CHECK FOR LAST MINUTE PRICES! The house is located in the development of Escaleras hills, in the heart of the Costa Ballena! Its fenced property guarantees security and privacy; an electric gate introduces to the parking area. The open living room-kitchen faces the terrace and infinity pool, on a breath-taking view on the Pacific Ocean. BBQ area with magnificent Ocean view. All bedrooms have A/C. Walking distance from a brand new high-end restaurant, organic grocery store, coffee shop and spa
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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
About the area
Bahía Ballena
Located in Bahía Ballena, this villa is in the mountains and near the beach. Marino Ballena National Park and Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary and Sunset Surf Dominical - Day Lessons. Costa Rica Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Uvita Arts Center are also worth visiting.
Does Casa Cecilia: Gem of the Pacific! have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Casa Cecilia: Gem of the Pacific!?
As of 10 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Casa Cecilia: Gem of the Pacific! on 7 Oct 2026 start from AU$457, 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.
Is Casa Cecilia: Gem of the Pacific! pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows pets (limit 4 total).
How much is parking at Casa Cecilia: Gem of the Pacific!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Casa Cecilia: Gem of the Pacific!?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Casa Cecilia: Gem of the Pacific!?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Casa Cecilia: Gem of the Pacific! located?
Situated by the ocean, this villa is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) from Playa Dominicalito and within 6 miles (10 km) of Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary and Dominicalito Beach. Hacienda Baru and Playa Hermosa are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
House was beautiful in a very convenient location. only complaint we had was the amount of traffic on the road due to the housing construction up the road from our location.
Absolutely dreamy. The house itself is comfortable with all the amenities and kitchen supplies you’ll need for your visit. The location is unparalleled, and if your goal is to see wildlife and especially birds, you can’t do better. Sloths, howler monkeys, dozens of bird species, frogs, snakes, bugs…immerse yourself in the forest! 4x4 car is absolutely required and the driveway is an adventure, but the casa is close to the main road compared to many other rentals yet far enough that you don’t hear the (loud) highway. Hosts were very attentive and purchased new beach towels and yoga mats at our request, so the home is even better stocked now. Our family plans to return next year.
Have stayed at a number of properties around Dominical and can report this is a particularly charming one. The villa has exquisite design…not new, probably 20 years old, but very well maintained and clean…not opulent, but very well appointed with all you could need. The setting is stunning…unlike villas higher up which tend to overlook the rainforest, this one is immersed within it. The large pool deck has sweeping view to the ocean with jungle vegetation in the foreground and surrounding. The villa is directly on the Escaleras road, but high walls, landscaping and vehicular gate make for total visual privacy. The only problem is this is the busiest mountain road we’ve ever seen, with vehicles passing every minute…including some heavy construction equipment grinding up to some higher building site… the noise of which can occasionally intrude on the otherwise total natural vibe.
Expansive views of the ocean, large infinity pool. Enjoyed our stay and well located for all the activities we wanted to do during our stay. Host was very responsive to our needs.
Beautiful area. Not too far off main highway. Nice view of ocean. Sloths, monkeys, birds, blue morfs and other wildlife right at our door! Pool is so nice and big, and mostly in the shade. House was lovely and so was the outdoor living spaces!! Housecleaners did a wonderful job for us
Barbie W.
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Feb 2025
Thank you Barbie! I guess the one star was a mistake then?
Thanks :-)
Massi
Loved our stay at Casa Cecilia. Massi, Adrienne and Silvia were extremely helpful and hospitable during our stay. The house was comfortable and well-stocked, clean, and the outdoor living space has the best views and a huge pool. Great location, in between Dominical and Uvita.
This property has a beautiful patio and pool and the view is breathtaking. The property is well appointed and had everything we needed. I do recommend to bring shampoo and conditioner. Great location with many places to visit.
Beautiful home, very clean & comfortable, it was well prepared for our arrival. View is amazing and pool is perfect! Thorough check-in instructions. Security made us feel safe.
We were super happy with everything and Massi our host was very responsive.
The Casa is truly "in the jungle" and the wildlife did not disappoint. The place is well appointed and has everything you need to enjoy the space properly.
Scala the restaurant just up the hill was really great.
Will definitely consider a return trip.
Casa Cecilia was just as pictured in the photos, beautiful view and home. Well stocked for everyday needs during stay, allowed us to grill one meal for dinner even! We were able to see monkeys, toucans, and parrots every morning during our stay which was incredible. Overall great house and experience!
We had a great time at Casa Cecilia. The house was equipped with everything we needed. We enjoyed the pool. The location was great, enjoyed how secluded it was yet not too far from the near by towns and restaurants. Highly recommend to book this house if you’re looking to get away and have some privacy. We also saw some wildlife from the pool, monkey, toucans, lizards, geckos, and frogs. We also enjoyed the sounds of nature when sitting outside and at night. We would happily book Casa Cecilia again.
This house had the best view ever by far.
.The location was great and I highly recommend the management company. The house however needs alot of work. The bamboo ceiling was infested and fesces (geckos?)and bug carcases were on the beds counter and floor daily as well as pieces of black plastic that lined the space between the ceiling and roof. We did not report this until we left because we knew the management company would get right on it and we would have workers there during our month long stay . The pool is fabulous but also needs work and the furniture is stained. Having said all that there was a ton of wildlife! Monkeys, Tucans, dart frogs! The view, wildlife and location made it all worth it to us.
We stayed at Casa Cecelia for three nights. This stunning property has lots of space. The pool is large, and there is a lot of outdoor furniture, where we spent most of our time. The AC worked well, and the showers were nice with good water pressure. The kitchen was fully stocked; we had everything to make a meal. At first, the alarm system seemed daunting, but it was not difficult after doing it the first time. It helped us to feel safe. One thing I want to mention is that I read some reviews about gecko poop and bugs. The house is in the jungle; you will have some poop and bugs in the cleanest of homes. When we arrived, the house was very clean. However, I swept the floors daily to keep them clean. I didn't mind this, as it was a small price to pay to stay in a beautiful house in the jungle. Enjoy the macaws flying in the distance and the sounds of the howler monkeys.
For 30 days, Casa Cecilia provided our family with the peace & serenity we sought! The groundskeeper, house cleaning staff, gardener, & pool cleaner maintained the property weekly. The property managers, Adriano & Massi, quickly established open communications & were available to address our questions. Before your arrival, it will save you & them a lot of time & allow for a smoother transition if you read the entire information packet they provide. I failed to do so, which resulted in me reaching out to them a lot in the first 48 hours. Nonetheless, they were gracious & available no matter the time of day/night, for what could have quickly been resolved by me had I taken the time to read their literature. Fortunately for me, we arrived at Casa Cecilia slightly before check-in & met the property manager, Adriano! He was extremely supportive & showed us around the entire grounds. We really appreciated that personal touch!! The site is beautiful, just as depicted in the photographs & the memories we shared at Casa Cecilia & throughout the Escaleras Village Community. Living high up in the mountains, that you can watch the treetops to find a 3-toed sloth, watch the Toucan birds & Iguanas visiting the backyard fruit-bearing Palm trees for a meal, listen to the sounds of the Howler Monkies, or be amazed by the sizes of bugs & insects & the quiet, & the beauty & serenity of all the above while watching the magnificent ocean in the distance from the pools deck consider his location!
Beautiful House But Seriously Flawed, Horrible Time
Casa Cecilia is beautiful, but seriously flawed.(FYI I have never before written a review of less than 5 stars) Throughout our 4 nights there we were unable to sleep, even with earplugs. This was because of a constant bombardment of something hitting the metal roof. By my count, 6-8 per hour, all day and night of BAM, BAM, BAM. My wife thought one of them was a gunshot, they were so loud. We tried anouther bedroom, but the AC unit was too loud. The manager sent a crew out to put a plastic tarp over the roof but it didn't work. They tried again on the last night and it was a partial sucess, reducing the noise by half. The home is very close to the road which has constant travel on it. We were unlucky on three days, having constant cement trucks and dump trucks traveling loudly, sounding like they were pulling into the yard. Moorcycles and other vehicles start at 6:30 am and taper off about 6:30 pm. Not much serenity to be had. The instructions on how to set up the house alarm were over the top demonstrative leaving us with the conclusion this home has been broken into more than once. The host offered us no reply when asked about it. There is no view of a sunset though the posted photos show there is. The pool gets no sun, it takes sometime to get used to the cold water. Black plastic falls from the ceiling. We asked for a refund but were ghosted. Bad Exoerience Don't RecommendWally
wally r.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Apr 2025
Of course when you rent a house in the jungle there can be sounds of nature, like seeds falling on that side of the roof for some days. Guests before you did not mention them at all. Sometimes there are morning birds, or hawler monkeys. Should we kill them? The tree you mentioned has been now removed, but you did not want to sleep in the other silent room and the lound A/C is just an excuse. You even asked us to warm up the pool....absurd. And if I did not answer you about break-ins is because I was just tired of you.
Last, you threatened us to write a bad review if we hadn't given you a refund, but there was no reason for a refund, you stayed for the whole time and money for review is not as it works. We are fair people, and do share your style.
The good thing is that you are not welcome anymore in any of our properties, I hope your attitude towards future travels will be nicer than this.
All of the positive reviews are accurate and Massi and Sylvia were very responsive to our needs as we had some travel delays. We had a great stay, no issues whatsoever.
Marc S.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2026
About the host
Hosted by Massi
Languages:
English, Italian, Spanish
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests