See all properties
Save
Entire home

The Sloth House 2- Beach/ Jacuzzi / Outdoor Fireplace/Birdwatching /Bikes

Photo gallery for The Sloth House 2- Beach/ Jacuzzi / Outdoor Fireplace/Birdwatching /Bikes

Living room
Pool
Property grounds
Room
Property grounds

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Pool
    Pool
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Puerto Viejo, Limon
    Black Beach
    13 min walk
    Talamanca Family Art
    3 min drive
    Playa Cocles
    5 min drive
    Changuinola (CHX-Captain Manuel Nino Intl.)
    74 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

The Sloth House 2- Beach/ Jacuzzi / Outdoor Fireplace/Birdwatching /Bikes

. Enjoy the Ocean sound and breeze throughout the day. Private swimming pool with fireplace. 2 beach cruiser bicycles included with stay ($14 per day savings)

Villa details-
Our house was designed for style, comfort, convenience, natural environmental consideration and privacy. The room temperature inside the villa stays comfortable day and night as it was specially designed to stay cool using earthen construction and an open-air design to catch the Caribbean breezes. All windows and doors are screened from outside elements. The roof constructed of natural thatch palm leaves, which reflect the sun rays also keeping the villa cool. You have to see the house to appreciate the quality textiles, artistic design, and elegant simplicity incorporated throughout the villas.
The ingenuity earthen construction of our first villa consists of excavating dirt from the adjacent swimming pool to construct the earthen walls of the home, giving the villa the earthen adobe look.. Please see more details below…
_______________________________
Ground Transportation-
As far as ground transportation, the highlight of our guests trip we are told is always the river rafting trip. It includes ground transportation to Or from our villa on to San Jose, day of rafting, breakfast and lunch. The cost is $99 pp.
I Just thought I'd mention this as renting a car is not always necessary for getting around our area, as I include 2 bikes with our villa rental if you would like to travel by this means. Also, taxis and the bus system is also easy and convenient..
Please let me know if I can help in booking this rafting trip.
___________________________________________________

Eco-Friendly Custom Villa-
The owner took great architectural consideration in using as much native natural materials as possible and still defining the comforts of the clients standards.
The foundation was constructed of gavel and the base walls of dirt. The dirt was excavated from the properties private swimming pool and filled in the earth bags. After filling the bags with gravel and dirt they are then laid one on top of the other to form the walls. The walls are then stuccoed to protect the bags from the elements and finished for a stylish unique earthen/ Adobe look. The earth bags materials are of recycled polypropylene bulk bags.
(Please see the pictures of the front of the house defining the detail of the adobe structure and look).

All the lighting fixtures and accessories were hand-made from natural materials such as wood and coconut shells, thus eliminating the use of synthetic products.
Custom low voltage LED lighting used for energy conservation.
For an unsurpassed Caribbean vacation, please visit us at Casa de Barro.



Meals-Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Local Suitability-
Brick Oven Pizza and restaurant/bar with pool table 5 minute walk away and 20 minute walk to town which is said to have over 60 restaurants to choose from in one of the most diverse varieties to choose from in all of Central America.

Bedrooms: 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4, Beds for 4.


Kitchen & Dining-
Kitchen
Bar Area
Refrigerator
Cooking Utensils
Japanese Piezo gas Stove
Dishes & Utensils
Toaster
Coffee Maker

Amenities-
Parking
Linens Provided

Other Amenities-
Hammock, safe, 2 beach bikes, sea kayak with deposit/ availability and 2 beach chairs.

Entertainment Premises-
Bird/ animal watching

Activities- Local
Whitewater Rafting
Rafting
Snorkeling
Deep sea Fishing
Scuba Diving Or Snorkeling
Kayaking
Hiking
Fishing
Surfing
Swimming
Snorkeling/Diving
Medical Services
Health/Beauty Spa
Paddle Boating
Restaurants
Botanical Garden
Moto/Quads/Electric Bicycles

Property manager

Jeff Murdoch

Languages

English, Spanish

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Outdoor space
Parking available

Similar properties

Pool
Villa Abejita in Playa Negra: Pool, AC, Close to Beach, WiFi, Spacious, Private
Pool
Kitchen
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
10.0 out of 10, (1 review)
Villa Abejita in Playa Negra: Pool, AC, Close to Beach, WiFi, Spacious, Private

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 20
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children accompanied by an adult at pool all times

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No exceptions.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Cahuita is home to this villa. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo and local attractions include Talamanca Family Art and Cahuita National Park.
Map
Puerto Viejo, Limon

