The Casa Buenavista Hotel is a fabulous place to stay when visiting the beautiful Carrillo beach. Carrillo is much smaller and quieter than nearby Samara and suited us perfectly. We were holidaying with our adult son and his girlfriend and had spent the previous 10 days discovering Costa Rica's wildlife in locations such as Tortuguero, La Fortuna and Monteverde. The Casa Buenavista rooms were beautifully appointed and offered a welcome respite from the sun. Our balcony had shade for much of the day which meant we could sit and admire the views without overheating! Breakfasts were delicious and freshly prepared each day by the family who run the hotel. Plenty of fresh fruit, plus simple cooked options were just what we wanted. Vincent and his wife were extremely helpful too, arranging a tour for us (we saw dolphins, a sea turtle and a hump-backed whale!) and a taxi to Samara for an evening out. Thanks so much for a great stay!

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What is not to like? Modern amenities, peaceful setting and the best staff. We are already missing Millie and Vincent. This gem is located just up the hill from the pristine, palm tree lined beach that is great for body surfing, jumping waves and soaking in some shade (which is needed!!!). Puerto Carrillo was our favorite stop in Costa Rica. We visited Tamarindo and Samara as well. Tamarindo was too busy for us, Samara was more peaceful but then the oasis that is Puerto Carrillo greeted us and we won’t look to stay anywhere else. This tiny town had a handful of restaurants, two small mini marts and dirt roads. Most guests have a car but we really wanted to soak up the local flavor so we took a taxi to Buenavista and a shuttle to the airport from. Other than that we just walked everywhere and relished in the rural, peaceful life and epic beach! We can’t say enough about this family owned and operated property. The rooms are well appointed, comfortable and the breakfast made to order everyday provides the perfect opportunity to chat with the staff, family or fellow guests. We also adored the pool areas and had quite possibly one of the best massages we’ve ever had (and we have a fair share) underneath an outdoor terrace next to one of the pools. We will be back and I hope we stay in close contact with Millie and her son Vincent. The epitome of guest service that made you feel welcome and not just a guest. Also; the playlist in the breakfast/bar area is amazing! 100000/10

The best place we stayed at in Costa Rica. This is a family run hotel and they are lovely people who go out of their way to make sure your stay is perfect. We had a beautiful room looking over the second smaller pool which had a great view over the country side. Breakfast is amazing with home made jam and the most delicious home made cakes. The beautiful underdeveloped sandy beach is only a short walk from the hotel and is and had amazing sunset . It’s up a walk short to the beach down a hill but it was not a problem for us. The hotel do not do dinner but there are a few restaurants very near by for dinner. Samara is only a short drive away. If you like to get away from the crowds and relax this is defiantly the place to go. We did not want to leave and wished we had stayed longer.

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The property was exactly what we were looking for. We went to Puerto (Playa) Carrillo to enjoy the 3km long sparsely visited beach with good surf jumping and the walking it offered. Renting the bungalow meant good privacy and convenience for a restful 8 nights—we were able to make our own breakfasts & lunches, enjoy the outside shower, the king bed and the outside table and chairs. The property includes a pool which is clean & well-maintained. The grounds are beautiful with an assortment of flowers & fauna native to the area (the promotional pictures are accurate). A breakfast for an extra fee is served in the “clubhouse” overlooking the pool. We did avail ourselves of breakfast: it was delicious with a varied menu and generous servings served with a smile. ALL staff are pleasant & professional and willing to do almost anything to make your stay comfortable & memorable. Although we find this area very safe, our security was uppermost in the owner’s mind with a locked car park and a locked key pad to enter the property. This is a family owned-business and the owner’s are well-experienced in client-oriented service; they are on-site and not intrusive in any way. The beach is an easy 350m walk; parking at the beach is available. Local dining options include Villa Bosque, Soda La Plaza & El Colibri all of which we tried & recommend.

There was nothing we did not like. We had been to the area 10-years previous for a day and promised we’d come back if we could find accommodation. Casa Buenavista exceeded our expectations.

Staff/owner was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Owner had great sense of humor. Location was perfect - short walk to restaurants, groceries and beach. Lovely beach!! Our unit was super clean and spacious and the garden provided lots of privacy. Breakfasts were terrific- several options all provided with delicious fresh fruit and tropical fruit compote (loved this!). Units were well equipped and tidied everyday.2 lovely pools to hill out in. Great AC in bedrooms which was awesome as it is very hot in Samara.

Can’t think of anything.

The hotel is impeccably clean and cozy with a delicious breakfast and an ideal swimming pool. The room was very well equipped and shower with hot water and good pressure 🙂 the family running the place were super kind and helpful and made the most welcoming atmosphere. Walking distance to closest beach 5 minutes and it was easy to park even a big car. Honestly even better than we expected and would easily recommend to friends or come back if again in Costa Rica!

We wonder if staying for longer, would the location be ideal to explore many different things? Nevertheless for this short stay it was ideal.

Everything! This is a lovely little family run hotel, and they were so helpful and welcoming. The location was five minutes walk from a beautiful local beach - playa Carrillo - and close to plenty of restaurants of differing types. Only 15 mins drive from Sàmara, a chilled beach holiday town. The rooms are lovely, very high quality fixtures and fittings. We really would encourage you to stay here, and if we are ever in Costa Rica again, we would stay here again.

Everything was perfect for us

The hosts were very friendly and welcoming. The property was lovely, clean, comfortable and had everything that you need for a vacation. We were sad to leave, but would definitely come back again and again :)

The hotel is a little off the beaten path (we like this feature), but still walkable to Playa Carillo. There are only a few restaurants within walking distance. This is fine for us because we had a car. It may be a challenge to navigate the area without your own transportation.

Well... I had booked two nights and ended up staying an extra day at this well-run and relaxed place in Carrillo. Vincent and his family gave us a warmly welcome and made our stay very pleasant. Their homemade breakfast is exquisite with the panqueques and jams far above anything (You must try it) The room is nicely decorated and very confortable and has a private terrasse for breakfast, the garden is beautiful, the place is very quiet, and the Carrillo beach is just 350 meters away. But what this place makes really that special are the hosts themselves, they are so friendly and always took time to talk to us although they had a lot of things to manage, they helped us whenever we needed. We'll certainly be back!

We were in a small apartment on the opposite side of the road from the main location (which was full), however it was convenient with a comfortable bed and lovely shower room. Suitable kitchen and could eat outside the room. Location was very good, as there was a 5 minute walk to the lovely beach, great for swimming and relaxing under small trees, and a short walk to some good local restaurants. Staff were helpfull.

It was fine for us.