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).

Rancho el Rio: Riverfront Integrated Farm Reviews, Deals & Photos 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

8/10 Good

Lynna S., Denver

17 Jul 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

1efaUcy/ouKSEq6tEc4CvtZ41mVminL2azSsU+k9yeY= M.

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/10 Excellent

Jeff B.

31 Jul 2024

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

Riverside retreat

Stayed 30 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sylvia B.

5 Jun 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

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 Jul 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

10/10 Excellent

Kirsten B., Los Angeles,Ca

3 Feb 2020

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

A memorable stay

Veronica and Alex are an amazing couple doing amazing work in an amazing place. We will never forget the warm crystal clear water in the river rushing behind the house. Veronica is kind, passionate and compassionate. It was a pleasure. My kids loved the farm and didn’t want to leave. Thank you Veronica and Alex for a wonderful adventure.

Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer H.

15 Jan 2020

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

Real Farm

We loved everything about our stay. We woke to Howler monkeys, geese and a river every morning. The cottage was rustic. The shower was made out of stones. We are a family of 4 including a 17 year and 15 year old. We rode horses, fed the pigs, held the piglets, played with the cats/ dogs and the list goes on. We fully embraced the experience and appreciated Alex sharing his knowledge with us. They grow many varies of fruit outside of the cottage which we able to sample. We swam in the river outside of the cottage. We did a day trip to Monteverde. Our kids requested we spend one day just hanging out and exploring the farm. There is a swimming hole on the property as well. We visited Veronica at the Sustainable Center and learned a lot about Costa Rican culture/ history. We did not do the in home meals as we enjoyed our restaurant experience at El Sol just up the street. We ate dinners and breakfast there. The food was filling. We always left with leftovers. We were able to share our leftovers with the pigs/ piglets/ geese/ cats/ dogs and Guinea hens. This was a very fulfilling experience. If we have the chance to return to Costa Rica I would stay at the farm again. Enjoyed all of it!

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Steve A., Holland, Mi

7 Jan 2020

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

Rustic cabin charm

We very much enjoyed our stay. Our kids (ages 9 and 8 had a blast observing the chickens, guinea fowl, peahen, horses, pigs, digs, cats, aguanas, geese, water buffalo, bats, butterflies, donkeys and cows. They were excited to gather a few eggs, pick fresh limes or give our organic slips to the pigs. The roar of the river is soothing, and a perfect spot to cool off on a hot day because there are plenty of natural pools that are just the right depth to splash around. I was a little unsure about how an outdoor kitchen would work - we ended up loving it! The large patio overlooking the river was a lovely place to relax. It's indeed a working farm - there is an equipment shed inbetween the two rental properties, and the interior of the cabin has a rustic quality to it - it's all part of this property's unique charm. We were sorry that we didn't book more time there.

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

8/10 Good

Deanna F.

1 Aug 2019

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

Family Vacation

We had a really good time here. The location was beautiful and peaceful. It is a bit farther from the town of Monteverdi then I thought - it is about an hour due to the small, twisting road up and around a beautiful mountain range! The house was clean but had a few holes in screens so moths sometimes got in - not a big deal really and quite understandable. The staff was very helpful when my daughter got sick and helped us out above and beyond what they had to. The only thing I wasn’t really prepared for was the lack of food options. There are a few stores around but they are more like convenient stores and not stocked with much. There is a restaurant nearby if you want to eat out all the time but I would suggest stopping at a larger grocery store before you get into the small town where the house is located. I would suggest having at least one home cooked meal by one of the local women - it is very good and well worth the money!

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Françoise Q., Ayguesvives

15 Feb 2019

Merveilleux

Accueil sensationnel a l association..puis a la maison.. on s est de suite senti chez nous .belle rivière en contrebas avec bébé. Aucun problème..facile d accès . Des randos aux alentours dans les parcs..bref de beaux moments chaleureux sur la terrasse ! Merci

10/10 Excellent

Alexandre B.

11 Jan 2019

Un petit paradis dans la forêt tropicale Costa-Rica

Je n'ai que de bons mots pour décrire le Rancho El Rio! La place est situé a l'extérieur des centres touristiques mais en plein coeur de la forêt tropicale. Nous cherchions un endroit ou nous détendre et profiter de la nature et c'est exactement ce que nous avons trouvé. Un ranch, avec les animaux d'ici, des Ticos avec un énorme sourire et des propriétaires aux petits soins avec leurs invités. Au levé du jour, c'est le coq qui nous réveillait accompagné des oiseaux et des bruits de la forêt. Pour le déjeuner, nous allions nous même chercher les oeufs frais (directement dans l'enclos) et nous ramassions nos oranges pour nous faire un exquis jus réveil matin! Aucune auto, aucun camion, aucun klaxon, seulement le bruit de la rivière, la faune et la flore. Étant plus près des hautes montagnes que de l'océan, les journées sont chaudes et les nuits fraîches. Il n'y a aucun air climatisé sur place mais nous ne l'aurions pas démarré de toute façon, la température y est très clémente. Les hôtes sont des gens très impliqués dans la communauté, qui désirent aider les Ticos a gérer de manière plus responsable et plus proactive leur environnement et leur avenir. Ils sont les créateurs et les responsables de plusieurs formations et actions environnementales entrepris dans la région de Guacimal et Monteverde. Alors si vous cherchez des activités qui sortent de l'ordinaire, vous n'avez qu'a leur demander, ils sont pleins de ressources. A faire a moins d'une heure d'auto: Zipline, canopy tour, équitation, découvertes culinaires, exploration de la faune et la flore (de nuit comme de jour), baignade en rivière, descente en rappel dans des chutes, hors-piste en 4x4, visite des installations des Quakers (fromagerie, champs de café, culture maraichère,etc), siroter un rafraîchissement avec une vue d'une grande beauté, manger dans des restaurants et découvrir la richesse locale, etc. Dernier petit point, nous étions une famille de 3, nous sommes restés 6 nuits et l'endroit aurait pu facilement héberger 7 personnes avec assez de place pour tout le monde, en plus on a manqué de temps pour faire tout ce qu'on souhaitait faire. C'est assurément le coup de coeur de notre voyage de 3 semaines. On souhaite même y retourner lors de notre prochain périple en sol Costaricain.

Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2018

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