Here's what some other past guests had to say about Loco
Natural:
David from Minneapolis, MN July 19, 2010
Four of us stayed at Casa Mambo in April, and we couldn't have had a better time. The beautiful house, nestled in the jungle, provided a comfortable and serene place to stay in Puerto Viejo. We especially loved lazing around in the hammocks, sitting out on the upstairs deck, and hiking to the waterfall on the back side of the property. We also enjoyed cooking delicious dinners in the Casa's kitchen.
This stay is ideal for those who are not too squeamish. Nearly the entire house is open air, which makes for great airflow and a round-the-clock tropical feel. But on the other hand, people creeped out by insects might want to find something different.
Pamela and Carter are excellent hosts. They helped us find the best restaurants and most interesting activities in the area. We strongly recommend Casa Mambo!
Sativa Turner from San Francisco, CA July 17, 2010
Loco Natural is paradise found! every single aspect of it. The House - my family and i stayed in the Ranchito for several weeks. it was like living in a treehouse on the ground floor. airy, open, private. built from the beautiful Laurel trees on the property. the house felt warm, soft, almost alive. we fell in love. swinging in the hammocks listening to reggae and watching the toucans fly from tree to tree. The Property - it felt like we were alone in the middle of a landscaped jungle, nature vibrant and in bloom all around with little trails into wilder parts. although the town was only a 15 min walk it felt like miles so we really got the best of both worlds. party when we wanted it. privacy when we needed it. the beach was only 5 minutes away, close enough to hear the waves at night. in the morning we would take our coffees for a walk along the black sand and in the afternoon spent hours surfing, bodysurfing, anything to keep us in the water. The Hosts - you could not possibly ask for better hosts than Pamela and Carter. they are the best. they have lived there for 15 years and are known and loved by many there. they can tell you everything you need to know about the town. they are real people! thoughtful, warm, kind, attentive, easygoing, respectful. the type of people, that as soon as you walk in a room you know you want to go up and talk to. don't be surprised if you find little flower arrangements and some bananas at your door in the morning. when we first got there they were our hosts, but by the end we called them friends. if you are looking for a dreamy island vacation without condos and all those touristy resorts go here! if you are looking for a place that feels like a dream home go here!
Suann Foust from Grand Rapids, MI, USA July 07, 2010
Loco Natural is the PERFECT place to stay in CR!! Our house was beautiful, spacious, and talk about location!! Carter y Pamela are more than gracious, very helpful, and warm. Words really fall short of describing how staying here made our trip!!
Francina and Gerrit Vink from Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada June 08, 2010
During the winter months of this year (2010), we rented the Bird House at Finca Loco Natural for two months. A beautifully constructed and roomy two storey home. We are two seniors and enjoyed the house and surrounding jungle with all its wildlife tremendously. Not to mention the tasty home-grown bananas our hostess Pamela would drop off at our place now and then. And we agree with all the other comments on this page that Pamela and Carter are the best hosts you could possibly wish for.
In the evenings we enjoyed watching movies on our laptop while sitting on the upstairs balcony. A very different kind of experience to say the least. The combination of the Bird House and surrounding jungle were truly 'home' to us for the two months we stayed in Costa Rica. We highly recommend it.
Francina & Gerrit, Ontario, Canada
Lisa from Satellite Beach, FL June 07, 2010
I've been in Puerto Viejo a total of four times, now, and I have to say I Love Loco Natural! This is quite possibly the most peaceful place on earth. The houses are all very unique, and have everything you need to be comfortable. The finca is well kept--like a manicured jungle. Your neighbors are not too close, and the outdoor shower at Casa Mambo is fabulous. Beds comfortable and sturdy :)
Bring some books and maybe some binoculars so you can get up close to the wildlife that is abundant on the farm. There are poison dart frogs, blue morpho butterflies, a symphony of birds, sloths, and now there are even monkeys.
Pamela and Carter are wonderful hosts. You will love them and their dogs.
Looking forward to the next visit!
Joan and Conor from KnoxvilleJune 02, 2010
Our stay at Casa Mambo was magical. We loved being surrounded by a tropical paradise and waking to the monkeys and birds singing. We were able to get cocca pods from the tree and make chocolate along with foraging ginger, and a leaf like cilantro for our dinners. The grounds were spetacular something different was blooming every day and the giant fig trees on the grounds as big as redwoods.
Our large living room and deck was perfect for entertaining a group of twelve who stayed in some other houses on the loco natural property. When we wanted to go out, Pamela and Carter would make wonderful suggestions for dinners, surfing, shopping for local costa rica items to take home and where to take the best yoga class in the jungle.
Pamela and Carter and their dogs were the best hosts. I feel I have meet friends for life and we can't wait to go back for our next visit.
Lee and Terri Jackson from Texas, USA April 12, 2010
"We spent the month of March 2010 in this wonderful home. It was our second visit in two years with Carter and Pamela in this same home. We love the open air of the home, the beauty of the property and the exposure to some wonderful native animals. Nothing like talking via skype and webcam to our kids back home and have a monkey in the background. They will talk about that for years to come!
You can walk to the beach in minutes, walk around the corner to the grocery store, restaurant and/or bar. The beauty is that you can return back to the jungle and escape the rest of the world.
Pamela and Carter are wonderful land owners who believe in keeping Costa Rica pure. The home is clean with clean towels and sheets weekly. The property is well manicured, as well.
They are very helpful with many adventures in Costa Rica. We enjoyed getting to know a couple of the people that help them on the property. Wonderful individuals that do amazing work!
We can not say enough about this property. We feel that we are kindred souls with Pamela and Carter and Costa Rica. We will return and when we do, we will be checking dates to ensure we get to stay in this wonderful home again.
Lee and Terri Jackson, Texas, USA"
Shara & Edward from Chicago, IL March 14, 2010
We stayed in the Casita for 2 weeks at the end of February. We had a fantastic couple of weeks - the location is very convenient, the cabin is cozy, clean and comfortable, and the farm is beautiful. We saw toucans, sloth, monkeys and a variety of frogs and lizards. We loved that we could walk to the beach and into town, but especially loved the quiet private space we had at the Casita. Pamela and Carter are the perfect hosts – they were so helpful and friendly – they really made us feel right at home and made our stay completely stress free. They went out of their way to help us with our travel plans and locate some items we couldn’t find at stores in Puerto Viejo. We would definatly recommend Finca Loco Natural to our friends
We stayed at Loco Natural during October/November 2009.
What you first see is the beautiful tropical garden with lots of flowering trees and paths leading through to the houses. There are four rental houses on the property, all different and most importantly, positioned so that each one is very private within its own surroundings. This gives you privacy within the security of this small, managed property.
Pamela and Carter, the owner/managers of Loco natural have their own house on the property. They have the balance just right; one of them will always be around if needed or just for a chat, but they very much respect that, during your stay, your rental house is your ‘home.’
We stayed in the small ‘Casita’ for the first few days as our first choice was booked. The Casita is one bedroom with a desk space, a shower room and a kitchen;however we spent most of our time on the lovely tiled porch, in the rocking chair or the hammock! Hard life!
