Casa Mariposa

Manuel Antonio · Costa Rica

Where the junglemeetsthe sea.

A big, warm house full of life, minutes from Costa Rica's most visited national park. A pool with a slide, an open-air rancho under the stars and monkeys stopping by every morning.

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Immersed in the jungle.

The pool

Immersed in the jungle.

The house isn't next to nature: it's inside it. The canopy wraps around it, monkeys cross the branches and the pool peeks through the leaves.

By day, it's yours.

The pool

By day, it's yours.

Infinity edge into the jungle, beach-style steps and a rock slide with a waterfall that no adult can resist.

At sunset, it lights up.

The pool

At sunset, it lights up.

The rancho switches on, the grill gets going and the sky does its thing behind the canopy.

By night, it's another house.

The pool

By night, it's another house.

Warm water, stars, frogs and the hum of the jungle. Nobody wants to go in to bed.

Pura vida, with a slide

You're not booking a house. You're booking permission to switch off.

Casa Mariposa sits on a hillside between Quepos and Manuel Antonio, wrapped in rainforest canopy with the Pacific peeking through the trees. It's base camp for a week of wonder: howler monkeys at dawn, mornings in the park, afternoons in the pool and nights in the rancho with the lights on.

It's a house built for real groups and families: five en-suite bedrooms, a full kitchen, Costa Rican breakfast every morning and room for everyone to have their own corner. And yes, dogs are welcome too.

The house

Room for everyone, jungle for each one.

Pool with slide seen from above

Pool and slide

The house's center of gravity.

A big, curved pool with an infinity edge that disappears into the jungle. Beach entry for the little ones, a deep end for the big ones and a slide built into a rock formation with a waterfall. Next to it, a children's playground and a wide garden.

Rancho lit up at sunset next to the pool

The rancho

Where the nights happen.

Covered outdoor dining for the whole family, gas grill, bar and string lights over the pool. It's the place for long dinners, card games, low music and stories about what you saw in the park.

Wood and granite kitchen with breakfast bar

Living and kitchen

A real kitchen, for real cooking.

Open plan with high ceilings, a fully equipped wood and granite kitchen, dining for 10 and a living room opening onto the terrace. Espresso machine, TV with Netflix and Disney, and fiber internet for whoever has to log on.

Bedroom with hand-painted jungle mural

Bedrooms

Five suites, each with its own character.

All with private bath, air conditioning and ceiling fan. Hand-painted jungle murals, local wood and a blue morpho butterfly in the master that gives the house its name. A lower level with its own lounge and spiral staircase so one group can have its own space.

Everything else

  • Pool with a slide

  • Rancho under the stars

  • 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths

  • Costa Rican breakfast included

  • Fiber and room to work

  • Pet friendly

  • Wildlife in the garden

  • Parking and self check-in

Inside the house

Three floors, four bedrooms and an apartment.

Each group gets its own floor and its own privacy; everyone meets in the kitchen, the rancho and the pool. Bedrooms you don't book are never offered to anyone else: the whole house is yours.

Level 1 · First floor · The entrance

Where you arrive, cook and eat.

You walk in at street level, no steps: an open plan with a full kitchen, living and dining room, half bath and a wraparound balcony that runs the whole way around the floor, with the pool and the jungle on every side. Two bedrooms with full baths and, in the living room, a sofa bed for two. An inside staircase goes down to the second floor and a side staircase leads straight to the BBQ and the pool.

What's on this floor

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Full kitchen
  • Living and dining room with TV
  • Half bath
  • Wraparound balcony around the whole floor
  • Inside staircase to the second floor
  • Side staircase to the BBQ and the pool
  • Air conditioning and ceiling fans
  • Plus a sofa bed in the living room that sleeps 2.
Master bedroom with blue morpho butterfly painting
Bedroom 01sleeps 2

Morpho Master

1 king bed

The blue butterfly that names the house watches over the bed. High ceilings, a sofa at the foot and a door to the balcony.

  • Walk-in closet
  • Full bath
  • Sofa
  • TV
  • Air conditioning and fan
Bedroom with jungle mural and two beds
Bedroom 02sleeps 3

Mural Room

1 queen + 1 single bed

Hand-painted jungle from wall to ceiling and doors to the balcony. Ideal for a couple with a child or three friends.

