Ballena Royale

If you're reading this, don't wait, book it now! One of the most amazing VRBO/AIRBNB properties we've stayed at so far. It has it all - whale's tail view, toucans and other amazing birds, monkeys, butterflies, hummingbirds, and Zoe the resident three-toed sloth. The outdoor showers and tub, along with a solar/battery backup system for any power outages is also a huge plus. Hosts were extremely helpful. We booked massages during our stay, and it was great getting them out on the pool deck under the fans. Kids loved all the various bugs and wildlife that can be found on the property, was up every day at sunrise to check it all out. They also loved the pool design, shape, and floats provided, was is in it every day as well. Definitely get breakfast down the hill at Sibu cafe at least once during your stay, it's one of our favorites in the area. If we ever have the chance, we will book this place again in a heartbeat. Thank you!!!

I can't even put into words how incredible this place is. The host reached out to us the day before to set up a meet time to get the keys and a tour. They allowed us to check in a bit early when we arrived. You definitely will want a 4x4 vehicle, as the roads are a bit terrifying at first. You get used to it, don't worry. The host was so pleasant and charming, we appreciated the house tour.As you can see in the photos, this place is absolutely stunning. The view alone is enough to take you to another planet. Other than what is listed already, some things I find worth noting are they provide beach towels, soap for the washing machine, a few pool noodles, a JBL Bluetooth speaker, two yoga mats and there were 4 hammocks at the time. We saw the resident sloth every day in his favorite tree. Not many cool birds, but a few colorful ones. Even a fun racoon guy strolled through the yard one day. Be careful with leaving food out in the kitchen, the ants are relentless. We kept a lot of our food in the fridge. The fridge also provides ice and filtered water that we were able to tolerate (most of the water in CR tastes gross to us).We utilized the host to book private massages at the home and a private chef. Both were fantastic and highly recommend. They will help you book tours as well, if needed. We were so sad to leave. If you are even thinking about this place, hesitate no more! It's a dream.

Our first visit to Costa Rica, and we have fallen in love with both the country and Villa Ballena Royale! If, like me, you have a slight concern that the amazing reviews and stunning photos are just too good to be true, then I can confirm that they are 100% accurate. The villa itself, and the breathtaking views over Marino Ballena Park, will live in our hearts for the rest of our lives. I can also confirm that the road leading up to the villa is really not a problem, at least in the dry season. I certainly wouldn't want to walk up it, as it is very steep in places, but with a four-wheel drive SUV I found it relatively easy. Everything about the villa was first class, and I would struggle to find fault with anything. We especially enjoyed the outdoor shower, and the large pool with its perfect water temperature. YouGetHere were friendly and helpful, and the companies that they recommended for airport transfers, car hire and wildlife tours all proved to be excellent.The only slightly disappointing aspect was that we saw much less wildlife in the garden than other reviewers. Nature is unpredictable, but in two weeks all we got to enjoy was two brief visits from a Toucan, and a few fleeting glimpses of Hummingbirds. All of which leaves us with a dilemma - we never go back to places, as you miss the buzz associated with discovering somewhere new. However, we both had such a great time that we can't think of anywhere else we want to go, and so are already planning to return.

Our stay was beyond perfect. From the moment we opened the door the villa took our breath away. The pictures do not do it justice. Every amenity you would need is provided & the cleanliness is impeccable. The house concierge and management go above and beyond to assist you and are very responsive. They helped us with car rental booking, dining recommendations and even provided service to do our food shopping so we arrived to a stocked kitchen to our specifications. This was such a time saver so the moment we opened the door, our relaxing vacation began. The wildlife is amazing. We had a daily visit from the cutest sloth, beautiful bird and even monkeys! The Villa is also located in the perfect location, close to national parks and beautiful beaches. It is truly a paradise and an experience. We made memories with our children to last a lifetime and was so sad to leave, but if we do get the fortune to return, this is where we will stay. Pura Vida

Everything about this property was extraordinary! The outside area is simply amazing - the pool, the hammocks, the bar area - there is so much room and different areas to congregate and the view of the ocean from each is exceptional. Inside, the kitchen became our main hang out - it is so spacious and conducive to conversation around the enormous island. The bedrooms are nicely appointed, beds are very comfortable, and the AC units in each keep the rooms at a very comfortable temperature for sleeping. The views from the balconies of the upstairs bedrooms are amazing, as well as the view from the balcony between them. We loved the outdoor shower in the main floor bedroom! Waking up each morning to be greeted by the resident three-toed sloth was an added bonus - we enjoyed watching him eat and explore the trees he occupied. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and wish we could have spent more time at this luxurious property!

My wife and I love this area of Costa Rica and planned to return to enjoy a week of surfing, waterfalls, beaches and all the Costa Rica has to offer. We found Ballena Royale in our search and could not have been happier with the villa, the location or the service. We were contacted by the property manager a week before check in and arranged to meet the day of our arrival to show us the villa. He was in communication with us during the day and it made it easy to find and get checked in. The villa itself is amazing and the view is simply breathtaking. Everything in this property is well stocked and thought out, with views from the kitchen and master bedroom, and a well stocked outdoor cooking space we loved. We spent most of our time at the villa in the outdoor space, taking in views of the Pacific and the Whale Tail, plenty of places for sun, shade, relaxing and I particularly enjoyed the hammock. We even had a sloth that joined us a few mornings and put on a show while we had our coffee. We were so happy with our choice and cannot say enough about the quality, location and service we experienced last week. We look forward to returning!

Honestly, we cannot say enough about this Airbnb. A lot of times, the photos don’t meet reality - but this time they totally exceeded it. We were met down the hill at a restaurant by our host to guide us in. The cleanliness of the home was impeccable. The craftsmanship and details, in addition to the amenities will wow you. The quality of the furniture and the linens was great as well -uncommon in STRs. All three bedrooms have a view that will absolutely take your breath away. With so much in the area to do, we had to absolutely tear ourselves away from the home to get out. I think we would have been just as happy staying at the home the entire stay, getting groceries in uvita and cooking. Our absolute favorite part was Zoe the sloth. We were so lucky that she was in the garden just yards away most of our stay. We watched her eat & relax in the tree from the patio & upstairs bedroom. Three nights is not enough!! We tried to stay longer after we checked in. Can’t wait to come back.

Fell in love with this home. Thank you so much!