Entire home

Casa Nirvanita - A Little Biological Jewel by the Sea

Casa Nirvanita - A Little Biological Jewel by the Sea

Photo gallery for Casa Nirvanita - A Little Biological Jewel by the Sea

Unclassified image, 1 of 41, button
Exterior
Outdoor dining
Terrace/patio
Property grounds

Overview of Casa Nirvanita - A Little Biological Jewel by the Sea

Reviews
10 out of 10 Exceptional
4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 8409 sq m

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer

Check out the area

Map
Bahia Drake, Puntarenas
  • Popular LocationPlaya Danta15 min walk
  • Popular LocationSan Josecito Beach4 min drive
  • Popular LocationDrake Bay Beach95 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Guest bedroom 1

1 Double Futon and 1 Queen Bed

Guest Bedroom 2

1 Double Futon and 1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

The Osprey´s Nest (Loft)

1 Queen Bed

4 bathrooms

Downstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Guest bedroom 2 bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Guest Bedroom 1 Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Master bedroom Bathroom and Tub

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Casa Nirvanita - A Little Biological Jewel by the Sea

“WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING A NICE NATURE ADVENTURE:
IT’S ALL ABOUT LOCATION.
COME JOIN US AT NIRVANITA DE OSA, THE BEST OVERALL LOCATION IN BAHIA DRAKE”

Casa Nirvanita is the main home at Nirvanita de Osa, our family's little biological jewel since 1981. The house is located in front of the beach, in the last cove to the southwest of Drake Bay, on the Southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Nirvanita de Osa is a beautiful 23 hectare (57 acre) property, which enjoys 440 meters of oceanfront ,and 4 clear streams that flow from the farm to the sea year-round (3,75 are born on the property).

There are about 3 hectares (7.5 acres) of various fruit trees including Mango, Rambutan, Starfruit, Mamey, Colombian Zapote, 2 types of Breadfruit, Malaysian Water Apple, Arazá, Fruta Milagrosa, 3 types of Bananas, Oranges, Cashews, 5 types of Coconuts; , and other crops.(Availability depends on time of the year and wildlife competition);
There are mature tropical gardens, and about 3 Hectares of 50 year old secondary rainforest. The rest is composed of some of the Osa Peninsula's famous Primary Tropical rainforest (reputed to be one of the world's tallest) which is connected by forest to Corcovado National Park a few miles away.

The house which is about 410 M2; was designed by us and our architect to provide a simple, ample, open, luxurious shelter, that blends with the beautiful surroundings, and works well with the ocean, surrounding trees, and streams to stay cool and comfortable.
It has a natural Air conditioning system by roof water mist cooling which we rarely use, as the house stays cool from the ocean breezes that flow thru it and the huge trees that surround and shade it.

It is a unique beach front home located 70 Mts from the sand at Las Caletas Beach, and conveniently located to all the other beaches, islands, parks, and all other adventures available in Drake Bay, and Bahia Ballena.

The house has in the first floor the kitchen, living ,and ,dinning rooms and a full bathroom. in the second floor you will find the 3 bedrooms with one king and 2 queen beds and private full bathrooms on each, which have very beautiful ocean or forest views from every room. (there are 2 double sofa beds and 2 large cots that can be used in any of the bedrooms)

It has been powered by a combination of Micro-Hydro and Solar for many years, but it was recently connected to the grid for back-up and energy storage.

Our house is open, with only half walls (which can be shuttered) and no screens (although all the beds have quality net canopies which we rarely have to use). All in all, our house is very much a part of the natural surroundings.
Nature lovers love our house, but if you are not comfortable with the great outdoors, this is probably not the vacation spot for you.

It is a place to disconnect, (There is 3g internet but it is available 70-90% of the time and sometimes slooow),

Casa Nirvanita is a place to practice or train in some serious Hammockology, relax, unwind, and enjoy the peace, natural beauty, and serenity.

There are a couple of Kayaks for your enjoyment. (1 single, 1 double), .

We can help you arranging tours such as : Horseback riding, night forest walks, Boats and guides to take you Whale and dolphin watching, to Corcovado or Isla del Caño National Parks, sports fishing, or any of the other fun and adventure activities available in the area at no extra cost to you.

The Osa Peninsula has been called by some botanists the 'Galapagos of Mesoamerica' due to its great diversity in plant and animal species. The Osa most probably has many more secrets to reveal about its flora and fauna, since only about 75% of the species believed to exist here have been recorded.