The Bird House is much larger; we didn’t need that much space but we loved the upstairs veranda with its desk area and ‘sitting room’. There’s a hammock up there too and wonderful views over the garden. The ‘Bird’ house lived up to its name; we saw a huge amount of birds there, including toucans, and there were some great photo opportunities.
In the garden we saw howler monkeys, agouti, and kinkajou. An anteater was also a visitor one night though we didn’t see it. Incidentally, don’t take the cultivated neatness of this garden for granted. If you want to know what it would look like without all the hard work take a few steps down the ‘Nature Trail’ and see how the rainforest takes over!
The town of Puerto Viejo is a few minutes away by bicycle or a lovely walk along Playa Negra. The beaches further south, Cocles, Chiquita and Punta Uva are easily reachable. For us this was a crucial point in making Loco natural an ideal place to stay. It provided a secluded and peaceful base but was close enough to walk or ride to most of the local attractions.
Pamela and Carter are friendly, warm and always helpful. They really make this place work and the little touches, like calling by with bananas or lychees from the garden, are the icing on the cake.
We cannot recommend highly enough, go there as soon as possible, you won't regret it!
Simply one of the best there is.
We have lots of pictures of Loco Natural on Flickr accesible through our blog at www,yabbayabba.net
Michelle from New York, NY January 19, 2010
I was lucky enough to find LocoNatural through Craigslist (Costa Rica)…I chose to stay at one of these “jungle houses” based on the excellent testimonials posted on the website and the photos of its beautiful location. Having never visited Costa Rica, traveled alone, or learned to speak Spanish, I must say that it’s truly a miracle that I landed at this perfect location for my two week vacation. Planning my stay was quite easy, with the attentive help from Pamela and Carter, who told me where to stay when I arrived in San Jose and how to travel to Puerto Viejo the next day (taking the local bus was very easy and very affordable).
I could not have been happier when I arrived in Puerto Viejo. This tiny town is situated on a long stretch of coastal beach (Playa Negra) which is so beautiful with clear, warm, turquoise water and clean, sparkly black sand. I fell in love with the town…it’s small but has everything you may need available in terms of stores, restaurants and accommodations, it has a very laid back vibe, and is not terribly touristy. The locals are super friendly and everything was reasonably priced. The walk or bike ride into town from LocoNatural was quick and enjoyable each day.
My house for the 2 week stay was Casa Mamba - a 3 bedroom, open, 2-story home. I was very comfortable in the house, and loved the yard, outdoor shower, and lovely natural wood detailing. The kitchen was also great for cooking!
Pamela and Carter, and their 4 dogs, were the very best hosts. I felt immediately at ease, as they are very warm, friendly and helpful. They threw a pot-luck cookout in their amazing home for myself and another couple staying in another house. I had a wonderful time, and really enjoyed getting to know them all.
I would recommend LocoNatural to anyone! My two week stay was perfect in every way: the weather was almost always sunny and warm (except for a short stretch of rain), I felt comfortable and safe (even alone in a new country!) and my surroundings were breathtaking (the flowers, trees, birds, butterflies…everything you’ll see at LocoNatural will just amaze you!).
Thank you Pamela and Carter…I honestly can’t wait to come back - and next time I hope it’s for even longer than 2 weeks!!
David and Mia from Boulder, CO January 08, 2010
We enjoyed an extended break at Loco Natural’s beautifully designed Casa Mambo (September and October). The property (an old abandoned chocolate farm converted into a tropical fruit paradise) is simply stunning. It’s comfortable and safe, yet rustic enough to force you to reconnect to a simpler pace of life—with the outdoor shower and open-air house it’s almost like summer camp for grown ups! We loved being out in the midst of the jungle, planning our days by the early sunrise and sunset (about 5:30 for both), spending hours in the hammock reading, doing yoga on the front porch, and trekking to the beach for a swim during the hottest part of the day. It was the prefect break from our busy professional lives in the States. We really enjoyed the abundant flora and fauna and wildlife (from Howler Monkeys and Toucans to huge grasshoppers and tree frogs) and, being dog people, we fell in love with the owner’s dogs that roam the property. Carter and Pamela are truly wonderful hosts (who became dear friends!) and introduced us to many of the local foods from mamoon chinos and Mangosteens (the “super fruit” that tastes like a sweet tart candy which is a rare treat) to fried plantains in chipotle-honey. If you’re there on a Saturday, tag along with Pamela to the farmer’s market so she can show you around the stalls and help you communicate with the locals. A few packing tips, definitely plan to bring some good natural bug repellent (like Burt’s Bees) and an antihistamine just in case something bites you that you react to. Also, flashlights are essential. We’re kind of coffee obsessed so we packed our stovetop espresso maker. The walk to town along the beach is lovely and there are plenty of local restaurants and bars if you want to go out (although we often enjoyed cooking and staying in). We brought our own wireless router so we could use the high-speed internet anywhere in the house. We recommend the trip to the nearby Sloth Sanctuary and to beautiful Punta Uva (renting scooters is a good choice for both trips). If you’re lucky enough to go: make friends with the neighbors, give our love to Carter and Pamela, and soak in the Pura Vida!
Chris James from Cayman November 29, 2009
We stayed in Casita in October and it was just what we were looking for. Nice walk into the town and not far to the beach.
It was fantastic for the wildlife and the birds with something new everyday, as well as the fruits and herbs on the property.
Pamela was there to offer anything we needed if we asked but we did not get to meet her husband as he was away.
I would recommend this to anyone looking to relax or be with nature and have everything there on your doorstep in the Casita.
We had to leave to go back to San Jose and we very disappointed not to stay our second week.
It was a short but wonderful experiance.
Manash from los angeles, california November 03, 2009
the birdhouse of loco natural is an excellent spot from which to explore balmy, beautiful puerto viejo and its environs or from which to base yourself for an extended period of time as a home away from home in the interest of study or work or simply to exist surrounded in a wonderous jungle environment.
as for myself, i did a little bit of both, renting out the birdhouse at loco natural for three weeks. two of these weeks consisting of merrymaking with friends, two couples occupying the first floor of the house, my girlfriend and i above in the second. there was the drinking of fine amber caribbean rum, cooking in the kitchen with ingredients pulled up by carter's own hands from the rich farm soil (so infatuated was i with that fresh root that soon my friends complained everything tasted of the strong zest of ginger), taking of day excursions by bike to manzanillo to hire out local boats to snorkel and sight distinct species of dolphin, and on occasion the partaking of small, pleasureable vices available to those seeking it in town. the last week i dedicated to work from my laptop which i conducted in luxury from the open second storey of the birdhouse, all the while marvelling at the ethernet cable which tapered mysteriously off into the jungle thicket from whence it came. how fortunate that i could accomodate attitudes of work and leisure, company and solitude, all from the same location. truly, this versatility made for a most enjoyable, unique, and even productive stay for my friends and i.
pamela and carter were present whenever expert guidance in any matter was needed-- or pamela would show up bearing strange and delicious fruit i'd never known of, or be there to explain just what was that furry creature id seen the dogs chasing early that morning. i still recollect fondly of the even, sing-song cadence of pamela's chilean way of speech, which after all was just the outward manifestation of a warm and amiable spirit-- and im amazed by carter's artistry and craftsmanship, having constructed each and all the handsome structures standing on the farm. theyre lovely people, an admirable pair, accomodating without being overbearing, and making their aquaintence was in fact a highlight of the trip.
if you cannot tell i was much inspired by my stay at loco natural, and would urge anyone and all, family or group of friends or lone traveller to experience it. pura vida indeed, it will make you seriously evaluate why you're living wherever you are living and not there in the thrall of your senses, the colors, aromas, textures, tastes-- the myriad calls of the morning waking you to another day of life.
please feel free to contact me at manash@gmail.com regarding my stay at loco natural.
thanks,
manash.
Luke and Jake from Portland, OR October 23, 2009
Loco Natural was more than we had expected! Pictures can not do it justice. And we will not soon forget our time spent in the Ranchito. Beyond offering a beautiful loca, and a calming atmosphere, Carter and Pamela offer exceptional service and care for each guest! From the fresh fruit all the way down to loaning out their dogs companionship, Pamela and Carter have thought of everything and are willing to do whatever it takes to insure and amazing trip. We enjoyed every one of our 24 days on the farm and recommend it to anyone who will listen! Thank you Carter and Pamela! Miss you Lopez!
We spent 9 peaceful and charming days in the Birds House at Loco Natural, Puerto Viejo.
This wooden house was very nice with its open kitchen and the upstair's large deck from where we could watch to all the birds, toucans, squirrels... in the tall trees of the forest beside. It was a wonderful place for our daughters to work at their school courses and then to enjoy the beaches nearby.
Pamela and Carter were so friendly and helpful. We were lucky to spend good time with our kind neighbours who were staying at Mambo House which is a fabulous wooden and design house.
We highly recommend Loco Natural for all who like friendly, natural and authentic life.
We regret not to have staid longer and hope we'll comme again.
Thanks to Pamela and Carter.
Anne Mikesell from Canton, OH USA September 04, 2009
I spent two wonderful months in Casa Mambo, with my family and then alone. The house is comfortable and the yard is amazing. It offers everything from a variety of birds and animals as well as wonderful plant and fruit life. Pamela and Carter are fabulous hosts. Very knowledgeable on all points of interest. The farm offers a beautiful waterfall and a lovely hike. Having laundry on site is a huge plus. Can't wait to get back! Thank you for making my stay the most memorable one to date.
Amanda Taylor from Phoenix Az USA/ New Zealand August 12, 2009
We have been back from our wonderful Costa Rican vacation for 2 weeks now and we still talk about it and reminisce daily about our time there in El Rachito and Puerto Viejo . We had a wonderful, wonderful time and we will be back.
Thank you Pamela and Carter,
Justin from Vancouver WA July 31, 2009
My wife and I stayed in the La Casita for a week and enjoyed every minute of it. Great place close enough to town and far enough away. Carter and Pamela are great host and can help you arrange tours and point you in the right direction. Thanks for everything.
Melissa and Chris Belmonte from Turners Falls, MA, USA June 10, 2009
Our stay at the bird house was everything we hoped it would be. We knew we wanted to stay near Puerto Viejo, and we wanted to find a place to stay where we would feel comfortable with our two children (ages 2 and 4). And Loco Natural was perfect. We were able to walk to the beach and to town, but we were surprised to find that we loved the house so much that we wanted to spend a lot of time there, too. My husband and I would sip our coffee as the boys played in the surrounding gardents and trees. It was beautiful and peaceful, and we got the quality time that we really needed. Pamela and Carter were excellent hosts and really nice people to be around. They have a laundry service right there, too, which was a huge plus with small children. Thank you, Pamela and Carter! We hope to be back next year!
Chad, Lisa & Scott from Roscommon, Michigan May 31, 2009
Traveling to Puerto Viejo and Loco Natural was truly an adventure for us. We’d never traveled to Costa Rica and were completely unfamiliar with what was required. Pamela and Carter were extremely helpful in providing us every option available from transportation to excursions during our travels. We took the public bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo ($8 per person) and returned at the end of the week on an excellent two-day excursion which dropped us off at our hotel the night prior to our departure.
While at Loco Natural and Puerto Viejo we enjoyed the laid back community, friendly shop and restaurant owners, awesome beaches and beautiful surf. We biked into town for breakfast each morning and people watched. Next we spent time swimming and beach walking followed by a long siesta back at the house before heading back to town for dinner.
Every meal was to die for (at home or in town) and the atmosphere in the entire community was relaxing and friendly. We felt at home and were only disappointed when our time came to an end and we had to leave!
Pamela and Carter are excellent hosts – Loco Natural is an incredible place to stay. I have been recommending Costa Rica and their jungle houses to everyone I talk to. They definitely provide an experience that is memorable! It was the best vacation we have ever experienced!
David Yasbek from Ventura, Ca May 28, 2009
Pamela and Carter are by far the nicest, most helpful, and most hospitable people i have ever met in any of my travels. Last summer i spent one week in the "la casita" and it was AMAZING!!! The best week of my life. Fist off, they were so helpful and quick in responding to our reservation requests, answered way more questions than anyone should have to at one time* haha, and made us feel very welcomed the moment we got there, just like we were family!! :) It is a very quite, peaceful, secluded, and SAFE place to stay while visiting puerto viejo,, but still not far from town at all, just a pleasant walk along the caribbean coast, or bike ride. RENT THE BIKES..it is a lot of fun to travel by bicycle there! I would never dream of staying anywhere else when i return, and I will return. Pamela and Carter keep a wonderful, beautiful property with all the amenities of simple, but comfortable jungle living. Honestly, my week in puerto viejo, was so special, staying at el loco natural was like living in the town! Pamela and Carter are the best people you will ever meet, and they truly know how to cater to, and welcome their guests. If you stay here, you will be leaving with two amazing people( and a few dogs- which was great to have around the property!) as new members of your family!!! Thank you Pamela and Carter SOOO MUCH!!!!! Sorry it took so long to hear from me, and i will be sending your book back soon!!! You guys are the best!!!
Pura Vida!!
David Yasbek
Bart, Linda, Laura and Bas Goossens from Madrid, Spain May 18, 2009
We stayed for four months in Loco Natural (with our kids of 7 and 5) and have really enjoyed it very much. We started in the Bird House and then moved on to Casa Mambo. Casa Mambo is the house Pamela and Carter lived in for many years, so it was built for comfort of actually living in, and it has been made with the attention that you only put into your own house. All polished and lacquered wood, wooden floors, a beautiful outdoor shower, all very spacious. It was a wonderful experience, every day we saw something, from our veranda, a sloth, a monkey, a snake, a spider, frogs etc. The jungle is your garden. Never knew that we liked to get up at dawn, before 6 am, but with all these birds waking you up, it is impossible not to get up and try to spot them (which is not that difficult!). Loco Natural is removed from the town and the roads, it is very tranquil. Our daily walk into town (20 minutes) along the beach was a really nice walk. Puerto Viejo was a perfect place for us to stay, really good restaurants, like the Chili Rojo, Loco Natural and EZ Times. The supermarkets are also good so cooking in the open kitchen and then having dinner outside on the veranda is a great experience. Some nice things we did around the area: a visit to Yorkin (Indians), Gandoca (turtle watch), Cahuita, Manzanillo, surfing lessons from Topo, watch the soccer in Pan Pay, dancing in Johnny’s, and of course the beach, only 5 minutes walk, we could not get enough of it. Never experienced seawater of such nice temperature and with such excellent waves. Pamela and Carter of course became friends after staying there for so long and we will miss them and hopefully see them again. We enjoyed the daily chats, the potlucks, the dogs, the cat Julietta and of course the percussion classes. Thanks a lot, Pamela and Carter, for the hospitality.
Bryan & Crystal from Loveland, CO April 26, 2009
We already can't wait to come back to Puerto Viejo! The town was wonderful, the food was to die for, and Loco Natural was the perfect place to stay. Very reasonably priced, gorgeous bit of land, and lovely hosts. Thank you Carter and Pamela!
Kim from Atlanta, GA USA April 21, 2009
This was my second visit to Puerto Viejo and if I go back I'll stay at Loco Natural again. So nice to have a "home base" we cooked breakfasts and dinners here and ate lunches in town. We spent hours on the upstairs deck of the birdhouse just relaxing and watching birds and bugs and lizards. We looked forward every night to being visited by the two tree frogs who live in the birdhouse. The property is beautiful and located a short walk/bike ride from the beach and from town. Playa Negra is very pretty and not crowded at all. Puerto Viejo isn't for everyone, but if you don't insist on being insulated from the local culture, flora and fauna during your vacations I highly recommend a stay at Loco Natural.
Michael & Laura from Donnelly, Idaho, USA April 05, 2009
We both highly recommend staying at Loco Natural. The farm is quiet and relaxing, and you'll never be lonely with the dogs around you every day. Thank you so much Pamela and Carter for a wonderful warm welcome. YOu made our trip to Costa Rica very special.
Scott and Tiffany from Truckee, California March 01, 2009
We truly extend on honest recommendation for anyone considering a visit to Puerto Viejo, to stay in one of the Loco Natural jungle houses. We stayed for a week in January and had some wet weather. It was so enjoyable to be in the hammock on the Casita, watching the rain fall on the jungle around us, that we didn't miss the sun! Pamela and Carter were so warm and welcoming. When we return in the future, we look forward to staying there again.
Nycki from Canada January 25, 2009
My husband Stephane and my two children (Harmonie 4 and Sebastien 2),stayed at Loco Natural in a beautiful hand made wooden cabin. It was absolutely beautiful. For a little over 2 weeks we found it was a amazing place to stay.
Very private and just outside town, all we had to do was walk down the lane and we were at our beach.
There was always wildlife around: sloths, frogs, birds and or course the wonderful dogs that live there too. My family and I had a lovely Trip there and would recommend it to any family or traveler. Carter and Pamela were great and very helpful and we await our return again.
Camilo Duán from Bogotá Colombia January 21, 2009
Paradise on Earth is the best way to describe our vacation in the Loco Natural Farm. Pamela and Carter are amazing hosts and did all they could to make us fell at home. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of heaven with us.
María Elvira, Laura Daniel and Camilo
Donna Pacifici from Los Angeles, California September 15, 2008
I was lucky enough to be introduced to Carter and Pamela thru a dear friend of mine and I have to say they were gracious hosts with warm hearts and a very personal touch. I stayed in the Casita and was a bit apprehensive at first as I was there alone but it took all of 3 minutes to get acclamated to what I now refer to as Paradise !!
The rain forest was magnificent and if you ever need to just decompress and be at one with nature Purto Viejo is the place to go and Carter and Pamela's rental homes would be my first suggestion . They truly know how to show you a great time in the jungle !!!
I stayed in "La Casita" for a week in April. It is the ideal place for people in love or looking to fall in love with life. It's a short walk to Playa Negra, which I enjoyed every day. I slept like a baby with the broad windows thrown open so I could hear the birds calling and the rain pelting the roof. The area has some wonderful wildlife attractions. Don't miss the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge or the many tours offered by the Talamancan Association of Ecotourism and Conservation (ATEC). Pamela and Carter are the quintessential hosts. Pamela treated a group of us to a hike down to the waterfall adjacent to the farm after a night's heavy rain. Great way to get wet! I enjoyed Loco Natural, the restaurant... a very vegetarian friendly place to eat. Check out my photos and comments at http://www.stephenbstarrdesign.com/no_blog_3.htm
Jordan & Beth Holtam from Weaverville, NC, USA August 07, 2008
Hey you guys! What can we add to a perfect 10? We knew the restaurant first in 2004, and when we were looking for a place to rent for a month in 2007, Loco Natural popped out of the greencoast webpage. What better hint did we need. The Ranchito is our favorite, spacious and funky. but the best of all values to be had are the friendships of Carter and Pamela and the dogs. We love you all and we will be back after Alaska.
Kayla and Colum from Sacramento, USA August 06, 2008
Puerto Viejo was absolutely amazing! Warm people, blue skies, perfect beaches, and great food! Pamela and Carter were wonderful to us- answered any questions we had before the journey and once we arrived continued to make our stay as awesome as it could possibly be. They were super helpful and kind neighbors and we really enjoyed hanging out at their restaurant at night too (the food was delightful to say the least)!! The price was completely fair and the house was clean, practical, and secluded, but just a 5 min. bike ride to the beach which was also private (you might run into a couple of people). We had too much fun to describe while we were there and can't wait to come back!! Loco Natural was the first place we found during our search and there was no need to look any further! Nothing will beat the hospitality, kindness, and adventure you will experience at Loco Natural in Puerto Viejo! Pura Vida!!
Mike from Seattle, WA USA July 31, 2008
Loco Natural is wonderful. I spent three weeks there during July and found Pamela, Carter, and the dogs to be great hosts. The sloth in the tree above me was fun to watch (slowly, of course) and the Casita was great. I actually read 7 books on the front porch, delighted in the functionality of the kitchen, and enjoyed the short bike ride to the beach every day. Perfect place, perfect hosts, and perfect in every way!
