Description of the Property

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 "the most beautiful deserted beaches in the world." The Coral Reef House is located inside the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife and Marine Refuge. The refuge abounds with wildlife - monkeys, sloths, tucans, parrots, iguanas, anteaters, jaguarondis and much more. 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, and then leave the car inside a gated area near the creek.

The house has been remodeled to add a king suite on the main floor. The house itself is simple and rustic, perched directly above the beach and has 2 stories now with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a caretaker family living in a cottage on the property. The 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. 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 park and ocean environment in a unique and refreshing way.

When you need a little exercise, follow the steps down to the always 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 caretakers, who run the local guide shop, set up a jungle tour or another of thier favorite adventures. Bikes can be rented for $2.50 per day and are a great way to roll around the area. The caretakers, who live on-site with their 2 children in an apt attached to the house, will cook your meals for you using fresh local ingredients.

The marine reserve is one of a kind. Its waters are home to three species of wild dolphins, whales, sea turtles, coral reef, and manatee. Sport fishing for tarpon, wahoo, mackerel, kingfish and snook 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.

Manzanillo is an outdoors 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 also 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.

Airport: San Jose
Distance: 4 hours

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