Casa Mogambo | 3-Acre Ocean View Nature Estate | Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Wow. Our stay at Casa Mogambo and visit to Manuel Antonio was even better than we could’ve dreamed. The house is stunning: clean, spacious, high-end finishes, all the amenities you could need, and meticulous attention to detail. The pictures online are stunning but it is truly even better in person. The homeowner (Nicole) and staff (Vanessa, Erreldy, Ramon) are simply the best to work with. Nicole and Vanessa are remarkably kind, thoughtful, and responsive – we started communicating with them 9 months in advance and by the time I met Vanessa at Mogambo, I gave her a big hug! She had already been so helpful in planning our trip/activities, and answering several questions. Nicole also went above and beyond to make our 11 y.o. daughter’s birthday extra special! Ramon and Erreldy were so helpful at the house, pointing out monkeys to us and Ramon is a pro at finding the sloths! We saw more wildlife at the house than we did at the national park – it’s so quiet w/o tourists there that the animals seem to love it there as much as we did. Lastly, Manuel Antonio is easy to get around and safe. We have a 14 and 11 y.o. and we walked to many meals from the house. All the excursions were top-notch – Vanessa really knows the best ones to use! I can’t say enough about how wonderful the house, staff, and town were – I did a TON of research and it paid off – Casa Mogambo is amazing. We will definitely stay at Mogambo again and strongly recommend it to anyone visiting Manuel Antonio!

We wanted to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary with our family in an exotic location. This exceeded imagination. Yes the driveway is steep, but adds to the thrill of the secluded location. We had 8 adults with 2 young children everybody had a comfortable luxurious room. We were in the Master bedroom, with views from very angle. Our favorite was the shower surrounded by tropical rainforest. The second floor is spacious and comfortable with a great kitchen. The pool was THE location to cool off and enjoy views, monkeys, toucans and macaws, a constant parade! Vanessa, the concierge, contacted us right after we booked to help us design our holiday. She is an incredibly organized fountain of information. Her recommendations are spot on. During our stay she kept in touch to see if there was anything when needed. We treated ourselves to Chef Sofia’s Epicurious delights for 4 nights. The advantage of this is : 1-better than restaurant fare, 2- a more relaxed environment especially with young children, 3- spectacular leftovers! Erreldy is a gem was always available to help. Ramon is an amazing nature guide, as good as in Manuel Antonio park; just ask him for a tour of the grounds. Practically speaking, the cash machine and market at the top of the hill fulfill most banking and shopping needs, Super Joseth not far. We rented a 4WD, but taxis would do as well. 3 great beaches very close. It is a haven that encompasses everything from unspoiled nature to absolute luxury. It’s perfect!

Our family loved staying at Casa Mogambo. All previous reviews are true and everyone from Vanessa to Ramon, (our sloth and bird finder, gardener, ) to our wonderful, so hard working, fun Erreldy Housekeeper were terrific. A special shout out to her and Ramon who worked non stop to make everything perfect. And Vanessa was available, even while dealing with her mom being in the hospital with trips to San Jose needed. We wish her mom a return to good health. The owners of Casa Mogambo put much love and detail into ever inch of space. And I loved the entry steps into the infinity pool and beach seat to sit while in pool. If you can afford to, do get chef Sofia to cook for you. She’s great and so is her assistance. They buy whatever you wish cooked, even special requests, then shop and bring all ingredients with them. Table is set for you and served as you’d like. They also do all the clean up. Lastly, I love the ice maker machine, their blender, stove and mega refrigerator. You can’t go wrong!

