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A roofed terrace wraps this contemporary home with views of Arenal Lake, Arenal Volcano, jungles & tropical gardens. 1 bedroom, 1 bed, 2 baths, kitchen, living & dining room. US plumbing. On demand Hot water everywhere. Perfect for Honeymooners!
In Costa Rica it is traditional to name your home. We thought about it a lot, and over our first few months building here noticed a pair of beautiful huge birds that flew thru the valley along side of the house almost every morning. They appeared to live deep in the mountain valley on the right side of the house as you look at the Volcano. As they fly, they let out a piercing cry that is unmistakable. We realized we were building our home near their “home” . It seemed appropriate to name our home “The Home of the White Hawks” We even had ...A roofed terrace wraps this contemporary home with views of Arenal Lake, Arenal Volcano, jungles & tropical gardens. 1 bedroom, 1 bed, 2 baths, kitchen, living & dining room. US plumbing. On demand Hot water everywhere. Perfect for Honeymooners!
In Costa Rica it is traditional to name your home. We thought about it a lot, and over our first few months building here noticed a pair of beautiful huge birds that flew thru the valley along side of the house almost every morning. They appeared to live deep in the mountain valley on the right side of the house as you look at the Volcano. As they fly, they let out a piercing cry that is unmistakable. We realized we were building our home near their “home” . It seemed appropriate to name our home “The Home of the White Hawks” We even had our exterior door carved with one of my photographs of this magnificent bird. SO….
Welcome to your home away from home…
LA CASA DEL
HALCON BLANCO
(The Home of the
White Hawk)
We hope you enjoy our home, the area, the people you meet and the places you go while visiting this part of Costa Rica. BEFORE YOU READ FURTHER, PLEASE NOTE WE ONLY ACCOMMODATE TWO PEOPLE IN OUR HOME.
COME ON IN….
As you come in the house, you enter your home for the duration of your stay. Your dining room, kitchen and living room are here, along with an amazing view of the Jungle, Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal, right from the house.
Walking to the living area, you see a floor to ceiling glass wall that looks at Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. A double glass door leads to your wrap-around terrace, an amazing place to spend as much of your day and evening as you wish. We like the small table around the corner for breakfast or coffee, the window bar for a snack and usually have dinner at the dining room table. But experiment and discover your favorite places. Remember to pause and listen to the rushing river just inside of the jungle…it is a wonderful sound that helps you relax during the day and puts you to sleep at night.
The kitchen is fully equipped to do anything from a simple snack to a gourmet meal. Great utensils, plus a microwave, 5 burner gas stove, blender, mixer, toaster, pots and pans...pretty much everything. There is a second full bath downstairs as well.
Your bedroom is upstairs with another private terrace, amazing views, a comfortable queen size bed, and an en-suite bath with one of the most amazing rain showers you will ever take.
Outside, you will have full access to the owners private tropical garden that covers about two acres. It has banana trees, and many flowering trees and shrubs. Here you will also have access to many trails right on the adjacent property and a trail to a private waterfall...about a 30 minute walk.
You will be able to do most anything this part of Costa Rica is famous for within a 30 to 40 minute drive. Zip Line...the best anywhere. Hanging Bridges...Amazing. Butterfly Conservancy...one of the only ones in the world that actually raises all of its butterflies. Hot Springs...perhaps the best in Costa Rica, and all within easy driving distance from here. Horse-back Riding...right up the hill. Art Galleries....one right here others in La Fortuna. Hiking trails....close by, from very difficult to easy. Your choice. Good Food...it's here. Kayaking on a lake...right here. Climb to a lake filled extinct volcano...right here. Tube a white water river...Right here. Remember, you can walk to our private waterfall right from the house and be one of a very limited number of people in the world who have visited that particular one. The rivers that split into a 'V' here are the rivers you hear from the house. And from the terrace you will see the Turkey Vultures and hawks fly so close you can see the reflections off their eyes, and Toucans often sit in a tree right off the patio. Between 9 and 10 most mornings, the White Hawks screech and fly from their home high in the rain forest and often sit and hunt nearby. Spider Monkeys and Howler Monkeys are heard most days and often seen in the trees that fringe the terrace Jungle and the Jungle behind the house. There is so much to do you could spend a week and only dent the surface.
