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Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde

Sierra vacation home with kitchen

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Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4600 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
San Rafael Despacio, Guanacaste
  • Place, Café Monteverde Coffee Farm
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Place, Wildlife Refuge Monteverde
    ‪27 min drive‬
  • Place, Monteverde Orchid Garden
    ‪30 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Sierra

In Sierra .Within 6 miles (10 km) of this Sierra vacation home, you'll find Avancarí Nature Reserve and Café Monteverde Coffee Farm. Also within 9 miles (15 km) are 100% Aventura Adventure Park and Wildlife Refuge Monteverde.
View more Vacation Homes in SierraOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Café Monteverde Coffee Farm - 19 min drive - 5.7 miles
  • Wildlife Refuge Monteverde - 27 min drive - 7.4 miles
  • Vista al Golfo - 28 min drive - 8.0 miles
  • Monteverde Orchid Garden - 30 min drive - 8.1 miles
  • Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde - 34 min drive - 9.2 miles

Restaurants

  • ‪Tree House Restaurante & Cafe - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Taco Taco - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Monteverde Brewing Company - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪Soda La Amistad - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪Choco Café - ‬23 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde

Casa Tia Yami is a typical Costa Rican home in a typical Costa Rican pueblo near Monteverde. It was the home of Yamileth, Minor, Yojibeth and Juan Diego. We have completely remodeled the home into a one-bedroom typical "Tico" Costa Rican home where you can experience Costa Rican country living, but have the creature comforts to enjoy your stay. Great for a couple or a family with two small children.

We have been hosting guests and travelers in San Rafael for years at our other property with phenomenal reviews. Check out our other VRBO 360208 "Casa Zabala" and its reviews.

We decided to get Casa Tia Yami ready for VRBO to help put Juan Diego and Yojibeth through school. The house is filled with love, good memories, and a great dose of Costa Rican country living and the experience of living in a small Costa Rican "pueblo" near the tourist area of Monteverde. We have paid attention to the details to make your stay authentic and comfortable.

San Rafael de Abangares is a little town of 600 people just outside of the Monteverde/Santa Elena area about 20 minutes from the tourist activities. A typical Costa Rican town with a few churches, a couple of "pulperias" or small grocery stores, a couple of bars and family restaurants and lots of Costa Rican charm and "Pura Vida". We live in the same community just about a mile and half from Casa Tia Yami. We will be here to take care of you!

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: Outside only on the porch.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Limited housekeeping
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 600 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Outside only on the porch.

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
Onsite 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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.

We should mention

  • To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly using the information on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Costa Rican Monteverde Country Living House San Rafael Despacio
Costa Rican Monteverde Country Living San Rafael Despacio
Costa Rican Montever Living R
Costa Rican Monteverde Living
Costa Rican Monteverde Country Living Sierra
Costa Rican Monteverde Country Living Private vacation home

Frequently asked questions

How close is Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde to the airport?

This vacation home is 64.3 mi (214-min drive) away from the La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

Does Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home.

What time is check-in at Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde have a pool?

This vacation home does not have a pool.

Does Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde to downtown Sierra?

This vacation home is 4.5 mi away from Sierra.

Living in the countryside in Costa Rica in Monteverde Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 30 out of 34 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 34 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 34 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Laurence

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
really noce stay, the view is amazing, really nice and helpful people, i would recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Paula

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Our stay here was perfect for what we needed. After a little searching (our Waze app malfunctioned), our host Ken checked us in. The view was amazing! The location was very convenient to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. The house was cozy and came with all amenities needed for a nice stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

April H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy Casita

This was the perfect location for our time in Monteverde. It is a small house but it is charming and worked well for our family of 2 adults and 2 children ages 6 & 9. The view across the street is incredible. Kenneth was a kind and communicative host and was happy to share recommendations.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lori W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation 2023

This property is nestled up in the mountains so the weather was good. The little grocery nearby has pretty much everything you'll need without going to the bottom of the mountain. Wait until you see the view from across the street! Breathtaking!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Peter & Linda C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

We stayed two days at this property. It’s located 20 minutes from the tourist area of Monteverde. It must be understood that this is a very basic property but it had everything we needed. Our only complaint is that the house is close to the road and occasionally it was a bit noisy but for the most part it was everything that we were looking for. The owner Ken was very helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Debbie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Stunning mountain and ocean views!

