Is Rancho el Rio: Riverfront Integrated Farm pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

Where is Rancho el Rio: Riverfront Integrated Farm located?

Located on the waterfront, this family-friendly farm stay is within 16 mi (25 km) of El Cafetal, Monteverde Orchid Garden and Vista al Golfo. Mundo de los Insectos and Jardín de Orquídeas are also within 16 miles (25 km).

10/10 Excellent

stephany r.

7 July 2025

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

a great adventure off the beaten path

My family had an incredible time during our three days/two nights at Rancho el Rio. The kids were entranced by the many animals on the property (especially the friendly dogs!) and we loved hanging on the porch and playing games. We had one dinner and one breakfast delivery arranged which were delicious and enough food for leftovers. While the setting is rustic, it is very clean and the pictures accurately portray the casita. Alexander was a gracious host and was very patient with our rudimentary Spanish as he took us on a tour of the finca. His dedication to sustainability was apparent and inspiring. We flanked our stay here with high-end resorts in La Fortuna and near Manuel Antonio. When we returned home all three of our kids said that the time at Rancho el Rio was their favorite of our trip. If you don't mind the simplicity, highly highly recommend.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

RICHARD C.

20 Aug 2023

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

Authentic Tico Rancho on Rio Guacimal

Enjoyed natural living in the country.

Stayed 29 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca H.

15 Sept 2024

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

Best Parts of CR Vaca

This is our third visit to the country and second to this home. We shall be back due to the authentic representation of Pura Vida. It is not touristy, but a true representation of the life and culture of CR. Thank you to the family and community for making our stay amazing, again!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Li L.

11 Jan 2023

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

Friendly people and animals

The local people in the farm are very friendly. My kids really enjoyed the dogs and other farm animals. We appreciated the tour from the owner as well.

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rob R.

4 Mar 2024

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

Such a great experience

Our time at the farm was very memorable! It gave us a real view of Costa Rica, something hotels cant do. We LOVED waking up in the morning to the friendly pig and dogs, while sitting on the gorgeous patio overlooking the river while enjoying the breakfast we had ordered. It away from the busyness of Monteverde, but not too far and the drive to and from here is breathtaking! Definitely worth considering!

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

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28 Mar 2023

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

A true farm stay

The house is way off the beaten path and the pictures on the site are very accurate. Screened in kitchen and gorgeous view of river, lots of animals to see along with lots of fruit trees and bees (in a log making honey). The pig had piglets while we were there! The owner will give you a tour of the property and tell you about making sugar and rum. There’s a great restaurant up the road called El Sol and it’s terrific!!

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

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

8/10 Good

Susan T., West Vancouver, BC, Canada

4 Apr 2017

Warm, welcoming hospitality and a slice of rural life

The host family and the experience of being on a farm is what really made our stay at Rancho El Rio special. We were glad to experience something so different from a beach holiday and our hosts are wonderful people doing so much to try to make things better for their community. We felt very taken care of and were so happy to be able to support their efforts through our stay. It was great for our kids to experience chickens and piglets and taste sugar cane right from the field. We loved swimming in the river daily and riding horses on the extensive property was a highlight. The accommodation was rustic but had everything we needed. Do visit for a slice of life in Costa Rica.

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2017

10/10 Excellent

Sherri R., Calgary

5 Jan 2020

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

Urban Canadian family meets Costa Rican farm

Our family of four (kids aged 10 and 8) had a great time at the farm, particularly with the dogs on the farm. We learned a lot from the hosts about the farm and their work at the sustainability centre. It was the immersive experience we were looking for, and although there were definitely bugs and other critters around, everything was as expected. We enjoyed home-cooked Costa Rican food from a local resident, and were also able to share in the process of making candy from raw sugar cane. The hosts were very welcoming and are also great to chat with and learn about the culture. Our trip to Costa Rica wouldn't have been the same without our stay at the farm.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Chela L.

1 May 2024

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

Back to the future

Our stay was a return to traditional Costa Rican farm life as it has been for generations. As a Costa Rican/ US family we really enjoyed our stay. We had a wonderful host in Don Carlos. He was kind and helpful. The children loved the horses, cows, ox cart, goats, dogs, pigs, chickens .... well you get the picture. It was quite hot in April so we really enjoyed spending time in the river, finding pools and looking for fossils along the rocking banks. This we did once or twice a day. We ate most of our meals on the patio over looking the river, trees and nature.The house is simple, the hospitality is wonderful, all Costa Rican style. Thank you Don Carlos and all the farm animals who made our stay one to remember.

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

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

10/10 Excellent

28 Aug 2015

An exceptionally wonderful place to experience Costa Rica

The reviews here are pretty spot on. We really enjoyed our 5 days and 4 nights at Rancho El Rio - really, no complaints. Veronica is an exceptional hostess, easy to work with and very accommodating. Stuart, Alex and everyone else around the ranch were very, very nice and helpful. We stayed here with 3 kids - 13, 10 and 8. They saw a side of CR that many don't see. This place is way off any beaten path and worth it. We went to Monteverde 2x, wasn't too bad of a jaunt. Veronica made arrangements for us for zip-lining and also dinner and some groceries the first few days. We'd go back. Our kids will remember forever. Awesome in all ways.

10/10 Excellent

Samantha R.

3 Jan 2023

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

Authentic and memorable Costa Rica experience

We loved our stay at Rancho El Rio. Alexander was a very caring host, and Carlos showed our children all the farm animals, which they loved. We also had a lovely local woman cook and bring us all our meals since we didn't have our own car. She and Alexander joined us on the deck over the river for one meal, and we shared another of our meals with them in the farm area. We got to (had to!) practice our Spanish, which we enjoyed. We cooled off in the river every day. It was all so peaceful and special. We had to leave early for a medical reason and Alexander was so caring and helpful, and arranged a taxi to take us to San Jose. I can't recommend Rancho El Rio enough if you're looking for a memorable, authentic stay in Costa Rica. Not fancy, but clean and perfectly lovely.

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

8/10 Good

Anie-Claude B.

16 Mar 2023

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

Great experience

The stay at the ranch was a great experience. It allowed us to experience what regular life might be like in Costa Rica. The people living at the ranch were extremely kind and went out of their ways to provide a meaningful experience to our family. The kids enjoyed all the farm animals and swimming in the river. The only downside was that the ranch is located a long way away from Monteverde, which we didn't realized until we got there. To get to the ranch from Monteverde, you have to drive over 45 minutes on mountain roads, and I would not advise doing the drive when it's dark. It's also a very different environment than Monteverde (dryer and a lot warmer). I think that it's just an important piece of information to know before booking, so that you can plan accordingly.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jillian B.

22 Feb 2024

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

Beautiful country living along Rio Guacimal

Our family had a fantastic time here. Alexander (for Stuart) was a wonderful host. He coordinated having dinner delivered to us the evening we arrived and it was delicious! We spent a lot of time outside either in the hammocks or swing and eating at the table there so we could enjoy the view of Rio Guacimal. We were escorted to the river by two of the farm dogs who spent a lot of time hanging out with us. The pigs visited a couple times as well which my husband loved. Alexander took us on a tour of the farm which was very enjoyable. Our daughter got to ride one of the horses while we walked the farm. We did drive up to Monteverde/Santa Elena one day but we preferred the quiet stay at the farm to the tourist laden area. We look forward to recommending a stay at the farm to friend and family. Our family is very comfortable with insects, bats and not having hot water or air conditioning. If any of those things are must not have or haves this is not the place for you. However, if those things don’t bother you, you are sure to have a fantastic experience!

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

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

10/10 Excellent

Scott B., Seattle, WA

23 Apr 2016

An unforgettable experience for the family

Our recent visit to Costa Rica spanned three different areas and three different homes — this was by far our favorite. The home itself is the part that is easy to describe… it’s simple, but comfortable. The kitchen has all the basics you need to cook in—but we HIGHLY recommend arranging to have Tina (one of the locals) come by to prep dinner for you, or supply you with empanadas, tortillas and other goodies. Her food was the best we had in all of Costa Rica. The location is awesome. Guacimal is a neat little town, and the house is perfectly isolated. Your back porch looks out on a small river, and you fall asleep to its burbling sound every night. When the days got hot, we ducked down to the river for a swim (there are several small pools that make for easy, safe swimming). And this is a working farm. When we were there the grapefruit and oranges were in season, and we were allowed to harvest yuca for our meals. Farm to table eating was never easier. But what makes this perhaps our favorite-ever vacation home is the people. Veronica, the owner, is on a mission. She runs the local cooperative, advocating for the town and recounting Guacimal’s history for visiting students. She is remarkably warm and helpful. Jose and Albert live on the Rancho el Rio property and quietly ensure you have a perfect experience. Jose helped our kids feed the baby piglets every morning. Even more incredible, when we wanted to hike, Jose led us through the property’s trails. Ahead of us, Albert had swept a jungle path, and then constructed a dam in the river to make for the best ever swim. These two blew our minds at every turn—as if transported from the Ritz Carlton to a farm in rural Costa Rica. We would return in a heartbeat. This is a real experience you won’t find in the touristic beach towns, and that you won’t forget.

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra L.

24 Jan 2023

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

Magical farm stay right on the river

If you love animals and nature, don’t mind a rustic location, and value a truly special, authentic experience, this place is for you! My family (six adults) LOVED our stay on this rustic property. Four sweet farm dogs will escort you anywhere you go and hang out with you on the patio for your entire stay. Prepare to be visited by chickens, pigs (and newborn piglets!), cats, monkeys, bats, and more! without even leaving the house. The farm also has horses and goats you can visit. Suffice it to say that the wildlife interactions were amazing. The groundskeeper, Alejandro, lives on the property and is incredibly accommodating- he treated us to multiple tours of different parts of the farm throughout our time there. There is plenty of parking right on the property for your vehicle, and the house has all the linens and towels you need as well as the basics for cooking in the spacious kitchen. The only thing to keep in mind is that this place is a bit rustic and it doesn’t have a/c, so be prepared to spend some time outside exploring or taking a tour of the farm, cooling off in the shade on the covered patio overlooking the river, or IN the river- and don’t worry about seeing some wildlife (including insects) outdoors! Don’t forget to take advantage of some of the extras that the owners can arrange for you, we arranged to purchase a kilo of the local coffee which was a cool experience. There are some small restaurants and shops in the small, authentic district of Guacimal where the farm stay is located, including a restaurant right down the road. You can also arrange for meals to be brought to you right in the farm. We opted to arrange for breakfast to be delivered daily, the food was super authentic- highly recommend! You’re also close enough (about 30 min south) to the Monteverde/Santa Elena area to visit famous attractions like the Cloud Forest with ease. That being said, life in the farm is so nature packed and peaceful, you might not want to leave at all!

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

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

10/10 Excellent

Julia S., Lakewood, Colorado

6 Aug 2016

A Memory For A Life Time

We stayed at the farm in the middle of our trip. Later, to end the vacation, we stayed at a big name high-end resort. My Facebook comment while at the resort? "I am not the mega-resort kind of girl anymore, I miss the porch at Veronica's farm!" The experience on this farm changed me forever. Backed in January when I was planing the two-week trip for my family I thought : Um, four nights in a modern condo on a beach to relax so we will be prepared to "rough it" in the cabin at the farm...", and then two nights at a nicer hotel in the volcano town and finally a "reward" for us at the all-inclusive resort to wrap up the trip. I was totally wrong, I wish I could swap the unmemorable beach resort time for the farm time. As much as this was definitely the right place for me and my family, as much as I wish we had spent much more time there, I can see how it might not be right for everybody. If you don't find chickens and piglets wandering around your feet while you drink your morning coffee on the porch entertaining, this might not be the place for you. If you are looking for a place where you can pick up the phone and order room service any time, day or night, this might not be the place for you. (Which is not to say Veronica and the others were unhelpful. They were extremely kind and helpful. But this isn't a 'hotel' like that.) If you are looking for a base from which to see the sights, you may find the quietly beautiful isolation of the farm to be a bit too far off the beaten path. If your reaction to finding a (non-stinging variety) scorpion in the kitchen is to freak out, this might not be right for you. If your reaction is to say "Wow, COOL!", and help the kids look up on Google exactly what kind of bug this is, this place will make you happy.

6/10 Okay

Nathan R.

9 July 2025

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cultural Experience

I struggle to write this review, but feel it’s important to be honest so you can decide if it’s right for you. Alexander was kind and accommodating. He was easy to communicate with, gave us information about his farm and coordinated meals for us. I highly suggest that you coordinate with him to have meals delivered. The property is extremely rural and there is not much around. A local woman prepared our meals and everything was delicious and delivered hot at the time we requested. We had breakfast and dinner delivered during our stay. Meals were traditional foods and I felt as if a family member were preparing them for us (part of the cultural experience I mentioned). The house and property are not for the faint of heart. It is a working farm. There are dogs running around. Animal poo (horses, ducks, cows) on the ground. Bats hanging from the eaves. There is no air conditioning. For me and my family this was the most significant cultural experience during our trip to Costa Rica. It gave us a glimpse of every day life away from touristy areas and I found it valuable, but this is not glamping. If you struggle with bugs and other “critters”, you should think twice about staying here. If you want to experience “real” Costa Rica and support the economy in a rural area this may be a great option for you. The 3 star rating is purely in regard to accommodations. The host was gracious and we felt welcome and safe in his home.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeff B.

31 July 2024

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

Riverside retreat

Stayed 30 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sylvia B.

5 June 2024

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

Amazing, great and authentic experience

Das Haus war bei unserer Ankunft blitzblank sauber. In der Küche waren alle für unseren Kurzaufenthalt notwendigen Geräte vorhanden. Dass sich die wenigen Kilometer bis Monteverde bei den hiesigen Straßenverhältnissen zu einer über dreißigminütigen Fahrt dehnen könnten, wussten wir vorab und haben die herrlichen Ausblicke während der Fahrt genossen. Den Hinweis in einer früheren Bewertung, dass die Temperaturen auf der Ranch bedeutend höher sind als in Monteverde war sehr hilfreich. Abends auf der großen Terrasse am Fluss sitzend waren aber auch Temperaturen von über 30 Grad gut auszuhalten. Die Betten fanden wir nicht sehr bequem, aber dies ist Geschmackssache. Dank des Deckenventilators war das Schlafen in einem der Schlafzimmer trotz der Hitze erstaunlich gut möglich. In dem anderen Schlafzimmer hatten wir einen Standventilator. Wer zum Schlafen eine Klimaanlage benötigt, sollte hier allerdings lieber nicht buchen. Bei unserer Ankunft wurden wir herzlich von Alexander begrüßt und auch durch die Farm geführt. Letzteres war hilfreich, wenn ich auf eigene Faust über das Gelände gehen wollte. Die 3 Hunde waren dabei ständige Begleiter. (Und verscheuchten damit leider all die Tiere wie Leguane oder Vögel, die ich eigentlich beobachten wollte.) Der Kontakt erfolgte über Stuart, den Sohn des Vermieters, ausschließlich über die FeWo-App. Auch während unseres Aufenthalts war er über die App erreichbar. Alexander und sein Mitarbeiter Carlos verwöhnten uns mit frischem Obst.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

4/10 Poor

Stefan F.

20 Oct 2023

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy

Disliked: Cleanliness

Nicht gut

Leider konnren wir das,Quartier nicht beziehen. Die Schlafzimmer haben extrem gammelug gerochen, die Bettwäsche auch. Unserer Meinung nach roch es nach Schimmel. Die Wände haben entsprechende Flecken.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brenna E.

3 Oct 2022

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

Amazing!

Rancho el Rio is a very special place. The house was super cool with all the natural wood and indoor/outdoor living. The amount of wildlife and animals we saw during our stay were countless. So many lizards of all sizes, several toucans and monkeys almost everyday. That on top of all of the farm animals that live on the Ranch. We were there during the off season (rainy season) but still enjoyed the river (carefully). Our host Alex went over and above to ensure we had a great stay. We ventured across the river to get ice cream, my girls got to ride horses, play with baby pigs, observed the process of a hen taking care of her eggs and then having them hatch, taking care of the hen and chicks and so much more. Santa Elana and Monteverde are only a short drive away and offer countless opportunities for day trips but staying at the Ranch offers a unique opportunity experience authentic Costa Rican culture without the tourists. We are already planning our next stay here! It was AWESOME!!

Stayed 28 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Lynna S., Denver

17 July 2022

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

Fantastic farm!

A true small town Costa Rica experience! Far from tourists, this beautiful farm allows families to truly be a part of Costa Rica culture. The owners of the farm are wonderful and their sustainability efforts are important. It was nice to know our vacation money was going to something of consequence.

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Daniel S.

3 May 2022

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

Amazing location along the Guacimal River

We spent 5 days at the farm and had a wonderful time picking fresh mangos, visiting with the farm dogs and pigs and swimming in the river while toucans flew over head. The accommodations are adequate but rustic which is what we were expecting from a rural farm stay. We loved it and and would gladly stay there again.

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

31 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Staying at Rancho El Rio in Guacimal made us feel like we were truly immersed in Costa Rican culture. The farm and town are not touristy at all. The accomodations are very simple but VERY cool. We stayed during rainy season and it DEFINITELY rained, more so than usual we were told, but every morning was dry, at least. The river ran hard right behind the house and had a peaceful, but ever present, rushing sound. There are several friendly farm dogs who make themselves comfortable on the porches. Farm animals and wildlife are right outside the door...horses, pigs, sheep, chickens, roosters, bats, and my husband saw howler monkeys the first morning of our stay. We dealt with Stuart for the coordination of our stay. He is a very young but responsible man with great knowledge of the ranch and was a huge help to us. He communicated frequently with us prior to arrival to make sure everything went smoothly. He arranged a local woman to make us dinner that first night because we would be arriving late. It was delicious and affordable and she delivered it herself in her own Tupperware like a neighbor welcoming us home. Stuart also gave us a walking tour of the farm, sampling sugar cane and pineapple, and guided our family on a personal horseback riding your of the property. He was great! Things to know before you go...expect a 40-60 minute drive to Monteverde for any activities off the farm. There is only 1 nearby restaurant. Most activities close early. Minimal hot water for showers

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Sophie W.

15 Jan 2021

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice farm with a lot of animals. Basic house.

The property is located in a local farm which has a lot of animals, dogs, pigs, cat, chickens, horses, ducks, etc. My kids really had a lot of fun playing with those energetic and sweet dogs. We even saw monkeys and Iguana on the trees. The river behind the property is clean and shallow, so kids are safe playing water there. House is rustic style and basic. There are bugs, spiderweb, even bats inside the house. And WIFI barely works. But I think the basic house and nature is a good combination, and that is how we are close to mother nature.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020

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