Eva

Reviews

468 total reviews · 3 listings

81% Excellent

468 reviews

4.74

2022–2026

Cleanliness 4.7

Accuracy 4.8

Communication 4.9

Location 4.8

Check-in 4.8

Value 4.8

468 reviews

2BR Villa in Manuel Antonio

Barbara

Excellent, 1 week ago

We had wonderful days in Manuel Antonio. The apartment is very nice. We could enjoy nature on the terrace and through the large windows in the living room. We saw howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys and skull monkeys. Also macaws and lots of other birds. The pool in the garden is fantastic. There was also a daily cleaning service, laundry service, and breakfast with a view of the Pacific Ocean. We also liked the guided tour of the national park. Everything here is highly recommended.

We had a very nice stay with our family with 3 children. One on the sofa bed and the other 2 in the bed went fine for us. The terraces are beautiful and so are the wildlife in the garden. We got good tips from Eva and Michiel including delicious food at an Indian restaurant nearby. The massage in the house was also great and the free park tour is also well arranged although we thought it was much too busy in the park and we were surprised that the guides all take the same route instead of looking up the more quiet corners of the park, which we later did ourselves. But if you go to Manuel Antonio, we would definitely recommend this accommodation. Communication with Eva went well and quickly!

It's an amazing place to enjoy Costa Rica. The location is perfect for getting to the most famous places in the area, and the proximity to the jungle offers unexpected visitors, from beautiful birds to monkeys. It's important to note that getting to the accommodation is difficult. We had a 4x4, and even then it was difficult. We also tried to go down on foot, but the ground was a bit slippery. The exterior of the house requires maintenance.

We had such a great trip here, it was exactly what we wanted: a vacation where we had nothing to do but relax. This was the perfect house for that! Comfortable, with plenty of space for the four of us to all have room to do our own relaxing. We used the pool daily! Walkable for a meal or snack to the Mercadito and local grocery stores. A quick drive down the hill for cheaper groceries at the bigger stores (thanks for the local tips!). We cooked a lot in the full kitchen! The hosts were attentive, with recommendations for activities, or what local vet to visit to get the mandatory screw worm check for our dog before our return. All amenities were as described: housekeeping and laundry always available and well done, restaurant discounts, massages, etc. Our only tip is bring ear plugs for sleep. You’re up in the jungle, which to be clear is as advertised and what we wanted. Monkeys and frogs and birds visit every day. But it can be loud, at least during the rainy season.

Wildlife was incredible: daily balcony visits from squirrel and capuchin monkeys, scarlet macaws, toucans, lizards, and frogs. Great location, minutes from shops and restaurants. Eva was responsive throughout. Listing photos are outdated and misleading. We arrived to a leaking ceiling and used pots to catch drips. Furnishings are worn, seating in living area insufficient for four, sheets low quality-pilled up and musty, a towel bar was broken. Limited places for wet swim suits and towels. No microwave despite being listed. CO detectors were in utility areas, not bedrooms: we brought our own. An open attic gap in the master closet was unsettling. The driveway is extremely steep (~20+°) and tight. May be difficult for US drivers unaccustomed to this type of driving. The entry gate was unreliable all week, but felt safe regardless. Amazing destination, but the property needs significant updates to match what’s advertised. The wildlife watching from this location was a highlight of trip!

We had a wonderful stay. The property is clean and comfortable. We enjoyed the pool area, hammock, swing and outdoor kitchen. The environment was so lush and tropical feeling while being in the heart of the city. The property was safe and very well maintained. We walked into town each night and explored the area. The local activity companies picked us up right on the same street. There were an abundance of good restaurants to try. The home had all the essentials needed for a quick stay. It was fun meeting a few other people staying on site. The AC in the bedrooms made sleeping very comfortable. Thank you.

2BR Villa in Manuel Antonio

David

Excellent, 3 months ago

Excellent room. The facilities exceeded my expectations. Eva was always attentive to every question we asked her. A special observation for Eva would be to include a sponge for washing dishes. Everything else was great and we hope to return.

House was clean and beautiful with daily visits from monkeys, birds and frogs. The driveway is extremely steep and most cars/taxis wouldn’t attempt it. Our shins were very sore by day 2. We had complimentary massages by Kerlin that were the best we’ve ever had in the privacy of the home. The pool area is nice but stays cold due to the amount of shade. Lush surroundings, friendly people, and walking distance to lots of shops and restaurants. The complimentary breakfast was delicious with a beautiful view to start your day. We did have issues with the WiFi (never was able to get connected despite requests for help) and with booking excursions. Hosts respond quickly but didn’t seem to understand the request, so we were asked the same questions multiple times. We missed a tour the morning it was supposed to be because the host never confirmed it. We ended up just booking through AirB&B on our own. It all worked out and we enjoyed our time immensely and can’t wait to go back.!

I’m torn between 2-3 stars. I was told to expect a sunset ride on the catamaran, but wasn’t even received by anyone upon arrival. Cigarette butts in the plant pot outside, toilet seat not stable, on the last day it took them more than 2 hours to respond about the “free tour”, as I was bombarded with information all at once after driving from San Jose the previous night. Even had my 5L water thrown out which I texted that I had forgotten, and was told “Of course you can pick it up”. Truly a bad experience for my first day in Costa Rica.

Home is a good location, walkable to restaurants, etc. There were lots of excursions and beaches to explore within 15 minutes of driving. The space was perfect for our family of four. Air conditioning located in all rooms which was super nice in the heat. The home is a little tired and could use some maintenance. Kitchen items are a bit limited (3 glasses provided). It was a little unclear about amenities that were included with Airbnb, including a cleaning service, breakfast, etc. We seemed to get different information before and during our stay. Eva is responsive to any communication which was helpful. Eva does describe the steep driveway in her description, but it was much more steep than I had anticipated. It is very steep and the turnaround is very tight. Our SUV had a difficult time managing and we are typically pretty comfortable with Washington mountain driving. We did more walking for this reason because we frequently would not want to have to re-park, especially at night.

We were disappointed with our stay. The stairs were dirty and slippery, which felt unsafe. The tablecloths at breakfast were also dirty. The pool looked poorly maintained, and the old wooden furniture had a strong musty smell. The balcony was too small to sit comfortably. The parking area was messy and overgrown, making it difficult to walk from the car to the entrance. Overall, the place needs much better cleaning and maintenance.

2BR Villa in Manuel Antonio

Jessica

Excellent, 5 months ago

Beautiful place, great to see all the wildlife.

Eva was a great communicator and great for booking tours. Just an FYI you do have to purchase a pass to get the tour discounts but for us the savings were still worth it. The photos were a little out of date, and the place could definitely use some maintenance. We were disappointed that the pool was dirty the whole time and we didn’t feel comfortable swimming as we couldn’t see the bottom of the pool. The pool and some maintenance items did seem to be neglected. Other than that the host was helpful and the stay was a pretty good location as well.

The location of the villa is great. However, the driveway directly to the property is very steep. Even by car. Fortunately, we didn't live all the way up. The villa is very nice, pool and the two terraces a dream. As in the photos. However, the amenities are somewhat outdated on closer inspection. Since we like to cook, it was a pity that the equipment of the kitchen is inadequate. Glasses for 4 people scarce, no bowls, etc. Only cold water in the kitchen. Something was missing from the “luxury.” Eva was otherwise very helpful. We enjoyed the stay overall and can recommend the villa.

Eva was very responsive to any questions we had. Beautiful surroundings. We saw monkeys, toucans , macaws, iguanas and other birds right from the balcony. The villa is easily walkable to restaurants and grocery stores. The pool, although small, was used often and much appreciated due to the heat. The good air conditioning was also well appreciated though we ate and sat outside on the balcony all the time. We loved the area and explores lots of beaches and of course the park.

Eva's place is conveniently located, has a beautiful patio and the pool. Great use of limited space. The place is walkable distance from great restaurants and within 10 min drive from beach. Eva is very responsive and gave us some helpful hints. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this place during our maiden visit to Manuel Antonio and Costa Rica! Be prepared to get surprise knocks on the patio doors by playful monkeys at 6 am but we enjoyed that part. Place needs a little updating but overall good value considering that Manuel Antonio is a tourist place always high in demand.

We spent 3 nights at Eva's. The place is magical. Every morning at the same time, 6 a.m., we had a visit from capuchin monkeys. It was really amazing 🤩 the cleaning service is also a plus as well as the included breakfast. The kitchen would benefit from being better equipped for cooking but the basics were accessible. You have to take into account the warning in the ad about the slope to get up to the accommodation because I don't think all cars are able to get up there. However, the host takes this into consideration and finds a solution 😉 I definitely recommend this place 🩷

I was quite disappointed about this place. Given the good reviews and the nice pictures I had corresponding expectations. I got the important descriptions how to get there only at 6.30 pm and got quite lost in the dark since googlemaps is inaccurate. Check-in was confusing even though it was resolved quickly. My main concern is that the whole place is quite used and needs revisions. It does not anymore correspond to the pictures. One example is the pool area. The pool itself and its terrace have no (functioning) light. Announced support to get it working was not given and a maintenance person was apparently sent but didn’t solve the problem. So I was sitting in a complete darkness at the pool after sunset which was not funny. I have to admit that the place might be worth its money if you’re a family of 4-5 people because it’s really spacious with 2 bedrooms, bathrooms, balconies. Couples or 2 friends find way better paces in MA. King bed is very comfortable.

Genuinely enjoyable! Waking up to monkeys passing through and the occasional parrot never got old. The pool is shaded, lush, and perfect for lounging, and the host was communicative throughout. A few things to know: beds are doubles, not queens as listed. The master AC was impossible to figure out. The hammock is stretched flat and unusable. Construction a few lots down means daytime noise. One day the city had no water, not the host’s fault, but welcome to Costa Rica. The Gold Pass is a nice idea but hard to execute. Breakfast is a 20-minute walk, massage availability is limited, and you can’t check availability before purchasing. Small suggestions for the host: ice cube tray, TP holder in the shared bath, a shelf in the shared shower. Also, balcony railings are quite open; I wouldn’t bring young children. The host repainted the exterior to cream while we were there lovely, but it may make the property harder to find until updated photos post. Linen has been updated since older review

2BR Villa in Manuel Antonio

Daniel

Excellent, 6 months ago

Beautiful place in a very centric location. Great hosts and the pool and tub in the bathroom were great. The host Michel was very informative and friendly.

2BR Villa in Manuel Antonio

Andreas

Excellent, 6 months ago

We had a great time and communication with Eva was above average. She always responded super quickly and supported us at any time with questions and booking our leisure activity. Gladly again at any time:)

This place is very tired and not maintained well. Several burned out light bulbs, switches not working, had to use a table knife to turn fan on and off, no hot water in kitchen sink, no table or chairs for dining, stained and torn furniture, minimal kitchen stuff to cook with. Parking and turning around are extremely challenging on this steep driveway. Very hard to walk up and down the driveway. The pictures in the listing are outdated and misleading.

The reason I don't give a higher rating is because we arrived at night after being at the beach, it was dark and I suffered a fall of about 45 cm inside the hotel with a step that was not marked, they do not have an elevator and our assigned room was upstairs and at the end. With the fall I suffered a sprain which made it difficult for me to go up and down from the room and my husband had to carry me all the time to go to the room. The facilities were clean and the room cozy.

Host is extremely accommodating who really worked hard to ensure we had what we needed. Unfortunately, we needed four beds for adults and two of the beds were not really beds and one is in the only living room so be prepared for that. The glass walls to the jungle are heaven, the showers are lovely. She attended to details (towel holders, hair dryers, lots of seating) place needs Maintenence outside. Pool is shallow and my husband jumped in and injured his knee causing issues for remaining of trip so be cautious. We would definitely recommend this host.

2BR Villa in Manuel Antonio

Joshua

Excellent, 7 months ago

amazing jungle feel. wow! nice pool!

Casa Zaru is situated on top of a hill, which gives you privacy and seclusion. There is a steep hill to get to the top. We didn’t have a car, so after 6 days our legs started to feel it. The house is not pristine (could use some upgrades if that’s what you are looking for), but the location and what Eva had to offer was well worth it! The free breakfast was an added bonus, which is about .7 miles away, but it allowed us to take in the culture and beauty of MA. We were in walking distance to local shops, places to eat, and the local bar (Vista Verde). The most important factor was Eva! She was an amazing host. She helped book all our adventures, set up all transportation to/from airport as well as for our adventures and so much more. She was in constant contact with us throughout our stay, with quick response time. She was more of a travel agent than a host! Definitely recommend staying at any rental that Eva hosts. We will definitely be returning. Pura Vida!

Studio in Manuel Antonio

Joshua

Excellent, 7 months ago

Enjoyed our stay! The early check in helped a lot and the communication was great!

Casa Zaru is a pretty magical place. The setting is very Manuel Antonio, with an array of trees very close to the villa, and with the deck seven or eight feet above the base of the trees, so you're almost literally in the trees as you drink your morning coffee - accompanied by a monkey or two if you're lucky. The location is great as well, private and leafy but super close to everything. As others have noted, Eva is an absolutely fantastic host, extremely responsive and helpful. It was like having a red-carpet Costa Rica concierge. Our one small issue was that the twin beds might be better described as futon-cots. We (family of 5) had a bit of illness and the lack of comfortable lie-down spots besides the two big beds was a small problem. Beds are good for 4, adequate for 5 or 6 if the extra two can sleep on a very firm mattress. In all, though, Casa Zaru is a wonderful home-base for your Manuel Antonio adventures.

Amazing place, feels like you’re in the forest. Loved the private pool, the inside space and especially the terrace. Eva was great to communicate with: quick to respond and very helpful. The tours (national park and mangrove) she helped book were both super. We also enjoyed the complimentary breakfast. And lastly we loved the complimentary massage (as we had booked for 3 nights) and wish we had had them earlier so we could have paid for another few! All in all, highly recommend.

My boyfriend and I booked this villa because we were celebrating our 1 year anniversary. When we arrived, we were greeted by Eva’s dad and got placed in the wrong villa. No one explained why we were placed in a different villa until I messaged Eva. We were looking forward to having everything in the description/pictures, which included; a king size bed, a spacious bathtub, and a bigger pool. Instead we were placed in the villa with a queen bed, no bathtub, and a smaller pool. Eva explained this villa as “exactly the same” and “bigger” than the one we thought we booked. Eva said there was an issue with the tiles in the pool with the turtle. I felt as if we had gotten scammed because this should’ve been mentioned before they took our money. I would have asked for my money back and booked a different Airbnb, if I had known I was not getting what I paid for. Massages were offered, but we politely declined due to having other plans. Great location! Just be cautious when booking this villa.

Eva communicates constantly and provides good information, breakfast was fine but there was only one person attending and clearly it was not enough. There are quite a few stairs to enter and the common areas were not very clean. The room is super comfortable, has air conditioning, a balcony, a minibar and basic supplies (tea, coffee, electric kettle, etc.). For the price and having included the guide (Manfred, a genius) in the park is very good, recommended

Wow! First, I just want to say, Eva is a phenomenal host. She is always quick to respond to messages or inquiries. She is helpful and understanding and exactly what you want in a host. Secondly, this jungle bungalow is breathtaking. You are literally situated on the top of a hill, surrounded by jungle. We saw monkeys, toucans, and more everyday. The pool is such a nice addition. The home is older but very clean and welcoming. The bed in the primary bedroom is so comfortable! The driveway hill is quite steep but doable with 4WD and practice. Eva helped book us zip lining and horseback riding tours and both of those were highlights of our trip. I cannot recommend Eva’s jungle bungalow enough!!

Studio in Manuel Antonio

Sandra

Excellent, 9 months ago

Nice place and area

Loading...