La Granja: Farm Paradise– Integrated farm

La Granja: Farm Paradise– Integrated farm

Photo gallery for La Granja: Farm Paradise– Integrated farm

Stay at this historic farmhouse at our experimental organic family farm
All furniture is custom-made and hand-crafted from sustainably harvested wood.
Spacious, comfortable and peaceful, surrounded by Costa Rica's natural world.
Discover the immaculate waters and secret pools of the Rio Guacimal
View to the exciting elevation of the crow's nest double bed.

Overview of La Granja: Farm Paradise– Integrated farm

Reviews
9.8 out of 10 Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • Breakfast availableBreakfast availableBreakfast available
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen

Check out the area

Map
monteverde, puntarenas
  • Popular LocationReserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde29 min drive
  • Popular LocationCuri-Cancha Reserve30 min drive
  • Popular LocationMonteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve33 min drive
  • AirportPuntarenas (JAP-Chacarita)54 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

La Granja: Farm Paradise– Integrated farm

La Granja helps the community by managing a free-whey community project and is an example of integrated farming and humane animal husbandry. La Granja is an original farmhouse located on Rancho El Rio, a peaceful sustainable farm and wildlife paradise by the Río Guacimal, and is perfect for families or larger groups. Come stay with us in our rustic 2bed/1bath cabin and experience sustainable farming initiatives, visit our family-run environmental community center, spend the day swimming in the river or hiking through the forest, and take day trips to the cloud forest.

La Granja is an original farmhouse with true rustic charm, surrounded by gardens, tall fruit trees, and farm animals. This antique farmhouse was built 100 years ago has traditional tall ceilings and original wood construction. With a large open porch, you’ll feel as though you’re taken a step back into the past– with the exception of modern amenities including hot water and free Wifi. La Granja is situated just above the river, and you’ll have direct access to various natural pools in addition to many trails throughout the farm to explore. We provide you with free organic coffee from our sister farm in Monteverde for the first morning of your stay for you to settle in and enjoy the beauty of our farm.

La Granja is the ideal farmhouse for large groups. With two spacious bunkrooms, and the option to convert the comfy porch futon, La Granja easily sleeps 10. There is one full bathroom with hot water for the shower, and the farmhouse has fresh linens and towels. The large covered porch overlooks the farmyard, and our guests love relaxing in the hammocks and sofa bed. Our large open air kitchen looks out onto the porch/living and dining room and farmyard, and is a great place to cook your own meals, or enjoy traditional Costa Rican meals cooked by our neighbors from the local community and delivered to you. There is also a large wood grill for cooking on (we provide you with free firewood).

True to the spirit of a traditional farmhouse, our open air porch doubles as the living and dining room spaces. We have four rescue kitties that like to visit guests on the porch, so if you are allergic to cats we recommend staying at one of our sister homes, Rancho El Rio or Panorama. Our hand-reared chickens are also quite friendly and love to stop by for visits as well. We also have rescued dogs that are super friendly and run around the farm, although they do not enter the porch area or farmhouse.

The farmhouse is just minutes walking distance from the river, and our guests love spending time exploring the river in addition to the various trails that run throughout our farm and surrounding forest. We have a variety of animals on our sustainable farm, including rescue dogs and cats, donkeys, horses, cows, water buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, geese, and chickens. We grow a variety of fruits and vegetables, and encourage our guests to try the fresh mangoes and starfruit just outside the cabin. We also encourage our guests to join us in learning about our farm work, and are happy to have your company when collecting fresh eggs or taking a horseback riding tour around the farm.

This is a working sustainable farm in rural Costa Rica, meaning that your stay with us will be close to nature and certainly a unique adventure-- please consider this before you book a farmstay with us, as this experience is not for all travelers. If you are looking for luxury accommodations or a place without bugs and critters, this is not the place to stay. If you are looking for a chance to reconnect with nature and experience authentic Costa Rican beauty, this will be the highlight of your trip! Our farm animals are very friendly, especially our dogs and cats, and they may follow you around when you adventure through the farm or go for a swim in the river.

We provide guests with the option of ordering homemade meals that are delivered straight to your doorstep! Please arrange with us ahead of time if you would like meals (breakfasts, lunches, and/or dinners) prepared throughout your stay.

Property manager

Veronica Sheehan
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English, Spanish

Amenities

Pet-friendly
Breakfast available

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Guacimal

Located in Guacimal, this farm stay is in a rural area and on the waterfront. El Cafetal and Ficus La Raiz are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Monteverde Orchid Garden and Monteverde Butterfly Gardens. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
monteverde, puntarenas

What's nearby

  • Monteverde Orchid Garden - 25 min drive
  • Monteverde Butterfly Gardens - 28 min drive
  • Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde - 29 min drive
  • Curi-Cancha Reserve - 30 min drive
  • Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve - 33 min drive

Restaurants

  • Rancho Ania - 26 min drive
  • Restaurante Nacazcolo - 25 min drive
  • Restaurante El Sol - 19 min walk
  • El Rancho de Lelo - 23 min drive
  • Rancho Nacascolo - 25 min drive

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 23 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews" "

9.2/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

6.0/10

Amenities

6.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.2/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Anne C.

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

Delia D.

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

Stephen S.

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.

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

Alison J.

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

About the host

Hosted by Veronica Sheehan

Host profile image
Alexander was born in the San Luis Valley in the Monteverde region and has lived all his life here. He started working when he was 11 years old helping his father herd oxen to take milk to the local cheese factory. At the age of 15, he began working for the Children´s Eternal Rain Forest, then he worked for InBio (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad) researching snails all over Costa Rica, he then worked for ProNativas, an non-profit organization that promotes the use of native ornamental plants as a conservation effort. He believes in changing the world one person at a time, starting with ourselves.

Stuart is Alexander's son he is helping his dad by managing the reservations, so feel free to reach out any time you need him. He speaks English and Spanish.

Why they chose this property

We absolutely love the river and that comes with the coolness and beauty of water... We are turning back time to mix the old and the new and create a new future where we measure success not solely on economic terms, but where the wellbeing of the environment, the animals and the people weigh in as heavy as making a profit. We practice organic integrated farming and use rural tourism to support this and other initiatives for change in this area

What makes this property unique

It is a beautiful quiet spot (except for the animal noises) where one can reflect and renew amidst nature and connect with a higher part... the beauty surrounding you and the river are very conducive to ease and relaxation and an overall sense of wellbeing

Languages:

English, Spanish

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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