Entire home

STEPS AWAY FROM BEAUTIFUL PENCA & PRIETA BEACH

Photo gallery for STEPS AWAY FROM BEAUTIFUL PENCA & PRIETA BEACH

A kitchen with dark wooden cabinets, a granite countertop, a stainless steel refrigerator, and a built-in dishwasher.
A spacious kitchen with dark wood cabinets, a granite countertop, and a central island with bar stools.
A room with a wooden table and bench, large windows with metal bars, and a view of greenery.
A bedroom with a bed, bedside lamps, a ceiling fan, and a window with a view of greenery.
A window seat with a view of dense foliage.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • On-site fitness centre
    A rare find - enjoy convenient access to fitness facilities during your stay.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Penca Beach
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Massages in spa
  • Toys
  • On-site fitness centre
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View map
Potrero, Guanacaste
  • Place, Penca Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Playa Prieta
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Place, Playa Potrero
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, Liberia (LIR-Daniel Oduber Intl.)
    ‪94 min drive‬

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 & PRIETA 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. Prieta Beach can be accessed by way of a short trail on the north end of Penca Beach. 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 our friendly "Tico" neighbors on your walk to the beach. There are 2 grocery stores and many restaurants, the world's best real, gourmet Italian gelato shop all within a 5-10 minute walk from the house.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 20
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Guests or visitors of renters, must be pre approved by owner to protect our property and renters safety. Valid identification required by host.
Guest must provide owner with estimated arrival time. No check in between 10pm and 5am.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 786542vb
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 indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher 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

Tempate

Potrero, a neighbourhood in 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. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and hiking nearby.
View more Holiday homes in TempateOpens in a new window
Map
Potrero, Guanacaste

What's nearby

  • Penca Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Potrero Bay - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Playa Prieta - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Playa Potrero - 5 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Flamingo Beach - 14 min drive - 6.0 km

Getting around

  • Tamarindo (TNO) - 38 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Surf Box - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Amigos Tacos y Beer - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Pots & Bowls - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Beach House - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Hemingway's - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is STEPS AWAY FROM BEAUTIFUL PENCA & PRIETA BEACH pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at STEPS AWAY FROM BEAUTIFUL PENCA & PRIETA BEACH?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at STEPS AWAY FROM BEAUTIFUL PENCA & PRIETA BEACH?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at STEPS AWAY FROM BEAUTIFUL PENCA & PRIETA BEACH?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is STEPS AWAY FROM BEAUTIFUL PENCA & PRIETA BEACH located?

Located in Potrero, 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.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 144 out of 146 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 146 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 146 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 146 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 146 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, nice hosts and very family friendly accommodations. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 7 April 2026
Thank you for your review! We appreciate your staying with us and hope to see you again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Idyllic location, easy walking distance to tranquil beaches and good food. Comfortable lodging with everything you might need.
Beautiful sunsets every evening
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 4 March 2026
We very much appreciate your comments. Thank you for staying!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house is great! Great location. A very short walk to a beautiful beach. Short walk to several restaurants. Thanks to Melissa and Richard for making our stay so nice.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 31 March 2026
Thanks so much for your review! It was our pleasure to host you.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful place and terrific host.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 27 November 2025
We are happy you enjoyed your stay with us at Penca beach! Thank you for choosing our property. Happy Holidays.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our family stayed at this house for two weeks and loved everything about it. The space was exactly what we needed, the proximity to Penca beach was perfect and getting to know Melissa and Richard was so special. This is truly a wonderful house and host. We will certainly be back!
Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 18 March 2026
It was fun having you on the property. Hurry back!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous hosts! Beautiful accommodations. We loved Penca Beach, the swimming and the sunsets. Will definitely stay again !The accommodations were superb, modern and well stocked.
Sunset on Penca Beach
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 8 January 2026
Thank you for your review!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Melissa was a great host and the house was just as advertised. Great location near the beach. Thanks!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 January 2026
Thank you, for being a great guest. I am very glad that you were happy with your stay. All the best!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful, safe property perfectly located within walking distance to Playa Penca. All amenities were well kept and available to use. Our host was wonderful, and even informed us of howler monkeys across the street from the property for our son to see. Very clean and well kept. We took coffee on the screened in back porch daily and listened to the howler monkeys, ocean waves and bird songs. Would recommend to anyone we know traveling in the area. Also loved the sweet dogs and cats on the property.
Playa Penca.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely place, lovely people
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 July 2025
Thank you for your kind review. It was a pleasure to have you stay at our guesthouse for your Costa Rica adventure!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was perfect. Meliisa was a gracious & accommodating host. She helped arrange airport transfer & was quick to communicate during my stay. Coffee on the back porch each morning was delightful. The beach was absolutely stunning & never crowded. The sunsets took my breath away. I look forward to returning soon.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 19 January 2026
Thank you for your review! How wonderful that you settled in and were able to relax and enjoy the property and the beach so much. We look forward to your return.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 18 February 2025
Nous sommes très heureux que vous ayez apprécié votre séjour dans notre propriété. Merci pour la charmante peinture de notre chat, Augustus !
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was our second stay and once again it surpassed all our expectations! The house is a wonderful space with excellent amenities. The proximity to Penca Beach is unbelievable and we were able to enjoy nightly sunsets. The area restaurants are great. The property is a perfect location to enjoy many wonderful beaches and communities within a short drive. The hosts are gracious and were wonderful throughout our stay. The level of care and detail made us feel at home. They both have great ideas for day trips and fantastic recommendations for restaurants. We would highly recommend this property! Thank-you for such a great stay, looking forward to being back again!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 January 2026
Thanks a million for staying again! It's always a pleasure. You are the most active, adventure loving family. Muy buena gente.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Awesome

