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Santuario De Ranas, Valle Azul

Riverside holiday home in La Fortuna with kitchen

Photo gallery for Santuario De Ranas, Valle Azul

Aerial view
Room
Room
Terrace/patio
Room

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 885 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Lake view

Explore the area

View map
San Ramón, Alajuela
  • Place, Costa Rica Chocolate Tour
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Baldi Hot Springs
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, La Fortuna Waterfall
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Airport, La Fortuna (FON-Arenal)
    ‪5 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed, 1 Single Murphy Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed, 1 Double Bed and 1 Single Murphy Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Santuario De Ranas, Valle Azul


Private house. 3bedrooms 2 full bathrooms HOT water.  kitchen, dining room, living room . Private driveway and parking. Air conditioning. Porch.  stroNg WIFI. Paintings by local artist. Nestled in a private nature sanctuary. Frogs!   Blue- jean, Red- eyed, Gaudy. Scarlett Macaws. Toucans. Sit on the dock of  the lagoon, take a peaceful walk on the many creek trails, take an exciting night hike, or ask Maricel to teach you about the medicinal plants. We are located just 35 minutes from La Fortuna Downtown on the route 702 San Ramon La Fortuna.

important details:

The property is located off Route 702.

There may be noise from the main road sometimes.

You can request a night hike to the Frog Sanctuary, which is just 3 minutes away from the property.

All guests have access to our concierge service, which can help you organize your itinerary, activities, or if you need transportation from San Jose or Liberia Airport.

We can also provide you with discount codes for our community booking portal to Baldi Hot Springs Resort or activities in La Fortuna, just 35 minutes away.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Lake view
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is no smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

La Fortuna

Located in Barrio Pilo, a neighbourhood in La Fortuna, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. While the natural beauty of La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano National Park can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Baldi Hot Springs. Puentes Colgantes del Arenal and Arenal Adventure World are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
San Ramón, Alajuela

What's nearby

  • Puentes Colgantes del Arenal - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Costa Rica Chocolate Tour - 5 min drive - 2.8 km
  • Baldi Hot Springs - 6 min drive - 5.6 km
  • Ecotermales Fortuna - 7 min drive - 6.0 km
  • La Fortuna Waterfall - 10 min drive - 5.6 km

Getting around

  • La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) - 5 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Soda y Restaurante Víquez - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪POPS - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Soda La Hormiga - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Rain Forest Café - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Arábigos Coffee House - ‬8 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Santuario De Ranas, Valle Azul pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Santuario De Ranas, Valle Azul?

As of 12 Nov 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Santuario De Ranas, Valle Azul on 13 Nov 2025 start from AU$163.90, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at Santuario De Ranas, Valle Azul?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Santuario De Ranas, Valle Azul?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Santuario De Ranas, Valle Azul located?

Located in Barrio Pilo, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of La Fortuna Park and Puentes Colgantes del Arenal. El Salto Fortuna River and Arenal Adventure World are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 34 out of 36 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 36 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 36 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

giuliano m.

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

Gorgeous stay with beautiful scenery

I stayed with my family and had such an amazing stay. The tour included was so nice and learned a lot. Saw cool frogs and other animals. The house was clean, the host are so helpful with anything we needed. Will come back if I do come to La fortuna
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

FELIX J.

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

Beautiful well maintained property for nature lovers.

Beautifully maintained property and amazing hospitality Mrs. Maricel made us authentic breakfast everything fresh.This is for someone loves the nature explore true the Costa Rica.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gary W.

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

Great spot

House is beautiful. If your a birder or nature lover its a paradise. Frogs everywhere. Gardens were stunning. Host lives next door, And made us a wonderful breakfast. Ill be back!
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

6/10 Okay

sateesh s.

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

False advertisement on location

Falsly shown that the property is 10 min away from tourist attraction like Arenal volcano , la fortuna etc. even vrbo location points within la fartuna . But actual property is 1 har away from all theses. Which disrupted our plan and hikes big time.. what a waste. I will be complaining to vrbo abt this property. Though hos is nice and friendly, property is good. But felt they are not honest about the listing.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jenna P.

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

A Tropical Oasis

This family made our whole trip!! They were so kind and generous, left us cacao fruit, coffee and pastries when we arrived. Jefferson took us on an amazing night tour and showed us the nocturnal frogs on the property. Then his sister took us through all of the various fruit trees and we got to drink coconut water from coconuts and eat fresh sugarcane. It was an amazing experience and we really enjoyed spending time with their family.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kate s.

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

Beautiful property!

