The Castle in the Clouds

What a special location! The views are enchanting. The lake, the greenery, the volcano fading in and out behind the clouds - a lovely experience. We woke up to horse visitors outside the gate, saw many beautiful birds from the proper, and enjoyed restaurants in town. It was easy to find things to do on the lake and the drive to La Fortuna was easy. John’s home was very clean and inviting. The enclosed porch area was perfect for relaxing with a book and coffee. The pool was great for quick dip. Special mention to the landscaping! The beds were very comfy and the showers were good (not an abundance of hot water for showers but we expected that with the rural location). I will echo what other reviewers have noted: The living room furniture is not very comfortable. It just seems odd to have such a fine home and then furnish the common area with a stiff futon and one rocker.

My wife and I decided to book this listing for the first half of our honeymoon and could not have been more happy with it. The village its located in is a small quaint village with plenty of restaurants who's owners will remember you any time you return. The air bnb itself is close enough to walk to the village but also has its own privacy. The pictures on the listing are beautiful, but in real life, wow! Its located really close to the La Fortuna area where there is plenty to do. I would happily stay here again and if Im ever in the area again there wouldnt be anywhere else I would stay. I truly felt we had the most beautiful view in all of the Arenal area and we missed it the second we left. We spent the second half of our honeymoon at an all inclusive resort and really wished we had just spent the whole time at this Air bnb.

All the previous recent reviews of this place were accurate and really helpful. We knew exactely what to expect and loved our time here with two boys 11 and 9. It was hard for the grown ups to leave each daynight for new, nearby adventures because breakfasting/coffee/cocktails at the gazebo and upstairs in the fenced in porch was so pleasant. Toucans, hummingbirds, colorful frogs were spotted almost daily and the varied weather made for a spectacular zen-like atmosphere. The small pool was used daily by the boys and a great refresher after a day outdoors. There seems to be a real sense of community amonst residents on this long road up to the house and we felt very safe and welcomed during our stay. The hill up to the house is very steep but not unreasonable (w 4x4) if you've spent any time driving around CR. We walked to dinner(La Ventanita!)at night and enjoyed an incredible meal. Ana was a thoughful host and very responsive to our random requests.

We really enjoyed staying in El Castillo. Well, a little off of beating path of all the touristy amenities in Fortuna and Arenal we actually really enjoyed that. John’s home was on the rustic side we normally rent, but honestly, I really enjoyed that. It felt homey and comforting and you absolutely cannot beat the views from his home. We also discovered some really yummy restaurants close by and on the last day, we visited the butterfly sanctuary, which was amazing. As other guests have said, you really have to rent a 4 x 4 to get to his place. His local host were also extremely helpful and offered great suggestions and advice.

What a beautiful place! If you are looking for somewhere quiet with incredible views this is it. It’s about 35 min drive from La Fortuna. Worth the extra travel time to be away from the super touristy area. Was hard to ever leave to go do anything else because the house was so peaceful itself. Made for the best honeymoon we could’ve asked for. P.s the management of the property was so helpful. They even set us up with some locals to get some cheese, milk, eggs, and even a fresh chicken. Felt like we were truly living pura vida.

We enjoyed a most excellent stay with award winning views of the lake and volcano, not to mention the Toucans! Thank you for making the visit seamless!

We cannot say enough about how wonderful John’s home was. The views are absolutely stunning and the home is well appointed for visitors. The attention to detail to the decor and even the building itself is evident. John’s home is clearly on the higher end and I would recommend it to anyone traveling to the area. We can’t wait to visit again.

This was the most beautiful place we stayed in Costa Rica! The view of the lake and volcano is breathtaking. Breakfast on the patio and dinner on the screened in porch upstairs was a favorite. It feels like your in your own slice of the world staying at this house with the only visitor being frogs, toucans, and the neighbors horses who would come right to the fence to greet us. Once outside the gates, the neighborhood was very inviting with lots of yummy food options right down the road and a short and easy drive to la fortuna.

We had an amazing time at this property! The house was incredible. The views were absolutely breathtaking and made every morning feel special. One of the most memorable moments was when a toucan came to visit us right on the property. We were lucky enough to snap some photos. Hopefully I can upload them here somehow. Everything about the stay exceeded our expectations. Ana was very responsive and made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. if you are looking for a peaceful getaway surrounded by nature, this is the perfect spot. Highly recommended and would love to come back.

No words can describe the views! Amazing area. Close to activities. The house has all the essentials to feel at home. Beautiful garden maintained by the hosts - you can meet hummingirds who come for flowers every day.