Our week here was amazing. Met with delicious organic bananas, a warm smile and some happy dogs we knew it would be a good stay! We stayed in the Casita and it was perfect- clean and cozy with easy access to Playa Negra and a quick bike into town. The Loco Natural restaurant was amazing as well- if you get a chance go check out Carter's mad percussion skills when they have live music! Gracias por todo Pamela y Carter!
josh July 26, 2008
My wife and I spent our honeymoon in the casita. Our days consisted of waking up drinking coffee, reading, eating, hanging out with the dogs (we had a hard time leaving the dogs), heading into town on bikes, going to the beach or going for long bike rides, and then getting back to the casita for supper and relaxing. I thought we would eat more in town, but we enjoyed being at loco natural sooo much we ate a lot of meals there. My wife walked around the grounds numerous times taking pictures and exploring. Pamela was very friendly and helpful to us and Carter was always working hard on their new house and willing to stop and talk or help out if needed. We were also able to get bikes from Pamela and Carter which was most convenient. We will be back!
Celeste Simone from New York July 25, 2008
Well, Being a city girl, I was a bit apprehensive about my stay in Costa Rica. Pamela and Carter are wonderful, warm, knowledgable and gracious hosts. It is amazing to me that Carter and Pamela build these rancitas.They are comfortable safe and as modern as can be and yet still get the feeling that you are living with the land and in the rain forest. I have a feeling I will be returning!!
john from england July 24, 2008
great time last december and going again this december!!!great place to stay,Pam and Carter wonderful hosts and make you very welcome.For peace and quiet it's the place to be!!
Terri & Lee Jackson from Austin, Texas, USA July 23, 2008
Carter & Pamela are true hosts! Lee booked all of our stays via the internet before we spent a month in Costa Rica in 2007. We wish we could have stayed longer than the 12 days we stayed in the Ranchita. Every morning was a new experience and the fact that we could walk, ride our bikes, etc. to the beach was a true plus. Then we could wander back into the jungle for the evening and be in a totally different world. The restaurant has moved and we look forward to visiting the new one upon our return...hopefully soon!
You will not regret getting to know Carter & Pamela and their pups. A stay there will change you for life. The music and food at the restaurant will make your hometown restaurants want to pack up and close down.
This is all true to my heart and we have made friends for life.
Pura Vida is not just a saying in Costa Rica...it is life there and we'll be back.
Amigos from Texas,
Lee and Terri
Eric from Toronto Canada July 23, 2008
The first time I was in Puerto Viejo I was lucky enough to be introduced to Carter & Pamela and their wonderful houses at Loco Natural. I spent 2 wonderfull weeks in the Ranchita and have since returned 4 times. Basically every chance I get. All the houses are unique with their own personalities. The grounds are truly magnificent and there is nothing quite like waking up in the morning to a great cup of Costa Rican coffee and being surrounded by Toucans, Hummingbirds and dragonflys. I have recommended Loco to many of my friends from around the world and they have all had exceptional experiences.
Carter and Pamela make great hosts and are so knowledgeable about their adopted country. Any question you may have re the fauna, flora or wildlife they will be able to answer.
I look forward to my next visit.
Eric
Steph and Brian from Portland, OR May 08, 2008
Hi guys!
We have some more photos and videos that we are going to send you guys. Glad you enjoyed these ones!
I just wanted to thank you both again for being such wonderful people! Thank you so much for all the kindness you showed to me...I ended the trip feeling like I had known you guys forever. Your graditude with the casita, and the bikes...everything was so so nice! You guys totally hooked us up...and we appreciate it so much. I can't wait for us to return! I am already counting down the days....
I was just with these folks for a month. It was very affordable and the DSL worked great. I was able to keep up on all of my company communications, enjoy the warmth and beaches, and spend time with Pamela and Carter - two great people. I am very thankful to them for welcoming me and for making my stay so enjoyable. - Dan Ross The Jungle Executive
isabella July 17, 2007
hey we are coming there and we were wanting to take care of some of the dogs for you!!!-thank u!!
Justin, Becca, and Fiona Nichols from Maine USA March 01, 2008
Thanks so much for graciously hosting us at the Bird House--you were such helpful and informative hosts! Your property is lovely and The Birdhouse is just great. It really gave us the feeling of jungle privacy, yet was only a quick walk to the beach. We felt completely comfortable there with our 11 month old daughter. She had a fantastic time as well, mimicking the jungle noises, looking at the plants, and bathing in the sink. We will definitely recommend Loco Natural Jungle Houses to our friends!
Four of us stayed at Casa Mambo in April, and we couldn't have had a better time. The beautiful house, nestled in the jungle, provided a comfortable and serene place to stay in Puerto Viejo. We especially loved lazing around in the hammocks, sitting out on the upstairs deck, and hiking to the waterfall on the back side of the property. We also enjoyed cooking delicious dinners in the Casa's kitchen.
This stay is ideal for those who are not too squeamish. Nearly the entire house is open air, which makes for great airflow and a round-the-clock tropical feel. But on the other hand, people creeped out by insects might want to find something different.
Pamela and Carter are excellent hosts. They helped us find the best restaurants and most interesting activities in the area. We strongly recommend Casa Mambo!
Loco Natural is paradise found! every single aspect of it. The House - my family and i stayed in the Ranchito for several weeks. it was like living in a treehouse on the ground floor. airy, open, private. built from the beautiful Laurel trees on the property. the house felt warm, soft, almost alive. we fell in love. swinging in the hammocks listening to reggae and watching the toucans fly from tree to tree. The Property - it felt like we were alone in the middle of a landscaped jungle, nature vibrant and in bloom all around with little trails into wilder parts. although the town was only a 15 min walk it felt like miles so we really got the best of both worlds. party when we wanted it. privacy when we needed it. the beach was only 5 minutes away, close enough to hear the waves at night. in the morning we would take our coffees for a walk along the black sand and in the afternoon spent hours surfing, bodysurfing, anything to keep us in the water. The Hosts - you could not possibly ask for better hosts than Pamela and Carter. they are the best. they have lived there for 15 years and are known and loved by many there. they can tell you everything you need to know about the town. they are real people! thoughtful, warm, kind, attentive, easygoing, respectful. the type of people, that as soon as you walk in a room you know you want to go up and talk to. don't be surprised if you find little flower arrangements and some bananas at your door in the morning. when we first got there they were our hosts, but by the end we called them friends. if you are looking for a dreamy island vacation without condos and all those touristy resorts go here! if you are looking for a place that feels like a dream home go here!
Loco Natural is the PERFECT place to stay in CR!! Our house was beautiful, spacious, and talk about location!! Carter y Pamela are more than gracious, very helpful, and warm. Words really fall short of describing how staying here made our trip!!
During the winter months of this year (2010), we rented the Bird House at Finca Loco Natural for two months. A beautifully constructed and roomy two storey home. We are two seniors and enjoyed the house and surrounding jungle with all its wildlife tremendously. Not to mention the tasty home-grown bananas our hostess Pamela would drop off at our place now and then. And we agree with all the other comments on this page that Pamela and Carter are the best hosts you could possibly wish for.
In the evenings we enjoyed watching movies on our laptop while sitting on the upstairs balcony. A very different kind of experience to say the least. The combination of the Bird House and surrounding jungle were truly 'home' to us for the two months we stayed in Costa Rica. We highly recommend it.
Francina & Gerrit, Ontario, Canada
I've been in Puerto Viejo a total of four times, now, and I have to say I Love Loco Natural! This is quite possibly the most peaceful place on earth. The houses are all very unique, and have everything you need to be comfortable. The finca is well kept--like a manicured jungle. Your neighbors are not too close, and the outdoor shower at Casa Mambo is fabulous. Beds comfortable and sturdy :)
Bring some books and maybe some binoculars so you can get up close to the wildlife that is abundant on the farm. There are poison dart frogs, blue morpho butterflies, a symphony of birds, sloths, and now there are even monkeys.
Pamela and Carter are wonderful hosts. You will love them and their dogs.
Looking forward to the next visit!
Our stay at Casa Mambo was magical. We loved being surrounded by a tropical paradise and waking to the monkeys and birds singing. We were able to get cocca pods from the tree and make chocolate along with foraging ginger, and a leaf like cilantro for our dinners. The grounds were spetacular something different was blooming every day and the giant fig trees on the grounds as big as redwoods.
Our large living room and deck was perfect for entertaining a group of twelve who stayed in some other houses on the loco natural property. When we wanted to go out, Pamela and Carter would make wonderful suggestions for dinners, surfing, shopping for local costa rica items to take home and where to take the best yoga class in the jungle.
Pamela and Carter and their dogs were the best hosts. I feel I have meet friends for life and we can't wait to go back for our next visit.
"We spent the month of March 2010 in this wonderful home. It was our second visit in two years with Carter and Pamela in this same home. We love the open air of the home, the beauty of the property and the exposure to some wonderful native animals. Nothing like talking via skype and webcam to our kids back home and have a monkey in the background. They will talk about that for years to come!
You can walk to the beach in minutes, walk around the corner to the grocery store, restaurant and/or bar. The beauty is that you can return back to the jungle and escape the rest of the world.
Pamela and Carter are wonderful land owners who believe in keeping Costa Rica pure. The home is clean with clean towels and sheets weekly. The property is well manicured, as well.
They are very helpful with many adventures in Costa Rica. We enjoyed getting to know a couple of the people that help them on the property. Wonderful individuals that do amazing work!
We can not say enough about this property. We feel that we are kindred souls with Pamela and Carter and Costa Rica. We will return and when we do, we will be checking dates to ensure we get to stay in this wonderful home again.
Lee and Terri Jackson, Texas, USA"
We stayed in the Casita for 2 weeks at the end of February. We had a fantastic couple of weeks - the location is very convenient, the cabin is cozy, clean and comfortable, and the farm is beautiful. We saw toucans, sloth, monkeys and a variety of frogs and lizards. We loved that we could walk to the beach and into town, but especially loved the quiet private space we had at the Casita. Pamela and Carter are the perfect hosts – they were so helpful and friendly – they really made us feel right at home and made our stay completely stress free. They went out of their way to help us with our travel plans and locate some items we couldn’t find at stores in Puerto Viejo. We would definatly recommend Finca Loco Natural to our friends
Shara & Edward
Chicago
We stayed at Loco Natural during October/November 2009.
What you first see is the beautiful tropical garden with lots of flowering trees and paths leading through to the houses. There are four rental houses on the property, all different and most importantly, positioned so that each one is very private within its own surroundings. This gives you privacy within the security of this small, managed property.
Pamela and Carter, the owner/managers of Loco natural have their own house on the property. They have the balance just right; one of them will always be around if needed or just for a chat, but they very much respect that, during your stay, your rental house is your ‘home.’
We stayed in the small ‘Casita’ for the first few days as our first choice was booked. The Casita is one bedroom with a desk space, a shower room and a kitchen;however we spent most of our time on the lovely tiled porch, in the rocking chair or the hammock! Hard life!
The Bird House is much larger; we didn’t need that much space but we loved the upstairs veranda with its desk area and ‘sitting room’. There’s a hammock up there too and wonderful views over the garden. The ‘Bird’ house lived up to its name; we saw a huge amount of birds there, including toucans, and there were some great photo opportunities.
In the garden we saw howler monkeys, agouti, and kinkajou. An anteater was also a visitor one night though we didn’t see it. Incidentally, don’t take the cultivated neatness of this garden for granted. If you want to know what it would look like without all the hard work take a few steps down the ‘Nature Trail’ and see how the rainforest takes over!
The town of Puerto Viejo is a few minutes away by bicycle or a lovely walk along Playa Negra. The beaches further south, Cocles, Chiquita and Punta Uva are easily reachable. For us this was a crucial point in making Loco natural an ideal place to stay. It provided a secluded and peaceful base but was close enough to walk or ride to most of the local attractions.
Pamela and Carter are friendly, warm and always helpful. They really make this place work and the little touches, like calling by with bananas or lychees from the garden, are the icing on the cake.
We cannot recommend highly enough, go there as soon as possible, you won't regret it!
Simply one of the best there is.
We have lots of pictures of Loco Natural on Flickr accesible through our blog at www,yabbayabba.net
I was lucky enough to find LocoNatural through Craigslist (Costa Rica)…I chose to stay at one of these “jungle houses” based on the excellent testimonials posted on the website and the photos of its beautiful location. Having never visited Costa Rica, traveled alone, or learned to speak Spanish, I must say that it’s truly a miracle that I landed at this perfect location for my two week vacation. Planning my stay was quite easy, with the attentive help from Pamela and Carter, who told me where to stay when I arrived in San Jose and how to travel to Puerto Viejo the next day (taking the local bus was very easy and very affordable).
I could not have been happier when I arrived in Puerto Viejo. This tiny town is situated on a long stretch of coastal beach (Playa Negra) which is so beautiful with clear, warm, turquoise water and clean, sparkly black sand. I fell in love with the town…it’s small but has everything you may need available in terms of stores, restaurants and accommodations, it has a very laid back vibe, and is not terribly touristy. The locals are super friendly and everything was reasonably priced. The walk or bike ride into town from LocoNatural was quick and enjoyable each day.
My house for the 2 week stay was Casa Mamba - a 3 bedroom, open, 2-story home. I was very comfortable in the house, and loved the yard, outdoor shower, and lovely natural wood detailing. The kitchen was also great for cooking!
Pamela and Carter, and their 4 dogs, were the very best hosts. I felt immediately at ease, as they are very warm, friendly and helpful. They threw a pot-luck cookout in their amazing home for myself and another couple staying in another house. I had a wonderful time, and really enjoyed getting to know them all.
I would recommend LocoNatural to anyone! My two week stay was perfect in every way: the weather was almost always sunny and warm (except for a short stretch of rain), I felt comfortable and safe (even alone in a new country!) and my surroundings were breathtaking (the flowers, trees, birds, butterflies…everything you’ll see at LocoNatural will just amaze you!).
Thank you Pamela and Carter…I honestly can’t wait to come back - and next time I hope it’s for even longer than 2 weeks!!
We enjoyed an extended break at Loco Natural’s beautifully designed Casa Mambo (September and October). The property (an old abandoned chocolate farm converted into a tropical fruit paradise) is simply stunning. It’s comfortable and safe, yet rustic enough to force you to reconnect to a simpler pace of life—with the outdoor shower and open-air house it’s almost like summer camp for grown ups! We loved being out in the midst of the jungle, planning our days by the early sunrise and sunset (about 5:30 for both), spending hours in the hammock reading, doing yoga on the front porch, and trekking to the beach for a swim during the hottest part of the day. It was the prefect break from our busy professional lives in the States. We really enjoyed the abundant flora and fauna and wildlife (from Howler Monkeys and Toucans to huge grasshoppers and tree frogs) and, being dog people, we fell in love with the owner’s dogs that roam the property. Carter and Pamela are truly wonderful hosts (who became dear friends!) and introduced us to many of the local foods from mamoon chinos and Mangosteens (the “super fruit” that tastes like a sweet tart candy which is a rare treat) to fried plantains in chipotle-honey. If you’re there on a Saturday, tag along with Pamela to the farmer’s market so she can show you around the stalls and help you communicate with the locals. A few packing tips, definitely plan to bring some good natural bug repellent (like Burt’s Bees) and an antihistamine just in case something bites you that you react to. Also, flashlights are essential. We’re kind of coffee obsessed so we packed our stovetop espresso maker. The walk to town along the beach is lovely and there are plenty of local restaurants and bars if you want to go out (although we often enjoyed cooking and staying in). We brought our own wireless router so we could use the high-speed internet anywhere in the house. We recommend the trip to the nearby Sloth Sanctuary and to beautiful Punta Uva (renting scooters is a good choice for both trips). If you’re lucky enough to go: make friends with the neighbors, give our love to Carter and Pamela, and soak in the Pura Vida!
We stayed in Casita in October and it was just what we were looking for. Nice walk into the town and not far to the beach.
It was fantastic for the wildlife and the birds with something new everyday, as well as the fruits and herbs on the property.
Pamela was there to offer anything we needed if we asked but we did not get to meet her husband as he was away.
I would recommend this to anyone looking to relax or be with nature and have everything there on your doorstep in the Casita.
We had to leave to go back to San Jose and we very disappointed not to stay our second week.
It was a short but wonderful experiance.
the birdhouse of loco natural is an excellent spot from which to explore balmy, beautiful puerto viejo and its environs or from which to base yourself for an extended period of time as a home away from home in the interest of study or work or simply to exist surrounded in a wonderous jungle environment.
as for myself, i did a little bit of both, renting out the birdhouse at loco natural for three weeks. two of these weeks consisting of merrymaking with friends, two couples occupying the first floor of the house, my girlfriend and i above in the second. there was the drinking of fine amber caribbean rum, cooking in the kitchen with ingredients pulled up by carter's own hands from the rich farm soil (so infatuated was i with that fresh root that soon my friends complained everything tasted of the strong zest of ginger), taking of day excursions by bike to manzanillo to hire out local boats to snorkel and sight distinct species of dolphin, and on occasion the partaking of small, pleasureable vices available to those seeking it in town. the last week i dedicated to work from my laptop which i conducted in luxury from the open second storey of the birdhouse, all the while marvelling at the ethernet cable which tapered mysteriously off into the jungle thicket from whence it came. how fortunate that i could accomodate attitudes of work and leisure, company and solitude, all from the same location. truly, this versatility made for a most enjoyable, unique, and even productive stay for my friends and i.
pamela and carter were present whenever expert guidance in any matter was needed-- or pamela would show up bearing strange and delicious fruit i'd never known of, or be there to explain just what was that furry creature id seen the dogs chasing early that morning. i still recollect fondly of the even, sing-song cadence of pamela's chilean way of speech, which after all was just the outward manifestation of a warm and amiable spirit-- and im amazed by carter's artistry and craftsmanship, having constructed each and all the handsome structures standing on the farm. theyre lovely people, an admirable pair, accomodating without being overbearing, and making their aquaintence was in fact a highlight of the trip.
if you cannot tell i was much inspired by my stay at loco natural, and would urge anyone and all, family or group of friends or lone traveller to experience it. pura vida indeed, it will make you seriously evaluate why you're living wherever you are living and not there in the thrall of your senses, the colors, aromas, textures, tastes-- the myriad calls of the morning waking you to another day of life.
please feel free to contact me at manash@gmail.com regarding my stay at loco natural.
thanks,
manash.
Loco Natural was more than we had expected! Pictures can not do it justice. And we will not soon forget our time spent in the Ranchito. Beyond offering a beautiful loca, and a calming atmosphere, Carter and Pamela offer exceptional service and care for each guest! From the fresh fruit all the way down to loaning out their dogs companionship, Pamela and Carter have thought of everything and are willing to do whatever it takes to insure and amazing trip. We enjoyed every one of our 24 days on the farm and recommend it to anyone who will listen! Thank you Carter and Pamela! Miss you Lopez!
Jean-Yves et Françoise, Chloé(13) and Lucie(12)
We spent 9 peaceful and charming days in the Birds House at Loco Natural, Puerto Viejo.
This wooden house was very nice with its open kitchen and the upstair's large deck from where we could watch to all the birds, toucans, squirrels... in the tall trees of the forest beside. It was a wonderful place for our daughters to work at their school courses and then to enjoy the beaches nearby.
Pamela and Carter were so friendly and helpful. We were lucky to spend good time with our kind neighbours who were staying at Mambo House which is a fabulous wooden and design house.
We highly recommend Loco Natural for all who like friendly, natural and authentic life.
We regret not to have staid longer and hope we'll comme again.
Thanks to Pamela and Carter.
I spent two wonderful months in Casa Mambo, with my family and then alone. The house is comfortable and the yard is amazing. It offers everything from a variety of birds and animals as well as wonderful plant and fruit life. Pamela and Carter are fabulous hosts. Very knowledgeable on all points of interest. The farm offers a beautiful waterfall and a lovely hike. Having laundry on site is a huge plus. Can't wait to get back! Thank you for making my stay the most memorable one to date.
We have been back from our wonderful Costa Rican vacation for 2 weeks now and we still talk about it and reminisce daily about our time there in El Rachito and Puerto Viejo . We had a wonderful, wonderful time and we will be back.
Thank you Pamela and Carter,
My wife and I stayed in the La Casita for a week and enjoyed every minute of it. Great place close enough to town and far enough away. Carter and Pamela are great host and can help you arrange tours and point you in the right direction. Thanks for everything.
Our stay at the bird house was everything we hoped it would be. We knew we wanted to stay near Puerto Viejo, and we wanted to find a place to stay where we would feel comfortable with our two children (ages 2 and 4). And Loco Natural was perfect. We were able to walk to the beach and to town, but we were surprised to find that we loved the house so much that we wanted to spend a lot of time there, too. My husband and I would sip our coffee as the boys played in the surrounding gardents and trees. It was beautiful and peaceful, and we got the quality time that we really needed. Pamela and Carter were excellent hosts and really nice people to be around. They have a laundry service right there, too, which was a huge plus with small children. Thank you, Pamela and Carter! We hope to be back next year!