  • Closet
  • Full bath
  • TV
  • Air conditioning and fan

Level 2 · Second floor · The pool

The family room opens straight onto the pool.

One level down, also wheelchair accessible: a family room with a queen sofa bed and doors to the deck, connected to the BBQ rancho and the pool. Two bedrooms: one with a desk for whoever has to work a while, and one with two queen beds and an en-suite bath.

What's on this floor

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Family room with TV, connected to the BBQ and the pool
  • Full bath shared by the family room and bedroom 03
  • Air conditioning and ceiling fans
  • Plus a queen sofa bed in the family room that sleeps 2.
Bedroom with scarlet macaw painting and desk
Bedroom 03sleeps 2

Macaw Room

1 king bed

Scarlet macaws above the bed and a wooden desk for whoever has to log on for a while.

  • Desk or work area
  • Open wardrobe for clothes and luggage
  • Full bath shared with the family room
  • TV
  • Air conditioning and fan
Bedroom with two beds and heliconia art
Bedroom 04sleeps 4

Heliconia Room

2 queen beds

Two queen beds, windows to the garden and heliconia art. The family room of the house.

  • En-suite full bath
  • Open wardrobe for clothes and luggage
  • TV
  • Air conditioning and fan

Level 3 · Third floor · The apartment

Independent, with its own lounge and terrace.

A separate bedroom with a king bed, closet and full bath, plus an outdoor sitting area facing the jungle and a sofa bed for two. It connects to the house by the spiral staircase, so whoever sleeps here has total privacy without missing out.

What's on this floor

  • King bed
  • Full bath
  • Closet
  • Sitting area with TV
  • Outdoor sitting area
  • Spiral staircase to the second floor
  • Plus a sofa bed that sleeps 2.
Apartment bedroom with wooden dresser
Apartmentsleeps 2

Jungle Apartment

1 king bed

Bedroom with a wooden dresser and fiber mirror, full bath and a terrace where the jungle wakes you up.

  • Full bath
  • Closet
  • TV
  • Sofa bed for 2
  • Outdoor sitting area
Wooden balcony overlooking the pool and jungle

From the terrace, the jungle is the show.

Toucans at eye level, howlers at dawn and the sea peeking through the leaves.

The house

A walk through in photos

12 minutes away

Costa Rica's most visited national park is just around the corner.

Manuel Antonio National Park was born in 1972 because the community demanded its beaches stay open to everyone. Today it protects tropical wet forest, mangroves, islands and some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet, in an area so compact you see more wildlife in one morning than in weeks elsewhere.

Buy tickets at SINACOfficial SINAC data · Wednesday to Monday, 7:00 to 15:00. Closed Tuesdays. Tickets online only.
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  • Squirrel monkey

    Squirrel monkey

    Saimiri oerstedii

    The park's emblem and Costa Rica's smallest, most endangered primate. It lives almost nowhere else.

  • Sloth

    Sloth

    Bradypus variegatus

    Sleeps up to 20 hours a day in the cecropia trees. Guides find one 80% of mornings.

  • White-faced capuchin

    White-faced capuchin

    Cebus imitator

    Curious, clever and a professional backpack thief on the beach.

  • Morpho butterfly

    Morpho butterfly

    Morpho helenor

    Electric blue, the size of your hand. The one the house is named after.

  • Toucan

    Toucan

    Ramphastos ambiguus

    Fiery-billed aracaris and yellow-throated toucans live in the canopy around the house.

  • Scarlet macaw

    Scarlet macaw

    Ara macao

    Flies in pairs, screams loud and paints the sky red, yellow and blue.

Playa Manuel AntonioPlaya Manuel Antonio

Beaches

  • Playa Manuel Antonio

    Inside the park. Sheltered cove, calm water, snorkeling on the sides. Top 25 in the world.

  • Espadilla Sur

    Inside the park. Wide at low tide, fewer people, livelier surf.

  • Espadilla Norte

    Public and free. Beginner surf, sunsets and bars with your feet in the sand.

  • Biesanz

    Hidden behind a jungle trail. Ideal for snorkeling and swimming with kids.

Aerial view of Casa Mariposa: pool, rancho and rainforest

Fourteen people. One house. Nobody waits their turn.

Five suites, two lounges, a rancho and a pool for everyone.

A pura vida day

This is what a day at Casa Mariposa feels like.

Swipe to move through the day →

5:30

Howlers wake you up

Howlers wake you up

The howler monkeys' roar crosses the jungle before the sun does. Coffee on the terrace as the canopy lights up.

6:30

Costa Rican breakfast

Costa Rican breakfast

Gallo pinto, eggs, sweet plantain and just-cut fruit. The toucans have breakfast at the same time in the fig tree.

7:00

The park opens

The park opens

Twelve minutes by car. With a guide and a scope, sloths, squirrel monkeys and frogs appear where you only saw leaves.

10:30

Playa Manuel Antonio

Playa Manuel Antonio

After the trail, the reward: a cove of calm water and white sand inside the park.

13:00

Ceviche, tico style

Ceviche, tico style

Fresh fish with lime, cilantro and sweet pepper, served with patacones. At a soda in Quepos, at the marina or at a restaurant above the canopy.

15:00

Slide time

Slide time

Pool, slide, nap in the rancho. Capuchins cross the branches next door.

17:30

Sunset

Sunset

From the terrace, from a catamaran or from a bar on the hill. Every day is different and all of them are good.

19:30

Grill under the lights

Grill under the lights

The rancho lights up. Grill, low music, a sky full of stars and the jungle humming in the background.

Eat like a local

Manuel Antonio has some of the best dining options in the country. For every budget.

From casado sodas for a few dollars to Peruvian fusion and seafood above the canopy, pizzerias over the treetops and a bar inside an airplane. There's a table for every wallet and every craving. This is our short list, the one we give our friends.

  1. 01

    El Avión

    Iconic sunset

    Bar and restaurant inside a Fairchild C-123 with a story. Arrive by 4:45 pm for a table with a view.

  2. 02

    Ronny's Place

    Two-bay view

    A farm high on the hill, Costa Rican and international food and the most photographed sunset around.

  3. 03

    Agua Azul

    Seafood above the canopy

    Fish in Caribbean sauce, tuna tostada with patacones and the ocean behind.

  4. 04

    Emilio's Café

    Breakfast and brunch

    Eggs Benedict, pinto with plantain and views over jungle and sea.

  5. 05

    Mangata

    Peruvian fusion

    Ceviche, lomo saltado and pisco sour at the Mercadito Gastronómico.

  6. 06

    El Lagarto

    Wood-fired grill

    Meats and seafood over embers on a grill unlike any other in the area.

  7. 07

    Marisquería Jiuberths

    The locals' favorite

    In Quepos. Fresh seafood, no pretense, the way it should be.

  8. 08

    Soda Sánchez

    Authentic casado

    Rice, beans, plantain, salad and the protein of the day. Cheap, honest, delicious.

The farmers' market: the best plan for Saturday.A tico tradition

The farmers' market: the best plan for Saturday.

Every week, farming families from the area come down to town with the harvest. It's a market, a meeting place and a genuine slice of Costa Rican community life. You buy straight from the person who grew it, pay less than at the supermarket and take home the freshest fruit you'll ever taste.

  • Seasonal fruit, just picked

    Mango, papaya, pineapple, rambutan, soursop, cas, starfruit, cold coconut water. Ask for a taste: it's customary and appreciated.

  • Natural and often organic

    Vegetables, yuca, chayote, culantro, honey, artisan cheese and homemade bread from small farms a few kilometres away.

  • Great prices, and you support local people

    No middlemen. Every colón goes straight to a farming family from Quepos and the surrounding hills.

  • Breakfast included

    Tamales, hand-made tortillas, empanadas and freshly brewed coffee. Come hungry.

Quepos, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Go early, bring a reusable bag and small bills. We'll tell you how to get there and what's in season when you book.

When to come

Two seasons, two different houses.

SunsetsWhales until AprilNight tours

Guaranteed sun

Clear skies, 27 to 29 °C, crisp sunsets and special night tours in the park. It's the dry season and the busiest one: book months ahead.

Rates and booking

One nightly rate, the whole house.

Casa Mariposa is rented as a whole, never by the room. The rate covers up to 12 guests; for 13 and 14 we quote separately. No platform fees: you talk directly to us.

May to November

Green season

The jungle at its peak, the best price.

$425per night
  • up to 12 guests
  • 2-night minimum
  • whole house

December to April

High season

Guaranteed sun, the busiest months.

$625per night
  • up to 12 guests
  • 2-night minimum
  • whole house

Special dates

Christmas and New Year

The year-end weeks are quoted separately and book far in advance. Write to us for price and availability.

Price to be confirmed

Ask about these dates

What's included

  • The whole house: 4 bedrooms, apartment, pool with slide, rancho with BBQ and gardens
  • Costa Rican breakfast every morning
  • Air conditioning, fans and TV in every bedroom and living area
  • Fiber internet and espresso machine
  • Parking for 2 or 3 cars inside the gated community
  • Self check-in and WhatsApp support during your stay

Terms

  • The whole property is rented, not individual rooms
  • Rate for 12 guests; guests 13 and 14 quoted separately
  • 2-night minimum stay
  • Prices in US dollars, taxes not included
  • Christmas and New Year: price to be confirmed
  • Direct payment, no middlemen or platform fees

Quote your dates

Pick check-in and check-out and we'll show you the number.

Pick your dates to see the estimated total.

Ask on WhatsApp

How to book

  1. 1

    Pick your dates

    Quote here or fill in the form below with your details.

  2. 2

    We confirm on WhatsApp

    Availability and final price the same day.

  3. 3

    Pay directly

    No middlemen or fees. We send payment instructions on WhatsApp.

Sun loungers by the pool at dusk

The sunset looks better from here.

And if not, El Avión is seven minutes away.

Practical guide

What to know before you come.

Getting here+

From San José, 3 hours via Route 27 and the Costanera Sur. Or a 25-minute flight to Quepos (XQP), 10 minutes from the house.

Park tickets+

Online only at the SINAC website. No gate sales, and in high season they sell out 2 or 3 days ahead. We'll help you.

Park rules+

No food or drink (there are water fountains inside), no pets, no drones, no umbrellas or hammocks. Closed shoes on the trails.

The manchineel tree+

The beach tree with apple-like fruit is toxic. Don't sit in its shade or touch it.

What to pack+

Repellent, reef-safe sunscreen, reusable bottle, binoculars, sandals for the house and closed shoes for the jungle.

Official guides+

The Quepos certified guides' association operates inside the park. With a scope you see 3 times more wildlife.

Getting here

On the hill between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

Casa Mariposa sits in a gated community on the road that links Quepos with the park. Five minutes from town and the marina, ten from the beaches and twelve from the National Park entrance. Tap the map or open the route in your favorite app.

Coordinates: 9.421035, -84.1551867

From San José

  1. By car

    2.5 to 3 h

    Route 27 towards Caldera, then the Costanera Sur (Route 34) to Quepos. Paved road all the way; the Tárcoles river bridge, with its crocodiles, is the mandatory stop.

  2. By plane

    25 min + 10 min

    Domestic flight from San José (SJO) to Quepos airport (XQP). From the airport to the house it's a 10-minute taxi ride.

  3. Private or shared shuttle

    3 to 3.5 h

    Door-to-door shuttle from Juan Santamaría airport or from San José. We can help you arrange it.

  4. By bus

    3.5 h

    Direct bus San José to Quepos from the Tracopa terminal. From the Quepos terminal, a 5-minute taxi.

The last stretch: from downtown Quepos take the road to Manuel Antonio (Route 618). The house is on the hill about 2 km up, inside a gated community with parking for 2 or 3 cars. Once your booking is confirmed we send the exact pin and access instructions.

Distances from the house

As the crow flies. By car, 5 to 12 minutes.

  • Marina Pez Vela1.2 km · ~5 min
  • Downtown Quepos1.3 km · ~6 min
  • El Avión2.1 km · ~7 min
  • Biesanz Beach2.2 km · ~8 min
  • Espadilla Beach2.9 km · ~9 min
  • Park entrance3.8 km · ~12 min
  • Quepos airport3.7 km · ~10 min

What guests say

4.91 out of 5 across 67 reviews.

  • Peace, rest, nature on your doorstep.

    Airbnb guest
  • Monkeys and scarlet macaws visited us every day.

    Airbnb guest
  • Private and secluded, yet minutes from everything.

    Airbnb guest

Real reviews from the current Airbnb listing. Airbnb ↗

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