My family and I had an amazing time here. Maricel and her family were phenomenal hosts, very welcoming and helpful. The property is stunning- we saw so many birds, frogs, fish, etc. right outside our windows. There was plenty of room for all 5 of us as well, and the house had everything we needed. It was a little farther to La Fortuna than I realized, but that’s on me for not checking the map beforehand. It was an easy drive but took about 30-40 minutes to get there. Overall we had a great time and would definitely recommend this location!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

William G., Elk River, MN USA

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

Like being part of the family in a rainforest paradise

This property is stunning... even better in person than it appears in the listing. It feels like authentic Costa Rica... surrounded by lush jungle. The beautiful original art was all painted by a family member. The best part of this rental, however, is the people... They made us feel completely at home in their beautiful home. They cooked us Tico breakfast in their open-air kitchen. They showed us around their gorgeous property. They taught us about the medicinal plants they are cultivating. They cut open coconuts for us. They let us hold the exotic frogs they are working to protect. They taught us about their history... They made us feel like family. We love them and can't wait to return.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amita

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We had a most amazing time at gem of a place. We loved company of Mrs Marisel and Anyara. We had breakfast with them everyday. Josh took us for a night frog tour and had amazing knowledge. It was amazing hard work and love he put together in the property. You need a car to get to this place but its worth a try. There is a beautiful private forest behind the house where there are several birds who come during the morning (including at least three tocans), there are also atleast one or two sloths living around in that area but we did not see them. Marisel fed the birds like her babies during the breakfast time. A most amazing adventure, very different than you ever encounter anywhere in costa rica. There art and love of nature in the air. Highly recommend to all travellers. Good luck and hope someday we see you again.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie S.

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

Beautiful property with a wonderful tour

This was a wonderful stay for our family. We only stayed one night and it was quite a drive from where we originally came from- we wish we stayed two. But the night tour with Jefferson to see the animals and all the plants was amazing, as was the morning tour. Such a gift to have my children have some experience with a family in Costa Rica. Most of the communication needed to be interpreted through my husband as the host family speaks Spanish and we were English only. However it was still such a welcoming place, very clean. Things to note- I believe the host provides breakfast for stays longer than one day- but this would be important to clarify beforehand. It would be best to arrive before dark as it was a little challenging to find the right place at night. There are sodas and grocery stores nearby for needed items. The lake filled with fish was so fun, the frogs were beautiful, the love of the land by the family was such a great experience for my family.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

4/10 Poor

Connie K.

Disliked: Location

Not in La Fortuna.

I am going to be very honest here. I don't enjoy leaving a bad review, but this needs to be addressed. First of all, it is a good 45-minute drive to and from La Fortuna. The check-in was pleasant enough. We did check in late and really got lost. Somehow, we had the wrong address. We had brought food to prepare the following day. The kitchen is not a place where you want to prepare any cooking The stove looked like it was 30 years old, absolute disgusting. The coffee machine hadn't been thoroughly cleaned, I had to wash and rinse the inside about 5 times to get it cleaned properly They had a mixer in the kitchen that I wouldn't dare use. The bottom was so dirty, we tried to unscrew it, and it would even come apart. They have no hot water in the kitchen, so we had to wash all our dinner ware, including the very old pots and pans in cold water. The house is nice, but the bathrooms also really need an upgrade. very old. The house sits right off the main road, so it was extremely noisy to say the least. At night we heard a couple of dogs barking constantly. So very annoying. We also had no drawers to put our clothes in, but when I mentioned it to the owner who lives next door, they did provide us with a rack and some hangers. I was definitely unhappy Our stay was to be 7 days, but we left 2 days earlier. If you don't mind the Noice, barking of dogs and don't care to cook at all, then this place is Ok.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Zaina M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The home was very comfortable and property was beautiful. Maricel was extremely nice and helpful and treated us like family. The house is very spacious and the property had a beautiful lake with cool frogs and birds
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House was very peaceful. Loved the morning on the front porch. Marisel was a great host. It was a bit far from LaFortuna but was worth the drive.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had such a great time. This was a highlight of our trip to Costa Rica. Our hosts were so kind and we were sad we didn't have more time to stay and enjoy the property and their hospitality. You know those places you go and they tell you that you "might" see some wildlife....but usually that doesn't happen? Well that's NOT the case here. We saw SO many wonderful animals during our short stay - highlighted of course by SO many frogs, many of which were 5 feet from our backdoor. All of my kids had an amazing time. By far our best wildlife experience in Costa Rica.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Caprila Y.

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

Hidden Paradise

This was my first trip to Costa Rica where I actually had an opportunity to relax. And relax I did! The location is very remote so it's very quiet. I really enjoyed focusing on all the different species of beautiful birds and plants. The house wes very clean (and large). The host and the entire family were very friendly and accommodating. Anyara even arranged for transportation for us (no Uber in this area).
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ali A.

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

Beautiful place

Amazing place to stay and even more amazing hosts!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karine T.

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

Magnifique!

Emplacement magnifique, mais un peu difficile à trouver puisqu'aucun écriteau n'annonce l'endroit. Les hôtes sont chaleureux et accueillants. Le végétation est sublime.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Raven B.

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

Paradise

This was the best house I stayed at in my entire life. It is huge in pristine condition clean. Surrounded by tropical Paradise. I will remember this home for the rest of my life. I want to go back and live in Costa Rica permanently lol. I didn’t want to leave. The family is amazing and treated me like one of them. They took me out and let me see all the frogs and wildlife and help me explore. They are absolutely amazing and I wish they were my real family.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mandy R.

