Is La Granja: Farm Paradise– Integrated farm pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

Where is La Granja: Farm Paradise– Integrated farm located?

Located on the waterfront, this family-friendly farm stay is within 12 mi (20 km) of El Cafetal, Monteverde Orchid Garden and Vista al Golfo. Mundo de los Insectos and Jardín de Orquídeas are also within 12 miles (20 km).

La Granja: Farm Paradise– Integrated farm Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

10/10 Excellent

giuliano m.

27 May 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Stay!

Perfect stay for animals or nature lovers. The host are very helpful. The river in the back and decor is rustic and beautiful. Being from a big city, the farm and tour with Alex was so impactful. Enjoyed every night and the Carlos was so helpful makes you feel safe welcomed

Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark M.

30 Mar 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our family of 7 (grandparents, parents and 3 kids) absolutely loved our stay on the farm with Alex! Alex and his farm manager Carlos were so great - letting our kids feed the animals, gather eggs and doing a sugarcane processing demo for our whole family. We had a blast exploring the farm and swimming in the river, and the meals prepared by one of Alex’s neighbors were incredible!! If you love nature, exploring the outdoors, and don’t mind having the dogs and cats visit your patio or the bats sleep on your casita walls - this is the place for you!!! We stayed in three different places while exploring Costa Rica and this is my kids’ unanimous fave!

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amber R.

16 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome loved the creek

This place was awesome! We got a cabin right by the creek and we LOVED it! We even made a small dam. Altogether we had a great experience and loved this place! Would recommend!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter M., Boulder

5 Feb 2018

A relaxing escape

We enjoyed staying at the peaceful cabin with all the nearby animals. It was nice to unplug, unwind and relax in nature. A great way to end our Costa Rica vacation.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2017

10/10 Excellent

Delia D.

2 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Hosts

Immediately upon arrival, the incredible hosts made us feel at home. The farm tour included a visit with all of the animals and their unique, charming personalities, including Frijoles the pig and Confite the dog. The kids loved swimming in the river and seeing the other animals on the farms such as howler monkeys, geckos, bats, tailless whip scorpion. We would definitely return!!!

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer A.

5 Jan 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The real costa rica experience

Just wow!!! This is the real costa rica, wonderful people who welcome you like family. This a farm so expect a cabin with a rustic feel, dogs, cats, pigs, chickens, cowa- its a full working farm. Cabin was great. It is rustic so do expect animals, a few bugs (was not bad.at all and my kids are terrifired of spiders and were fine). Thenowners showed usball the animals, took kids riding and told us all about local life. We loved the farm dogs we followed the kids everywhere, even seam.withnthem. theynslept on our porch watchingnover the kids, theybloves it so much!! So sad to leave. It is a more rustic experience butnif younreally want to see the real.country and be in a beautiful place thisnis it!!! Wish we could ofnstayed longer we will miss it veey much. Thank.you for making us.feel like family!!

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany D.

29 Dec 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This Place is Magical

Rancho El Rio is not for everyone - it is rustic and truly out in nature - but it might be one of my favorite places in earth. Our open air casita was full of friendly dogs and cats, we had local meals delivered every day (including a lesson on how to make empanadas and chimichurri!), and we learned so much about the land from Alexander and Stuart who showed us around the farm and really taught us about farming and the history in this area. The property sits on a river that you can hear at night, and the roosters crow in the morning to wake you up. Socorro the pig patrols the property and chicks peep under your window all day. We found it truly magical. Thank you Alexander, Veronica and Stuart for the warm welcome. We will definitely be back again!

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

8/10 Good

Anne C.

