Casa Espavel

Two friends and I stayed here for a week this February--our 4th time at Villas Espavel. We keep coming back because it's wonderful. We like having the option to cook in our villa or eat out at the many good restaurants in Samara. Everyone who works at Villas Espavel is friendly and helpful; the accommodations are always clean, the beds exceptionally comfy, the pool a great place to hang out during the hottest hours. There are on-site bikes for rent (best way to get to town or beaches in 5 minutes). The nearby snorkeling spot is glorious: a short walk right from Congrejal beach to an area enclosed by reef (great for new snorklers) where the water is calm and the fish beautiful (and this time we saw an octopus!). From our villa we watched howler monkeys and lots of birds.

Our group of two families loved filling Casa Espavel with laughter and smiles for our rainy season retreat. It was green and glorious- the jungle is right outside. A few showers in the evening but many sunny mornings left our troop hungry for more time in Samara. The town and beach are right around the corner- rent the beach cruiser bikes and you can be anywhere in town in minutes. We made great meals in Casa Espavel- the kitchen is huge and has all you need, we also loved beachfront dining at La Ancla and Soda Sheriff.

We miss Casa Espavel! So, Samara is unbelievable. The beach, the people, the town. But it would not have been nearly as special without the Casa Espavel experience. We were greeted by Tano and the amazing staff and by the time we left we felt like family. Tano and the rest of the staff were always helpful and available for help and casual conversation. The grounds were beautiful and felt like home away from home. We all said we want to go back to Samara as soon as possible and can't think of staying anywhere else.

Casa Espavel was such a delight! I was in Costa Rica for a wellness retreat and the lodging couldn't have been better. Every detail was attended to -- from the beach sarongs in the bedroom, to the small reading light next to the bed, to the hammocks on the porch to enjoy the jungle scene outside. The Villas Espavel team are all rockstars and made our stay all the more enjoyable. I will return again!

We just finished our vacation in Samara and Villa Espavel was one of the main reasons we had such a wonderful time! We had a large group and stayed in the main house which is only a couple years old. The home itself is amazing with these automatic doors that open up the entire shared spaces to the outdoors. All the bedrooms have screen doors so you can really take advantage of the breezes and sounds of nature. I think I took a midday nap every single day in the upstairs hammocks listening to the sounds of the birds and wildlife. The grounds are magical with lush landscaping and plenty of shade around the pool to cool off after a day at the beach. By the end of the trip I felt truly restored. There are a few things I want to especially mention. Tano, who works at the property, was a really big help with advice on surfing times/spots and helping us with transportation to local beaches (you have to spend an afternoon at Playa de Barrigona if you have time!). His recommendation on the best ceviche vendor was also spot on - it was amazing! Also, if you are into yoga, Laura, who teaches on the beach at Luv Burger was incredible. We've practiced yoga for a very long time and her teaching and guidance was something that took my practice to a whole different level. Her classes would be highly recommended to anyone interested in yoga in Samara. Also, Roots Bakery wasn't included in the restaurant list, but I wish we had discovered it sooner than our last day there! Their coffees are awesome and I can still taste the blueberry scone I had there for breakfast. The owners here have really created something truly special. I wish there was a way to explain how being there makes you feel but words don't do it justice. I'm already looking forward to the next time we can come back to CR and Villa Espavel! Pura Vida!

Wonderful time staying upstairs with Balcony that overlooked pool & grounds. Hammock was so relaxing with overhead fan to keep cool. Howler monkeys and lots of birds to entertain. The beautiful pool was a blessing when you just need to cool off. The upstairs "Rancho" was lots of fun for Pilates & Yoga. Owners Mercy & Canuche keep a sweet place and are on top of it with maintenance and upkeep. Don't forget to ask about a bike to rent during your stay...lots of fun to bike to town & beaches! Great place and a hop and a skip to the beach!