We are in an area where only a few speak English, but somehow everyone gets by. We will tell you about great Lunch and dinner places, you will eat breakfast at the house, cooked for you in your kitchen (and best eaten outside on the terrace, in our opinion). In El Castillo about 10 minutes away, you will find a small grocery store, several restaurants, a church, a snake zoo, a butterfly conservancy, an art gallery and views as you drive up the mountain you can only imagine.
A few other things to note. We serve a complete breakfast every morning, cooked to your order right in your own kitchen at a time you select between 7 and 9 AM. Most beef and chicken in Costa Rica are grass fed, and the fruits and veggies are generally Organic, at least where we are located. We have on demand hot water in every faucet in the house. Our toilets are American Style...you can flush the toilet paper, unlike most places in Costa Rica. Our water comes from a Jungle spring about 2 miles up the mountain.
You are close to Lake Arenal and a wonderful back road leads you around part of the lake for about 7 miles, before you come to a river crossing you can drive across in your 4WD vehicle...DO NOT TRY THIS DURING THE RAINY SEASON. We are managed by a neighbor, Kelly, who has a restaurant (La Ventanita) just down the hill in El Castillo. He is available on WhatsApp or a short drive/walk to town.
House Rules
Pets not allowedNot suitable for childrenNo smoking
This is our home which we are letting you use. We expect you to care for it as it were a treasure, which it is for us. No more than 2 people are allowed here, and we hope you love it and cherish your time here as much as we do,
Bedrooms
1 King
Bathrooms
1 Full bath1 Attached (ensuite)
Meet the host
John/Susan H
Hosting since August 2015
Languages spoken: English
Response Time: Within a few hours
Interaction with guests: We are in Costa Rica about 6 months every year. We love it here. When we are not around, we have a friend who will check you in and be available to help with any questions at challenges you may have. In addition we have a young couple and their children who live on site in an apartment who help clean and cook breakfast for our guests as well. And we are always available by phone, email or messenger.
As an architect, this house is what I dream about designing. It has the local character and craftsmanship we were looking for while still offering the amenities we are used to. The views cannot be expressed in words, or even in pictures. I would recommend anyone staying here to go outside at night and look at the stars. It was absolutely stunning being able to clearly see the Milky Way. It was more visible than any other place I have stayed in Costa Rica, including my 3 months living in Monteverde. However, it is not perfect. The house had a musty smell while we were there even with having the windows open all day. Moisture issues are to be expected in the rainforest, but it was evident in the towels, bedding, and other soft surfaces. Overall not a huge issue as it can be addressed. The other issue we had is more inherent. My wife and I had married in Playa Samara the previous week and were looking forward to the seclusion and privacy of this area. What we did not know is that there is a family with many children and another rental unit roughly 30' away. There were rarely any quiet moments between sunrise and sunset. Many days there were people right outside the windows working on the gardens. I realize that is a necessity to maintain the beauty of the property, but it is quite invasive to see someone a few feet off the terrace while we were relaxing with a cup of coffee. We expected peace and serenity but only had fleeting moments of it. The house and views are exquisite, but the privacy is less than stellar.
Visited January 2020
Written 30 January 2020. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DeLoyd
We are so glad you found the special design of our home wonderful. We designed it to have incredible views from every room and from both terraces. Great comments, especially from an architect. All the wood inside is locally harvested. The entire home was built without any power tools. And the views are amazing. The clouds rising from the jungle floor, Arenal Volcano dominating the view, the nearby river heard 24/7 making a restful sound, the walk to our private waterfall a special treat...it is a spiritual place.
But to address your other comments, rarely is anything perfect. We have over 150 reviews from other rental sites and never has musty smells be an issue. Non the less, we understand you may be ultra sensitive, and we apologize for your feelings. Others have not noticed. The family who live "next door" are separated and not visible, as there is a flowering vine that separates the two areas, and they are only visible from parts of the carport or perhaps from the bathroom window. There are not "many children" living there, only an infant, a 10 year old daughter and a 17 year old son. Like all kids, they may have friends over to play and live their lives, but it happens during the day, and not in the evenings. They serve your breakfast every day, change your linens, and do some light housekeeping during your stay. The husband also maintains the grass and garden areas every Saturday. The rest of the time there is no one within view of the house working in the gardens where you can actually see them. We do try to take care of our property, and at the same time, be sensitive to our guests. We are sorry we only rated a 4 star review from you, and will take your comments into consideration as we continue to provide a 5 star experience to all of our visitors.
Written 24 February 2020. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rob M
Ventura, CA23 contributions
Wow! Incredible Experience!!!
My wife and I have been lucky enough to have travelled all over the world staying at many luxury resorts and awesome vacation rentals. The White Hawk property afforded us one of the best travel experiences we have ever had. As often happens, the pictures of this property on the website do not do it justice. It’s easy to see how the owners John and Susan fell in love with this location. The dramatic Arsenal volcano dominates the vista while the peaceful jungle and lake view perfectly complement the balance of nature. The deck off of the kitchen and living room allow the guests hours of solace. Our stay was most definitely enhanced with the owners staying nearby and happily agreeing to chat with us every morning giving us fantastic recommendations of local activities and restaurant tips. The design, upkeep and facilities are made with the international traveler in mind and having one of their caretakers, Lillian prepare breakfast every morning allowed us to start every day with full stomachs and smiles on our faces. I can’t recommend this property enough to a couple that wants to get away from it all and enjoy the magic of Arsenal. Thanks John and Sue!!! We can’t wait until our next visit!
-Rose and Rob
Visited October 2019
Written 15 October 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DeLoyd
Thank you for your many kind words. We feel the same. Every morning when we wake and go to the terrace to begin our day we consider ourselves two of the luckiest people in the world as we watch morning mist rise from the jungle floor and listen to the calls of the birds and monkeys. And as dusk turns to darkness hearing the songs of the nearby river lulls into relaxing solitude. Thank you for staying with us and for enjoying our home as much as we do. And it was fun to get to know you a bit with our morning and sometimes afternoon visits. Travel safe and continue to love your traveling life. Come back anytime. Susan and John
Written 5 November 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vacation726132
1 contribution
Unforgettable views in a very romantic setting!
What an amazing property! The views are so much better in person, and the amenities are absolutely as described. The potholes in the road coming into the property are almost as unforgettable, but it's all part of the rustic charm. John does an amazing job of providing very detailed instructions on how to get to the property and what to do/eat once you are there. Highly recommend dinner at Phoenix down the road, say hi to Juan for us!!
Visited November 2017
Written 26 November 2017. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DeLoyd
Thanks for your kind words. The drive to the house is one you just have to accept as a fact of life and take it slow and easy. And it is unforgettable. But you did venture into a fairly remote part of a third world country, and you see things here you may never see again. I will send your thanks to everyone at Phoenix. It is also our favorite place fro great Costa Rican food and pleasent people and great sunsets! Thanks for staying with us...
Written 3 December 2017. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
damiennmarshall
Lakewood, OH5 contributions
Beautiful home, beautiful area
This was one of three homes that we rented around Costa Rica for our honeymoon, and this was our favorite. It is an absolutely beautiful home with AMAZING views (you wake up to views of the volcano!), and the property has private hiking trails, one of which has a waterfall...the water was chilly, be we had to take advantage of the moment and take a dip. The owner of the house was in touch before our stay and was, by far, the most informative regarding things to do in the area. While there, we hiked the Cerro Chato trail (quite challenging) and went zip-lining through Sky Adventures...both of these activities are only 15 minutes or less from the house. I definitely recommend (as the owner recommended to me) having a vehicle with 4wd, as the road up to the house is quite rough. We loved this place, and hope to come back in the future.
Visited July 2017
Written 29 July 2017. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DeLoyd
So glad you had a great time. Thanks for the kind words about our home. It is always special to rent it to those who seem to love it as much as we do. Thanks for staying with us...come back soon...Susan and John
Written 20 November 2017. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jeremy z
1 contribution
Amazing view
For me I really enjoyed the location and house. The house is comfortable and you can tell it is cared for. Once you get to the top of the hill you really feel close to the volcano. I enjoyed sitting on the porch and watching the birds and weather, we were lucky to have a lightning show one night. The house overall was clean and the home cooked breakfast was tasty. I look forward to staying here again.
