Entire home

Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!

Lakefront holiday home with private pool and kitchen

Photo gallery for Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!

Pool
Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
3 bedrooms, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, WiFi

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 72100 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Pool
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor space

About this property

Entire place

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

Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!

Lakefront holiday home with private pool and kitchen
Along with concierge services, this smoke-free holiday home has tour/ticket assistance and a garden. Other amenities include barbecues. The holiday home boasts a private pool and offers a kitchen and 2.5 bathrooms. Guests can appreciate conveniences, such as a fridge and a microwave, and other amenities include a balcony and a stovetop. Housekeeping is available on request.
Air-conditioned accommodation at this holiday home offers private pools and coffee/tea makers. Rooms open to balconies. Kitchens offer fridges, stovetops, microwaves and kitchenware and utensils. Additionally, rooms include a hairdryer and an iron/ironing board. Housekeeping is provided on request.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or nearby; fees may apply.

Property manager

Explore El Castillo

Languages

English, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Communal pool
  • Massage
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices

Dining

  • Chef service

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2.5 private bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Blackout drapes
  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In a village
  • In the mountains
  • On a lake

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water tubing 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)
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Unit size: 2,100 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
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

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

Property is also known as

365082

About the area

Map
El Castillo, Alajuela

What's nearby

  • Costa Rica Sky Adventures - 9 min drive - 5.2 km
  • Tabacon Hot Springs - 22 min drive - 13.9 km
  • Arenal Volcano National Park - 23 min drive - 14.3 km
  • Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park - 29 min drive - 17.4 km
  • La Fortuna Waterfall - 44 min drive - 30.2 km

Getting around

  • La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Restaurante Río Lounge - ‬38 min drive
  • ‪Agua Ardiente Pool Bar - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Fusión Arenal Mirador. - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Soda La Palma - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Hojarasca Restaurant - ‬33 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!! have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!! located?

Located in El Millon, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Butterfly Conservatory and Lake Arenal. Arenal Eco Zoo and Costa Rica Sky Adventures are also within 3 miles (5 km).

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Firefly Retreat. A Hilltop Retreat with Swimming Pool & Great Rainforest Views!! Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 15 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cammie S.

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

Great Location

This property is in a great location. Quick and easy drive to La Fortuna. Several restaurants very close by. Great property management which was very attentive to our needs.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Justin V.

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

Great Location and Beautiful Place

We had a great stay here for 5 nights. Beautiful location with nice views. The local restaurants are some of the best we had on our trips so no need to go to La Fortuna and spend more for less. I highly recommend this place and would come back.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Maison D.

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

Amazing place

You absolutely have to see the Region. You definitely need a car to get around. Will definitely go back.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

John O.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Adequate

It was nice. Great remote location about 20 minutes from ladortuna
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

riju

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Lovely house. Near Arenal lake and volcano which is a beautiful area. Walkable distance to local restaurants and grocery store. You will need your own car to stay here.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike P.

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

Great experience, nice house!

We had a group of 6 here and it worked perfectly. Nice pool and views of the surrounding area. Some good food spots close by too. Would stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charles L.

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

Arenal stay

Overall good communication and good space for our trip. Drive a high clearance car for this accomodations though
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Louis-Philippe L.

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

Gracias

Great spot, isolated and well equipped! We enjoyed the pool and the view!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chandice C.

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

Amazing place!!!

We absolutely loved our stay at this home. The location was perfect- it is far, yet close enough, to the hustle and bustle of La Fortuna. The neighborhood was quiet and homey. Plenty of restaurants and markets within walking distance, so many days we didn’t even leave! We absolutely loved the pool. It was so refreshing and we spent HOURS in it a day. We loved just walking around the neighborhood petting dogs, cats, feeding horses, catching fireflies and talking to locals. We were so sad to leave but made so many great memories here! And would stay here over and over!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Margo M.

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

Lovely peaceful village

You will love this little village of El Millon, especially if you want to avoid the busyness of La Fortuna (45 min away). The house is exactly as described; do expect firm beds and a lovely pool. Also minor power outages and spotty wifi; bring a candle as only 1 flashlight works. Happily the road has received significant improvements over the years, and there are a number of restaurants close by.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jay C.

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

Great House

Great 3 bed room house for our family. House was just as shown in the pictures. Pool was cool. I would recommend staying at this house, going to the "Alien" restaurant two doors down and doing the horse back riding at Lilander's right up the road.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stacey K.

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

Firefly Retreat

Even more beautiful than the photos! A birder’s paradise. Refreshing spring fed pool. Had one minor issue during our stay and property manager Augustin saw to it immediately - maintenance was onsite within 5-10 minutes. House is on a steep hill, but there sre restaurants and activities within a short walk. Butterfly Conservatory is a must-do. I would 💯 stay in El Castillo/El Million again.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Morgan O.

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

Perfect for us

The house was perfect for us. Located near the small town of El Castillo, it was just up the hill from several restaurants, the El Castillo Visitors Center, and a couple small general stores. It was just down the hill from Lilander's Horse Tours, which was great. It was about 20-minute drive into La Fortuna. The house manager met us at the Visitor's Center and showed us how to get the the property. As long as you don't need to be in walking distance of La Fortuna, I highly recommend this house.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

6/10 Okay

Sherry W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Hilltop retreat in El Castillo, Lake Arenal

We felt that the property could have been cleaner. The floor did not seem clean. The main floor also had a musty / mildew smell that we did not appreciate. Other than that the property itself is beautiful and the location is quite stunning.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anjani

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Claire J.

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

Peaceful retreat.

After doing a ton of research trying to find a house that checked all of our necessary boxes, I chose the Firefly house. House was perfect. After long days of exploring and activities it was so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of La Fortuna we’d jump in the pool and just sit outside and listen to the birds. We heard the monkeys a few mornings and that was exciting. We saw a macaw and lots of toucans. There are several little restaurants along the way up to the house and a market for your basic necessities. Kitchen had plenty of pots and pans for the days we cooked at the house. We had a couple local dogs and cat that would come visit every evening looking for a few pets, they we very sweet. We were very satisfied with our stay.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vitaly B.

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

loved it. will stay again

great location all requests were immediately addressed augustine is an amazing property manager just like it looks online perfect place to disconnect from the world
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022