| Date | Rating | Comment
[Guest Comments: 16 positive, 0 negative]
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| 07/31/07 |
Positive
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We stayed at Roca Dura for 4 nights. Lyn was very
helpful. Loved the house & surroundings. Beds
were comfortable, the front patio where we ate all
our meals were amazing! Birds, animals etc.
Caretake & his family were very nice. Our favourite
jungle in Costa Rica and would love to stay in the
same house again! Sleeping upstair on the open
loft was so fun. Our 2 kids had a blast running
around the yard playing with the caretaker's girls.
Truly amazing place! |
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celine, Boston, MA |
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| 04/18/06 |
Positive
|
My husband and I and our three little boys just got home from a spring break at the Osa. We stayed at Casa Linda with another family.
We've been to Costa Rica before but the Osa is by far the place to go to see animals. We even had a band of monkeys come by and jump on our roof and try to steal a pineapple out of our kitchen...there must have been around thirty of them!
The surf break right in front of the house was incredible (my friends will always thank me for finding it).
The houses are amazing! They are even more unique and beautiful than they appear on the website. Don't hesitate to make the Osa and in particular, Casa Bambu and Casa Linda your destination in Costa Rica...you'll love it! |
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Kim Kowanko
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|
| 03/13/06 |
Positive
|
I stayed at Casa Bambu during the first week in
March. It will definitely be a vacation that will go
down in history. I have previously visited the
Quepos and Manual Antonio area and have to say
that they were both enjoyable but the Osa was
beautiful beyond belief. Let me assure you that if
you go to Casa Bambu or any of the other houses
from the website. You will have the time of your
life. It is rustic living so if you do not like the
outdoors this is not your place. However, if you are
like me, that is exactally what I wanted to
experience. It was the perfect blend of simple
modern conveniences with the natural rainforest at
your doorstep. There were scarlet macaws in our
yard everyday by the dozens. Our alarm was the
sound of the howler monkeys every morning. From
the bed you could watch as the sun began to rise
turning the skies pink, orange, purple and blue.
The Spider and Squirrel monkeys visited everyday. I
know this seems to good to be true, I would not
have believed it myself had I not experienced it.
The kitchen was nicely equipped and the bathroom
very spacious. One thing I have always struggled
with in Costa Rica was finding a comfortable bed.
The beds in Casa Bambu were wonderful. Very
comfortable. We took a morning fishing trip with
Tres Peces which was just a short walk up the road.
We were out for just 4 hours and caught yellow fin
tuna which we brought home for a couple dinners
and a 9' Sailfish! If you go this is a must! The
caretakers were very kind and pleasant and if
requested, would help you in anyway. Lyn and Kirk
(the owners) were very helpful before leaving,
sending lots of information to ensure our trip was
enjoyable and so there would be no surprises. Upon
return they were both very accommodating as well.
We will definitely return to Casa Bambu. A
restaurant that you cannot miss is Martina's.
Martina is awesome and the food mmmm delicious.
Whether you stay at Casa Bambu or not be sure to
visit Martina's. It is definitely a wonderful
experience. If you have any questions or want
anymore information about our stay Please email
me. Otherwise go ahead and book it! I made the
right decision and so should you! Thank you Lyn
and Kirk for giving me the opportunity to
experience Cabo Matapalo. I will definitely be
coming back. |
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Scott Carrico, Louisville, KY
502-895-5998 |
|
| 01/27/06 |
Positive
|
Words can’t describe the beauty of this area, Osa Peninsula, Cabo Matapolo.
We stayed in one of the houses managed by Lyn, “Casa de Stephan”. When I initially asked Lyn about availability of their houses, she responded that none of their homes were available. However she directed me to other houses within the area and one of them was “Casa de Stephan”. I was first hesitant about trusting a person with my finances over the internet; however, Lyn made the point to call me directly. I felt very comfortable with her suggestions, her honesty, and knew that we would be in a beautiful place. It was my husband’s birthday surprise, so she highly recommended Casa de Stephan.
My husband has been going to Costa Rica for many years and from now on, he will ensure to go back to this area. The area is remote, but yet you can still get to the little town of Puerto Jimenez within 15 minutes. One day, felt like three days! We loved the openness of the house. It is so hard to describe the beauty. We loved the beautiful nature of that area, the macaws, the green parrots, the monkeys, the iguanas, the eagles, the toucans, etc. Instead of having dogs or city noise, we had the howler monkeys waking us up right at sunrise. All night, we just heard the sound of the waves, ocean! I couldn’t even hear my husband snoring.
The house was more than what we expected, beautiful downstairs and upstairs, the beautiful refreshing pool. We loved the full stocked kitchen with the beautiful 6 burner stove. This house had it all. The caregivers Monika and Walter were very warm and friendly. My husband wanted to spend more time with them, but we had too live. We were very upset to leave the area. We think of this beautiful area every day! My husband is ready to go back now. Does anyone want to buy a beautiful casa in California?
Lyn thank you so much for sharing this beautiful place with us. By the way, my husband wants to inform you that he was a led Singer in high school, he wants to meet the rock star that owns “Casa de Stephan”. He wants to cut his new album.
We hope to be there soon and we hope that it does not change!
Eric and Veronica Yoos (a birthday surprise he will never forget)
Castro Valley, California
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Eric and Veronica, Castro Valley, CA
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|
| 01/01/06 |
Positive
|
I recently stayed at Casa Bambu,it was incredible, The rain was intense night and day. But how pure and sweet of a jungle, bats flying through the cottage, macaws with my coffee, sloths during the day, butterflies everywhere. I would like to return in July/Aug 2006
Thank you |
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rev thom, moorehead nc
561 4367215 |
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Homeowner Response:
The rain can be intense, but this is usually during the "Green" season, and usually late afternoon or at night. 2005 was particularly wet. Thanks for the positive comments!
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|
| 07/07/05 |
Positive
|
| Casa Bambu, Cabo Matapalo and the Osa Peninsula were everything my husband and I had hoped for and more. We loved experiencing "pura vida" up close and personal. Casa Bambu is truly a Costa Rican work of art (and love), Cabo Matapalo is a remote, laid-back, unspoiled, special place, while the Osa Peninsula itself offers wild and bountiful natural beauty. We had the pleasure of meeting Kirk and Linda, the owners of the property. Kirk (the creator and builder of Casa Bambu and the other bamboo houses) and Lyn (the one who makes everything come together so seamlessly) graciously greeted us upon our arrival. To make us feel at home, in the house were displays of fresh flowers and fruit straight from the property's gardens. During our stay, Kirk and Lyn made sure we had everything we needed. We had the added pleasure of getting to know Lyn as she spent time with us laughing and talking while Kirk worked on his newest bamboo creation. We also loved meeting and getting to know William, the caretaker and tour guide. All the positive comments we had read about William were indeed true. He is so sweet and helpful. William lives on the property along with his family and is there to help with anything and everything. Even though William speaks very little English, his animated gesturing (as well as ours) bridged the communication gap. Muchas gracious, William. Regarding Casa Bambu, the ocean view across the manicured lawn was spectacular and the continuous breeze kept us cool. The house itself is fully equipped and had everything we needed. Staying at the lovely Casa Bambu provides the true Costa Rican "pura vida" experience. It's all about nature. There was a hummingbird nesting right outside one of the back bedrooms. The scarlet macaws feasted in the almond trees right out front, and squirrel monkeys made their presence known outside the upstairs "monkey viewing" porch. A coati nonchlantly walked around the house, and blue morpho butterflies magically flitted about in the front yard. We'll never forget the unmistakable sound of the howler monkeys. The gorgeous sunrises over the Golfo Dulce were magnificent. On our nature hikes and horseback ride, we saw abundant wildlife and nature. When we were hungry for a meal from somewhere other than our kitchen, we hiked up the hill to Lapa Rios and down the road to Martina's for excellent gourmet cuisine at both locations. I could go on and on about our week-long stay in this very special part of the world, but there isn't enough time. Upon our return to Georgia, I have dreamt of Casa Bambu and its surrounding beauty. My husband very succinctly remarked, "Thank you, I needed that." It was an adventure of a lifetime that we will always remember. Thank you Lyn, Kirk and William. You guys are the best! |
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Anita and Bobby VH, Hickory Flat, GA
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| 08/23/04 |
Positive
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My family (2 adults and 3 teenage daughters) spent 4 nights at Casa Linda (next to Casa Bamboo) in July 04. The house was very interesting in construction and very clean. The wildlife, scenary and peacefulness were excellent and you feel that you are in a special area. The area guides (tree jumping, waterfall rappelling, hikes outside Corcovado, horseback riding) were great, though on the expensive side. Lapo Rios, the upscale resort up the hill, is wonderful (staff, food, activities) but again expensive (and make sure to make reservations in advance for dinner). We felt the owner's website was accurate in its information. A couple of warnings - do NOT arrive without provisions - it is tough and tiring driving and you don't want to make unnecessary trips back to town once you get to the house. We assumed we could eat at a local eatery on a Sunday night after we arrived and nothing was open (luckily our Casa Bamboo neighbors saved us with some spaghetti!). We were prepared for rain, but did not realize that the days were so short (dark by 6 pm). That means you must be ready for a lot of quiet time at night!!
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Anonymous
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|
| 04/23/04 |
Positive
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I am hesitant to leave this review because I want to keep Casa Bambu a secret, however if you have the desire to travel to such a remote place then you deserve the wonderful experience of this awesome place! When we arrived at Casa Bambu it was like landing on a island in Paradise..the ocean and the rain forest and so much more..not to mention the Tico caretaker's who can show you so much about the area. It was an unbelievable experience. Also we
would like to add that the owners, Kirk and Lyn, are the kindest and warmest people you could possibly meet! Thanks so much, Chris, Mary, Max and Cody |
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Chris and Mary Hatton, Lake Tahoe, California
530-525-0652 |
|
| 09/22/03 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
The trip was fantastic!!! It was the best trip of my life and I can say that is probably true for most of my family. Casa Bambu was everything we imagined and more, far more. Everything from the sounds of the rain forest...the howler monkeys and the cicadas waking us up every morning to the wonderful hikes, sportfishing trips, the many animals and birds, and on and on. It was an unbelievable experience that three generations of my family were able to enjoy together.
Thank you so much for all your help in making this trip to Costa Rica an enjoyable experience that our family will never forget. The only bummer was that we did not make our stay longer. Being there made me realize how simple you can live. I usually am ready to come home from a vacation and it makes me appeciate home. But this time I was appreciating where I had come from and how I need to incorporate more of that into my life at home.
Again, thank you so much for a truly wonderful experience.
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Tom Obata
Gilroy, CA
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|
| 09/22/03 |
Positive
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Our 10-day stay at Casa Bambu was the absolutely most perfect way to absorb the essence of Costa Rica---the richness of the tropics. Casa Bambu itself was simply beautiful. This rustic yet elegant home with all its openess and natural materials was very comfortable, and it somehow enhanced one's sense of the primeval beauty of Costa Rica. The strange chorus of the howler monkeys, the screeching calls of the brilliantly colored macaws, the rhythmic pulsations of the surf, the
verdant greens of the lush vegetation, the exotic and vibrantly colored
flowers, the irridescent butterflies, sweet green coconut milk, fresh
caught yellow fin tuna, smells of wetness and growth, sunrises maybe
like those at the beginning of time, rocks, endless herds of little
hermit crabs moving across the sand, a prehistoric drama unfolding as pelicans (like pterodactyls?) soared above the sea....all of these and more are the memories brought home after an unforgettable stay at this
out-of-the-way destination---a pinpoint on the Pacific coast in Central America.
Thank you, Lyn and Kirk for all your organizing, planning, and work, and
most of all, for sharing this part of your life with us.
I am indelibly etched with the Osa.
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V Mills, Austin, TX
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|
| 02/25/03 |
Positive
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| The place is fantastic. We truly enjoyed ourselves. Casa Bambu was exactly what we were seeking. Having our own private accommodations near the beach was such a treat. Everything worked out great for us. |
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Alex Tynberg, San Francisco, CA |
|
| 02/09/03 |
Positive
|
We enjoyed every minute of our time at Casa Bambu - only problem - not enough time! We saw more wildlife sitting on the veranda at Casa Bambu than we did during one of our many hikes (4 types of monkeys, scarlet macaws, tucans, a sloth, iguanas, frogs, fireflys, butterflys, etc. etc. etc.)!
Lyn and Kirk have really gone out of their way to make it easy for people to get there and to have a great experience once there. The map they provided showed all of the local trails (and we hiked most of them!) and the many suggestions for restaurants and other services were very much appreciated!
We will definitely return to Casa Bambu and would highly recommend it to all looking to really experience wildlife at its best.
p.s. We have our own waterfront vacation home on the Sunshine Coast of B.C. in Canada (in Pender Harbour) called Skardon House, so we would also invite readers to check out our website by going to Google and entering "Skardon House".
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Wendy Bach & Brent Mulhall, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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| 01/19/03 |
Positive
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| What a joy to stay in a house of actual bamboo that's right on the beach and surrounded by all things tropical. Each day my wife and I woke to a beautiful ocean sunrise and then drank excellent costa rican coffee on the veranda while catching glimpses of scarlet macaws and squirrel monkeys in our own back yard. William, the caretaker, was very friendly, helpful and enthusiastic in getting us geared for fishing. We caught mackerels, snappers and countless others types of fish. There's nothing like fresh caught fish! We felt like we could be as active or relaxed as we wanted. We felt a part of the place. We can't wait to go back. |
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Tom Latimer, Chicago, IL
773-472-2307 |
|
| 12/26/02 |
Positive
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| I had a great time and would like to extend my thanks to all the people at Casa Bambu. Everyone was great. I am going back! it will be some time next year, and this time I am going to plan more in advance, with some fishing, even more horseback riding, and in-country hiking on the menu. It is such a great place, I am going to break the cardinal rule of travelling and return to a place I have already been. |
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Paul Farrell, Flushing, NY |
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| 08/20/02 |
Positive
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| Living in Florida, I always thought that Disney World was the most magical place on earth...that was until our stay at Casa Bambu! Our family of 5 including my husband and our 3 children ages 3,5 & 7 had no idea what to really expect when we saw Casa Bambu on the website...all we knew was that we had to find some way to get ourselves there and that the details would work themselves out. They did! We spent an amazing 5 days without TV, radio, phone etc. The kids were never bored and NEVER even asked for a TV! Hermit crab races, baseball with a bamboo bat and lime balls, body surfing, catching fireflies and creating new and exotic juices from the fruits on the property were just some of the activities that kept them busy and us happy. Offshore fishing with Mike was awesome since the kids could catch the bait and we could go for the big fish! Monkeys, sloths, anteaters, hummingbirds, crabs, macaws (how many 3 yr. olds do you know who can recognize the call of a macaw?) and toucans were part of our everyday viewing. Waking with the sun and retiring with the moon was surprisingly refreshing. It was not in my plans to leave part of my heart in the Osa and I did not plan on feeling such a sense of loss as I took off in the plane...I can only hope that a return to this magical place is somewhere in my future! |
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Anette Alger, Naples, Florida
239-353-9865 |
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| 08/03/02 |
Positive
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We really enjoyed our stay at Casa Bambu. When we were describing what it would be like to Liz, my sister, I wanted to say that monkeys would come up in the yard, but I thought perhaps that times had changed since our last visit four years ago. It is so refreshing to be able to say, "four different species of monkeys come right up in the yard for the bananas and other fruit planted there" and still be truthful!
We had an agenda (as most Americans do), to get some rest from our stressful lifestyles, then to explore the region. The universe must have known our needs when it rained for the first day and night after our arrival. Much needed rest was so easy in the mosquito netted beds with personal fans. Within moments of our arrival at Casa Bambu, two macaws landed in the almond tree next to the taxi.
Opening our eyes to exploration of the beach area, we saw many pelicans fishing, crabs scurrying about, shells of many kinds, coconut shells (at various stages of life and death), driftwood from points West and South Pacific, and many other creatures, plants and rocks.
We watched surfers catching waves, played in tide pools and swam out to get our salt therapy! To return to a freshwater shower at the steps to the house was so delightful.
Casa Bambu is so well planted, nurtured and manicured, yet every component of its make-up speaks of the rainforest and of the sea. My sister kept saying (in awe of the place), "Where the rainforest meets the sea. What a special place!" She says that it was the best vacation of her life. (She is 52 years old).
We took in the waterfall, ate at Lapa Rios above the landscape, drank brews at Martinez's bar, and had fresh sashime on several occasions. The kitchen met our needs, the road was much improved, and the rainforest served us limes, mangos, avacados, coconut milk, and bananas.
We want to return many more times in this lifetime, and then if re-incarnation is user-friendly, I want to come back as a monkey on the Osa Penninsula.
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Melanie Norman, Fayetteville, AR
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