20 Feb 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Car needed for this “off the beaten path “

The property, and the people who live and work here, are kind and helpful. The cabin that we stayed in was very spacious, plenty of room for a family. The photos online are true to our experience. Many thanks to Carlos, who took time to offer my grandkids a horseback ride, and a tour of the property! He also shared some tangerines, and fresh sugarcane from the property . Many thanks to Alex for picking us up upon our arrival, as well as the coffee beans from his farm! He makes his own rum from the sugarcane as well! If you’re going during the heat, you may want to be assured of sufficient fans. There’s no air conditioning, because it’s open air living. Please know, that you need a vehicle as well, transportation is very difficult to achieve without it. Thanks Stuart, for providing the directions needed, and thank you so much for the trip to the gorgeous waterfall! We really enjoyed it!

Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

12 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Farm visit

Great way to immerse yourselves in the culture and connect with the tranquil environment of Costa Rica! Unfortunately, a couple of our family members fell ill just before our visit. We did not get to take advantage of all the adventures and experiences that were offered by the friendly farmers. But! The dogs were such great friends right from the beginning. They stayed overnight on the patio and protected us from falling mangos and piglets that wanted to come up on the patio ☺️ The first morning, I couldn’t figure out how to get the stove top lit, so I walked over to the farmer’s kitchen, he offered me some of his coffee that his dad planted the beans it was made from! We chatted, with my limited Spanish and his limited English, about culture and education and environmental issues. Alexander worked around his schedule so that he could take our family on a tour of the farm animals and the grounds. On our way out it was a quick and beautiful drive to the Monteverde NP. Thank you!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Brittney C.

13 Mar 2016

Amazing property!!!

La Granja was an amazing place to stay with so much character! It was neat to have the porch with the dining and sitting area to have open (to outside) so we can hear all the farm animals and wildlife. Great for families with kids as well as couples. The bedrooms were equipped with bunk beds but a full/queen sized bottom bunk with a twin size on top. It was pretty warm but there was also a fan that worked well to keep keep us comfortable. The kitchen was also very unique and had a lot of character (also open to outside). It had everything we needed for our short stay. We spent most of our time in Monteverde (about an hour drive away) but it was nice to come back to a place to stay. Veronica was very easy to communicate with through email and was so generous! She supplied us with coffee during our stay (free) and gave us a tour around the Center (wildlife rehabilitation facility/education program) in Guacimal. I also thought it was great that we could order food from the neighbors who grow or harvest their own meat and produce. I would definitely come back to stay at La Granja and would encourage anyone to visit!

10/10 Excellent

Stephen S.

9 Jan 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great experience!

We stayed Jan 1, 23 to Jan 5, 23. We wish we were able to stay at least a few days longer. It is what the description says it is. But it also exceeded our expectations. La Granja is sort of like trailer camping, but bigger, cleaner, more comfortable. It was very clean considering the kitchen and dining/living areas are basically on a covered porch. I was expecting more bugs and spiders, but saw few. Like most others, my 10 year old and 12 year old thought staying on the farm was highlight of our entire trip. The description says the cats come on the porch and the dogs don't, but it was opposite for us. Which was perfect because we love dogs and my wife and son are allergic to cats. Neither had any issues with allegies there. We never used bug spray at the farm and only got a few mosquito bites. But what made the place so great were the hosts. We didn't get to spend much time there, but eveyone was so welcoming, even the dogs. The dogs feel like part of your family while you are there. Highlights: Stuart's tour of the farm, Alex pointing out the white-faced Capuchins and howler monkeys right outside the cabin, Carlos bringing the baby chicks for the kids to hold, game night at Stuart's mother's cafe, and getting to witness/experience rural Costa Rican living. We had a an absolutely wonderful experience and hope to come back for a longer stay someday. Definitely recommend!

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly J.

28 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical Jungle Farm Escape

Watching hummingbirds zip and hover unexpectedly, howler monkeys waking us up with the roosters, and colorful butterflies floating about, were all little gifts we’ll take with us. The river was the perfect way to cool down in the heat of the day. Our boys, 16 & 12, got to see a very different way of life, and we all truly felt a million miles away from our daily lives. The memories our family made here are precious and we have definitely bonded with this magical place, as well as with each other. On the farm, Carlos showed the boys how to milk the cow, which they did every day. He also let them take turns riding the horse. Stuart led us on a night tour of the farm and showed us a big flower that only blooms at night, amongst many other things you’ll have to see for yourself! We also very much appreciated the tasty food we had delivered that helped us settle in. We had lots of leftovers! Besides experiencing farm life, we went to Sky Park and highly recommend going to the earliest guided canopy tour and requesting Dennis. He was a wealth of information and his energy and love for the forest was contagious. After the canopy tour we went on the zip lines, which was a ton of fun. Stuart recommended El Tigre falls, and we’re so glad we went! It was absolutely incredible. So.many.waterfalls. Lush, tropical, and had a very Indiana Jones adventure feel because of the hanging bridges. We hope you experience the joy in the rhythm of life here too. Pura Vida!

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura F.

4 Feb 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

a unique place to stay

Read the listing carefully to decide if this place is right for you. This is not a luxury stay, but it does give a unique and rustic experience. We enjoyed getting a little away from the tourist hotspots and seeing a more authentic side of Costa Rica. The animals made quite a bit of noise during the night, so be aware of that if you are a light sleeper. We stayed 2 nights with our 5 kids, and they had a lot of fun. My kids loved the dogs, playing in the river, and the loft/bunkbeds. The farm owner greeted us when we arrived and stopped by to say goodbye before we left. He was very hospitable and friendly. I would recommend this place to a friend.

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alison J.

6 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rustic, timeless gem

Rancho del Rio is a special place. We felt as if we had stepped back in time to a simpler life. Communication prior to arrival was excellent. The welcome we received was warm and genuine. Alexander is a gracious and caring host with a deep passion for the land. We stayed in La Granja which is an almost century-old original farmhouse. Think beautiful wide wood floorboards in the open porch, cutting fruit for breakfast in the simple kitchen, brewing coffee in a traditional sack… it was a pure, authentic experience. Bedrooms are screened and beds made up as needed, it sleeps quite a few people. Also, we ordered the typical meal delivered and it was sooooo delicious! Our daughter enjoyed a wonderful horseback ride with Alexander across the river, through the countryside and up to sweeping viewpoints thru country tracks and lanes. We enjoyed the farm animals, the wild birds including parrots and motmots, the sound of the Guacimal river rushing over its stony bed, eating little fresh eggs from the farm chickens, and the sense of stepping out of this century. We loved the nearby hot springs, a truly local sweet little attraction, do not miss if you stay between Weds and Sat. Monteverde and Santa Elena are a trip up the mountain with great views on the way. Roads are more interesting than smooth. The local restaurant El Sol has great food at fair prices.

Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dennis en Celine P.

11 Dec 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Authentieke ervaring!

We hadden een fantastisch verblijf op de boerderij. Er is zoveel te zien en te doen. We zwommen in de rivier, gingen naar de hotsprings en vanuit hier is een prima uitvalsbasis naar Monteverde. Onze kinderen (4 en 2) werden grote vrienden met de honden (hoewel ze in het begin wat angstig waren) en waren gek op een van de zwijnen die dagelijks bij ons huisje langs kwam voor groente- en fruitresten. We vierden de ezels, gingen mee op de tractor en op tour rond de boerderij. Boer Alex is super vriendelijk en behulpzaam en ook Carlos legt graag dingen uit. Een basis woordje Spaans helpt wel erg ;-)! We kregen verse eieren, aten Tamales die Alex via een vriendin liet bezorgen en werden op onze laatste middag uitgenodigd voor een familielunch. We zagen veel vogels, iguanas en niet te vergeten de kleine vleermuisjes onder de veranda! Het huis aan de rivier is ruim en voorzien van een uitgebreide keukenhuisraad. Door het vochtige klimaat is het goed er rekening mee te houden dat kleding en tassen ed lang vochtig blijven. We hebben volop genoten!

Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stacy G.

13 Oct 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Two Months on the Farm!

I highly recommend staying at Rancho el Rio! My four children (ages 6-14) stayed on an extended vacation for two months (June-July 2022). It was exactly what we were looking for. I wanted the kids to get a break from our busy lives, schedules, and technology to enjoy time together as a family close to nature. My husband also joined us at the beginning and end of the trip. On the farm, the kids had the freedom to explore the property and visit the animals as they pleased. They loved seeing the newborn piglets, riding horses, and visiting the donkeys. The also liked having the farm dogs and cats around; the dogs would even escort us on walks to the river. Señor Alex, as the kids called him, was a fantastic host! He watched out for us, welcomed us into his life on the farm, shared his knowledge, and became a friend. He invited us to share meals together on several occasions and even invited us to visit his family’s farm in a nearby town. He introduced us to the youth soccer coach in Santa Elena and my oldest son was able to train with them during our stay. He also helped us coordinate a bread-making class with Señora Juana and basic Spanish lessons for the kids. His generosity, kindness, and love of the Costa Rican way of life are sincere. His adult son, Stuart, was also a great resource and always available via WhatsApp. He was very accommodating and flexible with our requests. Señor Carlos, who lives and works on the farm, was wonderful with the kids! The kids were able to help him with the morning animal chores. He would bring us fresh fruit and small eggs as gifts, especially for my youngest son. With our rental car, the location of the farm was convenient to drive to Santa Elena /Monteverde whenever we wanted. The nearby town of Guacimal had groceries and two good tipico restaurants. We took almost weekly trips to the hot spring up the road. The farm made a good home base to explore different parts of the country. We split our time between the two rental homes on the property. They are both simple, with a lot of charm and all the essentials for a comfortable stay. Our family made great memories together over the summer at Rancho el Rio. I feel lucky that we chose this place, almost blindly just based on the reviews (hence my reason for writing such a long review). It is a hidden gem!

Stayed 48 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

April M.

2 Apr 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Experience!

If you love nature and animals and want to get a more authentic Costa Rican experience than staying in a fancy house or resort, I encourage you to bring your family here to ranch by the river. This was a highlight of our trip to Costa Rica. Stuart is wonderful to communicate with. He was so helpful and kind. My kids fell in love with the wonderful men who care for the farm. They made us feel so welcome and included our kids in many farm activities. Our kids loved all the animals, especially the friendly little pig and the loveable dogs. The river right next to the ranch was such a fun and beautiful place to swim and explore. Our kids loved that the dogs would lead the way to the river to swim. We spent one day in Monteverde for zip-lining and hanging bridges, which was a blast. Otherwise, we just didn't want to leave the ranch. We bought eggs and coffee from the farm and went into town for dinner. It was a short drive to a great restaurant. The two bunk beds and one lofted bed worked great for our family. There is no a/c, but the two box fans were all we needed to sleep comfortably. The kitchen had what we needed and the shower was great. We were also surprised what good wi-fi there was, not that we needed it. :) Thank you again to Stuart and Alex! We 100 percent recommend this property! Each of our 5 kids said this place was their favorite part of our 12 day Costa Rican adventurel

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Louisa H.

2 Jan 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Real Farm Living!

Our family of 5 (kids aged 24, 26, and 27) stayed here over Christmas and enjoyed every moment. Animals are everywhere! Stuart, Alexander and Veronica were extremely attentive and friendly. It's best for people open to a real rural experience, bugs included!

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Holly H.

8 Aug 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This is truly living on the farm!

Our family stayed three nights here. The open air house was very authentic and fun! The animals are right outside the door. If you want to experience a taste of farm living, this is the perfect place. Stuart was a wonderful host and we feel so lucky to have met him and to have learned about their farm.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Brandon B.

5 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great get away

Great farmhouse away from the normal hustle and bustle. We used it as a anchor point for several excursions to Arenal, Monteverde, and La Fortuna. Calderon was a great resource, showing us the farm, animals, and work that goes onsite. It is more rustic--but we enjoyed that experience.

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Beth r.

20 June 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique & Amazing Experience

Our family enjoyed our entire trip to Costa Rica and this one of our favorite experiences. Highly recommend it!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Simon L.

