Entire home

Steps away from beautiful Penca Beach

Holiday home with kitchen, near Playa Potrero

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4111.5 sq m

Popular amenities

Parking available
Dryer
Washer
Gym

Place, Penca Beach
Place, Playa Prieta
Place, Playa Potrero
Airport, Liberia (LIR-Daniel Oduber Intl.)

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bunk Bed

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining area

About this property

Steps away from beautiful Penca Beach

Highly sought after location! Just north of Tamarindo and across the bay from Flamingo Beach is the small coastal town of Potrero and Penca Beach. This smartly furnished, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house is a 2 minute walk to Penca Beach - one of Guanacaste’s most beautiful white sand beaches. Snorkel, skimboard, jog, swim, beachcomb, wade in tidepools or simply sunbathe and enjoy the gorgeous scenery by day, watch a different spectacular sunset every evening and stargaze by night. The sound of the surf will lull you sleep in this home built on stilts, nestled in the greenbelt tree canopy - A great place to relax with window seats to view monkeys, birds and iguanas or take a siesta. If you want to experience the real Costa Rica look no further. This is "Pura Vida" defined! Get to know the local culture in Potrero, where you can practice your Spanish on friendly Ticos, join in a soccer game or hit the Farmer’s Market Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There are 3 grocery stores and 3 restaurants within a 5 minute walk from the house. To the north is the Las Catalinas township where you can explore other beautiful beaches, enjoy a gourmet lunch, rent SUP boards, snorkeling equipment & mountain bikes to ride on their trails. Public transportation bus stops within easy walking distance. Private and shared tours and transportation available.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washing machine

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Gym

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Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 20

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Guests or visitors of renters, must be pre approved by owner to protect our property and renters safety.

Guest must provide owner with estimated arrival time. No check in between 10pm and 5am.

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 indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Potrero

Tempate is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Playa Potrero and Flamingo Beach. Diamante Eco Adventure Park and Monkey 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 Potrero

Potrero, Guanacaste

What's nearby

Penca Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
Playa Prieta - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
Playa Potrero - 3 min drive - 1.8 km
Flamingo Beach - 9 min drive - 5.6 km
Conchal Beach - 19 min drive - 11.0 km

Getting around

Tamarindo (TNO) - 38 min drive

Restaurants

‪Restaurante Pleamar - ‬7 min drive
‪La Forketta Food - ‬3 min drive
‪The Shack - ‬4 min drive
‪Brew House by Papagayo Brewing Co. - ‬8 min drive
‪The Beach House - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Steps away from beautiful Penca Beach pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Steps away from beautiful Penca Beach?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Steps away from beautiful Penca Beach?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Steps away from beautiful Penca Beach located?

Situated in Tempate, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Potrero Bay and Playa Potrero. Penca Beach and Playa Prieta are also within 15 minutes.

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey P.

21 February 2025

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

Perfecto.

The location is perfect. Melissa and Richard are wonderful and gracious. It made the trip everything we could have hoped for. Pure Vida!

Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jocelyne B.

21 April 2025

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

Great place close to a beautiful beach!

Melissa and Richard were great hosts, answering questions throughout our stay. Great location… a short walk to a beautiful beach! We stayed 14 nights. The house is very comfortable and clean with a beautiful screened-in room where we enjoyed our morning tea & Baileys. We especially enjoyed listening to the howler monkeys and the variety of birds. We actually got to see some monkeys one morning. The house is equipped with everything you need. We enjoyed living in the community of Potrero with 4 restaurants within walking distance and a selection of grocery stores. You must try the gelato place. We would highly recommend this place!

Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brad G.

19 January 2025

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

Outstanding Home Away From Home in Potrero

Melissa and Richard were incredible hosts and every part of this property is spectacular. The home itself is beautiful and cared for very well. The sunroom was our favourite space to spend time in the mornings and evenings, listening to the birds and howler monkeys. The proximity to the beach is remarkable. The local community offers a number of great restaurants and gelato which is a short walk from the house. Thank you for providing a great stay, we will definitely be back on our next visit to Costa Rica!

Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nancy D.

17 January 2025

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

Penca/Portrero

This property is perfect for so many! Birdwatchers, beach lovers, get away from super touristy spots with great local restaurants but close enough to drive to more “popular spots.” Casa Canciones is beautifully maintained, spotless inside and located on an amazing property where we saw so many incredible birds,iguanas and a couple monkeys from the screened in porch! All just about a block from the beach. We highly recommend this home. The owners are close by and so responsive.

Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eline S., Houston, USA

8 January 2024

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

Fantastic beach house

The location is amazing, only 1 minute walk from a beautiful (swimming) beach. The house is well equipped and very spacious. We really enjoyed our stay.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gus S.

5 February 2024

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

Fantastic vacation

Our first time in Costa Rica and it's hard to imagine how it could have been better. Great location, welcoming and helpful hosts, comfortable living and so much to see! Thank you, Melissa and Richard, for helping make our stay so enjoyable. Hope to see you again!

Stayed 9 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

John M.

31 December 2023

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

Perfect!

Melissa has curated a wonderful oasis, right next to a beautiful beach. Can't recommend this place enough. She was also very helpful with providing local recommendations as well. Thanks for making our vacation great!

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Patrick N.

11 December 2023

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

Wonderful

Very beautiful property, a one minute walk to a quiet beach. My wife and I witnessed a turtle hatching on the beach! We would recommend this place to anyone, Melissa and her husband were wonderful hosts.

Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Corey G.

6 June 2024

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

Excellent

I do not think, there are more hospitable host! Melissa went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. The house was just the right size for my wife and I and two teenaged boys. The location is great. I would and hopefully will, stay here again.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey E.

25 August 2019

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

Peaceful on Playa Penca

Very welcoming hosts; courteous and accommodating. Well-appointed and set up space that was perfect for our family. It really felt like a home away from home ... just steps from the beach! Beautiful. I hope we can stay again in the future.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Serge F., New York

5 June 2023

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

Great stay

Melissa is a wonderful host. Everything that you need were provided. The place is great just a few steps from the local secured beach. Communication with Melissa was excellent , she was responding very quickly on any question that we had. We recommended her for your next vacation.

Stayed 5 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gordon P.

14 March 2024

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

Peaceful and relaxing

A tranquil oasis with beautiful house and grounds. Melissa was a lovely host who made herself available to answer any questions and even arranged our transportation to and from the airport. This is an ideally located property with respect to proximity to the beautiful beach and the quaint town. First class

Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kim Z.

24 April 2022

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

Great local stay!

Very glad we chose to stay at Melissa’s property! Playa Penca was a very small beach with beautiful clear water (although waves and rip tides were a little much for my little ones!) but we had a great stay and walked to the restaurants and cafes for great meals. We found a taxi to take us to Diamante Park one afternoon which was less than a half hour away and great for the kids! Thanks for a great and memorable short stay!

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tina B.

14 January 2024

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

Amazing

This place is absolutely perfect! Has everything you need, clean, great location for beaches, restaurants, grocery stores, and other attractions/towns. Loved the back patio to drink coffee in the morning watching the iguanas. Melissa and Richard are truly amazing people!! Very attentive and helpful! Responded very quickly to all needs. Very resourceful as well! We did the Gamefisher II charter with them as well and their crew were amazing! Went over and beyond to make sure we had a great time catching mahi mahi and a sailfish. We will definitely be back!

Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

James L.

17 March 2019

Another Awesome Stay

This is our second stay at this property and loved it. Had the opportunity to walk the beach every morning almost to ourselves, saw howler monkeys from the kitchen window several afternoons, and the screened in porch is a godsend. You will need a rental car and recommend a small 4wd for the clearance as the road to the property is a bit rough (unpaved for about 100 yds from main road). Potrero/Flamingo area has many great restaurants but having a full kitchen was a great too. Friendly dogs and cats on property. Melissa is a great host. Will come again.

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl W.

15 September 2023

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

Heaven on earth

Melissa is by far the best hostess! We felt welcomed from the moment we arrived. The home was clean, stocked with anything and everything we could need. She assisted us with setting up a great day of fishing with a superb charter and checked in to ensure things were going well. When she heard I was having allergy issues she directed us to a local pharmacy and even called ahead to let Dr Lily know we were coming. The beautiful beach was steps away from the well-kept, fenced in landscaped yard. We will most definitely be returning to stay here again and will strongly encourage our family and friends to choose Melissa’s home as their VRBO location as well.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Richard W.

22 March 2023

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

Beautiful Potrero

Such a gorgeous property. Quaint, in lovely gardens, with a feeling of space, tranquility and nature. Staying at Melissa and Richard’s guest house has been the highlight of our CR holiday. So close to beautiful Penca beach, close to the lovely Carpe Diem Cafe , local Gelateria ( amazing) and local restaurants. We couldn’t have chosen a better place and location. Beautiful sunsets, long beach walks ( on local Potrero beach) peaceful morning coffee watching the humming birds all made this stay fabulous. We also went deep sea fishing with Salty Adventures in Flamingo. Truly spectacular with Tuna and Mahi Mahi. Great boats, crew and Capt Todd. Awesome. Would we come back…… Absolutely, we wish we’d stayed longer….😀😘

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Annick M., Gatineau, Canada

23 January 2019

Amazing property!