What's nearby

  • Black Beach - 13 min walk
  • Playa Cocles - 5 min drive
  • Jaguar Centro de Rescate - 10 min drive
  • Playa Chiquita - 19 min drive
  • Punta Uva Beach - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Hot Rocks - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Azul Beach Club - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Koki Beach - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Puerto Pirata - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Pan Pay - ‬18 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does The Sloth House 2- Beach/ Jacuzzi / Outdoor Fireplace/Birdwatching /Bikes have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is The Sloth House 2- Beach/ Jacuzzi / Outdoor Fireplace/Birdwatching /Bikes pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Sloth House 2- Beach/ Jacuzzi / Outdoor Fireplace/Birdwatching /Bikes?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Sloth House 2- Beach/ Jacuzzi / Outdoor Fireplace/Birdwatching /Bikes?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Sloth House 2- Beach/ Jacuzzi / Outdoor Fireplace/Birdwatching /Bikes located?

Situated in Cahuita, this villa is within 1 mile (2 km) of Black Beach and Talamanca Family Art. Playa Cocles and Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 14 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 14 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 14 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 14 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 14 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Amy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best place ever
We had an amazing stay at the Sloth house! Jeff was a wonderful host!! My kids loved being at the pool and so close to the beach! My Dad and I would go walk to the beach in the early am and drink our coffee or go up to the bird watching tower. The views are amazing. We stayed for 5 days and enjoyed every minute of it! We cooked Lots of meals there and they even had spices to use so we didn’t have to get those. Nice touches were the coffee, chocolate and the wine! Thank you Jeff!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

christopher a.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonder stay! Excellent location to Puerto Viejo.
We had a great stay! Jeff was extremely friendly and there to help answer any questions and give suggestions. The property is located 2 minute bike ride from the beach, and a 10 minute bike ride to the main area of Puerto Viejo. There are excellent restaurants and bars very close, but its also far enough away that it's quiet and private. The lay out of the house was simple but with great attention to detail. The pool area was laid out very well. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lane B.

Great place if you love Costa Rica
Jeff has an amazing property. It is well cared for and as guests we felt very welcome. It is close to town (about $4 cab ride). You can walk to town along the beach in about 20 minutes or bike on the house bikes. We had our two kids with us, 10 and 8. They loved the pool and all the animals that came to visit. Chameleons, toucans, agouti, giants, etc etc. The house does not have glass windows, but does have screens throughout. The temperature is pretty static so windows aren't needed, but this always causes the animals to wake you early in the morning. If you are looking to sleep in or are sensitive to noise, you might look elsewhere. Costa Rica is a wonderful place and this property is a great Costa Rican property. Just be prepared for noise and bugs and all the other things that make Costa Rica great. Oh yeah, Puerto Viejo is a pretty awesome town too. We will return again for sure!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

david s.

tranquil and amazing
our favorite time here was sitting on the balcony looking down on the amazing garden, over flowing corner to corner with wildlife and botanical wonders. the house has it all - gas stove, hot water, fresh and super soft linens. the french press coffee carafe was a nice and thoughtful touch. the owner, architect and builder of the house certainly put his heart and lots of thought in to this beauty. thank you for making our stay very special.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Rodolfo V., Alajuela, Costa Rica

Muy lindo lugar
Muy recomendado, la casa muy linda rodeada de naturaleza y la zona de Puerto Viejo hermosa
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Kelly H.

Cottage in the jungle
We booked this property based on the rave reviews and the photos...I own my mistake. This property didn't match our expectations. It's a rustic cottage in the jungle. It's not 'boutique', but more like 'glamping'. There's screens but there's still bugs. To be fair, this is common throughout Puerto Viejo as the infrastructure doesn't seem to be as developed as the Pacific side. After a long exhausting drive from Uvita, we arrived at Casa De Barro and the first thing my daughter saw was spiders by the bed. She refused to sleep in the house. I'm not raising a spoiled diva, she's been camping, we've gone on many jungle excursions where we admired many insects, but she didn't expect to see them indoors. The owner, Jeff, was accommodating and refunded us a portion of our stay. Puerto Viejo is a backpacker haven with hostels full of young surfers, nature lovers, local and expat Rastafarians, and full time hammock testers. If this sounds like paradise...great, it's for you. If you prefer 5 star accommodations that are clean, polished, with crisp white towels and high end amenities, stick to the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. We're the folks who are somewhere in between, which is why I wanted to write this review...as all 5* rated VRBO's aren't 5* accommodations and sometimes the reviews are just a little too hyped, which make people think a property is WAY better than it really is. If the other reviewers had been more honest, we may have really enjoyed ourselves...knowing what to expect and preparing my family for reality is half the battle!!!!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Olga B.

Have you ever been in a dream?
We stayed in the villa with two kids and we simply were enchanted by the beauty around. The smell and sounds of Atlantic ocean, lush vegetation and salted air! The place is in walking distance to the town, so even our 4 y.o. enjoyed the walk. Jeff is an amazing host and we really felt that this place is magic! During the day we all enjoyed the pool and the beach, while on evenings we had blast in the town, listening to live music bands. We look forward to come back! Thank you for making our experience unforgettable.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Great Experience!
My Mom, best friend and I stayed @ Casa de Barro in December. We were warmly greeted in the rain by Jeff on Christmas just a few weeks ago! Jeff was such an attentive host, with great recommendations and a lovely place. We really enjoyed getting a tour of his garden and eating some of the fruits of his labor. The upper suite fit the 3 of us comfortably, we enjoyed hanging out on the porch and playing cards, looking at the great view. His location was very convenient and close to town. Thank you so much Jeff for being a great host!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kari L.

Fun in the Rainforest
We had a lovely time staying at Casa De Barro! Such a gem, it is close to town, the beach and yet tucked far enough away that you feel like you are getting a real jungle experience. If you are a light sleeper this place may not be for you, the forest wakes up at night and then finally sleeps at sunrise. Jeff was a great host, all of his recommendations where perfect. We really enjoyed an evening eating at Stashu's and even more so having Jeff give us a taste of what grows on his property. We didn't experience too many bugs but we did have a few, much larger than home but that is part of the experience of being out in the element. If I return to Costa Rica I would definitely stay here again. :)
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Bethanne J.

Away from it all!
What a wonderful relaxing experience. Casa De Barro was everything we expected and more. The owner Jeff could not have been more hospitable and he has put his heart and should into the home. As a previous reviewer noted, it does not have the luxuries of some rentals but if you want to get away and not be distracted by TV this is the place for you. It was comfortable and relaxing and certainly allowed for meditation and contemplation. The evening sounds from the rainforest were incredible (howler monkeys, frogs, birds and the ocean). Cooking can be somewhat difficult but if you have ever cooked on a boat you will find Casa De Barro Villa meets your needs. There is no microwave, hair dryer, or oven. A 5 minute walk gets you to Marcos pizza (absolutely excellent). A little further into town you can get a great meal at Flip Flops or Bread and Chocolate. Both are really good. Jeff went out of his way to get us whatever we needed. Fruit is plentiful right on the property. We had fried Plantains every morning for breakfast! A couple of recommendations I would make is that there be more kitchen towels and cleaning cloths available. Since we cooked often we found we were always washing out towels for use the next day (things don't dry very quickly in the tropics!). Also a couple of hooks for hanging up bath towels would also be helpful. We would not hestate to return. In fact we are considering buying the lot next door for building our own slice of paradise!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Robert A.

The perfect spot for some rest & relaxation
Reading a book on the porch under the thatch-palm-frond roof during a rain storm, while enjoying a cup of costa rican coffee was one of the highlights of our stay. The others included seeing a green and black poison arrow frog hopping across the driveway, a sloth "hanging out" in a nearby tree and exploring the thoughtful landscaping around the bungalow to see a variety of butterflies, including several blue morphos, and numerous hummingbirds. If you are looking for a low-key getaway, this is the place. We were far enough from the main road that we only heard sounds of the jungle and the crash of the ocean in the mornings and evenings, but it took just 5 minutes to walk to the black sands of playa negra and 10-15 minutes to walk into the heart of Puerto Viejo. We used the bikes included in the rental to ride down the beach road to Punta Uva and back, which is a great way to see the area. The property is new, impeccably clean, and thoughtfully designed to be environmentally low-impact. We cooked breakfasts ourselves using the gas stove, coffee maker and toaster, and we ate out for lunches and dinners because there are so many high-quality restaurant options in the nearby area. We will definitely return. Thanks for being a great host Jeff.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jessica G., Berkeley, CA

Beautiful retreat
We had a great time in our rainforest retreat! The kids (11&13) stayed in the room downstairs and we were in the main bedroom upstairs. Jeff was there when we arrived and was very welcoming - he was super attentive and ready to give us info about the area. The space is very comfortable, and we even managed to make a spaghetti dinner one night in the small kitchen. We mostly chose to eat out for lunch and dinner and eat breakfast at the house. It's really close to town and a great beach, although we preferred to drive to Playa Cocles down the road most days to rent boogie boards and enjoy the surf. Jeff is still working on making sure the screens offer full coverage, so the mozzies we're a bit voracious, but mosquito coils and keeping covered with sheets at night helped quite a bit. The rainforest is definitely loud in the evenings (as per previous review), but frankly that just added to the charm! The pool in the front is so great for coming home from the beach and rinsing off the salt water, and for a quick cool down in the afternoons. We saw lots of wildlife while chilling in the pool, including a toucan and a sloth lazing about in the trees above the roofline of the house. Highly recommended for a comfortable, neat getaway!!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jeff J.

Great Place for us!
First let me start out by saying we travel to Costa Rica often and had some concerns regarding this property. Mainly we were a little apprehensive regarding house not having A/C. But were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't needed the entire trip, if fact the house is so well built that we found ourselves turning the fans off early evening when the sea breeze kicked in. The Owner (Jeff) has built a lovely house and really was and is pleasant with going out of his way to ensure we were comfortable at all times. I thought I would start with the Pro's and then list the con's. Pro's 1. Cute charming comfortable house just before the town of Puerto Viejo in private quite area. 2. Wildlife abundance especially the different type of birds. 3. Swimming pool just enough to take the summer heat off. 4. Puerto Viejo, Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva all have there own special qualities. 5. Restaurants were great! 6. Seclusion great for letting all your tensions go away- We had no TV, Radio by choice- if you need TV This would not be the place. But for reconnecting with your loved one a perfect place. 7. Unique house from materials used for roof, walls, lights! 8. Value -House rental we fill was a good value! Cons. 1. New house and the owner has stocked with basic utensils, pots and pans so if you were looking to cook all your meals could be struggle- However we had no issues with this found ourselves cooking breakfast - and eating out for lunch and dinner. In closing fill we made a new friend with owner Jeff- And would want to stay at house again when we travel to this region.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Octavio B.

Nice house next to the jungle
This was a very nice house whose back yard was literally the jungle. The house was very clean and modern and it fit two couples perfectly. The only thing people should take into consideration is that the jungle is close by so the nights are loud with all the nocturnal wildlife. Jeff (the owner) was a really cool guy who made sure we were happy, he called us every day to make sure we were well taken care of.

About the host

Hosted by Jeff Murdoch

Host profile image
Living in Costa Rica for the past 10 years has been a true blessing. I have formerly lived in the US.

As a host- I try my best to give my guests as great as experience I can in their stay with us. I try to treat them as I have been treated in great places while vacationing. Im always looking forward to the opportunity to meet and host the next guest...

Why they chose this property

Beaches- Our location is certainly one of the greatest highlights in staying with us. Take of 5 minute walk from our villa to one of only 12 black sand beaches in the world. Yes, it is so surprising that there is only this many black sand beaches, and we get to be part of this natural beauty.
Our villa-
From my experience as a finish carpenter by trade, I always enjoyed creating, creating something different, but elegant. I also always wanted to construct a project of a more natural materials. So we did- earthen building. (Please see the description in our listing for details of this, and our Facebook page-Casa de Barro Costa Rica).
The garden- We have taken great pride in building a beautiful garden within the grounds of our villa's space. With so many tropical plants of all types. Too many to list, they vary from decorative to an edible landscape of tropical paradise. You may just be here in time to experience the ripening of the edible landscape has to offer.....
Private Swimming Pool- The size of our swimming pool is 3 x 5 meters and sloped to the deepest depth of 2 meters. I would say one one the greatest enjoyments our guests experience is the warm temperature of the pool. Surprising you would say- why would you want the water to be warm? The reason for this is most in-ground swimming pools are just that in-ground. They are constructed, as the earth cools the water. Once this water is cooled, it can be unpleasant, as the warm outside air becomes in too much contrast with the water temperature. So, we took this into consideration and stuccoed the pool dark colors, which absorbs the heat from the sun, heating the water. This makes for a much greater experience while spending your time by the pool....
Restaurants- We are within a 5 minute drive of over 60 restaurants in Puerto Viejo. This is said to be one of the most diverse towns to dine in in all of central America.
This towns nightlife, day tours and activities is a paradise experience for vacationing...

What makes this property unique

5 great reasons-

We are located just a 5 minute walk to one of the 12 pristine black sand beaches in the world-

Unique construction of our villa-


Languages:

English, Spanish
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback