Villa Mountain Serenity. Dominical

Villa Mountain Serenity is a three bedroom/two-and-a-half bath villa in the Cascadea Azul community. The villa is situated in the mountains above the small hamlet of Barú near the coastal town of Dominical, Costa Rica. This home is fully-equipped and perfectly situated within a tropical landscape featuring a private pool, BBQ island, and outdoor shower. It has a sweeping 180 degree mountain view, a serene valley view, and peaceful sunsets over the Pacific Ocean in the distance. The space Villa Mountain Serenity is a villa in the Cascade Azul community, situated in the mountains above the small hamlet of Barú and 7km from the coastal town of Dominical, Costa Rica. This three bedroom, two and a half bath home plus outdoor shower is perfectly situated within a tropical landscape, and offers a sweeping 180 degree mountain view, a serene valley view, and peaceful sunsets over the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Enjoy the tropical trees, plants and flowers and the toucans, parrots and butterflies that visit the grounds in the early morning and afternoons. The 900 ft elevation location provides a comfortable mountain breeze, even when it's steamy at the beach. The master bedroom and first floor guest room are air conditioned, but ceiling fans in every room allow a fresh breeze. The partially shaded terrace and cooking pergola offer the best of Costa Rican outdoor living. Patio sliders open directly from open plan kitchen/living room to the shaded veranda with outdoor granite table and seating for eight. Guests can relax between the pool and patio, or share a drink --or cooking advice-- at the BBQ island. Grill fresh catch of the day, outdoors, on the professional gas grill or make use of the fully-equipped indoor kitchen. Sleeping Accommodations The home sleeps six people comfortably. The upstairs master bedroom is equipped with a queen bed, and the next bedroom has two twin beds. The first floor guest room has a double futon bed, and its own private bathroom with shower. There is a sleeper sofa in the living room that can be configured as either a double bed, or two side-by-side twins. There is also a living room bench/sofa that could be used for extra single sleeper in a pinch. Well behaved children are always welcome, but house may be unsuitable for families with small toddlers or children who cannot swim, as pool in unfenced and only steps from your back door. VILLA MOUNTAIN SERENITY FAQs: Q. will I need a car? Yes, the home is in the gated community of Cascada Azul, situated approximately 3 miles (7km) from the beach --2.5 miles on a beautifully paved highway, and the last 1/2 mile on maintained gravel road into the coastal mountains. A car, preferably a 4WD, is recommended. There is a tiny convenience store or “soda,” as they are called in Costa Rica, in the hamlet of Baru, about a mile and a half away, but it would be a strenuous and long hike. For groceries, restaurants/bars, beaches, stores, etc. you would require transportation to the town of Dominical. Several taxi services are available. Q. is there someone in Costa Rica who can assist me while I am there? Yes, once you book the home, you will be put in touch with our local property managers, who can assist you with key handling, etc. Q. is there a beach nearby that will be easy to get to? The closest beach is Playa Dominical, approximately 3 miles away. This beach, however, has enormous waves (it is a world-class surfing destination) and also has a dangerous rip tide. Although the only beach in the area with life guards, I would not recommend it for casual swimming, especially for children. There are two other beaches we favor, down the coast near the next town of Uvita, Playas Ballena and Ventanas. Dominicalito, just adjacent Playa Dominical, is also generally calmer, but a bit rocky. Q. if we fly into the San Jose airport, how long is the drive to the house? About 3 to 3.5 hours, depending upon traffic and stops, via the new Caldera highway, or 4+ hours on the older Rt. 2 through San Isidro El General. You can also fly into Quepos via regional air, and it's a 30 minute drive down the coast. Q. would it be difficult to find?? We will provide clear directions, and the home is just off a major highway, and just a few kilometers off the Costañera Highway (34). Q. are there restaurants and shopping close by? Dominical is a rustic surfer town about 7km (3+ miles) away from the Cascada Azul community, and has a nice selection for casual dining. You can find Mexican, Thai, Italian, “Typical Costa Rican,” even a deli/bakery that serves awesome smoothies and great lunchtime sanwiches. Nearby hotels, such as Roca Verde and Rio Mar offer dining and bars. For shopping, you may wish to visit the bustling tourist town of Manuel Antonio (30 minutes drive north) which has souvenir, jewelry, and art/craft shops and many lively restaurants (I recommend a trip to Manuel Antonio, anyway, for the national park). Q. are there excursions and activities close by? Yes, yes, yes! Again, you can find many detailed on the house's web site, but there are spectacular waterfalls, including one right on the common property which is an adventure to hike to, the famous Nauyaca Falls only a few kilometers down the road, horseback tours, zip lining, and nature centers all within 10 miles. There are dozens of picturesque, quiet beaches all the way up and down the Southern Pacific coast near Dominical. You could easily go to a different one each day for more than a week! Q. What are 10 cool things to do in Dominical? For surfers, Playa Dominical has a famous left and right beach surf break, and waves 95% of the year. The same conditions attractive for surfers, however, can make it treacherous for swimmers. Playa Dominical can have dangerous rip tides. There are lifeguards present, but for calmer waters, Playa Ballena, and Playa Ventanas are preferable. Playa Dominicalito, next to Dominical, is also known for less intense waves and currents, but is rockier. Q. is it in a quiet neighborhood? Yes, Villa Mountain Serenity is in a community with other homes, but it is on a private plantel. It is the best of both worlds, because while there are people nearby, the property, pool, and home are quite private. Q. is there a grocery store close by? A small market in Dominical, about 3.5 miles away has almost everything you would need. For larger shopping, there is a bigger supermarket in Uvita, about 20 minutes down the coast, or there is a large MegaSuper in San Isidro El General, the largest nearby city about 35 minutes up into the Talamanca mountain range. Q. does the house have internet? Yes, the house is equipped with WiFi for internet connection. Q. what is the weather like? You can expect about 85+ degrees at the beach year round. The only difference in climate year round is that April/May-November is the "green," or rainy season, and December through March/April is the dry season. The temperature at the house is always a few degrees cooler because it is around 1000ft. elevation, and you get mountain breezes. Likewise, because of its proximity to the equator, the sunrise sunset are constant year-round at approximately 6am/6pm. Q. which rooms have air conditioning? There are two bedrooms with a/c: the master bedroom on the second floor, and the bedroom on the first floor with a double bed. There is not a/c throughout the rest of the home, but there are ceiling fans in each room and generally there is a mountain breeze. Q. will I need to bring anything with me? You need not bring any household items -- all bedding, tableware, towels, cookware etc., are all provided. Bring only your personal items, and a sense of adventure and/or relaxation! Q. what are the rental terms? The rates depend upon the season and are roughly as follows: Green Season May 01-Jun 30 and Aug 16-Nov 15: $900/week High Season Dec 01-Apr 30 and Jul 01-Aug 15: $1,095/week Peak Season Dec 20-Jan 10: $1,795/week PLEASE NOTE: A 10% rental tax will apply to all reservations. This will be the only extra cost at time of booking. Please note our cancellation policy prior to booking, and we also require a $300 security deposit, in case things are damaged or stolen. For people bringing pets, the security deposit may be greater, depending upon the circumstances. Other things to note A 4WD car is required for access, as the community is 1.7km up a mountain gravel road from the paved Dominical-San Isidro highway. PLEASE NOTE: A 10% rental tax will apply to all reservations. This will be added via a "Special Offer" after booking request is made.