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Coral Reef House

The Coral Reef House! 1 of only 3 Beachfront rentals in all of Manzanillo Note: please study the "More Information" page before calling (link at bottom of this page). Online booking is also available from that page.

This unique rustic house is on Costa Rica's southeast Caribbean coast. Literally at the end of the road, the home is built on a 30-foot pedestal of coral rock only 50 yards from the beach. Outside Magazine (October 1999) has recognized the Manzanillo area as having "one of the most beautiful deserted beaches in the world." The Coral Reef House is located inside the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. The refuge abounds with wildlife - monkeys, sloths, tucans, parrots, iguanas, anteaters, jaguarondis and dolphins off shore. To reach the house there is a (usually) small creek to cross and then it is 200 meters by trail. You may drive in to unload luggage and supplies, and then leave the car inside a private gated yard near the creek. If the creek happens to be too high to cross, we can arrange to get your luggage across.

The house has been remodeled to add a king suite on the main floor (photo at right). The house itself is simple and rustic, perched directly above the beach and has 2 stories, now with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a manager/caretaker family living on the property. The huge, perched deck is wonderful and is undoubtedly where much of your time will be spent relaxing to the sounds of the ocean and getting to know the monkeys and other wildlife in the tops of the trees, at eye level with the deck. Unlike many foreigners' homes in the area, the Coral Reef House is a simple beach house of local style and built with native materials. While it still has the comforts you would need, it fits into the surroundings of the refuge and ocean environment in a unique and refreshing way.

When you need a little exercise, follow the steps down to the always 83-86 degree reef-protected ocean and snorkel with the amazingly vivid fish populations. There's even a small tide pool for kids. Take a walk to town and rent a kayak for touring the ocean or river estuaries or have the manager/caretaker set up a jungle tour, a dolphin watching trip, or other favorite adventure. Bikes can usually be rented and are a great way to roll around the area.

The marine part of the reserve is one of a kind. Its waters are home to three species of wild dolphins, sea turtles, coral reef, and manatee. Sport fishing for tarpon, wahoo, mackerel, and kingfish make this area a sport fishing paradise. Also, scuba diving and snorkeling in the marine reserve can be arranged through the local dive shop. Kayaking is both easy and popular inside the reef and in the Gandoca lagoon. Trained guides in wildlife and bird watching, sport fishing and dolphin/marine tours are available for bookings in Manzanillo. Just ask our caretaker/manager for help in setting up tours.

Manzanillo is an outdoor person's paradise, and the Coral Reef House will have you thinking twice about leaving!

Note: If the Coral Reef House is booked for the time of your visit, click the "Other Properties" link at the bottom of this page and look at our Dolphin Lodge next door which sleeps 8-10. For Travel Information and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the link at the bottom of this page called "more information about Coral Reef House." This will help orient you to the two coasts of the country and answer basic questions.

If you want to see some other parts of Costa Rica, we recommend staying at the Costa Verde Inn near the capital, then taking a whole day to travel with their shuttle van and visit the waterfall gardens, Poas Volcano, rainforest or other areas on your way to Manzanillo.