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Casa Marbella – Private Oasis on the Estuary, 5-Min Walk to Playa Grande Beach

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Outdoor pool
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
TV, books, stereo
Property grounds

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms5 bathroomsSleeps 9279 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View map
Playa Grande, Guanacaste
  • Place, Grande Beach
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Tamarindo Beach
    ‪35 min drive‬
  • Place, Playa Langosta
    ‪42 min drive‬
  • Airport, Tamarindo (TNO)
    ‪30 min drive‬

Room options

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Property grounds
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About the area

Playa Grande

With a stay at this vacation home in Cabo Velas (Palm Beach Estates), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Grande Beach and Las Baulas National Marine Park. .This vacation home is 11.5 mi (18.5 km) from Tamarindo Beach and 12.7 mi (20.5 km) from Flamingo Beach.
View more Holiday homes in Playa GrandeOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Grande Beach - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Las Baulas National Marine Park - 5 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Tamarindo Beach - 35 min drive - 18.9 km
  • Playa Langosta - 42 min drive - 22.0 km
  • Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course - 50 min drive - 27.2 km

Getting around

  • Tamarindo (TNO) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Restaurante Brisa Mar - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪Pico Bistro - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪Nari - ‬31 min drive
  • ‪Rural - ‬26 min drive
  • ‪Agua Salada - ‬30 min drive

About this property

Entire place

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

Casa Marbella – Private Oasis on the Estuary, 5-Min Walk to Playa Grande Beach

4 Bedrooms | 4.5 Bathrooms | Sleeps up to 9
(Main house: 3BR/3.5BA + optional private in-law (villa) suite with kitchen)

Why You’ll Love It
• Prime Location – Steps from the estuary off the backyard with direct water taxi to Tamarindo (skip the 20-min drive)
• Beach Access – 5-minute walk to Playa Grande’s surf, sunsets & turtle nesting grounds
• Private Pool & Lush Gardens – Unwind in your shaded tropical retreat, perfect for a refreshing dip, a serene yoga session, or grilling surrounded by nature’s beauty
• Wildlife Encounters – Howler monkeys, parrots & tropical birds right outside your door
• Walk to Dining & Live Music – Just a 2-minute stroll to restaurants, bars, and a convenience store, with some of Playa Grande’s best dining right in Palm Beach Estates and live music scheduled some nights

The Space
Casa Marbella blends modern comfort with Costa Rica’s natural beauty. Set in the gated Palm Beach Estates community, the villa sits between Playa Grande’s white sands and a protected mangrove estuary.

Main House – 3 bedrooms, each with en-suite bath, ceiling fan, and individually controlled A/C:
• Primary Suite – King bed, two ceiling fans, dual vanities, Juliet balcony
• Guest Suite 1 – Queen bed, pool, jungle & estuary views
• Guest Suite 2 – Queen bed, dual vanities
• Bonus Loft – Futon with A/C, ideal for 1 adult or 2 kids

Optional In-Law Suite / Villa – Separate entrance, king bed, kitchenette, en-suite bath (available for an additional nightly fee; you will never have separate renters during your stay).

Amenities
• Gourmet kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances & dishwasher
• Open living area looking out over the pool and estuary vegetation
• Sprawling layout with both open living areas and separate bedroom suites for privacy
• Covered patio & pool deck for lounging or dining al fresco
• Gas grill poolside under the deck
• Safes in both main house & in-law suite
• Security system, gated community of Palm Beach Estates with night guard
• Whole property WiFi with strong, reliable coverage indoors and out, perfect for streaming, remote work, or staying connected poolside

The Experience
Wake up to the sound of howler monkeys, spend the day surfing, fishing, or exploring, and return to your private pool shaded by lush vegetation. Watch spectacular sunsets on the beach, or take the water taxi across the estuary to lively Tamarindo for shops, nightlife, and dining. Playa Grande is part of Las Baulas National Park, famous for its leatherback turtle nesting grounds - an unforgettable sight if you visit during nesting season.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a private pool. There's a private balcony or patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected.
Enjoy the recreation opportunities such as an outdoor pool or make use of other amenities including barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Outdoor pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchenette
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 4.5 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Stereo
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Safe

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming 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)
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 3,000 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

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
Parties and events are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 10
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 deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
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 recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
Nestled in Nature Vacation Villa

Reviews

Casa Marbella – Private Oasis on the Estuary, 5-Min Walk to Playa Grande Beach Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 81 out of 85 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 85 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 85 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 85 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 85 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing

Property is exactly what it looks like in the pictures! Quiet, quick walk to the beach and everything you need to enjoy a week in paradise!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Danielle S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great

We really enjoyed our stay here. We especially loved being right by the Estuary and beach. Best of both worlds!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tyra B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful

Love this house. And Grande
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Colette D., Canada

Liked: Cleanliness

Great House and Location

We had a great 10 days in this home. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and they all have their own bathrooms with showers. The kitchen is well stocked and the living area is roomy and comfortable. Having a private pool was fabulous and there are many shaded areas to relax in the yard so you can enjoy the outdoors when it is hot and sunny. The pool gets a variety of shade and sun throughout the day which is perfect. The deck furniture is comfortable with lots of seating options. It is a short walk to a great surfing beach and there are a lot of great places to eat nearby. Kristi and Doug are wonderful property managers and they are an excellent resource for recommendations for activities. If you can do the La Leona Waterfall hike we highly recommend that one and we also loved the catamaran tour. We would definitely return there again!
Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lisa F.

Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Sandi W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Christmas Vacation

The property is functional, the interior is sparsely decorated with older furniture (some of which was not in good shape). The exterior is lovey, with a nice pool and lounge chairs. No pool floats though and no full sun if you are looking for an opportunity to tan. The beach is a good 10 minute walk, but is a great area because it doesn’t get too crowded and has good waves for surfing. The water taxi is also a 10 minute walk. We did have some communication difficulties with the manager - don’t expect a timely response over VBRO. Once you are in country on WhatsApp it improved tremendously.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Colt W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Cool Place

Nice house. Had a ball.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clark P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Tropical jungle hideaway

Casa Marbella was a slice of heaven backing up to the estuary that offered a quiet solace of nature with wildlife at your fingertips. Short walk to the beach eliminated any foot traffic by the house but close enough to local eateries that safety was never a concern. Kristi and Doug were there for any questions or concerns and made our stay comfortable. Highly recommend Cafe Mar Azul for all meals, please say hi to Grace for us! The Tres Leches is to die for!!!!! Will definitely stay here again on our next trip back to Costa Rica!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Deanna H.

Casa Marbella

First let me say we had a very good time despite a few disappointing things. The villa was a bit oversold. It was adequate for our needs but little things like sheets with tiny holes, dirty bathroom walls,especially the down stairs half bath. The pool was in the shade 90% of the day. Gated community is dirt roads with a arm across the entrance unattended during the day. Kristi made the car rental and transportation to and from the airport very easy. The house is 30-60 minutes from activities such as fishing, snorkel boats, zip lining etc. 3 restaurants in the compound was a plus. The beach is quiet and beautiful. Watch the water.. strong rip tides in some areas. Take them serious when they say to keep doors locked and alarm activated. We failed to lock a sliding door and the alarm was not set the night we were robbed while we slept. Our own fault for getting complacent as the area feels very safe.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenna C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Safe space

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Jennifer D., Bothell, WA

Liked: Cleanliness

Met expectations for the most part

My family of 5 (two adults, 3 teens) stayed for 8 nights. The house is very large and we had an overall nice experience. However, the road leading to the community is riddled with potholes, so much so that we didn't want to leave during our stay so we didn't have to pass through it. The location of the house is very convenient to the beach and local restaurants which we found delightful. The mattresses in most of the bedrooms were comfortable, but the one in the king upstairs bedroom needs to be replaced. Walking to that bedroom is an adventure due to the dozen bats who live in the breezeway leading to it. The window glass in the upstairs queen bedroom has a large crack in it. On our first night, we woke up to find a scorpion in the bedroom that probably got in through the crack. Nobody felt comfortable staying in that room the rest of the week. Aside from the bedrooms, there is no comfortable furniture anywhere in the house. The plastic loungers by the pool are cracked. One of the showers did not work at all and despite telling the manger about it on the first day of our stay, it was never fixed. Contrary to other reviews, we had a very hard time communicating with Kristi. She said she would meet us at the house at check in but never showed up. We sent a few messages during the week asking for recommendations, etc., and always waited several days for a one or two sentence reply which by then was too late to be useful. The guide book in the house is old and dirty. Overall ok.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ross W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great stay in Playa Grande

Really loved the house and location. 5 mins walk from playa grande. Just a few steps to the river. The house was well equipped and exceeded expectations. The pool area was lovely. It was neat to see birds, monkeys, lizards and bats on or near the property. Kristi the neighbor and concierge was wonderful and so helpful. I’d book here again if I make it back to Playa Grande. Having 4-5 restaurants within a few minutes walk was excellent. There was even people that could bring fresh fish directly to the house. Great experience. We were a family of seven and had plenty of room with the included (extra) mother in law suite.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Courtney C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Safe, private, relaxing getaway

My husband and I booked this property to take our two young adult sons (21 and 22)on a family vacation. The gated community was perfect for our sons to venture out without us worrying about them driving to unfamiliar areas. It was very convenient to have shops, cafe, restaurant and bar in the gated community. I spent more time on the patio by the pool than in the house! Beautiful layout with sun and shaded areas at different times of the day, surprisingly private. You can also see the estuary from the patio. Beach access was really easy and our sons made it down for every sunset. The bedrooms were very large, everyone had their own beautiful bathroom. Kristi and Doug made our late arrival so easy as well as early checkout. They recommended the best places that we ate in our entire 10 days in Costa Rica. Kitchen and outdoor cooking area were more than enough for our group size. Beautiful home, highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Darla W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Playa Grande

Our family has been travelling to Playa Grande for a number of years and we really enjoyed our time at Casa Marbella. Kristi was very helpful with lots of recommendations for activities. We will be returning!!
Stayed 14 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Trudy J., Stratford, ON, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness

Fabulous stay

Loved our time here. The 10 year old twin boys basically lived on the pool when at the house. Large house with good instruction by hosts. Great location to walk to the beach. Took a night turtle tour that was amazing.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Relaxing Convenient Stay

The house is in a great location with easy access to beautiful beach, market and restaurants, all in Pal Beach Estates. The rooms are separated enough to provide privacy but common areas (living room, kitchen and pool deck) allow opportunity for socializing.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dawn T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Hidden Paradise

Fantastic place, great location! Great people! Great food! Kristi was fantastic setting up our tours and transportation with Alvaro. Alvaro and Jose were fabulous and very accommodating and informative. Great restaurants all within walking distance. Beach was beautiful and not busy. Walked to Tamarindo on the beach a few times, very busy over there but cool to see, just remember to bring money to take the boat across the river. Lots of surfing, low tide was incredible to see. Sunsets so beautiful. Only negative would be needed more comfortable patio furniture around pool, there wasn’t enough lounge chairs we had to use the wooden chairs from the table. Would go back in a heart beat!!! Thanks Kristi for making our stay spectacular!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rob K.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing location with total tranquility

The property backs up to the nature reserve and we had a howler monkey right in the tree above as we swam. The pool was perfect and the patio cover kept us cool from the hot afternoon sun. Beach and restaurants are within an easy walk so everything you need for a relaxing vacation is right there. The hosts were amazing and there to help with anything needed. Overall an awesome experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Preston P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Quiet, convenient location

We had a great stay. Kristi is a great host and was communicative and helpful. The location is great if you are looking for something quiet but still within an easy walk or drive of restaurants. Our kids spent hours in the pool, which was cleaned daily, except for Sunday. The beach near this house is excellent for finding shells and surfing/boogie boarding. We also used the casita that is attached but separate from the rest of the house, which was great to give the other adults in our group space. Overall, great property!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Not as advertised… it was better.

I cannot overstate how great this place isBand how great this VRBO experience was. I was hesitant to write a review because I do not want anyone else to stay there. Thank you for an amazing stay. Thank you Ali, Kristi, Doug and Alvaro. We are now homesick. :-) See you all again soon.
Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Edward C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Relaxing oasis

Great location! Easy walk to the beach. Big house, with lots of rooms. Hard to find a place to accommodate five single adults. This place was perfect. Upgraded and clean. Highly recommend Kristi’s house!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

C P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing Experience

A beautiful home nestled in the rainforest which provided a relaxing and quiet stay. The home was very spacious and clean as well as the pool and patio. Only a 5-6 minute walk to the beach which was nice, calming, somewhat secluded and relaxing!! Kristi and Doug’s customer service was impeccable. Anything needed they were very responsive from recommendations to any other info needed. The food recommendations located near the home was delicious….Cafe Mar Azul was our favorite! We were able to see animals in their natural habitat from the backyard! If you want to visit Tamarindo it’s a short boat ride up the estuary for only a few US dollars. Beautiful beach and good food and a lot more people. Amazing experience for our 10 day stay. Highly recommend!
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ricky S.

Liked: Cleanliness

June 2023

The house was everything described. It was great! Kristi was great...everything she reccomended was great; from transfers, trips, food, activities, etc... The neighborhood was perfect as well! This was a great home and location for a family vacation.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

DANA L., United States

Liked: Cleanliness

Palm Beach Estates is A+

Such a great vacay. Home was beautiful and Kristi and Doug were so responsive and helpful. Thank you
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Patsy H., Austin

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Costa Rica stay

Loved our stay at Casa Marbella! Playa grande was such a great place to stay that was a little secluded and away from the tourists vibe you can get with Tamarindo - while being close enough to go explore there during the day. There were a ton of great food/restaurant options, all within walking distance from the home, a place that provided surf lesson (and the beach is way less crowded allowing for much easier lessons than what we saw on the Tamarindo side). Kristi, the properly manager, was absolutely wonderful and responsive with anything we needed. She helped us get a rental car set up (we prefer to have our own ride on our own time) but she has a connection for a vehicle transport and boat transport to get you directly to/from the house and Tamarindo!! Pool was great, cleaned daily and so refreshing. Towels/linen all provided and beds comfortable. Each room has it's own AC unit to adjust per person/persons. Wish we could have stayed longer, would definitely want to stay here again when we're able to make it back!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023