Visited June 2017
Written 10 July 2017. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DeLoyd
Thanks for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed your stay with us and took the time to relax and watch the tropical world drift by. Many have felt it is a spiritual place and glad to hear you enjoy it here as much as we do. Always glad to share. Susan and John
Written 29 July 2017. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rebecca H
8 contributions
Gorgeous quiet get away
A long and winding drive up the mountain, past other quaint B&Bs, a restaurant and endless views ends at this beautiful home. Furnished with a mix of unique Costa Rican and American furniture and artwork. Modern amenities in the kitchen, spacious waterfall showers, internet access, tv if you want it, and a perfect view of the lake and volcano.
This is the perfect romantic retreat to enjoy the silence and beauty that surrounds. Glass windows in the living room provide an endless view of the jungle, or choose the open air patio to breath in the fresh mountain air.
Access in this private home to two full baths, an upstairs bedroom with the same amazing views, the full kitchen, living room, patio and of course the gorgeous garden with every plant and flower you could imagine. Follow any of the easy to follow paths down to the jungle and wander through the jungle, river and waterfall.
A 10 minute drive to a local quaint town of El Castillo for groceries and restaurants, about 30 minutes to La Fortuna for everything else you can imagine, from zip lining to hot springs.
The perfect place to stay.
Visited February 2017
Written 3 March 2017. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DeLoyd
Thanks for your kind words...glad you had a great time and enjoyed our home and the surrounding area...
Written 5 March 2017. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MaggieTheCat51
2 contributions
Artful modern house with captivating views
I knew this was the place for us when I saw the views of Mt. Arenal and the surrounding jungle on the rental page. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls, spacious terraces, original artwork, modern kitchen . . . perfectly comfortable and delightful.
Visited May 2016 Travelled as a couple
Written 8 June 2016. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DeLoyd
Thanks for your kind words about our home...glad you found it to be as special of a place as we do.
Written 9 June 2016. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Showing results 1-7 of 7
What this rental offers
Parking
Parking available
Services
Housekeeping included
Outdoor amenities
Balcony
Deck
Garage
Private yard
Terrace
Things to do
Fishing spots available
Watersports
Kitchen and dining
Grill
Freezer
Refrigerator
Kettle
Microwave
Cooker
Toaster
Entertainment
Television
Bathroom and laundry
Linens provided
Towels provided
Property features
Ceiling Fans
Nearby
Horse riding facilities
Hiking areas
Countryside area
Scenic views
Mountain views
Waterfront views
Indoor amenities
Air conditioning
Internet access
Cable television
Wi-fi and internet
Wi-fi
Availability
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Map
About the neighbourhood
We are in 'real' Costa Rica. are about 2 km off the main road to El Castillo, a rural gravel road of some 15 Km from the main highway. El Castillo has several great local authentic restaurants, a church, a community center, a small store for the basics, a snake and reptile zoo, three area rivers, several hostels, several sodas, and lots of friendly people. truly rural Costa Rica.
I know we can provide a fantastic adventure using our home as a base. And best of all, you will not have to drive over 45 minutes from here for any of them. We can provide beautiful Hot Springs, a hike to the top of an extinct volcano filled with emerald water where you can swim and even rent a canoe, a horseback ride into the jungle and then a hike to a beautiful secluded waterfall, perhaps the best zip lines in all of Costa Rica, a 3 hour walk on hanging Bridges, a national park area with hikes to Lava fields from Arenal eruptions, a butterfly conservancy...one of only a few in the world that raise all their own butterflies, kayaking on Lake Arenal and more. And, we have our own are available any time you wish. Add to all of that the views of Arenal Volcano and a terrace with an almost constant breeze and great temperatures, and you will have a great trip.
Getting around
You will need a car. This is the epicenter of activities for the Arenal Volcano area. We send you a list of guest suggested places to visit and things to do as well as a list of places to eat nearby. Also detailed directions of how to find us from either airport. We will help you with car rental before you arrive.
