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The Lookout. A nature lovers paradise.

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Relax on the covered porch with two comfortable chairs and enjoy the serene views of the lush landscape.
Cozy retreat with a brick fireplace, rustic mural, and wooden table.
Relax in a serene outdoor space surrounded by lush greenery and a covered seating area.
Surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant flowers, this tranquil pool area offers a peaceful retreat for relaxation and leisure activities.
Enjoy meals in this kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, and toaster, and dine at the adjacent table for two.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Parking available

Explore the area

Map
Zaragoza, Provincia de Alajuela
  • Palmares Church
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • San Ramon Nonato Church
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • San Ramon Municipal Market
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • San José (SJO-Juan Santamaría Intl.)
    ‪45 min drive‬

Room options

About the area

Zaragoza

In Zaragoza .You'll be within 3 miles (5 km) of Palmares Church and 6 miles (10 km) of San Ramon Municipal Market with a stay here. San Ramon Museum and San Ramon Nonato Church are also within 6 miles (10 km).
View more Vacation homes in ZaragozaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Palmares Church - 7 min drive - 3.6 km
  • San Ramon Nonato Church - 12 min drive - 7.7 km
  • San Ramon Municipal Market - 12 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Iglesia de San Ramón - 12 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Parque Central - 12 min drive - 8.0 km

Getting around

  • Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) - 50 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Soda Chelip's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Pataqueña - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Bar Restaurante Las Tejas - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Fory Fay - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Bar Restaurante La Lira - ‬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.

The Lookout. A nature lovers paradise.

Imagine waking up to the sounds of the jungle. The characteristic call of a toucan. Or the roar of a group of howler monkeys coming from the nearby trees. Then stepping out of bed, opening the sliding doors to step out on the porch and see the breathtaking view this beautiful property offers. Is there a better way to start your day?

If you are looking for an off the beaten path private paradise to enjoy the best Costa Rica has to offer, the Lookout is the place for you.
The property is located in the little town of Zaragoza and its borders the nature reserve Madre Verde (ideal for hiking, we offer guided hikes). We offer a perfect hideaway in the midst of nature. The jungle literally starts at the back of the property.


The house has been built to fit it´s surroundings, making it a part of the jungle. The beautiful wooden porch covers the whole front of the house and offers an amazing view. The house has 4 bedroom and 3 bathrooms. All bedrooms have double beds.
There are 2 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms that have access to the porch through sliding doors. On the other side of the house there are 2 more bedrooms with a shared bathroom in between. The main area has an open kitchen in it and the seating area where you can watch TV. The porch also has enough comfortable seating to relax and enjoy the beautiful view and surroundings.

From the porch you can walk down to the pool area that is located in front of the house. There is a good sized pool as well as a smaller and shallow pool that is great for kids to play in. At the corner of the pool deck there is a nice gazebo with a fridge and a grill in it. At the back of the property there is a covered area with another grill. An ideal spot to read a book while lying in your hammock. If you are lucky you will see the howler monkeys passing by

On the grounds there are variety of fruit trees and you are more than welcome to pick the fruits.

Our experienced property management team is ready to make your stay the best it can be. Piet and Yvonne, a multilingual (English. Spanish, Dutch and German) couple from the Netherlands will contact you after booking. During your stay they are always just a phone call away.
As an additional service to our house guests, they offer fee- based airport transfers to help you avoid the potential hassles you can experience in getting from and to the property on your travel days
They also provide car rentals and a variety of quality tours. They can arrange for you to have your fridge stocked with your favorite groceries upon arrival, or have a home cooked meal ready for you on your arrival day. For special occasions they can have a local chef come to the house to prepare a gourmet dinner. What to think of a relaxing massage at the property, it can all be arranged. After booking they will reach out to you to provide all the information you need.

In the house you will find a guest manual that gives you all the information that you need on the property, the town of Zaragoza and the nearby town of Atenas (restaurants, shops, medical assistance) and the extra services offered to out guests.

The Lookout is ideal for families or friends who are a bit adventurous and love to be in nature. The Lookout is a bit off the beaten path, but easy to reach. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended for the last part of the road to the house. In the vicinity of the house there are a number of supermarkets and good restaurants. In Palmares, only 3 miles away you will find a variety of shops and restaurants. The lovely town of Atenas is only 6 miles away.
The Lookout is also perfectly located to explore the highlights of Costa Rica.

The Lookout is also open for longer term rentals (up to 6 month´s)

The standard rate is based on 4 people. For every extra guest there is a $15 per person per night fee. Guests staying longer than 14 days a bi-weekly cleaning is included.

Check in: Between 4 PM and 9 PM.
Check-out: Before 10 AM
We can be flexible at special requests and if possible,

Keywords:
Nature, super view, privacy, pool, outside living, off the beaten path, safe.

If you have any questions, please send an inquiry and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Property manager

Piet Asma

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Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Massage
  • Outdoor pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Chef service
  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3.5 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location

Safety features

  • No carbon monoxide detector or gas appliances (host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

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

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

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
Host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
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. For guests' safety, the property includes a smoke detector in each accommodation.

Property is also known as

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The Lookout. A Nature Lovers Paradise. NEW Listing!!!
The Lookout. A nature lovers paradise. NEW LISTING!!! San Ramon

The Lookout. A nature lovers paradise. Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 34 out of 37 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 37 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 37 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 37 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 37 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Brandi A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great, relaxing end to our CR trip

We stayed for 3 nights at the tail end of 2 weeks in CR. The lookout was a great place to stay to relax. The views were amazing.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Adam P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Gorgeous Views

I have stayed here twice and would highly reccomend this place to anyone!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sasha H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Rainforest Rebel – Sleep Wild, Wake Wilder

This VRBO was an absolute gem! Tucked away in a quiet, scenic location, it offered stunning views and an incredible connection with nature—we saw so much wildlife right from the property. The home itself had everything we needed, with all the amenities to make our stay comfortable and relaxing.The price was surprisingly affordable, especially given how beautiful and well-maintained everything was. Restaurants and grocery stores were conveniently close, making it easy to stock up and explore the area.The drive in is definitely part of the adventure—slightly rugged but absolutely worth it for the experience that awaits. Plus, the management team was extremely responsive and helpful throughout our stay. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a peaceful jungle retreat with just the right amount of adventure!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Renee W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful View

We loved hearing the birds early in the morning and the monkeys put on a show the last morning we were there. Very peaceful
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Angel G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Family vacay

Had a great time in Costa Rica! House was lovely and pretty much had all we needed. Communication with house managers could have been better at times but everything worked out. Accuracy of online listing is a 4 because the listing said one thing but when I asked about it, I was told it “must’ve been a mistake” and the listing was changed before I snapped proof that it was there.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sheila M.

Liked: Cleanliness

CR stay

Beautiful views at the Lookout, including fabulous sunsets. We were blessed with amazing weather the whole week which made driving some of the backroads easier. The house was clean, comfortable, and had all necessary conveniences.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Taylor C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect

Perfect mountain retreat for our family. Lots of room and options for hang out spaces. Weather was perfect and got chilly at night. Will stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

anthony k.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great house

House was perfect, wish i could have stayed for 3 months.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dianne L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Peaceful

Great outdoor areas to enjoy perfect weather with nice breezes, the front porch was our favorite!! Beautiful views, many birds and a nature preserve behind the property. We enjoyed the peacefulness and privacy of the property.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl K.

Liked: Cleanliness

True Paradise

It was my first trip to Costa Rica and after a 9 day photo tour my friends and I stayed here for rest and enjoyment. It was the perfect place for this! The view was magnificent and I could have stayed longer than the 4 nights we booked as it was so peaceful and glorious. The beds were comfortable and the bathrooms lovely with their stone walls. My favorite place was the long veranda that overlooked the pool and faced the view. I spent plenty of time in the hammock and we watched the lights flicker on across the expanse as the moon rose over the hills. At times the clouds were cotton candy pink with the setting sun. The property manager, Piet, was the perfect host and driver for the tours we wanted to take and provided a luxury of information on any subject we required. He also picked us up and delivered us to San Jose for our flights. I loved my stay here so much I fantasized about buying the house and living here part time. But I would make the pool heated in that case!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Louise W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Excellent location

We really enjoyed our stay at the Lookout Casita. The view is superb and we enjoyed the proximity to the jungle and coffee plantation. The balcony, pool area and gazebo are really nice.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leta S., San Antonio Texas

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing view, well developed property

Very comfortable stay with views beyond compare. Generously supplied and very comfortable all around, especially the beds. Piet was very helpful and gracious as a host, offering excellent recommendations.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Megan W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Stunningly beautiful

It is gorgeous. I did follow Waze the wrong way up a mountain, so use Google Maps! The property managers are very communicative : )
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Javier C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Awesome familiar gataway.

The place was so amazing, with its majestic views and amenities. The drive up to this please on it own its an adventure, be sure to get a 4x4 vehicle, And use a loca gps app (i recomend Waze). Google maps send us up a wrong hill and caused us to get stuck in the mud. Likely the property managers came to our aid and got us out of the pickle, thanks very much Hugo and family. For any outdoors lovers, for does looking for tue PURA VIDA experience, we totally recommend the lookout casita at the edge of civilization.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Scott L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Ideal vacation

A great place to relax and enjoy the mountains. Plenty of room to spread out with hammocks out back. Had a BBQ for the family at the pool house and the 3-year-olds really liked the small pool with the fountain. Will stay again on next trip.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Annette C., Ottawa, Ontario

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing Views and Immersed in Nature!

Everything about this property was wonderful! We stayed 8 nights and couldn't wait to step outside as the sun came up, to admire the view. We loved hearing and seeing birds and wildlife from the various outdoor sitting areas. We had a rental car and did various outings within 1-2 hours drive from the house including to Poas Volcano, to the coast, Blue Falls, Eco Bungee, as well as explored the nearby small towns. This place is great if you want to get away from the busy areas and close to nature.
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jodi B.

Liked: Cleanliness

The perfect get-away

The Lookout Casita is everything we could have imagined. The property was beautiful and the room spacious. We enjoyed coffee on the porch every morning. We had to travel about 1.5hr to get to our excursions but that was ok because we got to see all of the beautiful nature. If you are looking for a place to unwind and just relax this is the perfect spot to be able to do just that! Pura Vida!!
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol B., Duluth

Liked: Cleanliness

A wonderful retreat house

"The Lookout," as it as aptly named, is at the end of the paved road (which continues as a dirt road further up the mountain) and offers a spectacular view of the central valley, San Jose, and the town of Zaragoza 10 minutes down the mountain. The house has a great deal of character with its rustic wood paneling complemented by a good kitchen and comfortable furniture. If you are a birdwatcher and would like to see and hear Howler Monkeys above your patio, this property will be an excellent choice . The Howlers only visited us once one afternoon, otherwise this is a quiet and private stay. We did not need the assistance of the rental manager (who was very helpful in another property we rented from him), but the caretaker lives a few houses down the road and was very prompt to help when we locker ourselves out of the house.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Victor B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Retreat

Great place to chill with friends. Magical and all that anyone would want in a "get-away."
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

roger h.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely stay

Everything great. Well equipped. Fantastic views. Trips great and helpful hosts. A lovely area
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brett W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Family/Group Home

Our family group of 8 (2 kids and 6 adults) had a wonderful stay at the lookout. This property is well represented online. The drive up to the lookout can be a bit intimidating but we had no issues. The set up of the home is perfect for couples or people staying in groups of 2. We enjoyed the pool and regular visits with the maintenance team. Piet is a very accommodating host and easy to get in contact with. There were a few small maintenance issues (an issue with the pool filter, and water running to the pool) issues were handled quickly. Property could use a new BBQ to enjoy cooking outside in the beautiful scenery. Overall this is a great spot for people that want to relax and take in the views and enjoy the weather! It is a bit secluded but only a quick drive to local shops and groceries. Would recommend the Lookout to anyone looking for a relaxing stay! Thanks Piet and Yvonne!
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Victor C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great location but kind of worn down…

This is a great stay if your planning to just stay in this cabin like home. Pros: 1. Nice home close to nature 2. Fruit trees available for juicing (orange juice) 3. Plenty of restrooms 4. Safe. There is a main road gate that closes at 5 pm. And a main gate for the home. Perimeter is gated and monitored so you feel safe! 5. The property has a gas BBQ! So you can get your grilling on! 6. Water is potable and really good! Cons: 1. Pool and spa have no heater so water is cold. 2. Pool has a broken main drain that may cause foot injuries. I scratched my foot real bad because I didn’t notice this! 3. Only teflon pan available is really worn down. Felt like I was eating eggs with teflon. Had to scratch the eggs out of the pan! 4. No can opener so good luck trying to open a can of condensed milk or beans. 5. Found spiders and ants every night. So make sure you do a real good review of bedroom before sleeping. Found a brown recluse in the restroom one day! Please note you’re basically inside the jungle in a cabin and most tourist points are an average of 2.5 hours out. 6. No shampoo or body wash available! I had to take a shower with clothing detergent on the first day because I thought that basic supplies were provided. 7. If you plan to cook please note that you need to buy all the essential oils and spices. Not even salt available! 8. Main home has two major roof leaks when it rains.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

william v.

Liked: Cleanliness

Rincon

excellent place and ammenities
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Monica P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing Zen Retreat

We absolutely loved our time here. Swimming in the pool, or taking the hill down to town, watching for monkeys and especially relaxing on the porch watching the sky during the day and the city lights at night. You can hear the church bells from town and see so far out. The weather was amazing. Warm in the mornings then cool in the evenings. It was like having two seasons every day. And the actual full size modern washer and dryer made traveling with kids so much easier! We definitely hope to come back someday. I would refer this property to family and friends without pause.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jim H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Jungle Get-Away

A pretty place to stay and relax. Not so much for teenagers who like to "do" something. There is a county park with hiking trails about 15-minutes away. This house is on the side of a mountain, overlooking the town of San Ramon. I wish I could share a photo. The view is exotically beautiful. The howler monkeys were thankfully quiet every night we were there. --- Driving is difficult but if you use WAZE or GoogleMaps: Lat/Long = 10.0399258,-84.4566143, Use this lumber yard as the best way-point to use the "best" roads to avoid zig-zag through the mountains to connect with the InterAmerica highway #1.. Lat/Long = 10.0534834,-84.4386036 The property manager was wonderful. The 2016 Android Smart-TV was inoperative. Within 1/2 day he brought a new TV. WiFi was great and had a long range. The built-in oven is inoperative.The unit has an adequate counter top oven that is a bit larger than a microwave. The cook-top was tricky: when it shows LO that means LOCK: Cooktop Steps: Put a pan on a burner; hold LOCK for 5 sec; press "|" button, then + on desired burner. Water was very drinkable and demand-hot-water quite adequate. In mid-June the were not a problem. The kiddy-pool [not a hot tub] and pool are not heated. Our teens swam daily. We had a great day trip to the Ponderosa Safari Park @ 3 hrs drive North. The 1/2 day ticket was adequate to feed carrots to zebra, camel, giraffe, sheep and goats and swim near a small waterfall and swim in their pool and a nice buffet lunch.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023