A spring-fed infinity pool overlooks El Castillo’s rainforest, where toucans and howler monkeys roam. This private 3-bedroom house sleeps 6 and offers ensuite bathrooms, high ceilings, and a fully equipped kitchen.
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.
Guest reviews
4.8
· 108 reviews
4.9
Cleanliness
4.8
Accuracy
4.9
Communication
4.9
Location
4.9
Check-in
4.8
Value
What guests are saying
5
Izabela
2 months ago
This place is heaven on earth! We loved everything about it! I hope we get a chance to go back again! Would highly recommend to our friends.
5
Wendy
3 months ago
We loved our stay at Serenity House! The views of the volcano were incredible, and the peaceful setting was exactly what we were looking for. Every morning we woke up to birds singing, and every evening we enjoyed watching the fireflies from the porch. The house was spotless, well-equipped, and the beds were very comfortable. We chose this location because we wanted to be away from the crowds, and it was perfect for our family. Agustin was a wonderful host who responded quickly and gave us great restaurant recommendations. We especially enjoyed Phoenix and Fusion Arenal Mirador. The drive to La Fortuna was easy, so we could explore during the day and return to a quiet, relaxing home each evening. We would definitely stay at Serenity House again.
5
Véronique
6 months ago
We absolutely loved this house with a view of the volcano! It was very comfortable.
4
Igor
6 months ago
The house has lots of room, with very large bedrooms. The location is very serene and private, with great view of the lake and volcano. The grounds are beautifully landscaped. The biggest drawback is the road leading up to the house. It's much worse than typical dirt roads you find in CR. Lots of potholes, deep ruts, exposed rocks, and mud after the rain. We didn't want to drive up and down any more than absolutely necessary. Made it impossible to clean up after hiking or activities before going to dinner. The other problem is that it's very humid int he house because you're still in the rain forrest, so the place has a musty smell and everything takes forever to dry out. It's very windy, so you don't really need AC for temperature control, but would have been nice to keep humidity down.
5
Camilla
7 months ago
Lovely place in very beautiful surroundings.
5
Valerie
8 months ago
The house and setting are beautiful! It is a heck of a road to get up but it was well worth it for the view and privacy. Not having a washer and dryer was a minor inconvenience for us but there is a laundry service we could have taken advantage of if we were better organized. All in all we loved our stay and would absolutely recommend and stay there again! The Phoenix restaurant down the road is wonderful and so nice to have a dinner option so close to the house!
4
Jeremy
10 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
1 year 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
Location
Location shown is approximate (within 1km radius)
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