Awesome family location.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 14 December 2024
Thank you so much for your helpful review! It was a pleasure having you here.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 8 January 2024
Thank you for staying. We appreciate your time rating us and sharing your comments with prospective guests.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Very pleasant time

Nice hosts, nice property, nice location. I'd stay here again. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 January 2024
We appreciate you staying and hope that you will stay again. Thank you for your review!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 15 March 2025
It was a pleasure to have you stay! We are very happy to know that you enjoyed your time at Penca beach. Thank you for taking the time to write up a review.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful Family Vacation

We had an incredible time during our stay! We had everything we needed and the proximity to the beach was fantastic. Our hosts were extremely helpful when we had a questions. The property was well maintained, and loved the back screened in porch. We would love to come back!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 23 March 2024
We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay and would love to have you back again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 24 February 2025
Thank you for your review! It was great having you all on our property.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Melissa was very timely with her responses. It was clean and just as described.

We felt a part of the local community here and was walkable to the beach and restaurants.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 20 March 2023
We are very glad that you were happy with your experience staying at Casa Cancion de las Olas and appreciate your taking the time to send a review! Thank you for staying with us.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, great coffee, pizza and gelato within walking distance, most importantly absolutely magical beaches that we predominantly had to ourselves, but a short drive to more touristy areas like Tamarindo. We highly recommend this property
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 25 August 2022
A heartfelt thanks for your review. I am so glad that you and your family enjoyed the beach and the neighborhood eateries. :)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Great location, beautiful home, super host.

Great location, we walked to the beach every morning and went for a swim. Beautiful home, fun watching the monkeys in the tree right outside the window. Super host, Melissa gave us great suggests for places to ride and restaurants to eat at. We had a great time.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 30 March 2020
Thank you for taking the time to share what you enjoyed about your stay!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect

Great property, great location! The beach is amazing! Hous has everything you can need and very comfortable. Thanks to our hosts! Going in my faves!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 May 2023
Thank you for your review! It was a pleasure to host you. Hope to have you back again sometime.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely!

The location is a little remote, but it's quiet, quaint, and close to beautiful Penca Beach—THE place to watch stunning sunsets!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 15 March 2023
Thank you for your review.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wedding anniversary / first trip to Costa Rica

Great location and friendly small town. Very close to many nice beaches. Exactly what the description of property stated. Owner / host was very friendly and accommodating. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 6 March 2023
Thank you for taking the time to give fellow travelers your review. It was a pleasure to have you.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 8 February 2024
We sincerely hope to see you again too! Thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review.

About the host

Hosted by Melissa Chellemi

Host profile image
Owners, Melissa and Richard Chellemi, have lived full time on site for 30 years. Melissa enjoys meeting new guests on arrival and offering any assistance or advice to maximize guests travel experience. Caretaker, "Santos" staff of 30 years on the property, is present and pleased to be available to assist guests as well.

Why they chose this property

We fell in love with Penca Beach at first sight. We purchased the property and built our home there 30 years ago. The back of our property borders a greenbelt with beautiful trees that host monkeys, tropical bird species and iguana. Our 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. We love outdoor adventure and especially enjoy ocean swimming, mountain bike riding and trail running.

What makes this property unique

This property has amazing proximity to two of the most beautiful swimming beaches on the coast - 2 minute walk to the water. It also has close access to challenging mountain trails for hiking, biking or running. Bird watching is great from our porch but also in the mountains. Our property is hidden from the street by a mass of giant bromeliads (think Jurassic Park) and heavy wooden gates. It is secure and private even though it is close to so many amenities.

Languages:

English, Spanish

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