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Villa Serenidad: secluded home, warm private pool, river walk, amazing 180° view

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Photo gallery for Villa Serenidad: secluded home, warm private pool, river walk, amazing 180° view

Outdoor pool
Exterior
View from property
Smart TV, books, video library, stereo
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Reviews
9.8

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • Mountain viewMountain viewMountain view

Explore the area

Map
Atenas, Alajuela Province
  • Popular LocationBotanical Orchid Garden La Garita22 min drive
  • Popular LocationParque Viva24 min drive
  • Popular LocationCity Mall32 min drive
  • AirportSan José (SJO-Juan Santamaría Intl.)44 min drive

Space details

4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sleeps 10
420 sq m
Bedroom 1
    4 twin/single beds
Bedroom 2
    1 queen bed
Bedroom 3
    1 king bed
Bedroom 4
    1 queen bed
Bathroom 1
    Shower
Bathroom 2
    Shower
Bathroom 3
    Shower

Room options

Similar properties

About the area

Mercedes

On river.Stay at this Mercedes villa and you'll be within 9 miles (15 km) of Palmares Church and Rock Bridge. Catedral de la Mercedes and Grecia Park are within 12 miles (20 km).

What's nearby

  • Botanical Orchid Garden La Garita - 22 min drive
  • Parque Viva - 24 min drive
  • Multiplaza Mall Escazu - 31 min drive
  • City Mall - 32 min drive
  • Ojo de Agua Spa Park - 33 min drive

Getting around

  • San Antonio de Belen Station - 33 min drive
  • Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) - 44 min drive

Restaurants

  • El Rancho de Nacho - 8 min drive
  • Chicharronera Don Yayo - 6 min drive
  • T!os Bar Y Restaurante - 14 min walk
  • El Balcón del Café - 4 min drive
  • La Trocha Del Boyero - 6 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Villa Serenidad: secluded home, warm private pool, river walk, amazing 180° view

Welcome to Villa Serenidad, now with high-speed 100Mb Fiber Optic Internet! Villa Serenidad sits on 2 acres (8,000 m2) of pristine land in the Central Valley in a small, private, gated community near the city of Atenas in the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica. A single-level home featuring a private pool, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sleeps 10 and covers about 4,250 ft2 (395 m2) and is suitable for the entire family. Have a look in the gallery to see what's new or read more to find out why we fell in love with Villa Serenidad and why you will too.

Villa Serenidad is about 18 miles (28 km) or 35 minutes from Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO). We are 1 hour away from the Pacific beaches. Most of our guests have LOVED the location. It makes for a wonderful central location to take a half or full-day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park, the beach, volcanoes, and zip lines and of course is fantastic as a place to just rest, relax and enjoy Costa Rica. The roads to Villa Serenidad are flat and very easy to access with any type of vehicle. A 4x4 is not required. Of course, our team is always happy to help with requests including arranging transportation to and from the airport with our trusted drivers.

Continuing for 2023, we provide a 20-page welcome letter and information packet for all of our guests. This unique guide contains a wealth of information and covers most questions that arise when coming to Costa Rica for the first time including a lot of information about the villa and the area in general. Providing this info is part of our commitment to providing you with an enjoyable experience. All of our guests who have read the packet absolutely love the information provided and we’ve received a number of comments wishing all hosts would supply as much information as we do. The packet includes contact info for our team, communication, and language info, address, directions, and coordinates, discusses using GPS, mobile phones, the internet and Wi-Fi, house and community access, early arrival / late departure, driving and renting cars in Costa Rica, paying for goods and services in Costa Rica, climate and weather info, dry season and rainy/wet season, recommended clothes and dress, items that we supply and a suggested list of what to bring, a list of activities and excursions in our area, safety and security in Costa Rica, available outside services, shopping info, additional villa info and more. A fantastic resource!

Villa Serenidad is nearly 3,000' (920 meters) in elevation. One of the biggest reasons we chose Atenas is because it's known as the "world's best climate". Quite literally, it's around 65 °F (18 °C) every night and about 82 °F (28 °C) every day, 365 days a year. It only varies a few degrees year-round! It’s perfect for sleeping at night and perfect for activities during the day. We have no need for air conditioning or heat! It’s simply amazing!

The pool at Villa Serenidad receives sunshine throughout most of the day and is comfortable to swim in day or night, year-round. There aren’t any buildings or large trees blocking the sunshine which makes a tremendous difference in water temperature. Having previously rented a number of other houses in the area, many of them have pools that are terribly uncomfortable due to the lack of sunshine on the pool.

Villa Serenidad features warm and beautiful cedar wood throughout. Long cedar planks adorn every bedroom in the house and ceilings throughout. The master bedroom, with a comfortable king-size bed and huge glass windows with an 8' wide sliding door, opens up to views of the terrace, the valley below, and the mountains in the background. Attached to the master is an en-suite bathroom featuring a huge walk-in shower. On the opposite end, a queen bedroom also has huge glass windows on two walls allowing views of the valley meadows. The third bedroom, one without windows for those who prefer a darker space to nap during the day, also features a queen bed with a large en-suite bathroom featuring dual sinks, a large walk-in shower, and an abundance of closet space. The fourth bedroom has dual twin trundle beds of which one bed is stored underneath the other while not in use. The lower beds can be rolled out and used in this bedroom or easily rolled into the living room as a 5th sleeping area. The third bathroom, again with a large walk-in shower, is located just outside the doors to this bedroom. Each bedroom has a variable-speed overhead fan with a chain extension so it's easy to use. In addition, bedside lamps, ample closet space, new comfortable mattresses, new linens and bedding, many pillows (20 throughout), and enough plug-ins on each side of the bed to charge your phone, plug in a laptop and still power the alarm clock and bedside lamp are available. Not to be overlooked, the bathrooms feature delightfully soft Turkish cotton hand and bath towels.

As a guest at Villa Serenidad, we welcome you to use and enjoy premium RAW Botanicals Ylang Ylang Shampoo, Banana Glistening Hair Conditioner, and Papaya Tangerine Body Wash provided in each shower. These ultra-premium salon-grade products are handmade in Costa Rica and found in high-end resorts throughout the country. Pack light and enjoy these Costa Rican originals.

Stepping into the very spacious kitchen with its 24' high ceiling and big center island, you feel like there is room for the whole family to cook. Exquisite granite covers both the counters and the center island. A number of amenities you're not likely to find elsewhere include a dishwasher shipped in from the US and an in-sink garbage disposal with an air pressure switch. Of course, the kitchen has all the things you would want; a stove, an oven, a microwave, a blender, a toaster, a coffee maker, an electric teapot, an electric can opener, a blender, a juicer, a large assortment of pots, pans, dishes and Tupperware, spices and more.

We have three dining areas including an indoor table with seating for 8, the kitchen island with seating for 3, and the outdoor patio table with seating for 6. Each of the tables can fit additional chairs when needed and we include a booster seat for the little one. We have full place settings available including dishes, plates, bowls, table mats, trivets, cups, wine glasses, coffee mugs, knives and silverware, napkins, and more.
In the living area, you can sit back on either of the two couches, relax and enjoy satellite TV which includes a number of channels from the US including the NFL Network, plug in your smartphone or media player to the stereo system and enjoy the tunes while playing in the pool or sunbathing on the terrace or just cuddle up with a good book under the reading lamp on either of the two reading chairs. An assortment of DVDs are available to view on the TV, and a number of books are available to read as are coloring books, crayons, play cards, and games for the family. Free WiFi coverage is available throughout the house and out onto the patio and terrace. Massive sliding glass doors open on either end of the living area, combined with a number of jalousie windows and overhead fans allow you to regulate airflow throughout the house for maximum comfort.

The laundry room has a clothes washer and clothes dryer, a number of lightweight aluminum folding racks for outdoor drying, a mop sink, and a large set of metal shelves for cleaning products and excess storage. We include a supply of laundry detergent, a few dishwasher tablets, dishwashing liquid or paste, a starter supply of toilet paper, one roll of paper towels, garbage bags, some napkins, and a tank of propane for the BBQ grill.

Stepping outside is like a breath of fresh air. It's all-encompassing with the 180-degree view of the Rio Cacao river valley and a clear view of the volcanoes and mountains some 15 to 30 miles in the distance, all from the wonderful outdoor terrace. The peacefulness and serenity you will experience is inspiring. Opening the massive glass sliding doors from the living area gives you unabridged access to the covered patio with incredibly comfortable wicker lounge chairs to relax in the shade throughout the day or venture a little further onto the terrace surrounding a big 13' x 26' swimming pool and enjoy a fun-filled day in the sun. The terraced stone, known as Coralina, was imported from the Dominican Republic. Under the scorching hot sun, you can walk comfortably on the Coralina without fear of burning your feet. Yes, it's that good. In addition to being cool, Coralina is not slippery when wet. We've experienced way too many pools around Costa Rica that are slippery as ice when wet.

Spread throughout the patio and terrace are numerous lay-down wicker loungers, wicker lounge chairs, an outdoor dining table, and wicker dining chairs. Easy to use wide steps with a stainless steel handrail allow easy entry and exit from the pool for all ages. One of our pet peeves with every other place we've traveled to is a lack of pool toys and floats never being included at homes with otherwise wonderful pools. We have a nice supply for you to enjoy. And we also include an electric pump to inflate and deflate them at the touch of a button. An outdoor shower allows for a quick shower and hopping right in the pool without tracking water all over the house. Of course, just like the soft Turkish cotton towels inside the house, we supply the same wonderful Turkish cotton towels to lay on the loungers and use around the pool.

We have a full complement of safety items in our home including multiple smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and more. The house is protected by an alarm system with an easy-to-use wireless remote control and the community is protected by a huge steel gate. Two small remote controls (one for the gate and one for the house alarm) and the door code are the only items needed to get in and out. Life simplified!

We have designed and provided for what we believe will be a 5-star experience for you!

Property manager

Valentino Salvi

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels
  • Beach sun loungers

Pool/Spa

  • Private pool
  • Outdoor pool

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Limo/town car service

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Toaster
  • Kitchen island
  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • Towels provided
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Living room
  • Dining room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV
  • Stereo
  • Video library
  • Games
  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 1 total (up to 20 lbs per pet)
  • Welcoming dogs only

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Safe
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Local meal delivery service

Location highlights

  • On the river
  • In the mountains
  • Near a health or beauty spa

Things to do

  • Horse riding nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • At least 80% of food locally-sourced
  • Local culture & ecosystem education
  • Locally-owned & organized tours & activities
  • Vegan dining options
  • Unit size: 4520 sq ft (420 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 1 (weight limit: 20 lbs per pet)

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Note from host: Children must be supervised at all times.

Important information

You need to know

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. Long-term renters welcome. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation. Contactless check-in and contactless check-out are available.

Villa Serenidad: secluded home, warm private pool, river walk, amazing 180° view Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 55 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 60 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

4/10 Poor

karen d.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Not what you're hoping for, despite the lovely location
This place *looks* like the pics...until you're trying to live in it. We travel the world, accustomed to staying in the Caribbean/Ctrl America. We are aware of the things that come w/that--including insects. There were THOUSANDS of crawling ants parading through master bed/bath. We ended up sleeping there, but using diff baths for fear of having to step barefoot through ants to pee at night. The prop mgr assured us the "flying ants" were an agricultural nuisance, & that prop owner fumigated. These were NOT flying ants. They crawled EVERYWHERE, coming through the wood of the house. I have photos/videos I'm happy to share. No other remedy. Disgusting. Lots of disconnects...Like being told that we are responsible for daily pool maintenance, but skimmer basket was snapped off the handle, not replaced. Water level in pool was too low for filter to work properly. They ask you to handwash plastic drinkware (not a real glass in the house--annoying, trying to enjoy a nice wine) & to clean counters, but no kitchen towels. No pool towels. Private farm-like setting. Great view. Convenient location. Overall, felt bare bones compared with the listing, esp for the price (we happily/frequently pay for quality). Folks w/kids note elec cow fence on path--no warning. Almost cancelled before going--inconsistencies in who was listed as owner (Valentino? Jeff?)--seemed sketchy. Turned out ok, but weird. No meet/greet for check-in, alarm was armed (we were told it wasn't). Look elsewhere.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karol C., STOUGHTON

Liked: Cleanliness
AMAZING!
Villa Serenidad exceeded our expectations! It is a beautiful home and the view is wonderful. We really liked watching the cows and calves next door and meeting Iggy the iguana. The people of Atenas and all of Costa Rica are welcoming and so helpful with those who are not at all fluent in Spanish! I don't think we ever had even close to a bad meal either! We took advantage of having a meal cooked and delivered to us and it was delicious. Our friends joined us for a part of our stay and we heard many exclamations of 'nirvana' and 'heavenly'. Thank you for letting us stay at your property. Maybe the only negative comment we would have is that there is no hammock! That didn't seem to get in the way of our enjoying the pool and veranda, however, so it maybe it isn't a necessity after all.
Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Terry H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Villa Serinidad
Best beautiful view of the country side, great pool and beautiful home.
Stayed 21 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Villa Serenidad is aptly named
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Villa Serenidad. The house was clean and spacious, with screened doors and windows all around to let in the breeze. The swimming pool and shaded patio were peaceful and inviting. The pool was immaculate and the there were plenty of poolside chairs and tables for our group of 4. The location of the Villa on a dead-end road in a gated community made for a very private stay. The only traffic sounds were the mooing of cows on their way down the path to the river. The Villa was a little further from town than expected (we thought we would be walking to town), mostly because we didn’t understand the reality of roads and pedestrians in Costa Rica. Even so, the drive is short and there are good restaurants, banks and a nice supermarket within a ten-minute drive. We took day trips to the Poás Volcano, Las Mina, and Jaco - all very doable in an easy day. The property manager Eunice was very responsive to the few questions we had (highly recommend WhatsApp for communication), neighbor Heidy made and delivered a lovely Costa Rican meal to the Villa, and Oscar arranged for a very competent masseuse to come to the Villa. We felt very well cared for. It sure was quiet when we had to pack up and leave - very sad to leave this little slice of heaven.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Renee D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise in the Mountains
If you ever wanted to stay in a glass house this is it! Waking up to a gorgeous mountainous view and one step outside you are at the pool. We had American Thanksgiving where the neighbor cooked for us and it was delicious! This house is for 8 people and the open floor plan is inviting and wonderful! I would definitely stay here again! Thank you for sharing such a great place!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Monika G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Vacation
We stay 2 1/2 weeks at Villa Serenidad and enjoyed the vacation with the complete family - 7 adults and 2 toddlers. We particularly liked the rural surroundings and the fantastic view of nature. The children had fun with the farm animals every day and we enjoyed the unusual visitors. We used the pool every day and it is ideal for children. In the village of Atenas there are numerous shopping opportunities and typical restaurants. The wealth of information in the Vills Serenidad manual was very helpful. Valentino was also available for us the whole time and we were happy to make use of his numerous contacts and information. Oscar in particular - driver and friend - helped us to discover Costa Rica's natural parks in a relaxed way on day trips. The vacation in the villa will remain unforgettable for us.
Stayed 18 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katy H., Marathon

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful
We had a group of 5 friend stay at the beautiful serenidad. The house was absolutely wonderful. They had everything you need. Waking up to the view everyday was amazing. We live on an island in Marathon, FL so we wanted something different. This house was absolutely amazing for a relaxing vacation. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Phillip P., Tampa Fl. USA

Liked: Cleanliness
My only concern
Well the only thing that convern me the it wasn't handicap friendly. The toilets were too low and the water pressure was low as well But overall a enjoyable experience.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert R.

Liked: Cleanliness
A wonderful stay!
The property was perfect for our stay. We had 9 family members staying together. Ages ranged from 17 to 82. The house offered everything we needed for everyone to be comfortable. Kitchen was well appointed. Large dining table. Comfortable sitting area to enjoy the fabulous views. Pool to cook off. We were lucky to find this home at the last minute when our previous rental did not work for our party. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Louisa M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing, comforting Villa, and Full Service Experience!
My friends and I came to Costa Rica for the first time and we are happy with Villa Serenidad! It was perfect for the 7 of us. It has all the amenities you’d need for either group of adults or families with kids. Made lots of meals and enjoyed lots of pool time! Jeff was very helpful communicating transportation from the airport and around in Atenas. He provides a very thorough guide way before check in that helped plan our 6 days in Alajuela. One guide included the local contacts that can help, including Eunice the property manager and Oscar, local tour driver. Eunice helped us arrange check in and any small questions we had during our stay. The neighbors are also very friendly and even made my group dinner for our last night. I do want to recommend taking advantage of the contacts that Jeff shares. As my group was big, many attractions in Costa Rica are quite spread out, and we also had limited Spanish speaking knowledge, we knew we’d need to look into shuttles, rent a car, and a guide. We shared our itinerary with Oscar, who works with the Villa owners and will take you wherever in Costa Rica you need, and are we so so glad we did! We went to Jaco for catamaran, coffee tour at Doka Coffee Plantation, Monteverde for zip lining, and La Paz Waterfalls, and Oscar was with us every step of the way. He has many CR contacts and can take you off the beaten path. Super friendly and he really made our trip special and comfortable. Amazing vacation, can’t recommend enough!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023