From the moment we arrived at Casa Mogambo we fell in love! The monkeys and sloths greeted us along with Vanessa, the incredible concierge! Months before we visited, she set up the perfect itinerary for our stay and communicated clearly about what to expect. She is unbelievable! The property itself is breathtaking… 11 of us stayed there, and we had tons of space to spread out, be together, and enjoy the beautiful forest and views of the beach. The kitchen had every cooking, baking, dining utensil one could need. That said, Chef Sofia changed our lives with her amazing meals and endless guacamole! She made my daughter’s birthday breakfast special and went above and beyond at every meal! The bedrooms and bathrooms were comfortable and beautifully cleaned each day by Erreldy. She is the sweetest housekeeper in the world and we loved getting to know her (brushing up on our Spanish!) We used the yoga/fitness room each day and the views were breathtaking out the huge windows. Ramon was also key in making our stay amazing. He regularly pointed out sloths and we even got to see one on the ground! His kindness and joy was above and beyond. I can’t recommend this place enough- it is not just a rental home…it’s an experience you won’t forget!!

To describe our week at Casa Mogambo as extraordinary would not do it justice. It is a week we will never forget. As you drive down the steep driveway you are surrounded by glorious trees, flowers and hidden animals. And then you reach Villa Mogambo. It is easy to feel immediately at home as soon as you enter. The rooms are big and airy and tastefully decorated. Probably the best part of our experience was interacting with the amazing concierge, Vanessa, who started helping us plan our trip months before we arrived. She was always available to answer questions about excursions and make wonderful suggestions. The other staff members Erreldy and Ramon were wonderful. Ramon was constantly pointing out monkeys and sloths when they made their appearances. This was particularly exciting for the younger children. The best decision we made over the week was to have chef Sophia prepare four of our six dinners. I’m sorry we didn’t have her do all six. She is delightful. Her meals were better than many restaurants we have gone to. It was a sad morning when we took the car up the driveway heading for the airport. We talk continuously of our memorable week at Casa Mogambo. We look forward to returning.

Refresh, reset, reconnect all in the utterly beautiful and peaceful Casa Mogambo. I took kids and grandkids to Costa Rica for this purpose. Pictures do not do this property justice because it is breathtaking with an ocean view while nestled in a rain forest replete with wildlife to the delight of adults and children alike. In addition, the house is exceptionally comfortable with great care given to detail. It easily slept 7 adults and 4 children under the age of eight. The groundskeeper is a secret sloth whisperer, and the kids loved it. The housekeeper went above and beyond to help keep chaos and laundry under control, always with grace, respect, and a smile. Both the groundskeeper and housekeeper are there six out of seven days and included with the property. However, the secret weapon was Chef Sofia whose incredible meals allowed the busy parents to step back from some big demands back here in the states. Her lovely aunt who came as back-up and sous chef even taught the kids how to make empanadas. I am so happy I was able to obtain her services.

As for the driveway, it is to be respected but something entirely doable once you get the hang of it either walking, driving or using it for HIIT workouts! Initially, I had concerns about the accessibility of the pool to the living areas, however, safety considerations were easy to address via locked doors and the simple fact we were always right there given the lay out. I would advise getting a rental car or two. Beaches are short drives, but they are a drive. In addition, the calmer and delightful child-friendly beach, Playa Biesanz, requires a 10-minute steeper walk down through the forest. Along with the Manuel Antonio Park tour (it’s a must to have Vanessa arrange this) visit the Villa Vanilla Spice farm it is so interesting, which is a thirty-minute pretty drive. So bring some good books, splurge on some good Costa Rican coffee (roasted and ground at Café Milagro) and by all means get up early to ease into the day on that deck listening to the birds, howlers and distant waves.

We stayed at Casa Mogambo with a family of 10 over the week of Christmas and were blown away. It’s not easy finding a house that can accommodate 10 comfortably but Casa Mogambo exceeded our expectations. There were more than enough rooms to choose from and the added convenience of an upstairs office, a TV room and a yoga room added to the luxury and ease of our stay. There are quiet corners to be found all over the property and we never felt overcrowded. Vanessa was a pleasure to work with. She communicated with us extensively before our arrival going above and beyond to answer our many questions and set us up with multiple activities while providing other suggestions of what to do during our stay. Erreldy came to clean the house every day making it such a pleasure to come back to at the end of a long excursion. Ramón, the groundskeeper, was lovely and quick to point out quiet wildlife we may have otherwise missed including a napping sloth right above the driveway. Be sure to check out the nature path named after him on the property!