With its unique climate, unlike that of any other area for hundreds of miles in any direction, The Osa harbors up to 500 different species of trees of which at least 4 species only exist in the Osa peninsula making it very important to keep the forest intact.

The Osa Peninsula has the single largest expanse of a lowland tropical rainforest in the Pacific coast of Central America and is reputed to have one of the tallest tropical rain forests in the world.

The Osa Peninsula is one of the most biologically diverse places on earth. The home of over, 375 species of birds (including several endemic species), It has the largest population of Scarlet Macaws in Central America, 117 species of reptiles, and over 10,000 species of insects.

Flocks of macaws, toucans, parrots, monkeys of four different types, coatis, kinkajous, agoutis, and sloths can be seen often.

Peccaries, and from time to time even jungle cats (like pumas, jaguarundis, ocelots and very rarely jaguars) can be spotted by the careful observer.

Drake Bay

Drake Bay (Bahia Drake) lies on the northern end of the Osa Peninsula in the Puntarenas province. Probably one of the most well known destinations in the region, the tiny town of Agujitas in the bay was actually one of the most in-accessible places in the entire country for many years but that has changed recently.

There is a small modern airport in the bay with several daily flights from San Jose, and Puerto Jimenez.

Several daily public boats now make the beautiful 90 minute trip from Sierpe in the morning about 11 Am, and 1, about 3PM, and we can hep you arrange a private boat with the best capitains for your group that will drop you off right infront of the house for about $225.00.

The road access to the bay from the Golfo Dulce is long but beautiful, and passable year around and now you can drive all the way to the house but it does require a 4wd with good ground clearance..

You can take a day trip to Drake Bay, but at least 3-7 days are recommended.

After being '¨discovered¨by Sir Francis Drake in 1579 during his circumnavigation of the globe, Drake Bay has now become the gateway to Isla del Caño island and Corcovado National Park.

There are plenty of outdoor activities in the area including ocean kayaking, river canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, surfing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and zip lines. Bird watching and photography are also very popular around the bay and beaches. Caño island offers some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in all of Costa Rica.

Nirvanita de Osa is probably the most beautiful and most private beachfront property in Drake Bay.

Humpback whales from the southern hemisphere are here from August to October, and whales from the northern hemisphere come later and remain longer from December to April.

The song of the Humpback Whale is a very unique phenomenon in nature. The male emits a melody of series of unique sounds that resemble musical instruments. The male may sing for close to 15 minutes, and when his song is complete, he usually repeats the song almost exactly the same for sometimes up to an hour. These marvelous songs will travel through the ocean for up to several kilometers, so this fascinating behavior may be heard while swimming, snorkeling, or diving in around Marino Ballena National Park, Corcovado National Park, and Drake Bay.

During this two separate Drake Bay Whale watching seasons each year, you may see and interact with some of the various beautiful Whales and Dolphins that migrate to the warm waters around Drake Bay to calve their young. Many of the Humpback whales in the world are conceived or are born in the waters of the Osa Peninsula.

Whale sightings are common in the waters of the Osa Region to Puerto Jimenez in the southern part of the peninsula. The peak Whale observation months are January thru April, followed closely by July thru October. Nutrient rich and warm Osa Peninsula waters also draw Sperm whales, Pilot whales, Bryde whales, Killer whales, and False killer whales.

Large Dolphin schools with many species can be seen at play in the waters of the park, Drake Bay, the Golfo Dulce, and the near by continental shelf.

Corcovado National Park:

FORBES MAGAZINE HAS NAMED CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK AS ONE OF THE 'TOP 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL PARKS IN THE WORLD'

