Welcome to Casa Makai, your ultimate boho surf sanctuary! Just a stone's throw from the rolling waves of Playa Maderas, you'll find this cozy retreat ready to embrace you and up to three of your closest pals. Picture two snug bedrooms and a shared bath, all wrapped up in a laid-back vibe that screams comfort and style. After a day of chasing waves, kick back on our inviting patio Whether a seasoned surfer or a beach bum at heart, Casa Makai promises the perfect spot for your Nicaraguan getaway! The space Welcome to Casa Makai, a brand-new boho surf haven! This two-story home is newly built and waiting to welcome guests. On the lower level is the entry where you will find two cozy bedrooms King and a Queen, nestled amidst the trees, along with a breezy indoor/outdoor shower for that perfect post-surf rinse. There is also a full bathroom with washer for you use. Upstairs, enjoy a spacious common area featuring a relaxed living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a breezy patio overlooking lush greenery. With every corner emanating a laid-back vibe, you'll feel right at home in this tranquil retreat, surrounded by the greenery of nature, mixed together with the sound of the waves! Of note- a 4WD is best, though and AWD will do to access the home. The houses in the Maderas Valley are on a well, with a timed auto-fill at 7 am and 5 pm. Water is a precious resource in this area, so please be mindful of water usage. In the event of extreme heavy water usage it is possibly to drain the tank until the next auto-fill time. Casa Makai also has a nightly security patrol between sundown and sunrise. Guest access This is a whole home rental. There is a locked out owner room on the upper level and a locked out utility closet on the bottom. Other things to note The houses in the Maderas Valley are on a well, with a timed auto-fill at 7 am and 5 pm. Water is a precious resource in this area, so please be mindful of water usage. In the event of extreme heavy water usage it’s possible to drain the tank until the next auto-fill time. Hot water in both showers. The lower level while the bedrooms are closed and screened, is open air. The roads to Playa Maderas and in the community are dirt. A regular sedan is insufficient for getting back and forth to town at this time. At a minimum, a vehicle with AWD is required, or better yet 4WD, especially in the rainy season (May-October)

## The Space

Casa Makai is a newly built, two-story boho surf retreat located just steps from the waves of Playa Maderas. This cozy home comfortably accommodates up to four guests with two inviting bedrooms—a king and a queen—situated on the lower level among the trees. The bedrooms are enclosed and screened but maintain an open-air feel.

The lower floor also includes a full bathroom with a washer and a breezy indoor/outdoor shower, ideal for rinsing off after surfing. Upstairs, you’ll find a spacious common area featuring a relaxed living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a breezy patio that overlooks lush greenery. The entire home exudes a laid-back atmosphere, blending the sounds of nature and the ocean to create a tranquil environment.

## Location and Access

Casa Makai is nestled in the Maderas Valley, where homes rely on a well with an automatic timed refill at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Water is a valuable resource in this area, so guests are asked to use it thoughtfully. Heavy water use may deplete the tank until the next refill.

Access to the property requires a vehicle with all-wheel drive (AWD) at minimum, though four-wheel drive (4WD) is recommended, especially during the rainy season from May to October. The roads leading to Playa Maderas and within the community are dirt, making a regular sedan unsuitable for travel to and from town.

## Guest Access

Guests have exclusive use of the entire home. There is a locked owner’s room on the upper level and a locked utility closet on the lower level that are off-limits.

## Amenities

- Two bedrooms: one king bed and one queen bed  
- One full bathroom with washer  
- Indoor/outdoor shower with hot water  
- Fully equipped kitchen  
- Spacious living room  
- Breezy patio with views of greenery  
- Nightly security patrol from sundown to sunrise  

## Additional Notes

- The lower-level bedrooms are enclosed and screened but maintain an open-air design.  
- Water supply is limited by the well’s refill schedule; please conserve water.  
- A 4WD vehicle is preferred for property access, especially during the rainy season.  
- Security patrols are conducted nightly for guest safety.

Laura

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Maximum Occupancy

2BR house in San Juan del Sur

Casa Makai 2bdrm Steps From Surf of Playa Maderas - Houses for Rent in Playa Maderas, Rivas, Nicaragua

We had a lovely stay at Laura's. The accommodation is spacious and tidy. The kitchen is well equipped. The outdoor space is very nice for dining in the heart of nature. Laura sent us clear check-in instructions. The last stretch of road to get to the property is a bit more challenging, but an SUV can get you there. You can also walk there if you're willing to sweat a bit (that's what we did). Access to the beach is easy, and Playa Maderas beach is great. Beautiful fine sand and relatively uncrowded. I would recommned this property.

Nous avons passé un très beau séjour chez Laura. Le logement est spacieux et bien rangé. La cuisine est bien équipée. L'espace extérieur est très agréable pour prendre le repas en pleine nature. Laura nous a envoyé des instructions claires pour l'arrivée. La dernière section de route pour se rendre au logement est un peu plus périlleuse, mais un véhicule VUS permet de d'y rendre. On peut également s'y rendre à pied si on est prêt à suer un peu (c'est ce que nous faisions). L'accès à la plage est facile et la plage de playa Maderas est super. Beau sable fin et relativement peu achalandée. Je recommande ce logement!

We stayed here for the month of March. The good: The house is lovely and larger than it looks in the photos.  The open air aspect of the living and kitchen area makes it lovely in the heat of March without A/C. Bedrooms were stuffy. Vero- the onsite person- was very responsive.  Small little porch was sweet to lay in the (tiny) hammock. Unfortunately during 95% of our stay there was MAJOR road work going on that we were not warned about- right at the bottom of the hill- every day we had to walk across a huge construction zone to access the beach- where they were building a new bridge and a new highway.  Nothing was mentioned about this in the listing. We could not hear 'waves' - we heard construction- round the clock, early morning til way into the evening for the majority of our stay.  We were not alerted before arriving. Generally, hosts will let you know in advance about nearby construction.  We were rudely surprised and I would not have stayed here knowing this in advance.

Laura’s house is absolutely incredible. Thoughtful design with a nice open air concept, and it had everything we needed and more!

Casa Makai was a true jungle paradise! The house itself was beautifully designed, even better than the photos, with comfy beds and a well-equipped kitchen. The outdoor space was amazing, perfect for relaxing in the hammock. It's a short 10min walk to Playa Maderas (great for surfing) and 3 min walk to Buena Vista Surf Club (excellent yoga). Laura was a fantastic host, very accommodating. Highly recommend!

The place to stay in Maderas! The affordable price for such a nice stay in the jungle, near one of the best beach in the area! The house is immaculate, with bright colors and great airflow. It was a real dream to stay there for a week. The house is about 15 minutes walk up the hill, so it can be quite challenging for some! Be wary that we hear a lot the neighbords and construction around tho!

We had a pleasant stay. The place is lovely. Calm and hidden away in the forest. The climb up there is steep, but doable. Really immersed in nature.

Really nice house ☺️ calm and directly in nature 🌴 You can here all the sounds of nature and even see some monkeys from the balcony 😍 It is a bit hard to get there because the streets are not good and you have to walk uphill when you get back from the beach 🙈

Thank you so much Emma Valentina- we really enjoyed hosting you. The roads are rough after the recent hurricane but as things are drying out and repairs are bring made- it will improve!

The property was really special, the architecture was simple, modern and beautiful. We loved the natural elements blended seamlessly with nature.

Thank you Garren- it was great hosting you.

We loved our stay here nestled in a tropical forest whilst listening to the distant crashing of waves. The space is really well designed with many little corners to appreciate the peace and nature. The kitchen was well stocked with everything to cook a family meal. The dining table outside was amasing to eat and play games. For sure there are little critters around but with the screens on all the windows we did not have any mosquitos. Definately recommend having a 4x4 to access as the walk up and down the hill can be sketchy when raining. We loved this though as it gave me a chance to drive off road! The best beach and surf in the area is only a few minutes away. Our host was very responsive and provided a great guide upon our entry which really helped. Keep in mind this is not a 5 star airbnb with all creature comforts. It is a 5star glamping experience. Exactly what we were looking for after a long day surfing. I highly recommend Casa Makai and will be back for sure.

Much appreciated Andrew. Please do come back!

My friend Ben and I stayed at Laura's place for two weeks and had a great time. I had to work remotely and found the internet speed adequate for my work. The house is well situated in the jungle, but walking distance to the beach. The layout of the house is open and inviting. We felt right at home.

We absolutely loved our stay at Casa Makai. It’s an incredibly beautiful house that was very comfortable to relax, cook and sleep in.  The positioning up in the trees with mesh windows is magical. We saw toucans, howler monkeys, motmots, woodpeckers, squirrels and more. We loved it and would return in a heartbeat.

We've always got space for you at Casa Makai, Megan. So very glad you felt the magic of the space and the home!

This was a cute open format house in the jungle. As it’s an open format, you’ll hear a lot of nature sounds throughout the day and night. The house is up a steep hill so I recommend having a car with 4 wheel drive. During our ten day stay, we encountered a few scorpions and many spiders, which may be expected as it’s in the jungle. We did have issues with the water cutting out. However, the host was able to provide a solution within the next day. The WiFi speed averaged 10-15 Mbps, so not super ideal for remote working. The power also cut in and out often, but usually for very brief periods of time. There is no AC, so it can get pretty hot inside the house in May, even with the fans. The kitchen is decently stocked with cooking ware. There is a clay pot water filter as well. Overall, this is an aesthetic house and nice place for a nature or surf retreat, but not really comfortable or equipped for remote work. The host is friendly and quick to solve the issues that came up.

Thank you so much for your review Lee. We appreciated your understanding about the electrical issue with the well pump (now solved).  You gave us the space to figure it out and we are grateful for this. And you are right- it was super hot this May! We do agree that the home is primarily for guests on surf retreats with easy access to Playa Maderas or those looking to be in nature maybe while working occasionally or without a need for fibre optic wifi. Again- thanks for being a great guest.

The only thing I can say: it was perfect. We had the best three days there. 👍

Absolutley loved our stay, this buildings lay our is incredible, lots of beautiful wood. No Ac because the place has screens in some areas and open conecept in others but the fans worked great.  Very close distance to surf beach and restaurants. Such wonderful wild life all around, toucans monkeys, a mantis. great for its value. Highly recomnded, I most certainly would like to come back.

Wow! Our first review - thank you so much, Aaron. We are so glad you were our first guest- and also glad that nature put on such a display for you. We look forward to your return to Casa Makai.

2BR House