashing on the beach. We have seen crabs in the yard. Would love to host you and your wonderful family again someday.
This house is centrally located and near lots of great restaurants and black sand beaches. A 4 wheel drive SUV is mandatory! The VRBO host and local assistant (Roland) were really helpful and knowledgable about the area!
Pam G.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 February 2023
Thank you for the great review Pam! The yoga deck is special with views into the old growth jungle and views to the Bahia Ballena National Park islands. We often spot monkeys from there. 4 wheel drive is recommended for touring around Costa Rica. I am glad we were able to find you one last minute. Rolando comes through again! We require on our road because two wheel drives tend to tear up the road. Most excursions require a 4 wheel drive to get there. Not sure why they even rent 2 wheel drive cars to travelers. Hope to have you back some day!
Beautiful place to chill and appreciate nature and friendly locals!
Outstanding property with astonishingly responsive hosts! Mark and Allyson go above and beyond. The road/driveway are unusually easy to navigate, this makes a big difference. Delicious restaurants nearby. Great home base, whether you want a perfect place to relax in, or someplace to sleep in between tour activities. HIGHLY recommend!
Beuatiful property with amazing views. Quiet location but still close to town and activities. You can spend your time doing excursions or louging at the pool watching Iguanas, Green Parrots, Macaws, Toucans and other wildlife. Mark was wonderful to work with and would definitely rent this property again.
The setting was amazing and the view was incredible. We had all the comforts of home and truly loved the house. I would go back in a heart beat. The owner was very helpful from the beginning to the end of our stay. Great memories were made that we will all treasure.
Cynthia F.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 20 March 2023
Thank you Cynthia. We would love to have you back! Such a beautiful family. Glad to be part of such a big occasion.
This home was the perfect place for our vacation! Mark the home owner provides everything you may ever need to know about vacationing in Costa Rica. It made planning our trip so easy. The home is exceptionally clean and comfortable. We loved cooling off in the pool and watching birds from the patio. This home was absolute paradise!
This is our second time staying at Mark's house. We had a great time. The house is beautiful, the view is unbelievable. This was the first time we brought our kids to Costa Rica and they loved it. The area was great and everyone loved the pool. But highly recommend the house ❤️❤️❤️🌴🦜
Jennifer R.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
About the host
Hosted by Mark and Allyson Roberts
We are adventurous and love creating memorable travel experiences for couples, families and friends. I hope you like our home away from home. We currently live in Northern California in the redwoods in a 1934 log cabin. We live on a pond, 2 creeks and over 100 redwood trees. We are 20 minutes to the Pacific Ocean. 40 minutes from San Francisco. We like to snow ski, snorkel, dive and commune with nature.
Why they chose this property
We love the Pacific Ocean. The view of the Bahia Ballena marine park islands is one of the best in the Southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica. We love eco-tourism. Waking to howler monkeys and seeing toucans and iguanas in the yard every day while eating breakfast is incredible. My daughter calls the home her Neverland. She loves the Scarlet Macaws and Green parrots that fly over the pool. We think easy access to adventures is important. There are steep narrow roads to most properties. Ours is a breeze by comparison. Not to underestimated as a feature. We were blown away by the foodie restaurants in the area. It is like eating in Napa or the south of France!
What makes this property unique
If you can pull yourself away from the hammocks, the pool and the view there are amazing things to explore. Snorkel at the islands in front of the house or at the whale's tale, go diving at Cano island, horseback ride to a magnificent waterfall, zipline through the jungle, go on a nature boat up the Sierpe to see amazing wildlife, rappel down waterfalls (canyoning), jump into the swimming hole below the waterfall, go deep sea fishing, kayaking in the mangroves or just walk into the primary rainforest around the house. We can help guide you to all of that and more!
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests