Family-friendly holiday rentals in El Castillo

All the reviews are spot on! This is our 3rd trip to Costa Rica and we were looking for something a little different than a normal stay at a resort. Eduardo & Marshal (father & son) were the most wonderful hosts and made us feel so welcome. The house is huge! We enjoyed the balcony the most because you won’t have a better view in all of Costa Rica. It’s phenomenal! Towels were provided for trips to the hot springs. We did a rafting trip with our boys in the area, recommended and booked by Eduardo, that we will always remember. If you want to see toucans flying in the wild…book this amazing place right now. It was perfect sleeping at night. The windows were open, no bugs, and it even felt a little chilly during the night. Extra blankets were provided in all the sleeping areas. Our kids enjoyed the one bedroom apartment up top. The house has 3 separate areas for sleeping and hanging out. We loved it all and wanted to take the dog home with us! We hope to stay again!

Our family truly enjoyed staying at Chiri Glamping. Our son had a great time climbing on the rock wall, swinging, sliding, and soaking in the hot tub. The bed and linens were the most comfortable of all our accommodations in 12 nights in CR - luxurious and plush. The bathroom was surrounded by nature and the shower products were soothing and relaxing, and everyone had their own robe. The essential oils were a nice touch, and the ac kept the room cool and inviting. We cooked dinner in the well stocked kitchen, and my husband got an amazing cocktail in the beautiful restaurant. The front desk staff was friendly, thorough, and escorted us to our room. The view overlooks Santa Elena and it was striking to watch the clouds come in and then go out within minutes. This is truly and special experience. We did hear music in the night from a nearby business and there was a bike race in the morning that woke us quite early, but in this convenient to town location, it is inevitable. Recommended!

Our family of four with two teenagers loved this place. The instructions and YouTube video were super helpful when we had to find this gem hidden back from the Main Street. The jacuzzi was great and they really used all of the space so well to create a little oasis that was close to the action but felt a world away. Highly recommend.

This place was AMAZING! The pictures don’t do it justice. Magdelena had amazing suggestions for local restaurants and excursions. She was also very responsive and helpful if anything did arise. The place was spotless. Although it is not walkable, not was not the point of this place as we wanted to be as immersed in nature as possible. Obviously with being in the rainforest we did have bugs inside often, but from other reviews we expected that. Overall, the most amazing Airbnb experience we have ever had since using this app.

Ginger House was a magical place to stay. Even though it was walkable to groceries and great restaurants, it felt very private and serene. The outdoor spaces were wonderful. We've stayed at many AirBnBs in Europe, the US and Latin America, and this ranks as one of the best. Very highly recommended.

We stayed at Pie in the sky in February as a family with our 3 kids, it was about a 3 hour drive from the Liberia airport. We loved the observation tower, the beautiful views, plants and animals, the pool and the hot tub! It was very peaceful and gorgeous there. We did Sky Adventures zipline (just down the road), hiked at Arenal 1968, and went to the La Fortuna Waterfall. We ate at a lot of the nearby restaurants. We loved that Fusion was walkable to the house. Our favorite was Jungle Love Lounge. I would recommend getting groceries in the city you fly into, as it was hard to find a lot of items even in La Fortuna (especially if you have dietary restrictions). and there's hardly any fresh food items in the El Castillo grocery stores- only shelf stable. We did find out that El Castillo has a feria (farmers market) on Fridays and Saturdays right next to the school and we got a lot of great fruit and vegetables there. We'd definitely stay again!

Very nice gated lot. If you’re familiar with a motel in the United States, that’s what the layout of place is, but on a very nice scale. Private and safe. Compared to other hotels or BNB’s in the area, this seemed to be the most private and comfortable.

We were a group of 10- 4 adults and 6 kids staying here for 4 nights. What a lovely home and incredible stay. Peaceful surroundings, easy to store/restaurants and town, incredible property with more than enough room. The outdoor living space was a wonderful place to unwind while the kids played in the pool or played games at the main table. Jordy helped check in as well as arrange for various activities like zip lining, hanging bridges. Joaquin takes incredible pride in the grounds work- as he should. It's impeccable. He took the kids on a tour of the grounds one morning and fed us fresh coconut, mango, and magical fruits that turned limes sweet- the kids were obsessed! We had Yadi cook dinner one night, amazing authentic typical food and there was more than enough for leftovers. Which they cleaned up and stored for us as well. Fully functional kitchen, plenty of space for the kids to bunk up or have their own rooms. Easy access to all excursions! Highly recommend! Pura Vida!

We loved our time here. there was a troop of howler monkeys that we could watch from the back porch. The trail to the river was steep but worth it for the tranquility and bird watching. it's outside of town just enough to feel remote while still being a short drive to all the activities that you would want to do near La Fortuna. Dinorah helped us out with recommendations and even dried out clothes in her dryer when the weather wouldn't cooperate.

Great day with a very attentive host!

This is a nice, spacious place. The hosts are super friendly and gracious. The town is beautiful ... one of my favorite spots in Costa Rica.

The host and her family are beyond amazing! I was treated as family throughout my stay. I couldn't ask for anything more! I'll definitely be back!!

This is a little hidden gem! Cute decor, clean, close to town, fresh pool, comfy beds. It’s nestled up in the hills and provides a close-up glimpse of rural Costa Rican life. Hosts were great!

We enjoy every second of our stay at Casa Cielo. We feel right at home! We loved the bathtub watching the stars, the hammock on the balcony at sunset, the trails around the house, the privacy and every special detail of the house. We will definitely be back.

Everything is good, good location, sure. Brutal.

This air bnb was beautiful! In a quiet part of town with lots of birds. The yard was beautiful and the pool was refreshing. The town is safe to walk around in and there is so much to do. Loved the extras in the kitchen like cooking oil, coffee and spices. It was much appreciated.

**An Absolute Gem!** This Airbnb was everything we hoped for and more. The house was clean, comfortable, and beautifully authentic to the area, with thoughtful details that really made it feel special. What really stood out was the peaceful setting—surrounded by nature, it felt like the perfect escape, yet it was still just a short drive to town for anything we needed. Our host was fantastic—super responsive, friendly, and made sure everything went smoothly from start to finish. Communication was excellent throughout. If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway in a stunning location with easy access to town, this place is a gem. Highly recommend and would definitely stay again!

Very nice place to relax after a long day in the Arenal National Park, the massage therapist were really good, the Jacuzzi and Sauna were perfectly timed right after our massage ! When it come to sleep, it was a nice tent with a great view with the sound of nature ! Really recommend the place ! :)

This is an excellent place to stay in La Fortuna. Host was very quick to respond & friendly. The house is on the same road of La Fortuna Waterfalls, only a 4-minute drive from the waterfall entrance. And only a couple minute drive (maybe 5 minutes max) to get to downtown La Fortuna for many restaurants. Home is exactly how the pictures show & very clean. The pool is pristine and large. There is also a natural pond on the property, along with a second fish pond. Sounds of running water and waterfalls when sitting outside. Very nice... honestly better than the pictures. We saw birds and butterflies. Very relaxing, a mini oasis! The host helped us at the last minute when plans at another hotel fell thru. I am so grateful. Air conditioning is strong and cold. Kitchen was clean & had everything we needed. Host even has a little welcome pack of goodies in the kitchen upon arrival. Perfect location. Location is near "down town", yet quiet and private. HIGHLY recommend for La Fortuna!! (:

We were 6 people including 2 children, for a 4-day stay. Everything went well. we particularly liked the pool, the calm of the wooded, flowery and particularly neat park, the animals, the driveway and the walking path in the forest.. Eduardo, the caretaker, was kind and helped us when we needed it. In short, we loved our stay.

what a place. location is perfect for walking anywhere in La Fortuna while still remaining quiet and peaceful. John had spot-on recommendations as well for tours and activities!!

Very good location, close to the center of La Fortuna, a very quiet and cozy place, very well equipped, very clean and tidy! I would gladly return in the future!

Had a great vacation at this beautiful home, we are a family of 5 with 3 girls (15, 13, and 11). The kids loved having their own room and bathroom. The "kids room" is located in the back corner of the property with the pool in-between the main guest house and the kids room, worked out great for us. We loved the open air outdoor kitchen. House is nicely removed from La Fortuna but the main guest house does back to the road and can hear the traffic, while light, in the evenings and morning while sleeping, not a big issue. We spent our days exploring the area, loved the food at Jalapas, La Fortuna waterfall, rope swing, ATV and Hot Spring combo excursion (La Finca Lodge, check it out! Only 12 people at the hot spring), and Judah set us up on a white water rafting trip that was a blast! Pool was bigger than expected and enjoyed while we were on the property. Used the propane grill and outdoor burners. Beds comfortable. The grounds are very well kept and have a very nice walking path.

We have stayed at Casa Isabelita multiple times. It is always so peaceful. We hope to stay again.