Atenas, Costa Rica, is known for its rich history in farming, its pleasant year-round climate, and its natural beauty. It is a popular destination for both retirees and adventure seekers, offering a true taste of Costa Rican culture.
Atenas is not a "touristy" place so you'll get a true feel of what Costa Rica is really like. Easy drives to a lot of the local attractions.
Here's a great Blog Post about the area: https://thethoroughtripper.com/atenas-costa-rica/
The Space
The house is a two story, with four bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms. There is a pool, a beautiful view over the valley, and within walking distance of town. The kitchen provides all you'll need to prepare home-cooked meals. The bathtub allows for a leisurely soak with a beautiful view. Fiber optic internet service.
Guest Access
This is a two story house. The primary bedroom and bathroom is on the main level, and the other three bedrooms and laundry room are on the lower level. To access the pool, you'll need to navigate stairs also. The driveway is steep, so physical ability to navigate is important.
Notes
Costa Rica is a country full of nature. We believe it's important to experience the surroundings. We do not put poison out for insects, and we do not deter the wildlife that we live among. For example, there are several iquanas that like to sun themselves on the roof so you'll hear them crawling around up there throughout the day. If you have a phobia of insects, Costa Rica may not be for you, as it is impossible to keep them all out of the house despite our best efforts!
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Wheelchair accessible
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
Home cinema
Toys
Gym
Sauna
BBQ
Pool
Hot tub
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Kosher home
Meat-free kitchen
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Bikes
Camping gear
Kayak
Tennis court
Standup paddleboard
Travel Styles
Long term
Adventure
Family
Romantic
Relaxing
Eco
Mountains
House Rules
Unsuitable for infants under 2
Unsuitable for children ages 2-12
Pets welcome
No smoking
Allergens
Carpet free
Smoke free
Dates of Availability
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
Neighbourhood
Roca Verde is one of the most desirable gated communities in Atenas because of it's proximity to town (walking distance). You'll be greeted by a security guard at the gate who will allow you ingress and egress 24/7. You'll often see neighbors and visitors strolling through the neighborhood for exercise.
Getting to my home
Most people rent cars, but arranging transport with shuttle companies is also common. Best to avoid driving at night as the roads can be in poor condition and not great lighting! There are not really public transportation options.
Nearest airport
Fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and Atenas is about 30-40 minute drive from there.
Getting Around
I would recommend hiring a driver or renting a car to explore the country.
Map of Approximate Location
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
This member has not yet received any home feedback.
Kendra and her husband were wonderful guests at our home. We would welcome them back anytime, and hope to stay in contact!
Kendra and Shawn have spent a week in our house with their friends. They have been fantastic guests, left the house in a splendid condition and we also met them a week prior at their house in California, US.
If you are looking for open minded,well travelled and kind guests, you should have Kendra and Shawn at your place.
It has been a pleasure to exchange our home with them
Katrin
Kendra and her family were dream guests. They communicated effectively and left our home spotless. We hope they will return and highly recommend them as guests.
Kendra was so kind to our home. She left everything pristine, and we would love to have her back!
Kendra and Shawn were excellent guests in our home. Communication was always easy and lighthearted and they treated our home with the upmost care and respect. They’d be most welcome to stay with us again and I highly recommend them as guests.
We also appreciate the care she took of our home. We found it as we had left it as well as the cleaning of our car that we had put in the exchange! I highly recommend this exchange!
Mariryan was an amazing, communicative and welcoming host. We enjoyed spending time in a tiny house - something my husband and I have wanted to experiment with for years! Since we are used to California coast views and cold waters, it was a nice change of scenery and temperature!
Mariryan was respectful and cared for my home as if it were her own. Excellent guest!
Katrin and Stefan's home was a wonderful home-base to explore the island of Cyprus. It is unlikely we would have ever traveled to Cyprus without a home exchange, as it is so far away, and we did not know much about it. The island offers sunshine, Mediterranean blue waters, delicious foods and interesting archaeological sites.