The 41,000 hectare Corcovado National Park is known as the crown jewel of the Costa Rican national parks system. It protects 13 major eco-system habitats including a montane forest, which covers mo than half the park, a cloud forest, located in the highest region, richly populated by oak trees and tree ferns, swamp forests, flooded practically all year round, a yolillo forest, predominated by palms, a mangrove swamp, located on the estuaries of the Corcovado, Llorona, and Sirena Rivers, and a freshwater herbaceous swamp. The park lands are home to some 500 species of trees, an amount equivalent to a quarter of all the tree species in Costa Rica. Corcovado National Park contains approximately 140 species of mammals, an estimated 375 species of birds, 117 amphibian and reptile species, 40 types of freshwater fish, and it is estimated that there are some 6,000 types of insects. All four Costa Rican monkey species can be seen within the park, including the endangered squirrel monkey, white faced capuchin, mantled howler, and spider monkey. Other mammals include two and three-toed sloth, northern tamandua, the silky anteater, agoutis, tayras, and coatimundi. There is a large variety of bird species with trogons, tiger herons, guans, hawks, tanagers, parrots, toucans and two distinct macaw species. All four of the sea turtle species that nest in Costa Rica visit the beaches of Corcovado as well. Over 40 species of frogs including red-eyed tree, rain, glass, dink, and poison dart varieties, dozens of snakes including a variety of boas, and the bushmaster, 28 species of lizards, and more than 100 species of butterflies call the Osa Peninsula home.


Property manager

Germán Llano or Clara Fernandez
Lock

Protect your payment — always book on Vrbo

If someone asks you to book through them or pay them directly before you book on Vrbo, report it.

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Sea view

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Caution with children, open sides dstairs 3 levels

Events

Events allowed
Within reason

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Outside the house

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
Note from host: Within reason
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

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Drake Bay

Located in Drake Bay, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. Drake Bay Hiking Trailhead and Bajo del Diablo are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Corcovado National Park and Terraba Sierpe National Wetlands. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Bahia Drake, Puntarenas

What's nearby

  • Playa Danta - 15 min walk
  • San Josecito Beach - 4 min drive
  • Drake Bay Hiking Trailhead - 15 min drive
  • Cocalito - 20 min drive
  • Drake Bay Beach - 95 min drive

Getting around

  • Drake Bay (DRK) - 151 min drive

Restaurants

  • Delicias Bahía Drake - 17 min drive
  • Mar y Bosque - 17 min drive
  • Roberto's Marisquería - 16 min drive
  • La Choza - 17 min drive
  • Kalaluna Bistro - 15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Casa Nirvanita - A Little Biological Jewel by the Sea pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Casa Nirvanita - A Little Biological Jewel by the Sea?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Casa Nirvanita - A Little Biological Jewel by the Sea?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Casa Nirvanita - A Little Biological Jewel by the Sea located?

Nestled on the beach, this Drake Bay holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Osa Peninsula and Playa Danta. San Josecito Beach and Cocalito are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 36 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 38 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

thomas h.

A slice of heaven
After hours and hours of searching hotels,bnbs and rentals within the Drake Bay area we decided on Casa Nirvanita. Thankfully we made the best choice of our whole trip! I was quite concerned about taking my 18 month old daughter and parents somewhere so 'remote', without any shops, restaurants or pretty much anything your used to in day to day life back home. Well I need not have worried as everyone fell completely in love with drake bay and Casa Nirvanita. We all agreed we have never felt so relaxed and at home in our surroundings. German and Clara were the perfect hosts, from providing valuable information before our visit to showing us some of the bay's 'hidden' treasures. It was lovely to have such interesting and engaging hosts yet be given enough privacy to feel like you owned the house. The wildlife around the house and gardens kept us interested all day and falling asleep with the waves crashing nearby really felt like heaven. German and Clara booked all our tours to Corcovado, whale watching and a night tour with a local biologist. Some of things we saw will never be forgotten. All in all, if you are considering Casa Nirvanita I suggest you book quickly. You certainly won't regret it. Thank you German and Clara for the best holiday we have ever had. Tom, Lucy & Lilija x
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2016

10/10 Excellent

STEVE H., LAKEWOOD

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful Slice of Heaven
Casa Nirvanita is a very special place! It's set back into the jungle yet steps away from the beach. It is both relaxing yet exciting to be so close to the wildlife of the jungle. Beauty is everywhere you look from the breathtaking colors of the flower all around to the different shades of green in the jungle, to the quiet sandy beach. Our favorite part was hearing the pounding surf of the ocean wherever we were in the house! Clara & German were so kind & helpful. They are both sweet souls, & it's evident they love their home & wanted us to feel the same. & we did fall in love with it! They set up our excursions for us & made sure we had everything we needed. They were close by when we needed something but not so close we felt smothered. The house was equipped with everything we needed for the 5 nights we were there. We were picked up at the airport & taken to the store to get our groceries for the week. It was easy & worked out well. It was hard to leave, it was such a memorable week. We will try to bring some of the restful, peaceful time we had there back with us! Thank you German & Clara for sharing your beautiful home with us & for being such thoughtful hosts! We will not forget you!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ingrid S., Owen Sound, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Paradise
I travelled with my husband, 2 kids (4 +10), brother, girlfriend & 13 yr old son. The house is a gem. Well protected but absolutely open. Loved sleeping to the sounds of the waves rolling in, the birds/frogs/cicadas... Monkeys, toucans, macaws, crabs, marine toads, frogs... all right there on the property. The beach is amazing and water incredibly warm. Our boys spent many hours just tumbling in the waves every day. The property is right on the drake bay trail so you can do day trips from here in either direction. We also did day trips to Corcavado & Cano island - both of which were amazing. We would have loved to have done a night hike but unfortunately it had to be cancelled - we went out every night on our own to try to spot nighttime creatures - spiders, frogs, and crabs. We had pre-ordered food to be delivered to the house and were very happily surprised to receive everything we asked for and really good quality too! Drake Bay has lots of supplies available too. And there was no shortage of mangos and fruits all around to make delicious smoothies with. We rented a Toyota landcruiser from Nomad America in San Jose and drove ourselves to the property - it took ~7 hours. The conditions of the road were no problem but the last 2 hours are bumpy and we were glad to arrive before sunset. This made for a long trip but we were happy to have our own car there to explore with. One drawback was not having a dryer (or washer - less of an issue as we brought a bar of detergent to hand wash some stuff which was fine). We went in May which is the start of the rainy season. There is a drying station which works well when the sun is out, but sometimes takes a few days! I would highly recommend bringing mostly quick-dry clothing and bringing enough changes without relying on reusing as much. We did get some bug bites particularly at dusk but honestly the bugs weren't bad (coming from Canada where black flies/moskitos terrorize spring/summer nights!). Avon skin so soft oil spray did seem to help with the noseeums. We used the provided bug nets on the beds at night. The house breathes incredibly well and there are fans in nearly every room. The hot water is in limited supply but who needs a hot shower in that hot climate? You want to cool off anyways! German and Clara were amazing. I wish we could have spent more time hearing about the history of the house and property. This place is not for everyone, but it was exactly what we wanted!
Stayed 9 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Hock L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
True Nirvana!
Casa Nivanita is an exceptional house set on an extraordinary property. Every detail of the house has been designed with both beauty and environmental awareness in mind. It provided our family of six (two children) a perfect haven for relaxation and access to beach play. The nearby trails are home to tropical plants, animals, streams and amazing vistas. We enjoyed every minute of our stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rudi B., Boulder, Colorado

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful family retreat with new found family!
We are ready to return! We are so fortunate to have found Nirvanita, German, Clara, and everyone! We were treated as family and had the most wonderful stay at their magical retreat. We are a family of seven, with 5 kids between 11-17. We were all awed by the wildlife, the working farm and ecological oasis, the beautiful beach, and our lovely hosts. Thank you, Clara and German!
Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2022

About the host

Hosted by Germán Llano or Clara Fernandez

Host profile image
German: I grew up in Colombia for my first 15 years, part of a very happy family of dream chasers and enterpreneurs.
Our family moved to California in 1965, when I was 15, to pursue our North American dreams. In 1973 I went back to Colombia to visit family, and looked up Clara my girlfriend in my teen years (and my better half since).

2 months later we were in Panama with 2 backpacks and $200 for our hitchhicking honeymoon to California.

When we went thru Costa Rica we observed, that it had most of the good things of Colombia, without most of its bad things, and decided we would come back here when it was time to raise children.

After lots of hard work and wonderful adventures that took us thru much of the US, Europe and Northern Africa, we came back 6 years later, and travelled almost all of Costa Rica's coasts until we found this little jewel and named it Nirvanita de Osa.

We have been blessed to enjoy and take care of her until now, and we have loved to share it with our friends and family.

Why they chose this property

Nothing like it in many, many, miles around.
Privacy, lots of space, and incredible natural beauty/

What makes this property unique

A very unique combination of Some of the worlds most diverse and pristine Tropical Rain Forest, and the Southern Pacific Ocean. 2 Whale watching seasons
Natural Beauty and more natural beauty, Peace and Quiet, Appropiate Technology, Rustic Luxury and Free Hammockology Lessons.
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

More Holiday Rentals ideas

People also search for