My family and I stayed at Mogambo for Spring Break 2022. The pictures of the house, grounds, and view of the pacific ocean are an understatement. The house is spectacularly beautiful and the porch with pool and views of the ocean very beautiful. This is one of the nicest homes we have ever rented on VRBO. We were thrilled with the accommodations.

However, the joy of being in Costa Rica with the family did not end with the house. Vanessa, the concierge, was exceptional in taking care of us as well as Ramon and Erreldy, the house staff. The hospitality of our hosts and all the people we encountered was unparalleled. We look forward to our next visit

It’s hard to know where to begin with such a completely heavenly experience. First, the house with its hillside perch amidst the trees and monkeys and parrots and toucans is heaven on earth. We chose Costa Rica for its experiences of nature, and to be so wonderfully surrounded by both flora and fauna was everything we wanted. The house? It’s stunning, its location is incredible, it makes for the perfect setting for family or friends’ relaxation and enjoyment. The management of the property – from our communication months in advance with the property manager, to our continuing communication with Vanessa, to our daily interactions with groundskeeper Ramón and housekeeper Erreldy – everyone was phenomenal. For all our side trips and activities, Vanessa was on it and made it all as easy as falling off a log. She was there to insure our satisfaction with not just the house but the area and all it offered, and she does an excellent job. Last but not least, Ramón and Erreldy were so congenial and genuinely friendly – Ramón learning all our names, showing the kids and us where to see sloths on the property, sharing so much about the area, and with Erreldy we happily worked on communicating in Spanish with her and learning about our respective lives and cultures – hers and ours. We could not have felt more at home or welcomed at Casa Mogambo, all of which made a five-star setting and home all the more incredible and happy. Everyone in our group, which was all family (us and our grown kids) and significant others, agrees this was one of the best trips and experiences ever, if not the very best, with the human element making it the most special.

Our time at Casa Mogambo was absolutely magical. The pictures do not do justice to this stunning perfectly appointed Villa. This experience in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by animals, waking up to the sounds of Howler Monkeys, and seeing sloths on your walk up the driveway will never be forgotten. It was one of those vacations that you could not wait to fall asleep so you could begin another morning at Mogambo. Manuel Antonio is a special place in Costa Rica, the one area to have both the jungle and the beach minutes away. The kindness of all the people who worked at Mogambo, Vanessa and Ramón – and their attention to detail will not be forgotten. Our activities were the best and the personal chef was incredible. We are two families who have traveled extensively, and we both agreed that this was one of the most beautiful places we have ever been- and we cannot wait to return. Remember- the pictures do not compare with the reality. This is an exceptional find. (Also- the driveway is insane- that is the truth).

After a week at the Casa, all my family can say is “Wow”, everything was fantastic.

As both my sons said, nothing on your web site or in the written materials “over sold” the property or anything we could expect to experience. It all exceeded what you promised, including the steepness of the driveway!

The architect and designer did an extraordinary job. They missed nothing, right down to the made-to-order name plates on the kitchen drawers and cabinets. The house couldn’t have been more comfortable. There were eleven of us but we never felt crowded.

You said we’d see monkeys and, boy, did we. On multiple days we saw multiples of the three monkey species inhabiting the forest, along with sloths, toucans, and all sorts of other things we couldn’t identify. The kids were awestruck.

Your staff is excellent. Professional, diligent, and friendly. Ramon and Erreldy couldn’t have done more for us.

Vanessa, of course, is the star of the staff. We wouldn’t have had the marvelous time we had without her suggestions and arrangements. Everything she arranged went off without a hitch, and she saved the best for last. We will marvel forever how, for our fishing trip Friday, she caused two mahi-mahi, one large and one enormous (est. 60 lbs.) to bite on the hooks of our sons’ fishing rods. Who could possibly top that!

So, thanks again for allowing us to have an unforgettable experience.

Casa Mogambo is Amazing! The house is beautiful with unbelievable views. The 3 acre estate is like having your own private rain-forest. My college age kids had fun exploring the grounds and watching for wildlife. The patio was perfect for relaxing with coffee or a drink and watching for wildlife. We saw sloths, Howler and squirrel monkeys, toucans, Macaws all from our back patio!! We also enjoyed relaxing in the pool after a day of hiking or activities. All the rooms were top quality furnishings with comfortable beds. Amazing views from the bedrooms too. We rented a car, but there are shops and restaurants within walking distance also. Make sure you rent a 4X4 if getting a car. The driveway to the house is paved and a beautiful drive but extremely steep. With a 4X4 we handled it just fine. Erreldy the house keeper was awesome and Ramon the grounds keeper was very helpful with pointing out wildlife around the grounds.

Vanessa, the concierge, was amazing to work with. She helped with planning an itinerary and scheduling activities before our trip. She checked in with us several times during our stay to see if we needed anything. We love the Manuel Antonio area and staying at Casa Mogambo made it even better. We can’t say enough how amazing Mogambo was and what a fantastic time we had. It was so private and relaxing. We had one of the best vacations ever there and hope to return someday.

We spent a week in Casa Mogambo in mid-February (two families of 4). We chose the location based on the proximity to Manuel Antonio. The place was ideal. Perfect set-up for two families with double masters in the top floor and three bedrooms in the bottom floor (along with huge yoga/exercise room). The middle level is a great room with kitchen, bar, dinning and seating areas and a patio with an infinity pool overlooking the forest and the ocean. We did go to Manuel Antonio one day but the gardens around the house had more monkeys and sloths than we saw in the park and no crowds! We spent hours seating by the pool enjoying the view. Another jewel in this place is the staff. The house includes a gardener and cleaning person, both super friendly and helpful. The rental agency also provides a concierge service to help with making reservations, setting up chef services, massages, etc. This is a truly full service rental! Highly recommended!

My husband and I have traveled all over the world and I never knew such a beautiful place existed. Casa Mogambo is as unique and special to Manuel Antonio as Manuel Antonio is to Costa Rica. We fell in love with the town, the people, and oh my gosh the house and its surrounding vast property.

We were taken the minute we descended down the steep drive and were blanketed in the color green and the sounds of animals everywhere.

The home itself has an old world feel but with total modern amenities, like the house had been born and grew up in and with the jungle – like it’s a part of it. The house just blends in and looks like it belongs. For example, the front door greets you with black weathered iron handles in a hand carved wood door but I plugged my iphone into a usb/power cube on the nighstand and used Bluetooth to listen to the outdoor speakers while we swam and took in the view. The clearly hand made ironwork on all the decking and stairwells made us feel like we were in Lord of the Rings as we streamed Netflix on the bar TV. I appreciated finally having a home away from home that had every appliance/utensil/serving piece I needed. (However, when we didn’t cook, the home is super close to the amazing variety of restaurants in Manuel Antonio.)

The rental sites and the owners site photos make the ocean view seem more sliver-like, but I think that’s because there is so much jungle view from the property as well. But being there in person was a WOW. It is a huge beautiful ocean view. Way better than the pics.

The bottom line on the steep drive and how close you are to town is basically fitness. If you are in shape, it is a 12minute walk from the house to the MANY great restaurants. If you have a bad knee, you may want to rent a car or just call a taxi when needed. From what we could tell, in Manuel Antonio this is not unique. It is steep at the top of the drive but we loved the walk thru the property to the main road. Taking our time, stopping at the bridge, seeing a toucan’s nest, sloths with their babies, and of course, all the monkeys. The howler monkeys were at it every single morning but how crazy to walk down the drive and see them right there in the trees above you!!

Watching monkeys while eating scrambled eggs on the outdoor deck was just surreal. It never ever got old and we sure wished we could have stayed longer. Mogambo is a place we will return to many times!

Our daughter has treated us to a trip to Manuel Antonio every year for several years now. We have stayed in some spectacular (and spectacularly expensive!) homes on Quepos Point, around Playa Vaca, as well as in Tulemar. This home was by far the best – it absolutely had it all.

While the drive was steep we had paid attention to the notices that activity pickups needed to be all wheel/four wheel drive and we had no issues. The drive is actually part of what makes the property so amazing. Instead of being in a “neighborhood”, you descend INTO the jungle over a stream to a gorgeous house that has everything.

The infinity pool framing that iconic Manuel Antonio canopy to ocean view was a daily lounging spot and if you just spend some time away from your book or your phone, the amount of wildlife was breathtaking. We thought we had seen everything over the years since we had stayed at so many great properties but the amount of land this house encompasses makes it just what other reviews said – a nature park all on its own. We saw sloths (some with babies!) and Ramon the property caretaker was instrumental in helping us find them. The howlers clearly use this property as a corridor as we saw them several days of our trip either moving from the jungle across the driveway, or literally hanging out and sleeping in the trees right outside the master bedroom (which is a wall of windows by the way).

In fact, we have never had such up close and personal wildlife encounters that we had at this property. We chased the howler monkeys’ call in Tulemar, trying to get a glimpse of them, but at Mogambo we got to see them up close and personal multiple times a day during our stay in the trees all around the house, so close we could see them blink. It was a total wildlife immersion experience.

My daughter took pictures of all three monkeys, sloths, and a toucan during the stay FROM THE MASTER SHOWER, and my wife and I stayed in the 2nd suite upstairs and had a gorgeous ocean view FROM THE SHOWER. I laughed that the shower was as big as her college dorm room!

The house had plenty of communal and private space for whatever fancied us. We cooked several nights and needed nothing; the air conditioning was cold, the mattresses and linens seemed new, the water was hot, the pressure good. The staff was gracious and friendly, the ocean views and wildlife viewing unforgettable.

I will be very disappointed if my daughter does not book this again next year.

When I first walked into Casa Mogambo, I could not believe that I was lucky enough to get to stay there for a whole week! The views in every direction are jaw dropping; the ocean surrounded by beautiful jungle, a tropical paradise. Walls of windows make you feel like you are immersed in the jungle and allow you to watch for wildlife at all times. My shower every morning in the master was something to look forward to – watching for monkeys as the sun streamed through the windows. Waking up to the sounds of the jungle every morning instead of an alarm clock is something I miss!

My favorite part of our trip was cooking dinner in the amazing gourmet kitchen and watching all the monkeys traverse the property through the windows. By the end of the week, it seemed like no big deal to see a monkey! We also saw toucans and several other bird varieties. The groundskeeper, Ramon, would always call us to come out to see the sloths. They are so hard to see but he helped us see several on the property. We cooked a lot at the house because the kitchen has everything you need and we didn’t want to miss seeing monkeys. But its an easy walk to town to lots of great restaurants. You will just need to get used to the steep driveway (most are like this in Manuel Antonio)! It was a good hike, but by the end of the week it seemed like nothing. We had a car and recommend it have 4 wheel drive to get up the driveway. You can walk to the beach but its quite a walk in the heat. It was very nice and convenient to have a car.

For anyone visiting Costa Rica for the wildlife, this place is a dream come true. We saw more wildlife on the property in their natural environment than when we were in Manuel Antonio Park! I also imagine this would be a great place for a yoga retreat or any type of retreat. Its a very relaxing and peaceful spot with all the modern luxuries you could want or need.

This was hands down one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to with stunning views of the ocean. Not to mention a very comfortable, beautiful home with your own private pool and all kinds of wildlife you can see on the property. You’re only minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park and other beautiful beaches. I can’t recommend this enough… Thank you Casa Mogambo!

We are so amazed at the incredible beauty of this very special property! My husband and I stayed at Casa Mogambo for a blissful week and are very impressed with the home and the secluded surroundings that are still so conveniently located to the heart of the area.

