Serenity Home is a private 3BR rainforest retreat in El Castillo with a solar-heated infinity pool, stunning birdlife, high ceilings, artwork, and easy access to adventure tours.
The Space
Serenity Home is a stunning house set on 2 acres in the heart of the rainforest, offering complete privacy away from city noise while remaining close to some of El Castillo's best attractions and restaurants. The property features a beautiful infinity-edge swimming pool filled with fresh spring water, ideal for cooling off as you listen to howler monkeys and watch toucans, hummingbirds, and over 20 other bird species that inhabit the area.
Please note that what appears as a Jacuzzi in the photos is actually a water feature that cascades into the pool. The entire pool system recirculates water through solar panels installed on the roof, which gently warms the water.
The house is spacious and decorated with artwork by local artists and unique indigenous statues scattered around the grounds. Thanks to very high ceilings and its hilltop location with a constant breeze, air conditioning is unnecessary. Each room has ceiling fans, and sliding doors and windows are fitted with screens, allowing you to keep them open for fresh air without worrying about insects.
All three bedrooms include private bathrooms, providing privacy for your group. The fully equipped kitchen is perfect for preparing energizing breakfasts or delicious dinners after a day of rainforest exploration. After meals, relax in the comfortable living room furnished with reclining leather couches and sofas.
Amenities and Features
- Infinity-edge swimming pool with fresh spring water
- Solar-heated pool system
- Spacious interior with high ceilings
- Local artwork and indigenous statues
- Ceiling fans in all rooms
- Screened sliding doors and windows
- Three bedrooms, each with a private bathroom
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Comfortable living room with reclining leather furniture
Activities
There are numerous tours and activities available within a 30-minute drive, including:
- Volcano hikes
- Zip lining
- Hanging bridges
- ATV tours
- Kayaking and paddleboarding
- Rainforest and waterfall hikes
- Horseback riding
- Hot springs visits
- Wildlife watching tours
Our concierge at the modern Welcome Center is available to assist with booking tours, recommending restaurants, arranging massages, and helping you make the most of your stay.
Location
El Castillo is approximately 3 hours (150 km) from either of the two international airports located in San Jose (the capital) or Liberia on the northern Pacific coast. La Fortuna, a small city offering grocery stores, banks, a post office, restaurants, hot springs, and excursions, is just 30 minutes away.
Getting Around
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is highly recommended. The final stretch to the house is a gravel and rocky road with potholes during rain, making 4WD essential for comfort and safety. While there are a few sights and one restaurant within walking distance, most activities require driving 10 to 45 minutes. Relying on taxis is not advisable due to wait times.
Reviews
4.8
4.8
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.8
Recent Reviews
4
Jeremy
8 months ago
A really beautiful and private place. You feel like a local and get to enjoy the surroundings. We saw many toucans and amazing wildlife from the back porch. The property could be cleaner and better equipped with certain items in the kitchen. It was not a problem for us but could be problematic if folks are not expecting a rural experience. Overall a great place , it just needed some better cleaning and ant control.
5
Gretell
11 months ago
We had an amazing time at this place! Loved that the sunrise hit the master bedroom and you could wake up to birds singing. The pictures were exactly what we got and the host worked with us to get us there after hours. Loved every second of it!
5
Claire
1 year ago
Our stay at Serenity was magical. The house is beautiful, with plenty of space for our party of 5. The bedrooms are nicely spread out and having a bathroom for each was perfect. However, we spent most of our time on the back porch with the volcano view - it’s just spectacular. Perfect for drinking morning coffee or relaxing after a long day adventure. The host was great - the welcome center was easy to find and check in was smooth. Every activity we wanted to do was within a 30 minute drive - hot springs, zip lining, sloth sighting and hiking the Arenal volcano. Kids loved the pool - it wasn’t always quite warm enough to use it - but when we did it added to the great setting! Small market at the bottom of the hill had some grocery essentials - which was so convenient! You definitely need a 4 wheel drive to get up the hill and try to arrive before it’s dark the first time you make the drive!
4
Anand
1 year ago
Absolutely stunning views of Arenal and the lake — truly a birdwatcher’s paradise. The beauty of this location is hard to put into words! A few things to note: access involves about 15 minutes of off-road driving, so a 4WD vehicle is a must. The property managers were great and guided us through the final stretch, which we couldn't have navigated alone. I do not recommend reaching this location in the night on your first day of the trip. Power went out around 1 AM and returned by 8–9 AM on one of the nights, though this was a town-wide issue, not specific to the property. Thankfully, the cool mountain air made it manageable. Due to the remote location, we planned our day to minimize trips in and out. This is an amazing place for those seeking nature, seclusion, and scenery. I'd definitely return — just not with very young kids or elderly parents, as the terrain can be a bit challenging
5
Rafael
1 year ago
We had the most incredible stay at this property in Costa Rica! My wife, our three young kids, and I were blown away by everything this place had to offer. From the moment we arrived, we knew we were in for something special. The views from the property were absolutely breathtaking — we could see the majestic Arenal Volcano, the surrounding mountains, and the serene Arenal Lake all from our windows and the spacious outdoor areas. It truly felt like we were staying in the heart of nature. Every morning, we woke up to these stunning vistas and felt so lucky to be there. The house itself was perfect for our family. It was spacious, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed with families in mind. The kids had plenty of room to run around and explore, and the house had all the amenities we needed. The outdoor space was perfect for relaxing after a day of adventures, and the kids especially loved the pool, which provided hours of fun while looking at the beautiful birds. Thanks for this trip
3
Martino
1 year ago
The pool was broken the entire stay. We would try to fill it and it would drain out faster than we could fill it. Host was very responsive but not effective in solving the problem. While filling the pool, entire home has zero water pressure - no showers or flushable toilets. The location is amazing, the birds and songs they sing are heavenly. Majestic vultures flying overhead give a certain fun factor to the experience. The lack of a pool (or a working water feature) did detract heavily from the experience. Almost 4 hour drive from San Jose and a 4x4 required, not suggested, to get to the home.
Host replied
5
Rikki
1 year ago
The serenity house was spectacular. The view was amazing, the setting was incredibly peaceful, and the local restaurants were wonderful. We would definitely stay here again!
5
Lewis
1 year ago
This place was a life savor. We had a terrible stay at another BnB and the host made a last minute accommodation to get us in. The views were stunning! Note: there are a few places bugs from outside can easily get inside (under main door, holes in screens etc) the host promptly came out the next day to fix the screens that had separated from the frame (4-5 panels). The main bedroom had no curtains or shades- be aware that it is very visible/exposed to the outside and very bright in the morning. They did unexpectedly send cleaning services (while they thought we were gone) since our stay was longer than 3 days. Since it was listed at $15 a day we had no idea they’d do this and it was a big surprise when they just walked in the front door. The host apologized several times for this. Overall even with the issues, the flexibility of the host, beautiful location, and attentiveness to concerns made this a 5 star experience.
5
Witt
1 year ago
Unbelievable views. Such a cool house. We saw toucans, green parrots, tons of other wildlife from the back porch. Great breeze. Hope to come back sometime!
5
Dianne
1 year ago
Beautiful view, quiet and peaceful. Close to restaurants, bakery and small store. Very helpful property manager.
Location
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Location shown is approximate (within 1km radius)
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