Located in the mountains above Uvita, Costa Rica, an area known for its wildlife, pristine beaches, and friendly locals, lies “Refugio Madreselva”. The spacious four bedroom, four bath home enjoys complete privacy surrounded by rainforest and expansive views of the Pacific coast, including the Marino Ballena National Park, and its icon, the Whale’s Tail. The stunning vistas of both ocean and mountains are sure to take your breath away.
Our staff is ready to pamper you - On weekdays, Carolina, our housekeeper will serve you a delightful breakfast made from local ingredients. She will also do a light housekeeping that includes tidying up, making beds, cleaning bathrooms and doing one load of laundry per day for your group. Carolina also provides (free of charge) concierge service to help you plan and organize your trip, such as transportation arrangements, vehicle rentals, tour reservations, on-site massage and private yoga classes. Carolina also offers additional services, such as grocery shopping, and preparing special meals for lunch and dinner (clean-up included!). As you can see from many of our reviews, her food is highly praised by our guests.
Madreselva is more than a home - it a wildlife refuge, encompassing 25 acres of forest and 2 creeks, and nested inside the Oro Verde Private Reserve. Madreselva is ideal for the nature lover, birdwatcher, photographer, and anyone looking for peace and relaxation.
Inside Madreselva, you will notice that we have an eye for detail. The house was designed to be at one with nature yet offer all the conveniences and charm our guests may desire. The open floor plan takes advantage of the ocean breezes, big views and incredible sunrise over the mountains. The HOUSE HAS NO STAIRS and is WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY. The gourmet kitchen is spacious, enjoys high-end appliances, and granite counter tops. There is a TV room with a flat-screen. The 4 bedrooms have high quality, comfortable mattresses that will leave you refreshed and ready for days of adventures. The yearly daytime average temperature at the house is 85 degrees & the evenings are normally a pleasant 69-73 making it perfect for sleeping! Gather your group together for a meal at the large ten person table that overlooks the beautiful (heated) pool, valley, and ocean.
Each morning you will be awakened by the howler monkeys. At Madreselva, you are surrounded by the wonders of nature and wildlife. Sit by the pool and watch the clouds roll by, waves crash onto the Whale’s Tail, and birds fly everywhere. The thatch roofed palapa (called 'rancho' in Costa Rica) hangs over the valley offering seamless views, and is a perfect place to enjoy your morning coffee or a sunset cookout on the BBQ grill. The outdoor spaces are complete with hammocks and comfortable furniture perfect for napping or reading that book you have been dying to finish. In the evening the delightful fragrance of the Ylang-Ylang waft through the breezeways, and the stars on a clear night will remind you of life before city-light pollution.
You can take advantage of our trails for hiking, bird watching, or taking photographs of our diverse wildlife. A short walk in our forested trail will take you to a small waterfall, where you can sit on a comfortable bench and enjoy the sound of the running water and the sounds of nature. With little effort you are likely to see morpho butterflies, strawberry frogs, and on occasion howler and capuchin monkeys.
Madreselva is also the perfect home-base from which to launch a number of exciting excursions. You can choose among a dozen beaches, surfing, whale and dolphin watching, horse riding, birdwatching, water rafting, kayaking, zip lining, fishing, and day as well as night-guided nature tours. Near us you can hike to 3 magnificent waterfalls through primary forest, as well as swim and play in the local river.
Uvita is only minutes by car and offers a wide array of services including super markets, banks, a health clinic, dentist, pharmacy, veterinarian, and much more. There are several good restaurants in our area, and Ojochal, the next town south, has several excellent restaurants receiving high reviews. If you are a golfer, the San Buenas 18 holes golf course is only 25 minutes away.
Madreselva is a 'green home' - we are proud that we rely on solar energy for power and hot water. The home was built to the highest ecological standards and best practices in tropical architecture. The roof is made from recycled plastic, the pool tiles are recycled glass, and the wood throughout the house comes from local wood, certified as being sustainably harvested. Even the dining room table was crafted from a hardwood tree that fell on the property decades ago.
We hope you will choose Madreselva for your next vacation, family get-together or yoga/meditation retreat. The balmy breezes, private setting, and lush jungle surroundings will leave you relaxed, refreshed and looking forward to your next visit to our beautiful country.
Important: Our private gravel road (1 mile), while in excellent condition, is steep and thus you will need a 4x4 car to access our property.
Bedroom Configuration:
- 1 master bedroom with a Queen bed, ensuite bathroom, and outdoor shower.
- 1 master bedroom with a King sized bed, ensuite full bathroom.
- 1 bedroom with a Queen bed and a Single bed, full bathroom across the breezeway.
- 1 bunk room with 2 Double beds below, 2 Singles above that can sleep up to six people. It also has an ensuite bathroom.