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

Little jungle getaway

The host family was amazing. Very warm and welcoming. The night frog tour was great and so was the tour of the property. Learning about the history of the property was fabulous. The accommodations really made you feel like you were in the Costa Rican jungle.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Craig G.

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

Wish we had more time…

The property and surrounding area is very beautiful. Marciel and Joshua were very helpful with recommendations and with any questions we had. It is located in a beautiful part of the country and a little slice of heaven. We wish we had more time to explore all it had to offer. The location is about 45 mins from La Fortuna and the activities located there. Thanks Marciel!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Schelle N.

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

You will not be disappointed!!!

I saw the reviews & the one thing that stood out was the hospitality of the family! Well, it was true! My daughter & I didn’t arrive to the property til very late…after midnight. We flew in from different cities so I had to wait for her at the airport. We then had about 2hr drive to the property. I kept in contact w/ the hosts to give them an ETA. Well, the host, Anjara, was there waiting when we arrived to welcome us!…yes, at midnight! She gave us brief instructions & showed us around the place. The next morning they made breakfast for us! We had a great time getting to know them & they gave us a lot of insight on the culture, which we loved! Anjara showed us their beautiful property! She also gave us some recommendations on activities to do during our stay. We had the opportunity to visit la fortuna falls! We also loved the house we stayed. It was so eclectic! It had so much charm & authenticity! We were told that her husband built it! We were only there for a few days & wish we had more time. But we left to go visit another great city Manuel Antonio! Some of the reviews mentioned the amount of time it takes to get to downtown la fortuna…well, they make it very clear that there is about 30–40min drive. But the drive is beautiful! That’s what makes the stay that much better! I would highly recommend staying here! You will fall in love just as we did! Thank you!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kate K.

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

Wonderful Experience and a Beautiful Family

This house is located on a property that has been deeply cared for my the host and her family. It is evident that they take great pride in the land and nature that surround them. The house was very comfortable and had everything we needed to feel at home. The host and her family were very welcoming and her daugter provided us a night walk where she showed us the frogs and pther animals that call this beautfil place home. They provided recommendations of places to eat and a wonderful zipline company where we spent the day flying through the forest. I would definitely stay here again if I am ever back in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ainslee F.

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

My favorite place in Costa Rica

My family and I stayed here passing through to get to La Fortuna. We only reserved one night and regretted not booking a longer stay once we stepped foot on the property. When we arrived we weren’t sure which property was the correct one but Maricel greeted us at the street so that we could find the correct driveway. She showed us around the place and introduced herself to welcome us and make us feel at home. The home was large and fit five of us very comfortably. There is a large window to watch the animals from the kitchen at the back of the house and there is a trail that leads through the spectacular property. Marcel recommended a soda down the street that we enjoyed for dinner that night. After dinner, her kind daughter, Anyara, gave us a tour of their farm showing us all of the fascinating frogs and wildlife after dark. We arrived late in the evening so we didn’t have time to explore the property during the day. Anyara offered to wake up and show us around the next morning also before we left. Anyara’s father even came over from his work to knock down coconuts from a tree and cut them open to let us try fresh coconut water. This family made us feel like we were at home and were a part of their family. They are so kind and passionate about the land that they live on that has been passed through many generations. Thank you so very much, Maricel, Anyara, and family! If we are ever in Costa Rica again, we will be back to visit you all again.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

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

If I could give it 10 stars I would!

Absolutely beautiful property and hostess family. The frog tour was wonderful and such an amazing experience around the area! Would recommend staying here!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erin W.

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

Peaceful, Surrounded by Natural Beauty!

We brought our family of 6 here to experience Costa Rica for the first time. The host family who lives next door on this large property is very welcoming & kind. Anyara greeted us warmly and helped us with anything we needed, including recommendations for restaurants and activities. Some highlights for us were walking around the lake/ponds, getting a guided night tour of the frogs, seeing & tasting coconuts and sugar cane, and eating breakfast they made for us (extra fee of $10/person) on their covered kitchen/patio while we watched different birds come eat from bananas on branches. Helpful to know: there are two close small restaurants (called SODAS) that you can walk to. Both were tasty and not too expensive. We also bought food at a local grocery store (5 min drive) and cooked some of our meals in the kitchen to reduce the cost of meals. It was easy to find the home if you use google maps to take you there. Arrive before dark if possible. (There aren’t many street signs in Costa Rica so following an electronic map is necessary the first time you arrive, then you will get a feel for the area!) We found it helpful to have a rental car and there is a lot to do in this general area so you can explore around to find lots of tourist attractions. Some activities like the volcano hike or Balti Hot Springs are about an hour drive away but the drive is beautiful. We went to a less expensive hot springs (recommended by Ayara) and liked it. Our family loved staying here!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Grace G.

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

Best VRBO experience ever!

Beautiful house clean & well equipped, nestled in tropical rain forest, stream, pond and birds. The kindness, thoughtfulness and availability of host family is outstanding (they even came to find us when we were lost the first night). Sharing breakfast with the family in an outdoor kitchen was an unparalleled experience. Thank you for being such generous and gracious hosts and for your environmental awareness.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

About the host

Hosted by Maricel Vargas

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Languages:

English, Spanish

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