We enjoyed our three week stay in the Baru Valley Vistas house, especially the early mornings on the deck with all the bird chatter. The high-vaulted, wood paneled ceiling and overhead fans keep the house cool through the day. The outdoor shower head and faucet were great for keeping sand out of the house. The garage apartment was perfect for the week our son and daughter visited. Although the garage kitchenette was not used, we did make great use of the griddle in the main kitchen for almost every meal. The 7 or 8 minute ride up the hill from Route 234 is rough. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended but good ground clearance is important. The roads up here, although steep, offer beautiful morning walks on Lagunas Rd, Ridge Rd and Peak Rd. We explored many beaches and waterfalls and found that most beaches have significant waves. Some days we paid the $6.75 pp to swim in calmer waters at the national parks- Bahia Balina, Chaman and Manuel Antonio. The Nauyaca and Chanteles Waterfalls are worth the time to get there, the countryside is beautiful and the water refreshingly cold.