Frequently Asked Questions

The guest house is a free-standing structure above the lower garage at the bottom of the property, on the Calle Soles side. Neither is included in the standard rental.

Guests always have pedestrian access to Calle Soles through the lower garage at no charge. During working hours, the lower garage is where our staff park. If you'll have more than two vehicles, the lower garage can be added to your rental by advance request -- we need the notice so we can relocate staff parking for the duration of your stay.

The guest house is available for $500 per night and is designed for nannies, au pairs, or additional traveling companions who need their own space. Request it in writing at booking and we'll add it to your rental contract. If not requested, it stays closed to the main party. Either way, we won't rent the guest house to anyone else during your stay.

See photos and take a 360° virtual tour of the guest house →

Your stay includes daily housekeeping (Yerlin, every day except Sunday), maintenance (Gerald, Monday through Saturday mornings), and landscaping (David, Monday through Saturday mornings). Complimentary breakfast is served Monday through Saturday -- western or traditional Costa Rican, tailored to your preferences and any dietary needs.

Brian King (property manager) will meet you at the villa upon arrival for a full tour and is available by phone or WhatsApp throughout your stay: +506 8312-6796, kingbythesea@gmail.com.

Andrea Hidalgo (concierge) arranges airport transfers, tours, in-villa chef, massage, and other services at no charge for her time: +506 8414-7915, hello@luciernagatamarindo.com.

Both Brian and Andrea prefer to communicate by phone or WhatsApp.

Yes. Andrea can arrange pre-arrival grocery stocking from Auto Mercado, which is less than a mile from the villa. She can also arrange private chef service for a single meal or your full stay, in-villa massages, yoga instructors, surf lessons, sport fishing, ATV tours, and Guanacaste day trips. Yerlin and her sister can also prepare traditional Costa Rican meals at your request -- a warm, personal alternative to a professional chef.

Transfers aren't included but are easy to arrange. Share your flight details with Andrea and she'll match you with a vetted local driver. Typical rates to and from the Liberia airport range from USD $125-175 each way depending on vehicle size. Payment is in USD. If you reserved a rental car, your rental car company will send a driver to meet you at the airport and shuttle you to their off-airport lot to complete paperwork.

Liberia (LIR). It's about 75 minutes from the villa with direct flights from most major U.S. hubs. San José (SJO) works but adds 4-5 hours of mountain driving -- only worth it if you're combining Tamarindo with the Central Valley or Arenal.

A 4WD SUV is recommended if you plan to do excursions outside Tamarindo. Tamarindo itself is walkable, but many beaches, restaurants, and nature experiences need a vehicle. The villa has two secure garages. Prefer not to drive? Andrea arranges drivers and excursions.

Golf cart and ATV rentals are available a few blocks from the El Tesoro entrance and are popular for getting around town. Note that HOA rules limit golf carts to a maximum of 4 passengers on the steep roads approaching the villa. Larger golf carts and ATVs can be parked in the lower garage on Calle Soles, which is not subject to HOA restrictions -- let us know in advance and we'll make it available.

The villa sits in El Tesoro, a hillside enclave above Tamarindo. Playa Tamarindo is a 3-block walk (approx. 7 minutes). Playa Langosta is a 5-minute drive through town, though it can also be reached on foot. The town's restaurants and shops are within walking distance or a quick drive. Auto Mercado, the nearest full supermarket, is under a mile away.

Yes -- a complimentary breakfast is included with your stay, except on Sundays, and can be tailored to your group's preferences. Yerlin prepares it fresh each morning, Monday through Saturday.

A western breakfast includes eggs, bacon, local fruit, and fresh breads. A traditional Costa Rican breakfast centers on gallo pinto -- rice and black beans cooked together, served with eggs, natilla (sour cream), fried sweet plantains, fresh tortillas, and an assortment of tropical fruit, all accompanied by café chorreado, Costa Rica's traditional drip coffee.

Yerlin is happy to work around dietary needs and restrictions -- just let us know in advance and she'll adjust accordingly.