The home is exquisitely designed for relaxation and comfort and the attention to detail remarkable. The entire house opens with patios and captivating ocean views in just about every room, although I probably spent most of my afternoon staring at the ocean from the infinity pool just off the main living area. The gourmet kitchen is complete with everything one would want to cook for large gatherings but since professional chefs are just a phone call away, you don’t need to know this.

The estate sits on three acres of its own nature preserve that allows you to feel connected to the natural surroundings, with what seems like a complete representation of the terrestrial animal kingdom of Costa Rica having a residence on the property. We saw three different species of monkey as well as both the two-toed and three-toed sloth through the window wall in the house alone! Hearing the monkeys call out as they traverse through the trees and seeing macaws fly by during your morning coffee is just one of the magical daily experiences at Casa Mogambo. In the evening, the fireflies create their own ridiculous light show that is just fascinating to watch.

You will definitely need a 4-wheel drive vehicle or good legs to go from the house into town or the beach, as the driveway is very steep, but this is the case with most of Manuel Antonio. Unfortunately, the wi-fi signal is strong but that doesn’t mean you have to check in with work at all.

The after effects of your stay at Casa Mogambo might be a more steady resting heart rate, deeper, more restful breathing, and a mild addiction to plantain chips. You will probably develop a deep friendship with Erreldy the wonderful housekeeper and Ramon the ‘sloth whispering’ grounds keeper, so prepare to expand your holiday card list.

Casa Mogambo is a very special retreat and quite a find. We were planning our return trip on the second night of the trip. Honestly, this was a vacation of a lifetime that we plan on repeating again and again.

Manuel Antonio offers a number of attractive and cozy rental options within walking distance of the restaurants and ocean activities; but, what we came to realize during our week at Casa Mogambo was that despite the proximity to the charming town’s dining and site-seeing opportunities, this rental offers surprising seclusion, quiet, and an unexpected sense of immersion in the jungle landscape. You feel as though you are the only guests in the jungle.

Upon arrival, you descend steeply down into dense vegetation along a drive canopied by tall trees and vines and buffeted by thick shrubs and a jungle stream. The impression given is something akin to being in a nature preserve, with the sporadic monkey and bird sounds adding to the effect (along with the concealed rope pathway in the canopy above the driveway directing the monkeys on their morning and evening migrations).

The house is expansive and open, with large windows and decks affording incredible views of not only the ocean and Manuel Antonio park to the Southeast, but also the expansive jungle canopy due south. We enjoyed our time in the town and on the beaches (there are several great beach options within walking-distance of the house), but we really enjoyed spending time in and around the property, especially in the evening when it got a little cooler. The infinity pool on the second level deck facing the ocean is as spectacular as it is represented on the website and the monkey and sloth watching sessions from the decks on each level (especially from deck off of the top-level master bedroom) lasted for hours. The decks, the pool, and the wildlife were a much-anticipated part of our daily entertainment.

The house was cleaned daily by friendly staff and the concierge Vanessa was available to schedule dinners, transportation, and excursions. We went surfing, deep sea fishing, waterfall jumping, hired a private chef and masseuse……but our favorite part of the trip was relaxing and wildlife watching at the house. We are active people and actually enjoyed the steep drive as well as the downstairs workout room which we used for Yoga sessions in the late afternoon. We will return and we are certain that others will feel the same about Mogambo!

This home is so spacious and great for a large group. The master suite felt like a luxurious tree fort with 180 degree views of trees and ocean. Our kids spent hours in the pool and the ocean view never got old. We were able to see more wildlife at the house then we did in the park. We saw numerous monkeys and even a sloth! We very comfortably slept 8 people and could have easily slept more. The market, restaurants and shops was only a 12 minute walk which was very convenient! We did lots of cooking in the house and the kitchen was set up perfectly for it. The driveway was steep but I enjoyed it as it gave me a chance to burn off some of my Pina Coladas on my walk to town. The property managers were amazing and made sure we had everything we could need. They will even go grocery shopping and set up activities for you. House cleaner was great to and pleasant to have around. I highly recommend this home for your next vacation!