My wife and I love new experiences. Especially for our anniversaries. We also enjoy a more upscale approach to our lodgings. So when we waited too long to book a stay at Costa Rican resort, rental properties became the focus of our vacation. We could not believe that Gema Escondida was available with such late notice but, also, that it was surprisingly affordable.

The home was as advertised. Absolutely great design, magnificent views and all of the amenities one would need. The kitchen was stocked with enough utensils and cookware to supply a Michelin star restaurant, there were PLENTY of towels/toiletries/etc and the pool….the POOL!!! It was a regular occurrence for us to wake up at sunrise, workout beside the pool, cook breakfast and then enjoy an early morning dip to start the day. Absolute perfection.

All was not perfect, tho…at no fault of the owner or property management. A 4×4 IS necessary. I, initially, thought that they may be erring on the side of caution but, no…you will NOT get to this property without a 4×4 that has low gear. Trust me. Also, this property is, ostensibly, in the jungle. So that means critters all around. And sometimes they find their way inside the domicile. Nothing scary or dangerous, but just be prepared to see a big on its back near the door or the odd gecko on the wall (usually near the AC units, for some reason)

But, other than those small quibbles, I would not hesitate to book this property again. As a matter of fact, I have already started recruiting another couple to go with us on our return. This home was just too big and awesome for just the 2 of us. It almost made us feel guilty. HAHAHAHA!

Can’t wait to get back!!!

This is a superb rental. The house is short walk to the best surfing beach in Dominical area, maybe 300 yds to beach.
It was impeccably clean and the area was quiet. The small pool was a welcome soak after surfing, hiking etc.
Highly recommend this rental.

The house is easy to get to and the caretakers are always available to help you out. The house is in a small community with down to earth, friendly neighbors. It is close to all kinds of activities such as zip lines, horseback riding, birdwatching, and of course the beaches and national parks. The food at the little restaurant next to the fish market is delicious! Thanks Nick! We had a great time!

We had a wonderful stay at casita Quetzal. The location is great, close to the supermarket and the beach. The house is brand new and everything worked. We enjoyed our stay a lot and would definitely come back

The patio and pool was great. The showers and toilets had serious issues.
Ojochal is an up and coming area with a lot of developing going on. Unfortunately this property is located very close to the main avenue and there was a steady stream of construction vehicles.

Beautiful hose for sure. Response from host was bad. We didn’t get much help getting there. ( I only have WiFi so have to stop a lot and the didn’t always answer. Also the TV was in French and everyday for 3 days they said they would send someone to fix it. They never did. Power went out for 6 hours in the middle of the night leaving us in pitch black darkness with no WiFi or light. Washing a load of laundry too 2 hours during which time you cannot use the water anywhere else. The $$ is for the view…. That’s all.

Response:
Rebecca, I’m sorry you felt you didn’t receive much help. We sent you check-in instructions several weeks before your arrival. On the day of your scheduled check-in we sent you 5 messages between the hours of 9:32 am and 6:05 pm without any answer. We weren’t notified of the issue with the TV – that’s simple setting change. In terms of not having WiFi when the power is out in the region – again, we are sorry, but WiFi needs electricity and the entire region was without power at that time. Perhaps you would prefer one of our other 40+ properties we manage. We’re sorry you did not enjoy this one. Pura vida! Osa Property Management / Costa Rica Las Villas

The house itself was ok. There was only place to eat for 3 people which was a problem for us as a family of 4. But it was quite well equipped. It was more than a 5 minute walk to the beach but it was convenient to many places in Uvita.
Our biggest problem was with the property management company. They were absolutely unresponsive to problems we had and when/if they did respond it was to let us know that nobody else had problems so it must have been just us. The master bath has some plumbing issues – standing water, immensely slow shower drain and as a result there was a massive mosquito infestation in the master bath. We killed a minimum of 30-40 mosquitos in the bathroom on a daily basis. We reached out to property management to let them know and never heard back. If I could offer advice, find a different management company to use that may be actually respond to issues.

Response:
Nadine, We are sorry you did not enjoy your stay. We would also like to to address your statement about the response time from Osa Property Management. When you contacted us about how your son was bitten by a spider on tour, we immediately sent you the location of the nearest medical center in relation to where you were. In addition, we asked if there was anything else we could do to help. We told you, “Call us if you need help on translation” [hospital] and you responded, “Great.” Regarding the mosquito issue: You contacted us on Sunday, December 26, at 5:27 pm and we responded at 5:52 pm. That evening (the same day – within hours of being contacted by you) a Property Manager visited the property to ascertain the situation and to resolve it. After the property manager left, you never contacted us again for the remainder of your trip. The day before check-out, we sent you a message wishing you a “Hope you are enjoying your stay” and you never responded. We provided you with quick service, and we apologized for the situation you encountered.

My husband and I stayed at this property for a week in April. The property is beautiful and will not disappoint. The local food options are amazing and Jeremy with Osa Property Management was wonderful. A week was not long enough – planning on a return trip in the future.

My wife and I love new experiences. Especially for our anniversaries. We also enjoy a more upscale approach to our lodgings. So when we waited too long to book a stay at Costa Rican resort, rental properties became the focus of our vacation. We could not believe that Gema Escondida was available with such late notice but, also, that it was surprisingly affordable. The home was as advertised. Absolutely great design, magnificent views and all of the amenities one would need. The kitchen was stocked with enough utensils and cookware to supply a Michelin star restaurant, there were PLENTY of towels/toiletries/etc and the pool….the POOL!!! It was a regular occurrence for us to wake up at sunrise, workout beside the pool, cook breakfast and then enjoy an early morning dip to start the day. Absolute perfection. The home is surrounding by the jungle. So that means critters all around. And sometimes they find their way inside the domicile. Nothing scary or dangerous, but just be prepared to see a big on its back near the door or the odd gecko on the wall. Also, a 4×4 IS necessary.

Stunning home – perfect Costa Rica representation. We saw two sloths on the property – the biggest male I have ever witnessed and a fast moving female. Saw toucans and a hummingbird moth chrysalis! Beautiful dart frog right on the patio and howler monkeys and white faced monkeys as well as so many birds! We also saw a baby agouti and a large coati. Truly the pool was magnificent and the gazebo was the perfect morning coffee spot. All the grill amenities and pizza oven was such a nice added surprise. The house was stocked with plenty of towels and the laundry room was a good add. I will definitely rent here again – do keep in mind that the road is very challenging but the 4×4 managed it well even during the rain. Just take it slow. Did I mention the beautiful landscaping? Thanks for a memorable time.