Yes. The villa runs two Wi-Fi networks: a primary network (Starlink) that covers the whole property, and a dedicated streaming network for the theater and smart TVs. Bandwidth comfortably supports video calls, remote work, and simultaneous streaming. The theater room and several terraces make excellent workspaces. A local high-speed fiber connection stands by as failover should Starlink become unavailable.

High season runs mid-November through the end of April -- dry, sunny, and ideal for beach days and sunset dinners. May through mid-November is the "green season": lush landscapes, fewer crowds, better rates, and afternoon rain showers instead of all-day storms. September and October are the wettest months and also the best for experienced surfers. Check the Experiences page if you're interested in a particular adventure and want to be sure it's in season.

The villa is a multi-level hillside home with stairs between floors. One primary suite is on the main floor and reachable with no stair climbing; the upper garage, pool, great room, and main kitchen are all on that same level. Please share specific needs during your inquiry so we can advise honestly about fit.

It depends on your activities. In and around Tamarindo: light breathable clothing (cotton, linen), swimsuits, reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent, sunhat and sunglasses, closed-toe shoes for hikes or ATV tours, a light layer for air-conditioned evenings, and a reusable water bottle. If you plan to do anything involving elevation (e.g., the Cloud Forest), pack warmer layers and perhaps some rain ponchos. Pharmacy basics are easy to find in Tamarindo, and a detailed packing list goes out in a pre-arrival email to confirmed guests.

Yes, the water is safe to drink. The villa's water is supplied by a private, local water company, and filtered drinking water is available in the cook's kitchen (both refrigerator and sink). No special vaccinations are required for travel from the U.S., Canada, or EU -- check your country's travel health authority for current guidance.

Check-in is at 3:00 PM; check-out is at 10:00 AM. Brian King (our property manager) or his designee will meet you at the villa upon arrival to walk you through everything. Early check-in or late check-out can sometimes be accommodated -- please ask Andrea in advance.

Villa Luciérnaga is a private residential rental. Events with outside guests -- weddings, parties, or any gathering that extends beyond your registered rental party -- are not permitted. Private celebrations within your rental group are of course welcome.

Nightly rates are $4,000 in low season (May 1 -- November 15), $5,000 in high season (November 15 -- April 30), and $7,000 during the Christmas and New Year's weeks. The minimum stay is 3 nights (one full week during the holiday weeks).

There is no cleaning fee, and every stay includes complimentary breakfast (Monday through Saturday), daily housekeeping, and our concierge's services. Shared across two or three families, the villa typically works out to $1,350–$2,500 per family per night.

Check live availability and get an exact quote →

Payment: A 50% deposit is due at booking. The remaining 50% is due 60 days before your stay begins. Bookings made within 60 days of arrival are payable in full at booking.

Cancellation: Cancel within 72 hours of booking -- and 90 or more days before arrival -- and your deposit is fully refundable, less any non-recoverable processing fees. Cancel 60 or more days before arrival and the deposit is non-refundable, but the full amount paid may be applied as a credit toward a future stay. Cancel within 60 days of arrival and no refund is issued, though up to 75% of the amount paid may be applied as a future-stay credit.

Future-stay credits are valid for 12 months from your original arrival date, good for one stay subject to availability, applied to the rate then in effect (you pay any difference), and exclusive of platform fees and taxes already incurred.

Security deposit: A refundable $7,500 security deposit is also required, charged ahead of your stay. It is a refundable damage hold, not a cancellation penalty, and is returned in full within 5 business days after checkout -- or after a cancellation -- less the cost of any damage.

Cleaning fee: None -- standard end-of-stay cleaning is included.

Travel insurance: Because of these terms, we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance, including “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage, to protect your trip.

We accept major credit cards via our secure booking system and bank wire for the full balance. We also accept USDC stablecoin payments (via Ethereum or Base) for guests who prefer crypto.

Villa Luciérnaga is not pet-friendly. The villa contains fine finishes, antique carved wood, and delicate furnishings.