We had a very restfull 12 day stay at the casita. It was well equipped with all the essentials we could want. We enjoyed our morning coffee on the patio in the lovely Costa Rican rocking chairs, while watching the toucans fly overhead. The owners checked in with us often to see if we needed anything. Gracious hosts. Thanks for sharing your cozy mountain top casita. DEBBIE C
Stayed 12 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Countryside cabin with a view

This little gem in the country side is perfect. If you want away from the hustle and bustle Monteverde, this is the place for you. Ken was great and super communicative during the check in. He had wonderful recommendations! Was still close enough to attractions and local restaurants. Can’t beat it for the price, place was exactly as described. It was me, my husband and 8 yr old son. The view was amazing. Hesitant to leave a great review because I don’t want it to be booked up forever as we want to return.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

P G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Late December

Ken is a wonderful host with great flexibility. A rental car is needed to access this stunning part of the country. Ken has a wonderful neighbor (Bobby) who let us on his private property with access to a secret waterfall. His two wonderful dogs were great guides. Staying at an isolated cabin is not really our thing but the cabin was spacious enough for a family of 4 including a teen. Ken & his wife graciously provided an air mattress and Laundry (you just have to drop it off at their property and pick it up).
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Annie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Nice casa

The casa is a nice small house. it’s close to the road all though. But, I would say the view is stunning. We finally don’t stay at the casa. Because I didn’t realize that the places we would like to visit was far in term of time from the casa. The roads conditions in Costa Rica are not always good. Depends where you travel around. Kenneth and his wife doing their best to help us.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Kim D.

Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Pictures are old and place is very different

The pictures are very old! I was expecting rustic and Costa Rica. This was our 3rd rental of our trip. The placed smelled like bug spray and when we tried to open the windows, less than half had screens! No furniture on the patio. No linens or pillows for the rock hard couch. Broken dishes, disgusting pans that I wouldn't cook with. The bathroom needs updating and a serious cleaning. Our host was good with communication and refunded our money as we were unable to stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

jacinthe

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Tout était parfait dans cet propriété! L’emplacement, la maison, les commodités!! Je recommande cet endroit à tous !!
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Anne-Marie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Nous avons adoré notre séjour à cette adorable petite maison typique du Costa Rica. La vue sur l'océan Pacifique est magnifique et les hôtes sont absolument adorables. La maison se trouve à environ 20 minutes de Santa Elena et donc très accessible des attractions de Monteverde. Ce fût notre coup de coeur de notre voyage.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jason M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Property

This property was amazing to stay at. The host was very helpful including washing and drying some clothes for us. He was also very helpful at pointing us towards some good restaurants. I would definitely recommend this property to others!!!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Elena L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

True peace and quiet.

The view was incredible. A short drive to town for supplies, and any issues were immediately and perfectly addressed. You will not regret a stay at Ken's place.
Stayed 16 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jerome B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Of the beaten track

A quaint cabin way off the beaten track. You will relax here and the internet was great.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

J Carol P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little house

Great little house on the main road into San Rafael, short drive to Monteverde. Perfect for a couple but no more. Well equipped and cozy. The view across the road will make your jaw drop. The front porch is the place to be, a toucan flew by while I was rocking on the porch. Kenneth and his family were very responsive. I plan to go back.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nancy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home on coffee plantation.

It's important to note that the owner upgraded us to a bigger home as he needed the one we rented for an intern on the farm. It was huge, rustic, lovely, with views to the Pacific from the upper deck. Comfortable and quiet except for the rooster down the road. Ken was exceedingly friendly and helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Zheng L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay

Very kind host! 100% recommendation. Would return.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jerry S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Responsive and friendly host

We only spent one night at the booked unit. Unfortunately our small rental car had a problem going over the drainage pipe at the front of the driveway. We expressed our concerns to the host and he promptly offered us an acceptable alternative at a second unit. We stayed in the unit for one week and really enjoyed the hospitality of the host who gave us a tour of their coffee farm and let us pick the fresh veggies from their organic gardens. There are several restaurants nearby and they provided good foods with spectacular view. We had a unique and pleasant experience at the lovely home and enjoyed taking walks through the plantation.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Anthony K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing mountain getaway

We loved our week here! The rural mountain setting is beautiful, as are the people here. The house was very comfortable for two. Our hosts were extremely gracious and helpful. Very good restaurant within walking distance. The spring water from the tap was excellent. Stunning vistas.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Peg

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Unique country living in a beautiful remote area. Peaceful and relaxing. Weather fantastic
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ivy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay in January

This place is the perfect size for a couple! The interior was cute and the amenities suited all of our needs. I wish we had more time in San Rafael to enjoy the front porch and rockers. With the kitchen, we were able to cook our own meals which helped cut the costs of our entire trip. The house location was easy to find in San Rafel, and just across the street was an incredibly stunning mountain view. San Rafaels location to the national parks was perfect for us. The drive in a non-4x4 was only 20-40 mins depending on which park you were going, and I enjoyed staying out of the more busy tourist town. An additional delight was our hosts. Communication was quick, easy and relaxed. Kenneth gave us great advice for what to do/where to eat during our stay, and even gave us advice for out next stop in Manuel Antonio (which was used and appreciated)! We also spent part of one of our afternoons on his coffee farm and even went with Alexander to their mill and learned more about the coffee-making process. This was an unexpected highlight of our trip. I would highly recommend staying in this VRBO or any hosted by Kenneth.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was an absolutely lovely place. It had history and the place was put together with love. Ken even contacted us back in the US and offered suggestions before we went. I highly recommend this house and the owners as a great part of a Costa Rican visit.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Carrie J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Monteverde adventure

A great little property in the mountains. We used this as our launch pad to hike the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It is quite a way up the mountain side. If you are not used to Cota Rican driving, the path to get to the house may seem a duanting but it is not bad at all. Just follow Kenneth's directions and/or use Waze/Google maps to help you. The views are well worth it! Kenneth was always very prompt in returning my messages and and helping us with anything we need. The house itself is very Tico, charming, and snuggly. We loved it.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tyler M.

Peaceful Mountain View Retreat

We loved our 2 night stay in Casa Yami. It was far enough away from the touristy Santa Elena to feel like you were living like a true Tico but close enough to drive to and from the cloud forest and other activities int he area. It had a well equipped kitchen that let us prepare our own meals (good because it is relatively remote and there is not a ton open at night). Short 30 or so minute drive to Monteverde Cloud Forest (I highly suggest you take the 606 route). There was no a/c but ceiling fans and screens on the windows (not always a given in CR) let in a cool breeze that kept the place comfortable. The patio was perfect for sipping a cold Imperial and it had ceiling fans too. We had touchy hot water the first night but I think that was more operator error than anything as the second night all 3 of us took hot showers no problem. Everywhere we stayed had similar touchy hot water but once you figure it out it isn't an issue. The view of the valley was stunning. Yami was amazing. We had planned to use the laundry facilities on the farm (a 5-10 minute drive away) but our schedule made that difficult. Yami took our dirty clothes after she led us to Casa Yami and we picked them up clean and neatly folded on our way out of town 2 days later. This being our 10th day on out trip we were running low on clothes and this was a lifesaver. The communication with Ken was perfect and though he was on a trip out of town he made sure to stay in contact via email and text and we spoke on the phone when we arrived at the farm. All in all a wonderful place to stay in the Monteverde area.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019