7 Mar 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nature provides

We wanted to connect with nature and it was all we wished for and more. The hosts were very professional helpful and friendly. The animals around the property brings life and joy. The property is ideal for walks and taking swims with in the river nearby. Truly the pura vida!

10/10 Excellent

Karine F.

13 Feb 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A stay in a home welcomed by a great family and community built around a precious river.

So many amazing things to say about our stay. We were welcomed by Alex upon arrival. Alex speaks mainly Spanish and we speak very little Spanish and yet Alex still made us feel welcomed and with joint efforts we managed to communicate. He started by showing us around and took our kids for a horse back ride. The cottage itself is open air concept which we absolutely loved. The living room / dining room / patio was perfect to let our 3 young kids run around without having to worry about them wandering off. The bunk Beds were comfortable. Lots of head room to comfortably fit 2 adults. We loved seeing all the animals (pigs, sheep goats, buffalos, cows, geese, Guinée, chickens, dogs and a cat). During our stay one of the pigs had her babies and so did a sheep! We were so lucky to have been around for 2 births. One of our goal was to learn about their farming and help out. My husband and Alex had so much in common. My husband loved helping out and learning. Veronica and all the volunteers at the sustainability center were so welcoming and helpful. We asked about doing a few classes and within a few hours they had everything organized. We took a cheese making class with Marita and Louis. They showed us and let us help milk the cow and then how to make the cheese. It was a full day thing. We brought a lunch and spent time by the river. This couple was phenomenal. They welcomed us into their home with open arms. Saturday was the Feria (do not miss this event, it was one of the highlight of our stay). We had paid to do the traditional sugar cane processing class which we did as part of the feria. We helped the farm crew hand harvest the cane two days prior. Then on the morning of we walked with the ox's over to the cane mill. They let us participate with every step. This was a true community effort and an all day process. We ate delicious food at the feria and danced the afternoon away. We also got to make candy before the sugar settled. Sunday we had a private cooking class at the property. Roxanne did the class and we had a blast learning how she makes her empanadas and cimichurri. If you want to learn the culture and what the center does for the community, you’ll be welcomed in with open arms! We were truly guests and not just tourist. We will be back. Have a good translation app as it will come in handy. Bring lots of clothes for the children As they were so dirty from having fun (laundry available). PLEASE do go swimming in the river Gaucimale.

Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

14 Jan 2020

Liked: Staff & service

This is a working organic farm, and the house is a former meeting house. There is an outdoor kitchen, huge deck with hammocks and a swinging chair, and a large bunk room that is screened in. There is a nice bathroom with shower and hot water. This is a unique property and of all the places we stayed in Costa Rica, the one our kids loved best. We had a great time too and are glad we were able to stay there for a few days, it was fun and memorable. We rode horses, took a hike to a beautiful river, and played with the farm dogs and cats. Veronica and Alex, the farm owners, are instrumental to the local community and a source of many efforts to sustainably manage the land and build the local economy in a responsible manner. When we left, there was a student volunteer group arriving to build chicken coops on wheels. Like other reviewers, I'll point out that the building is basically outdoors (with screens around the bedroom). And there are plenty of insects and critters around, most of which are innocuous if large. This isn't luxury, it's an adventure. But it is awesome and we're really glad we stayed (and our kids didn't ask to watch a video once in 4 days!)

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Liz G., Sandy, OR

27 July 2018

Going back in time

What an amazing place! We felt like we went back to a simpler time. Veronica and Alex are doing amazing things working on helping the people in the area. Their son Stuart is an amazing young man who helped us with suggestions of things to do and informing us of the flora and fauna of the area. We enjoyed authentic food and music at the Saturday market type event. It was small but we enjoyed the Marimba music, watching the locals dance and have fun. We purchased dinner from a local lady that brought it to us, and an incredible massage from Lourdes.... Wow! If you can't handle bugs and farm life, this isn't a place for you.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

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La Granja: Farm Paradise– Integrated farm

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