The house was well-appointed with all the necessary amenities. We spent each evening sipping wine and watching the sunset from the balcony. We spent mornings sipping coffee by the swimming pool, taking in the stunning views. It was so convenient that each room has it's own en-suite bathroom, allowing us and our friends privacy and convenience. Being able to do laundry meant we were able to pack very lightly, which made our travels so much easier!
Walking distance to restaurants and the beach were an added bonus, and the use of their vehicle to travel to places outside of Pafos was so helpful.
Overall, a wonderful place to stay.
Katrin and Stefan and their three children were the perfect guests, and hosts! They were communicative, respectful and treated our home as their own.
This home is absolutely stunning! Comfortable, bright and filled with views of nature everywhere you look. We had everything we needed and we almost didn't go exploring the area because it was a shame to leave the house! The only thing I'd recommend is bringing a sleep mask because it's bright and beautiful very early in the morning! You'll want to get up and watch the sunrise and magical clouds traversing the mountains. Gorgeous!
That’s true, Kendra! This house is designed for early risers unless you sleep in our bedroom in carport. Most people here get up very early and go to bed with the chickens too since it’s pitch dark at 6 pm. We also have all the critters like birds, who start their singing and chirping at sunrise. We are so happy you enjoyed your stay.
Kasie and family have the most comfortable, beautiful home! I wish I had been able to stay longer. The neighborhood is idyllic, and Heber City has a lot to offer if you want to spend time outdoors. We enjoyed the train ride with my friend and her three year old son. A little hiking. Some exploration of Park City. I’d recommend this home for exchange in particular for families. All the comforts of home.
Nicole and her family were the perfect guests! Considerate, communicative, polite, and tidy! It was our pleasure to host them! They were even so thoughtful to bring us some tasty beverages from their home town, which we were sure to consume and enjoyed immensely.
Cassie and her family were lovely guests. They left the home in great shape! Would happily host them again anytime.
Kasie and her family were lovely guests! I'm glad they got to enjoy our beautiful area during a lovely time of year after all the rain we got in previous months. They left the home spotless and it was a pleasure hosting them.
Papamoa Beach is a lovely area! Eric and Agnes’ home was a perfect home base for daily adventures! We spent our time exploring nature, local pubs, and waiting out a cyclone! The house would be a great fit for parents who are traveling with children especially as there are two children’s bedrooms and the main bedroom/bath. Everything was functional and convenient, and provided a much needed respite from long days of activity.
We had a lovely stay at James and Camila's home! Located in a quiet, gated, safe, festive community outside of Villavicencio, it allowed us to enjoy the surrounding nature. Birds, monkeys, and other critters we don't get to see at our home. The home was comfortable and peaceful. We spent several days exploring the Villavicencio area, including paraglading (my favorite thing!) and trying local foods before we moved on to the second half of our trip in Cartagena.
Ken and Leanne were wonderful guests, and I enjoyed talking to them. What great conversationalists and fun people! Our time together was brief but I look forward to visiting in the future!
Martina came with friends, and they treated my home like their own! When I returned it looked exactly like we left it. It was fun to hear the voices of the children playing outside as our kids are grown. I'm so glad they were able to enjoy our beautiful part of the world, especially our giant Redwood Trees.
I'm looking forward to the reciprocal exchange sometime soon!
Armelle's home is in a great location to explore small towns/cities/villages, wine region, and a short drive to Nantes where there's plenty to see and do. The beds were very comfortable, and there is a lovely garden where we enjoyed our meals while listening to the birds.
We loved that we could walk a few hundred feet to the nearest Patisserie for daily baguettes, croissants and pastries.
Armelle and her family were respectful and considerate of my home. They left it as clean as they found it, and they also treated my car with respect. I appreciated the consistent, easy communication. Since this was my first exchange, I have lots to learn about protocols, guest book information, etc. So it was nice to exchange with someone who had great advice about information to include!
Premium
Kendra
My husband and I are gleefully retired! . Our children are grown and have flown the coop. Sometimes they travel with us but because they're poor college kids, it's not very often. We do have a SERVICE DOG. He's certified and trained. Short hair, well mannered, no destructive behaviors or potty habits.
Our retirement plan is to travel to places we've never been and enjoy experiencing different cultures and places.
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.