Frequently asked questions

The main house has 6 bedrooms and comfortably sleeps up to 12 guests. The ADU studio adds a king bed, kitchenette, and private bathroom, bringing total capacity to 14 to 19 guests depending on configuration. Groups of 16 have stayed comfortably, including multi-generation families and multi-family reunions. Contact us to discuss the best setup for your group size.

The four standard bedrooms have identical layouts: king or queen bed, large closet, workspace desk, reading nook, and private en-suite bathroom. Guests consistently mention this as a practical relief because there are no arguments over who got the better room. The master bedroom is larger, with a soaking tub and private pool access. The ADU studio is a separate suite ideal for grandparents or guests who prefer morning quiet.

Yes, the villa is fully single-story with no steps between main living areas. The ADU suite has a larger bathroom designed with accessibility in mind. Golf carts are available to rent through the concierge, which is particularly useful for guests who prefer not to walk the distances within the community in the heat. The concierge can arrange one in advance so it is waiting at the villa on arrival day.

Yes. The villa has central air conditioning throughout with individual controls in each bedroom. Guests consistently note that the AC was effective even during the hottest months.

Yes, there is a waterslide, and it comes up in nearly every review. The pool and slide area is the first thing most kids refuse to leave. The pool also has a waterfall feature, generous deck space, and outdoor lounge furniture. The rancho adjacent to the pool has covered seating for shade and is where most groups end up spending their evenings.

Yes. The villa has high-speed internet. This has been noted specifically by guests who worked remotely during extended stays. One group stayed for five weeks and flagged reliable WiFi as a key requirement that the property met.

109 five-star reviews on Stay in Tamarindo. Guests consistently praise the housekeeper service, the pool and waterslide, the space for large groups, and the concierge's ability to arrange excursions, chef dinners, and activities. Read the full breakdown in our guest reviews summary, or visit the reviews page.

Elite Service includes a dedicated housekeeper present daily from approximately 8am to 5pm who prepares a full breakfast every morning, keeps all bedrooms and common areas clean throughout the day, and handles light household needs. A concierge is available before and during your stay to arrange excursions, private chef dinners, airport transfers, golf cart rentals, snorkeling gear, and any other requests. Both are included in the villa rental.

The housekeeper arrives every morning, prepares a full breakfast for the whole group, keeps all bedrooms and bathrooms clean daily, restocks towels and essentials, and is available for drinks and snacks through the day. She is a familiar, consistent presence for the entire week. In more than 80% of reviews, guests mention her by name as one of the highlights of the trip. Several groups say they cried at checkout.

The concierge regularly arranges: surf lessons, ATV tours, ziplining, catamaran day trips, horseback riding on the beach, kayaking, private chef dinners, airport shuttle coordination, rental car delivery to the airport, golf cart rentals, in-house massages, snorkeling gear, and babysitting. Message the concierge before your trip with your group's ages and interests and they will put together a recommended week.

Regular concierge and support hours are approximately 9am to 5pm. There is a dedicated after-hours emergency contact number listed in the house manual. Several guests have mentioned needing it unexpectedly, so the recommendation is to find and save that number on your first day at the villa rather than searching for it later.

Yes, and this is one of the most popular requests for milestone trips and family reunions. The concierge coordinates with a private chef who comes to the villa and cooks a full dinner for the group. Reviews consistently describe this as one of the week's highlights, with everyone around the outdoor table without the logistics of finding a restaurant that seats 16. Book through the concierge at least a few days in advance.

Fly into Liberia Airport (LIR), also called Daniel Oduber International Airport. This is the closest airport to Hacienda Pinilla and the standard arrival point for guests. San Jose Airport (SJO) is significantly farther and not recommended for this property.

Approximately 75 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Add 20 to 30 minutes for a grocery stop near the airport. The route is mostly highway and well-paved road. The last stretch into Hacienda Pinilla is a rougher road, which is normal for Costa Rica. Read the full arrival guide: how to get from Liberia Airport to Hacienda Pinilla.

Yes. A rental car is essential for grocery runs, restaurant trips to Tamarindo, and any day excursion off the property. Tamarindo is approximately 20 to 30 minutes away. For groups of 14 or more, two cars makes daily life considerably easier so different parts of the group can split without coordinating a single vehicle. Rental car agencies can deliver directly to Liberia Airport.

Yes, and stopping here is one of the most consistently recommended tips from guests. There is a large supermarket 3 minutes from the airport on the route toward Tamarindo. This is the best opportunity to stock the villa before arrival. The nearest grocery option to the villa itself is a smaller market inside Hacienda Pinilla. Do the big shop on the way in.

Hacienda Pinilla has staffed security at the entrance. Your vehicle and party will be pre-registered by the concierge so arrival is straightforward. Any third parties entering the community, including tour operators, private chefs, food delivery, and other service providers, need a gate access code arranged in advance. This is easy to do through the concierge but catches groups off guard when forgotten. Contact the concierge at least 48 hours before any external vendor arrives.

Yes. The concierge can arrange a private shuttle or transfer service from Liberia Airport to the villa. This is useful for guests arriving late, guests who prefer not to drive, or situations where some of the group arrives on different flights. Confirm with the concierge when you book.

Playa Bonita is not a traditional swimming beach. The shoreline has significant reef and rock formations that make open-water swimming difficult. It is outstanding for walking, tide pool exploring, and watching sunsets. At low tide a natural lagoon forms between the reef and shore that is excellent for snorkeling. Guests who know this beforehand love the beach for what it is. The Hacienda Pinilla Beach Club has a pool, which is the better option for casual swimming. Read the full guide: Playa Bonita at low tide.

Guests have reported lobsters, sea turtles, parrotfish, and a wide variety of reef fish in the low-tide lagoon. The calm, shallow water makes visibility excellent and the experience accessible for older children and adults. Water shoes are recommended for the rocky entry.

Playa Bonita is approximately a 5-minute walk through the shaded streets of Las Golondrinas neighborhood inside Hacienda Pinilla. By golf cart it is about 2 minutes. The walk itself is pleasant, with tropical canopy overhead and frequent howler monkey sightings in the trees.

Surf lessons, ATV tours, ziplining and canopy tours, catamaran day trips, horseback riding on the beach, kayaking, private chef dinners, in-house massages, and more. The concierge has established relationships with reliable local operators for all of these. Message before your trip with the group's ages and interests for a recommended itinerary.

Yes. Howler monkeys live in the trees around the villa and are mentioned in over 40 reviews. They are most active at dawn and in the late afternoon. The sound is loud and deep, more like a roar than a screech, and it surprises most guests the first time. Nearly everyone loves it. They are wild animals and should be observed at a respectful distance and never fed. See the full guide: howler monkeys at Hacienda Pinilla.

Beyond howler monkeys, guests have reported scarlet macaws, deer, iguanas, lizards, and a wide variety of tropical birds in and around the property. Sea turtles have been spotted in the low-tide lagoon at Playa Bonita. The walk to the beach through Las Golondrinas is one of the better wildlife corridors on the property.

Yes. The concierge can arrange a cart before arrival and have it waiting at the villa. Golf carts are permitted on all internal roads within the community. From the villa you can reach Playa Bonita in 2 minutes, the Beach Club in 5, the market in 8, and the JW Marriott in around 10. Multiple guests mention this as something they wish they had arranged from day one. See the full guide: golf carts at Hacienda Pinilla.

The Hacienda Pinilla Beach Club is a community facility accessible to villa guests. It has a pool, restaurant, and ocean views. Access requires a fee of approximately $5 per person. It is a short golf cart ride from the villa and is a good option for casual swimming and lunch. The JW Marriott, approximately 10 minutes away by cart, also has amenities accessible to non-hotel guests.

Yes. Hacienda Pinilla is a private, gated community with staffed security at the entrance and internal roads. Guests consistently describe feeling very safe. The community is quiet and well-maintained. Children can move around the streets freely.

Tamarindo is approximately 20 to 30 minutes by car. It is a worthwhile trip for restaurants, bars, surf shops, nightlife, and the famous Tamarindo surf break. It is not walking or golf cart distance, so plan it as a deliberate outing rather than a spontaneous one. Most groups go two or three times during the week.

Yes, particularly the Guanacaste coast. The climate in the dry season is predictable, the terrain around Hacienda Pinilla is accessible, and the range of activities covers every age from young children to grandparents. The private villa format solves the room-assignment problem that causes friction at hotels, and the staffed service model means no one generation ends up managing the household. See the full planning guide: multi-generational family trip to Costa Rica.

Bookings are managed by Stay in Tamarindo. You can check availability and book directly at stayintamarindo.com. If you have questions before booking, message us on WhatsApp and a member of the team will respond within a few hours.

The typical minimum stay is 5 to 7 nights. High season and holiday periods may have longer minimums. Contact us or check availability on Stay in Tamarindo for specific dates.

The dry season runs roughly December through April and is the most popular period: reliably sunny, low humidity, and ideal beach conditions. The green season (May through November) brings afternoon rain showers, lush vegetation, and quieter beaches, with lower rates and excellent wildlife activity. Many guests prefer the green season for its lower rates and the feeling of having the community almost to themselves.

Yes. The housekeeper and concierge services are included in the villa rental rate. There is no additional charge for the daily breakfast, housekeeping, or concierge coordination. Activities, excursions, private chef dinners, golf cart rentals, and other add-ons are priced separately and arranged through the concierge.

The most common practical tips from 109 reviews: stop at the supermarket near Liberia Airport on the way in; rent a golf cart, especially if traveling with grandparents or young children; pre-register any external vendors with the gate at least 48 hours in advance; and save the after-hours emergency contact number on arrival day. All of these are easy to handle with a quick message to the concierge before the trip.