Title: Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025 - Expedia.co.uk [See all properties](http://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?regionId=&adults=2&children=&sort=RECOMMENDED&useRewards=false&semdtl=&userIntent=&vip=false) Entire home # Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View Holiday home in Sierra with kitchen and balcony ![Exterior](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/32000000/31760000/31759500/31759455/5353463c.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=598&ra=fit) ![Smart TV, DVD player, books, video library](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/32000000/31760000/31759500/31759455/ee3cc4c9.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Property grounds](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/32000000/31760000/31759500/31759455/e1da3b66.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Interior](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/32000000/31760000/31759500/31759455/27ad96f1.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Outdoor dining](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/32000000/31760000/31759500/31759455/85403b94.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) - Overview - Amenities - Policies - Location Nestled within the lush Finca Flor Mar coffee farm, The Zabala house offers a serene retreat amidst a mango and lime orchard. With four bedrooms, two full baths, and an open floor plan featuring rustic yet luxurious touches, this home comfortably accommodates up to eight guests. 9.6 Exceptional ### Entire home 3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 82500 sq ft ## Popular amenities - - Parking available - Dryer - Washer - Kitchen - Outdoor space ## Add dates for prices Check-in Check-out Travellers ## About this property ### Entire place You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party. ### Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View ABOUT THE HOME.... The Zabala house is nestled in a lush organic coffee farm called Finca Flor Mar. This 100 acre farm produces organic Arabica coffee, plantains, bananas, mangos, limes, starfruit, & avocados. The home is shaded by an abundant Mango & Lime orchard that is buzzing with butterflies & native birds. With 4 bedrooms (3 bedrooms + loft) & 2 full baths, the Zabala house hosts a max of 8 people (6 adults with extra room for kids). It is the perfect couple’s getaway or family vacation home. The home has a fully functional kitchen and a maid that comes 2 times per week. Your floors will be cleaned, and dishes sparkling =) Laundry service is included. The open floor plan boasts a rustic yet luxurious feel. It is comfortably furnished & tastefully decorated. The Zabala house features a large eat-in kitchen, wireless high-speed internet, two story high living room with a flat screen TV & DVD & Chromecast, a living room-like front porch, an expansive master suit with a spa-like hot shower, two upstairs bedrooms (one room with a twin bed, the other with a queen), and an open loft bedroom with queen bed & quadruple doors that open to a private patio. (The loft has an additional mattress nestled into the balcony nook that will sleep 2...great for kids.) This is the only home of its kind in the area. It was hand-built by the community with local hard woods. All the doors, windows, & much of the furniture is artisan-made by the next-door neighbor. This house is the home of the Zabala family, who has temporarily returned to Atlanta. It has been called (with jaws dropping) a wonderland...the home is full of art, full of soul, and it is Costa-Rican gem like nothing else you can experience on the mountain. I just posted a video link on our VRBO site from one of our guests who did a video blog of our house and their time in Monteverde. Enjoy! You will see in the picture that since that video was done we have completely renovated the exterior of the house, installed a new sidewalk that has no stairs, and installed some new bed and artwork! Enjoy the video though. It gives you a great sense of how comfortable and big the house is! ABOUT MONTEVERDE... Monteverde is a largely bilingual town. It’s home of the Cloud Forest Reserve, stunning natural landscapes, world-class restaurants, local shops, a strong art community, & a bustling local economy. The world-famous Cloud Forest Reserve is a private nature reserve listed as #14 on Newsweek's 100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear. The massive 10,500 hectare reserve draws 70,000 tourists a year. It is known as the site with the largest number of orchids in the world, and houses 60 species of amphibians (including the near extinct Monteverde-endemic golden toad) and the elusive bright Blue Morphos butterfly. This area is also a stop for 91 species of migratory birds. The famed quetzal resides here seasonally. What is now considered Monteverde was founded by Quakers from the United States whose pacifist values led them to defy the American draft during the Korean War. These conscientious objectors blended well with the Costa Rican philosophy of peaceful living. The Cloud Forest Reserve was set aside by Quakers to preserve the Cloud Forest & protect the water shed. Monteverde & surrounding areas are inhabited by a blend of Costa Ricans, Americans, & families from around the world. The Zabala house is located about 20 minutes outside of Monteverde, in a small town called San Rafael. San Rafael is usually a good bit warmer & less rainy than Monteverde. It is a 100% Tico town, outside of the residents of Finca Flor Mar. This active town is formed by a strong community of families, a tasty restaurant, a pottery pavilion, local bar, two pulperias (small general stores), and two public schools. CASA ZABALA DETAILS The Zabala house is THE most personal, unique, and authentic way to experience Monteverde, Santa Elena, & San Rafael, Costa Rica. High-end hotels of comparable quality to The Zabala house are $150-$250 a night for a single room. The Zabala house offers 4 bedrooms for $125 a night. Our home is about 2,000sqft of Costa Rican hardwoods & rustic comfort. It is one of the largest, most unique houses in the area. Finca Flor Mar is the birthplace of the Sustainable Coffee Initiative. Chelsea’s father, Ken Lander, is the founder of this community based organization that created a system which exponentially increases the farmer’s profits compared to Fair Trade. San Rafael is the center of an agricultural revolution for the coffee industry. The Sustainable Coffee Initiative’s practices & philosophy are being explored around the world. Come visit Ken Lander at The Common Cup (or at his home next-door to The Zabala House), who will take you through the ever-growing world of the Costa Rican coffee farmer. We strongly recommend having a rental car when you stay at Casa Zabala. It is a 25 minute drive to Monteverde & 3 minutes to San Rafael's center. Sooo much to do...but you will need to drive there. The value of staying in our house verses a hotel or rental closer to Monteverde in incomparable. Please email us for more pictures. We have lots! (Had fun taking them...our home is lovely!) FOR BIRD WATCHERS!: We had a group of diehard bird watchers who came and spent most of their time on the farm and surrounding area doing what they love to do! Here is the results! Thanks Nancy and all of your team!: Some Birds of Casa Zabala & Neighborhood, Guanacaste, CR Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) Comments: Party of Capek, Johnson, D'Hont, Edmondson. 45 species Gray-headed Chachalaca Turkey Vulture Swallow-tailed Kite Red-billed Pigeon White-tipped Dove Squirrel Cuckoo Common Pauraque White-collared Swift Purple-throated Mountain-Gem Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Orange-bellied Trogon Lesson's Motmot Turquoise-browed Motmot Emerald Toucanet Hoffman's woodpecker Golden-olive Woodpecker White-fronted Parrot Orange-fronted Parakeet Yellow-bellied Elaenia Common Tody Flycatcher Dusky-capped Flycatcher Social Flycatcher Tropical Kingbird Long-tailed Manakin Masked Tityra White-throated Magpie-Jay Brown Jay Northern Rough-winged Swallow House Wren Rufous-and-white Wren Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Slatey-backed Nightingale-Thrush Clay-colored Thrush Blackburnian Warbler Rufous-capped Warbler Blue-gray Tanager Palm Tanager Blue-black Grassquit Yellow-faced Grassquit Buff-throated Saltator White-eared Ground-Sparrow Great-tailed Grackle Yellow-billed Cacique Montezuma Oropendola Yellow-throated Euphonia Keywords: coffee farm, secluded, family, couples, mountain home, relaxing home, tropical, cloud forest, costa rica, monteverde, rustic, open floor plan, full kitchen, orchard, authentic, farm, gardens, casa, finca, finca de cafe, espanol, honeymoon, family vacation, romantic getaway ## Property amenities ### Internet - Available in the house: WiFi ### Parking and transport - Car recommended - Parking on site ### Kitchen - Hob - Microwave - Oven - Refrigerator ### Bedrooms - 3 bedrooms - Bedsheets provided ### Bathroom - 2 bathrooms - Hair dryer - Shower - Soap - Toilet paper - Towels provided ### Entertainment - Books - DVD player - Smart TV - Stereo - Video library ### Outdoor areas - Balcony ### Laundry - Laundry facilities - Washing machine ### Pets - Pet friendly - Welcoming dogs only - Up to 9 kg per pet ### Suitability/Accessibility - If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking. - In-room accessibility - Tile flooring in public areas - Smoke-free property - Note from host: Outside on the porch ### Services and conveniences - Iron/ironing board - Phone ### Location highlights - Near a health/beauty spa ### Things to do - Birdwatching nearby - Ecotours nearby - Hiking/biking trails nearby - Horseback riding nearby - Mountain biking nearby ### Safety features - No carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector) - Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property) - Deadbolt lock ### General - Unit size: 2,500 square feet ## Similar properties ![Exterior](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/112000000/111370000/111361000/111360998/0904d0dd.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=469&h=201&p=1&q=medium) ### Villa El Nido Monteverde Monteverde - Kitchen - Laundry - Outdoor space - Breakfast available 9.0 Wonderful 9 reviews £142 includes taxes & fees 3 Nov - 4 Nov [](https://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?startDate=2025-11-03&endDate=2025-11-04&selected=111360998&PinnedHotelID=111360998&HadPinnedHotel=true®ionId=-1&adults=2) ![Exterior](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/28000000/27480000/27476400/27476310/e108b62f.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=469&h=201&p=1&q=medium) ### Above the Gulf House: Spectacular Ocean View! 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EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking. 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 On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property Safety features at this property include a deadlock This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation ### We should mention A car is recommended for transport to and from this property ### Property is also known as Stunning Artisan Home Coffee Plantation Exquisite View House Stunning Artisan Home Coffee Plantation Exquisite View Stunning Artisan Home Coffee Plantation Exquisite View House Stunning Artisan Home Coffee Plantation Exquisite View House Stunning Artisan Home Coffee Plantation Exquisite View ## About the area ![Map](https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?&size=660x330&map_id=3b266eb50d2997c6&zoom=13&markers=icon:https%3A%2F%2Fa.travel-assets.com%2Ftravel-assets-manager%2Feg-maps%2Fproperty.png%7C10.33638%2C-84.87067&channel=expedia-HotelInformation&maptype=roadmap&scale=1&key=AIzaSyCYjQus5kCufOpSj932jFoR_AJiL9yiwOw&signature=9ixJ3wRp6VV4fu1h3Tj8u8RqOL4=) San Rafael de Abangares, Guanacaste #### What's nearby - Monteverde Orchid Garden - 18 min drive - 5.9 miles - Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde - 21 min drive - 6.6 miles - Monteverde Butterfly Gardens - 21 min drive - 6.5 miles - Curi-Cancha Reserve - 22 min drive - 7.2 miles - Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve - 26 min drive - 8.5 miles #### Restaurants - ‪Tree House Restaurante & Cafe - ‬16 min drive - ‪Monteverde Brewing Company - ‬13 min drive - ‪Bon Appetit! - ‬14 min drive - ‪Café Monteverde - ‬16 min drive - ‪Don Juan Coffee Tour - ‬14 min drive ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View pet-friendly? > Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details. ### What time is check-in at Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View? > Check-in begins at 4:00 PM. ### What time is check-out at Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View? > Checkout is at 11:00 AM. ### Where is Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View located? > Situated in Sierra, this holiday home is within 6 miles (10 km) of Café Monteverde Coffee Farm, Avancarí Nature Reserve and Wildlife Refuge Monteverde. Monteverde Orchid Garden and Jardín de Orquídeas are also within 6 miles (10 km). ## Have a question? Beta Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews. Ask a question ## Stunning Artisan Home on Coffee Plantation with Exquisite View Reviews 9.6 ### Exceptional All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.[More information](https://www.expedia.co.uk/lp/b/content-guidelines) ### 9.6 Cleanliness ### 9.6 Location ### 6.0 Property conditions & facilities 10 - Excellent 199 8 - Good 39 6 - Okay 3 4 - Poor 3 2 - Terrible 0 ### 8/10 Good #### scott g. 29 Apr 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great place Ken was a great host and a valuable source of information re places to see and activities in the area. The coffee farm was a charming place to stay. ##### scott g. Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jamie G. 1 Mar 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great stay What a unique and wonderful property! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Ken (and Bella!) were wonderful hosts - super friendly, welcoming, and informative. We’d definitely recommend this to others. ##### Jamie G. Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025 ### 8/10 Good #### Jonathan F. 24 Feb 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Spacious Space Host was warm and hospitable and always happy to help. Responsive. House was well furnished with lots of bedding and towels, etc. Location was quiet and a little remote so definitely need your own transportation, but overall it was a very pleasant stay further aided by the host's hospitality. ##### Jonathan F. Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Abraham H. 2 Aug 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great Stay We booked a last minute stay. The place was large and Ken the host was super friendly. Bonus there is a working coffee farm that we walked through complete with mangos! ##### Abraham H. Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Ruth M. 29 Feb 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great Place! We wanted to stay in a place that had an authentic Costa Rica feel, and this was it! The house is clean, spacious, and comfortable. The hosts were warm and welcoming. ##### Ruth M. Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Janice F. 6 May 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Artisan home on coffee plantation Great stay! The house itself was just very cool, nice atmosphere, great hosts, beautiful area. Ken was helpful in every way and Bella was a wonderful addition to place. We couldn’t be happier with our experience! ##### Janice F. Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Kate s. 27 Nov 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great house with an unbeatable view This house was beautiful, and perfect for our family of 5. The views were spectacular, and Ken was such a great host. We stayed here for the Monteverde portion of our trip and I would definitely recommend this property. ##### Kate s. Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Verified traveller 6 Mar 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### The coffee plantation We enjoyed our stay here. It was close enough to Santa Elana for a day trip. The scenery here was beautiful. The roads were very good and mostly paved and the drive up was also beautiful! The kitchen had everything one could need we cooked several meals and we were gifted with a bag of fresh coffee from the plantation owner! ##### Verified traveller Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jason S. 6 Jan 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great experience We had a great stay at this property in the guest house. The host and his family were extremely accommodating, especially during the holiday season. Exploring the farm was interesting and will give you a new appreciation for coffee if it's part of your morning routine. The house was well set up and easily accommodated our family of 6. This is a good staging area for your adventures in the area. ##### Jason S. Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Vikki O., Honesdale, USA 22 Feb 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Incredible property Kenneth’s property and house is spacious with ample indoor and outdoor space. Our grands loved exploring and playing with Bella. We were able to see beautiful rainbows from the property. Less than 10 mikes from major attractions like Monteverdi Cloud Forest, Frog Pond, Bat Jungle, all the adventure parks with zip lining, Hanging bridges etc. great home base for exploring. ##### Vikki O. Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Kate H. 7 Apr 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Mountain getaway This is the perfect place to stay if you want to explore the Monte Verde area. Ken went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and made great suggestions of places to visit. The kids loved running around the property and we enjoyed sitting on the porch watching. Pack a set of long sleeves and pants because it can get windy/chilly. I would suggest getting a 4 wheel drive since the roads to get there can be rocky. I wouldn’t think twice to book with Ken again! ##### Kate H. Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jon C. 6 Jan 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### The adventure continues Unexpected, novel, different and beautiful. Ken's abode needs to be experienced as it offers an inside extension to the outside. Ultimately your Costa Rican visit will be all about the outside, so a well designed artisan home that blends inside and out will only supplement your holiday. Don't spoil your stay and put the telly on! Ken was attentive, informative and happy to share some of his wealth of local experience. Listen closely to his recommendations; a perfect host. I can not recommend highly enough, frankly superb. ##### Jon C. Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Shauna W. 28 Jul 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Everything we needed Thank you Ken and Yami for a wonderful 5 nights. We enjoyed it from the moment we arrived. Ken was very helpful in getting us to his location and it was easy to find, we used Waze and his additional instructions. Certainly best to arrive during daylight hours. He welcomed us with lots of information and insight. The kids loved the property and going out to see their dog Bella and bird Coco each morning and afternoon. I loved walking the property down to the farm and seeing the lovely views. There were two toys in the house that the kids loved to play with while we stayed, in addition to others we brought. Wifi was excellent. We enjoyed being a bit outside the main city but also close enough (20 min) drive to all the attractions in Monteverde. Thank you again for your hospitality! ##### Shauna W. Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024 ### 10/10 Excellent #### David M. 21 Mar 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Idyllic for birders My wife and I spent a wonderful week here exploring Monteverde and its environs. The well appointed property is situated on a coffee plantation about 20 minutes drive from Santa Elena which has plenty of grocery stores and places to eat. It is about 30 minutes from the various rainforest reserves. Combined with the birding on the coffee plantation this makes it an ideal location for birders...or you can relax and bird from the patio. I have attached my list of birds observed by myself for the six days we spent there.The owner, Kenneth, is very friendly and helpful and lives on the farm.Birds seen on plantation:Olivaceous woodcreeperLong-tailed manakinHoffmanns woodpeckerBlack and white warblerInca doveBlack swiftWhite winger doveRed-billed pigeonCommon paraqueSquirrel cuckooYellow-faced grassquitChestnut capped warblerBlackburnian warblerRufous and white wrenPiratic flycatcherOrange-billed nightingale thrushCabanis's wrenWhite-throated magpie jayWhite fronted amazonBrown hooded parrotKeel-billed toucanLesser violetearLesson's motmotCollared trogonMasked TityraTurkey VultureSnowy EgretMontezuma's OropendulaClay-colored thrushBlue-gray tanagerBrown jayCommon tody-flycatcherRed-crowned woodpeckerSwallow-tailed kiteGray-headed chacalaca. ##### David M. Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025 This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified. ### 8/10 Good #### Jean B. 7 Mar 2017 #### Very interesting home Four of us spent a week at this wonderfully rustic house built spaciously and with loving care by the owner, Ken Lander, who was a highly engaging and informative neighbor. Isolated from the hustle and bustle of Monteverde, it is still a great base from which to explore the area. A little restaurant close by down the road is a must as are walks through the property with their very gentle German shepherd, Stella. As mentioned in other reviews, there are no washrooms upstairs where most of the beds are and while this did not cause us a problem, it could be an issue for some travellers. Otherwise, a very nice place to stay ##### Jean B. Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2017 ### 8/10 Good #### Stéphanie O. 1 May 2024 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### You gotta love dog ! We were greeted by Bella, the family's dog. She followed us everywhere for the 2 days we were there. The house is big, great for large groups. Kitchen is alright. It could be cleaner overall but nothing gross. You gotta be ready to deal with bugs as they're big gaps under the doors. No mesh in the windows. We had to deal with a scorpio, a frog, a big ass spider and a bat ! We walked around in the coffee farm, it really is a beautiful place, super quiet. about 20 min to Santa Elena ##### Stéphanie O. Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024 This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified. ### 10/10 Excellent #### Ellen E. 21 Aug 2016 #### Slam Dunk Stay! Ken Lander hit the highest mark in every aspect of our stay. His communication in arranging our stay was prompt and informative. The home exceeded our expectations with cleanliness, comfy beds and remarkable architecture. Ken welcomed us to his farm as though we were family. We explored the beautiful property and were wowed by the operation of coffee farming. Most importantly, Ken's advice on places to go and things to see was invaluable. If Ken recommended it, we went! Simply because we knew it would be fantastic. Thank You Ken!! We completely enjoyed our time at the farm, in fact our family would pick your home as our 'favorite' during our vacation to Costa Rica!! ##### Ellen E. Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2016 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jayla F. 18 Nov 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Beautiful Nature Palace Stunning property and beautiful house, we loved being able to walk the coffee plantation and hang with Ken’s German Sheppard and his macaw Cocoa. We picked limes off the fruit trees for fresh squeezed margaritas and played board games on a rainy night! Great location about 20 min to town, plenty close enough to all the activities, shops, and restaurants! The only negative thing I will say for this house (which is to be expected in a tropical rainforest climate) is that it was warm at night with no AC and the windows do not have screens; so you either have to be okay being warm or accept some creepy-crawlers might end up in the house with you! It didn’t phase us and we loved it overall. We would visit again. Thank you Ken, Stella, and Cocoa! ##### Jayla F. Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023 This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified. ### 10/10 Excellent #### Sandee S. 27 May 2016 #### Nice House, Lovely Farm, Personable and Fun We had such a great time in San Rafael! The house is special and definitely feels like a home. Ken is a very personable man and will make you feel right at home. We enjoyed hearing about his involvement in the coffee industry. He recommended the going to Pension Santa Elena for advise on area activities. From there we organized a trip to the cloud forest. We loved the zip lining and the hanging bridges. Relaxing at the Pension eating at Tacos Tacos afterward really hit the spot. We were so lucky that there happened to be rodeo in town and Ken was thoughtful enough include us! Oh my gosh! That will definitely be a highlight of our trip. Being so immersed in the local culture was special. Thanks to Ken for the shout out! We also ate at the family restaurant just down the road, it was delicious and the family was very kind and patient with our lousy Spanish. We made the "best ever" margaritas using the limes from the trees just outside our door and enjoyed walking the farm with Stella the dog as our guide. The home is amazing, the farm is beautiful and we can't wait to go to Chick-fil-a to try the iced coffee! ##### Sandee S. ### 10/10 Excellent #### Kathryn G., Canada 10 Jan 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Exactly as listed, enjoyed every minute. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Casa Zabala from booking to departure. Ken Lander made sure we knew how to reach the property and stayed in contact with us throughout our journey. Ken greeted us warmly on arrival and gave us wonderful advice on what to see and where to go in the surrounding area, and places we were headed. The house presents itself exactly as is shown and is situated on the mountainside overlooking a coffee plantation. We were fortunate to be there during harvest season and were permitted to roll up our sleeves! We managed to fill a basket of the ripe, red, sticky coffee cherries alongside the pickers! It was great fun even though our ankles/legs were eaten by bugs. No wonder the pickers had long pants tucked into rubber boots! We were educated in coffee bean processing and it was fascinating! We definitely have a much greater appreciation for every bean that we as coffee consumers buy! From this location it is a short jaunt to Monteverde and all the glorious offerings in the area. Very friendly and accommodating - the house is spacious and lovely! Would highly recommend. ##### Kathryn G. Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jonathan R. 27 Feb 2023 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### It was wonderful! We so enjoyed our stay in Abangares! The house has a rustic charm that fit the location very well. It's not a luxury rental, but definitely has all you need. The property is beautiful. Morning yoga on the deck was a highlight for me. Our younger kids had a blast exploring around the house and playing with the friendly dog Bella. We cooked a little in the kitchen, which was equipped for all our needs. I'm guessing windy nights are typical for the area. I was kept awake much of the first night, but the rest of my family didn't complain of it. I slept much better the next three nights. Alexander spent time giving us a fantastic tour of the coffee plantation. He had the kids help out by hauling a crate, and we all enjoyed getting up close to the process. What an amazing story he has to tell about it all! Don't miss a chance to hear it. One thing that could improve the comfort of the home is some new living room furniture. Also, mattress protectors on all the beds would be nice. We'd stay here again! There's so much to do in nearby Monteverde and Santa Elena. We left with priceless memories of ziplining through the cloud forest, horseback riding at sunset, jumping in an icy-cold waterfall, and marveling at the fascinating flora and fauna. This home was a great homebase for it all. ##### Jonathan R. Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023 This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified. ### 4/10 Poor #### Lynn A. 12 Sept 2016 #### Very rustic and not a good place to visit as adults after children are in bed Kenneth's brother in law was there to make suggestions for tours and to give us a tour of the plantation. He was great. If it wasn't for him we would give this place lower marks. We were disappointed with the accommodations. There is no subflooring for upstairs so the sounds carry completely from room to room. At night when the children were in the loft there was no place the adults could go in the house to play cards or even talk without waking the children. If we went into the master bedroom downstairs the children in the bedroom upstairs could hear us. There is no seating in the bedroom except for the bed. The dining table has very heavy chairs around it which are difficult to move to the bedroom so there was no place to go to talk or play cards after the kids go to bed. Also there was no bathroom upstairs so if the children or anyone upstairs need the restroom at night they need to walk downstairs. Upstairs sleeps 7. The place is very rustic. The frying pan was very dented and bent. One burner on the stove did not work. The kitchen sink had a continual drip. There was a coffee table with a glass top that had a nude woman in wood under it. We covered the table with an cloth because we didn't want our grandchildren to see it. Inappropriate for a family friendly place, I think. ##### Lynn A. Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2016 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Mélanie B. 29 Jul 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy Très bien ##### Mélanie B. Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Jenny B. 25 Jun 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Great hospitality Ken and Juan were outgoing hosts eager to make our stay great. The artisan home is welcoming. The grounds are beautiful. We appreciated the use of the laundry. We absolutely loved El Despacio cafe down the street. We played games and enjoyed the view as the chef made meals for each of us so good we returned the next night and all ordered the same dishes. ##### Jenny B. Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025 ### 10/10 Excellent #### Troy H. 14 Apr 2025 Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy #### Perfect Monteverde We loved our stay. Close to Monteverde for lots of outings. It only takes about 15 min to drive. We enjoyed our walks with Bella the Shepard through the coffee fields and listening to Coco the blue and gold macaw call for her back. Ken was great and always available if we needed anything. We would definitely stay here again! ##### Troy H. 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