Access
Car required
How to get there
You can exchange your dollars for Colones, but everyone in Cost Rica loves dollars. 1 dollar = about 575 but the rate changes daily. So when buying something, remember 1000 colonies is about $2.00. We usually get Both US dollars and Colones from our local bank before we leave. You can use credit cards for most things in most stores and restaurants, but bring one with no foreign transaction fees. One warning…stores will NOT take US bills that are heavily worn, have any kind of tear or parts of the bill missing, or any kind of stamps or writing on them. We usually go to the bank and ask for new or almost new bills to carry with us. THERE ARE NO ATMS OR BANKS IN EL CASTILLO. Last chance is in La Fortuna.
ENGLISH
In restaurants, activities and most shops, there will be people who speak English. But the average person on the streets probably will not. Most of the time, someone nearby will be there to help. Most restaurants have internet so you can log on using your personal phone. We use a lot of sign language, our phone translators and so on, and always manage to get by. The Costa Rica people love tourists who try to communicate with them. We laugh a lot, and have never met a rude person in our travels.
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS
There are no street addresses in all of Costa Rica. So most directions are made by landmarks, towns or places along the way. But the towns rarely have a sign that tells you where you are, so even these kind of directions are confusing and sometimes misleading. Also, there are several towns by the same name in Costa Rica. If you have a Garmin GPS that takes a micro memory card, we suggest buying a Costa Rica map card (we got ours on Amazon). You can also get them used on eBay, less expensive. The GPS map card costs between $35 and $50. If you rent a car, they will have them available, usually for $10 a day. Most places have their GPS location listed, and that is a good way to find places. We had only one bad experience…the GPS address of one B and B we were given was not close to their actual GPS address.
FINDING US:
As you rent your car, ask for directions to HY 1, the InterAmerica Highwqy. Tell them you are going to San Ramon. OR if you have a GPS…we hope you do…set it for San Ramon.
Once in San Ramon, you have turned onto on HY 142. Change your GPS
to La Fortuna.
You will stay on 142 all the way to La Fortuna. This is a beautiful drive and you will see many climate zones of Costa Rica as you drive. You will cross two mountain ranges. Take your time and enjoy the drive. As you enter La Fortuna, plan to stop and pick up snacks or any food you may want for your stay. Soda, beer, wine, dinner food if you plan to cook here. You will be able to find basics in a small store in El Castillo, but the selection is far better and less expensive in La Fortuna. There are several stores here, we suggest Super Christian on the left, just before the city square on the right. It is on the corner.There is another Super Christian on the way out of town on the left.
Continue on 142, passing through La Fortuna. It is about 15 miles to your next turn off.
You will pass many huge resorts…notice Baldi Hot Springs on the left as you go past…Just past Baldi, Look for Los Lagos on the left. Our suggestion for a great half day of fun plus a good 3 course meal…more later. A few miles down the road you will pass Tabicon Hot Springs on the right. Continue on 142. Soon, on the right, you will see a small blue building, a tourist police station.
On the left is the road to the National Park. Take this road. Keep your eyes open…we have seen sloths, anteaters, chayote, Great Curasows, Magpie Jays, and many other creatures along this road.
Follow this road past the entrance to the Arenal National Park, to a big 90 degree turn to the left.
We know, the road is terrible. And it will not get any better for the rest of your trip. Enjoy the experience. ...the rest of the details on our where we are will be available once you have confirmed your reservation.
MEET Kelly FIRST
Go into El Castillo and start to drive up the hill. Just as you see the road start to turn right, turn left into the restaurant, La Ventanita. Kelly is the owner. He will welcome you and take you to our house. He will also do a walk through of the house, explain how things work, provide tickets for anything you may have booked with him already and help with your plans for the duration of your stay.
Remember, we are a B&B, so you get a hot home cooked breakfast every day, cooked right in your own kitchen at a time you select each day.
100% refund within 24 hours after booking (provided the stay is at least 60 days away).
50% refund* if you cancel at least 8 weeks before check-in
25% refund* if you cancel at least 4 weeks before check-in
No refund available once booking is confirmed
About this property
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