Only one word to describe our stay at Casa Canćion De Las Olas....AMAZING! The house was gorgeous and extremely clean. It had everything we needed (family of 5). Air conditioning was perfect, Wifi worked like a charm, beds were super comfortable, bathroom was amazing, etc. We especially enjoyed spending our mornings and evenings in the back porch watching the Iguanas and listening to the birds and howler monkeys. We were fortunate enough to see the monkeys feeding from the trees early one morning and we will never forget that experience! The house is literally 2 minutes from the best beach in Potrero. It was quiet and not bombarded with tourists which is exactly what we wanted. There were quite a few grocery stores and amazing restaurants just a couple of minutes away by car. Melissa was an amazing host. She gave us great advice on were to go and what to do. We also enjoyed the company oh her family pets...especially her older dog Eje...such a sweet old soul. We will never forget our stay in Potrero! We highly recommend this property and will DEFINITELY be back some day. Thank you Melissa for everything! And please let us know if ever you come to Ottawa, Canada!

Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Timothy B.

19 January 2023

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

A magnificent cottage

We wanted to go to Costa Rica but had no strong preferences about where in the country, so about eight months out we did a search for accommodations for three adults in all of the country. Melissa’s place turned up at or near the top. Potrero seemed to have everything we were looking for so we spent over two weeks with her in late December and early January. We were not disappointed. This is a magnificent cottage. Imagine what a high-end international hotelier would do in bringing in architects, builders, and decorators to create a several hundred unit facility and you get an idea of the quality of this one-of-a-kind guest house. Guest houses have the virtue of getting you into communities or areas that would be otherwise inaccessible; and getting you away from other people exactly like you. You can dip your toe into the local culture to whatever extent you like. One problem with guest houses, at least in North America, is that the owners are also the house keepers, and they are often not great house keepers. In this case, Melissa has a domestic staff! Open a drawer in the kitchen for the first time a see cutlery perfectly arranged. Everything in the cottage is pristine. We heard howler monkeys every morning and saw them, sometimes pretty close, about every two or three days. A large iguana prowls the trees of the property. My wife, the birder of the family, was happy with the frequency and variety of birds in the immediate area. We had a rental car for most of the time we were there. It was a mixed blessing. This area already has too many vehicles – cars, buses, and trucks – for the road system, and while there is new housing construction everywhere, there is no new road construction that we witnessed. Uber is new to the area and we used it once with good success. Despite the crowded roads, we would gladly repeat our stay with Melissa.

Stayed 15 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Plamen P.

22 December 2021

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

Birthday present / Vacation package to my wife Lili.

This was our third vacation in Costa Rica in the last four years. We arrived on November 26, 2021 – two days before Lili’s 60th birthday. The vacation was planned as a “birthday present” to my wife. Melissa was kind to arranged for the transportation from the airport in Liberia to the property, with a planned stop to a supermarket few miles before Potrero. At arrival we were greeted by Melissa, the dogs, and the two friendly cats. Melissa showed us the house, and within 15 minutes me and Lili felt at home. Personally, I am often suspicious of the reviews posted on the web. Before booking Richard’s and Melissa’s rental house, I read all 47 posted reviews from previous gests – opinion consistency was the most valuable factor in these reviews, which indicated authenticity. Our first impression – NOTHING was exaggerated in the video posted on YOUTUBE about Casa Cancion de las Olas. So, our vacation began. The Mimosa trees outside the kitchen and living room windows, the tropical forest you enjoy from the screened porch and the bedroom with howler monkeys and tree iguanas. La Penca beach was just as described on the internet. From personal experience I should compare it with the reputable Playa Conchal – soft, crashed seashells sand. (the beach of the All-inclusive Westin resort, at which we stayed in November 2019). Every morning, after 3 minutes’ walk, we were on the beach, to find ourselves alone, or with Chacho – the gardener walking the dog. Me and Lili will enjoy the beach and the worm Pacific until noon. Every day I was surf fishing. We were cooking our meals almost every day – I enjoy cooking, and the taste of the meat products in Costa Rica is better than in the USA. Melissa personally drove us to the supermarket to replenish our food supplies. On several occasions Melissa provided us with freshest possible Mahi Mahi or Tuna steaks (caught on Richard’s sportfishing boat). After spending thirteen days and nights in Casa Cancion de las Olas, I and Lili reached the decision, that our future vacations in Costa Rica are now “programmed” here. We also plan to rent Casa Cancion de las Olas for a period of three months, after Lili retires in 2024. Before this vacation, I promised to my wife that this will be probably the best birthday present / vacation “package” I can offer. I am so glad, that Lili agreed with me. Thank you, Melissa! Thank you, Capitan Richard! Liliana Penev Plamen Penev December 22, 1921 Long Island, New York

Stayed 13 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jake F.

23 July 2025

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

Lovely place, lovely people

Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joel W.

22 March 2025

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

Perfect Beach Getaway!

Spent a week at this clean, well decorated and comfortable beach house within walking minutes to Playa Penca and Playa Prieta. Melissa and Richard were fantastic hosts and were truly a pleasure to chat with and made us feel very much at home during our stay. I am already missing our mornings drinking coffee on the front porch admiring their beautiful landscaping while planning our daily adventures. Without question we will definitely be back!

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bruce S.

15 March 2025

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

Fun at Playa Penca

We enjoyed our stay at this property a short walk from the beach, a few restaurants, and a small grocery store. Much more a short drive away without the hustle and bustle. Hosts Melissa and Richard were friendly and helpful.

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shari N.

7 March 2025

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

Simply relaxing retreat

This stay and experience was great for us. Nice, clean comfortable house tucked in along the access road to Playa Penca. Steps away from the incredibly beautiful beach. If looking for a private, slow paced, relaxing experience- this is it. The setting is a small beach town in a Costa Rican community. It is not a resort area. With a car you can get to resort areas, shopping and adventure activities.We did not have a car, but we found that most activities/ tours would pick us up and drop us back off. There are a few local places to eat and a wonderful gelato shop within easy walking distance. But access to groceries limited. You will want to plan arrangements to pick up groceries on your way in. The Hosts will help with suggestions for groceries and activities. Be sure to talk to them before you arrive. The Hosts were super friendly, helpful and responsive if we needed anything. Melissa introduced us to the mountain road "power walk". Their cats and dogs were very friendly too.This house is quite accessible and would be easy for most people get around in. Small ramp to the front porch, barrier free walk in shower , pretty much all one level.We enjoyed bird watching, monkey visits and other wildlife encounters from the back screened in room and the front porch. Kitchen had what we needed for simple meal prep.The WiFi was great.Having access to laundry room was VERY appreciated since we had been traveling around for a week prior to arriving at the house.

Stayed 9 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michel G.

17 February 2025

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

Perfect place

Very confy houseFully equiped and very prettyQuiet , the perfect place to go

Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025

About the host

Hosted by Melissa Chellemi

Owners, Melissa and Richard Chellemi, live on site and are personally available to welcome your arrival, offer local knowledge and assistance with logistics, tours and activities. When away they will have someone available to offer same hospitality.
Melissa and Richard have lived full time in Costa Rica for over 32 years. They are in the charter fishing business.

Why they chose this property

We fell in love with Penca Beach at first sight. We purchased the property and built our home there 27 years ago. The back of our property borders a greenbelt with beautiful trees that host monkeys, tropical bird species and iguana. Our now young adult children were born and raised in Potrero Costa Rica. We have close personal relationships with all of the Costa Rican families on our street and in our neighborhood. We have enjoyed being an active part of our community for years. We built the new guest house on our property so that we could host and share this beautiful place with others.

What makes this property unique

The property is built with security in mind. Owners live on site year around in main house and a caretaker also resides on site in separate house. Property is gated with space for guests to park at least two cars inside.

Languages:

English, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

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Steps away from beautiful Penca Beach

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

Master Bedroom

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

About this property

Steps away from beautiful Penca Beach

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Have a question?

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House Rules

Children

Events

Pets

Smoking

Important information

You need to know

About the area

Potrero

What's nearby

Getting around

Restaurants

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

Exceptional

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey P.

Perfecto.

Jeffrey P.

10/10 Excellent

Jocelyne B.

Great place close to a beautiful beach!

Jocelyne B.

10/10 Excellent

Brad G.

Outstanding Home Away From Home in Potrero

Brad G.

10/10 Excellent

Nancy D.

Penca/Portrero

Nancy D.

10/10 Excellent

Eline S., Houston, USA

Fantastic beach house

Eline S.

10/10 Excellent

Gus S.

Fantastic vacation

Gus S.

10/10 Excellent

John M.

Perfect!

John M.

10/10 Excellent

Patrick N.

Wonderful

Patrick N.

10/10 Excellent

Corey G.

Excellent

Corey G.

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey E.

Peaceful on Playa Penca