Traveling to Puerto Viejo and Loco Natural was truly an adventure for us. We’d never traveled to Costa Rica and were completely unfamiliar with what was required. Pamela and Carter were extremely helpful in providing us every option available from transportation to excursions during our travels. We took the public bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo ($8 per person) and returned at the end of the week on an excellent two-day excursion which dropped us off at our hotel the night prior to our departure.
While at Loco Natural and Puerto Viejo we enjoyed the laid back community, friendly shop and restaurant owners, awesome beaches and beautiful surf. We biked into town for breakfast each morning and people watched. Next we spent time swimming and beach walking followed by a long siesta back at the house before heading back to town for dinner.
Every meal was to die for (at home or in town) and the atmosphere in the entire community was relaxing and friendly. We felt at home and were only disappointed when our time came to an end and we had to leave!
Pamela and Carter are excellent hosts – Loco Natural is an incredible place to stay. I have been recommending Costa Rica and their jungle houses to everyone I talk to. They definitely provide an experience that is memorable! It was the best vacation we have ever experienced!
Pamela and Carter are by far the nicest, most helpful, and most hospitable people i have ever met in any of my travels. Last summer i spent one week in the "la casita" and it was AMAZING!!! The best week of my life. Fist off, they were so helpful and quick in responding to our reservation requests, answered way more questions than anyone should have to at one time* haha, and made us feel very welcomed the moment we got there, just like we were family!! :) It is a very quite, peaceful, secluded, and SAFE place to stay while visiting puerto viejo,, but still not far from town at all, just a pleasant walk along the caribbean coast, or bike ride. RENT THE BIKES..it is a lot of fun to travel by bicycle there! I would never dream of staying anywhere else when i return, and I will return. Pamela and Carter keep a wonderful, beautiful property with all the amenities of simple, but comfortable jungle living. Honestly, my week in puerto viejo, was so special, staying at el loco natural was like living in the town! Pamela and Carter are the best people you will ever meet, and they truly know how to cater to, and welcome their guests. If you stay here, you will be leaving with two amazing people( and a few dogs- which was great to have around the property!) as new members of your family!!! Thank you Pamela and Carter SOOO MUCH!!!!! Sorry it took so long to hear from me, and i will be sending your book back soon!!! You guys are the best!!!
Pura Vida!!
David Yasbek
We stayed for four months in Loco Natural (with our kids of 7 and 5) and have really enjoyed it very much. We started in the Bird House and then moved on to Casa Mambo. Casa Mambo is the house Pamela and Carter lived in for many years, so it was built for comfort of actually living in, and it has been made with the attention that you only put into your own house. All polished and lacquered wood, wooden floors, a beautiful outdoor shower, all very spacious. It was a wonderful experience, every day we saw something, from our veranda, a sloth, a monkey, a snake, a spider, frogs etc. The jungle is your garden. Never knew that we liked to get up at dawn, before 6 am, but with all these birds waking you up, it is impossible not to get up and try to spot them (which is not that difficult!). Loco Natural is removed from the town and the roads, it is very tranquil. Our daily walk into town (20 minutes) along the beach was a really nice walk. Puerto Viejo was a perfect place for us to stay, really good restaurants, like the Chili Rojo, Loco Natural and EZ Times. The supermarkets are also good so cooking in the open kitchen and then having dinner outside on the veranda is a great experience. Some nice things we did around the area: a visit to Yorkin (Indians), Gandoca (turtle watch), Cahuita, Manzanillo, surfing lessons from Topo, watch the soccer in Pan Pay, dancing in Johnny’s, and of course the beach, only 5 minutes walk, we could not get enough of it. Never experienced seawater of such nice temperature and with such excellent waves. Pamela and Carter of course became friends after staying there for so long and we will miss them and hopefully see them again. We enjoyed the daily chats, the potlucks, the dogs, the cat Julietta and of course the percussion classes. Thanks a lot, Pamela and Carter, for the hospitality.
We already can't wait to come back to Puerto Viejo! The town was wonderful, the food was to die for, and Loco Natural was the perfect place to stay. Very reasonably priced, gorgeous bit of land, and lovely hosts. Thank you Carter and Pamela!
This was my second visit to Puerto Viejo and if I go back I'll stay at Loco Natural again. So nice to have a "home base" we cooked breakfasts and dinners here and ate lunches in town. We spent hours on the upstairs deck of the birdhouse just relaxing and watching birds and bugs and lizards. We looked forward every night to being visited by the two tree frogs who live in the birdhouse. The property is beautiful and located a short walk/bike ride from the beach and from town. Playa Negra is very pretty and not crowded at all. Puerto Viejo isn't for everyone, but if you don't insist on being insulated from the local culture, flora and fauna during your vacations I highly recommend a stay at Loco Natural.
We both highly recommend staying at Loco Natural. The farm is quiet and relaxing, and you'll never be lonely with the dogs around you every day. Thank you so much Pamela and Carter for a wonderful warm welcome. YOu made our trip to Costa Rica very special.
We truly extend on honest recommendation for anyone considering a visit to Puerto Viejo, to stay in one of the Loco Natural jungle houses. We stayed for a week in January and had some wet weather. It was so enjoyable to be in the hammock on the Casita, watching the rain fall on the jungle around us, that we didn't miss the sun! Pamela and Carter were so warm and welcoming. When we return in the future, we look forward to staying there again.
My husband Stephane and my two children (Harmonie 4 and Sebastien 2),stayed at Loco Natural in a beautiful hand made wooden cabin. It was absolutely beautiful. For a little over 2 weeks we found it was a amazing place to stay.
Very private and just outside town, all we had to do was walk down the lane and we were at our beach.
There was always wildlife around: sloths, frogs, birds and or course the wonderful dogs that live there too. My family and I had a lovely Trip there and would recommend it to any family or traveler. Carter and Pamela were great and very helpful and we await our return again.
Paradise on Earth is the best way to describe our vacation in the Loco Natural Farm. Pamela and Carter are amazing hosts and did all they could to make us fell at home. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of heaven with us.
María Elvira, Laura Daniel and Camilo
I was lucky enough to be introduced to Carter and Pamela thru a dear friend of mine and I have to say they were gracious hosts with warm hearts and a very personal touch. I stayed in the Casita and was a bit apprehensive at first as I was there alone but it took all of 3 minutes to get acclamated to what I now refer to as Paradise !!
The rain forest was magnificent and if you ever need to just decompress and be at one with nature Purto Viejo is the place to go and Carter and Pamela's rental homes would be my first suggestion . They truly know how to show you a great time in the jungle !!!
xxoo....Ciao Donna
I stayed in "La Casita" for a week in April. It is the ideal place for people in love or looking to fall in love with life. It's a short walk to Playa Negra, which I enjoyed every day. I slept like a baby with the broad windows thrown open so I could hear the birds calling and the rain pelting the roof. The area has some wonderful wildlife attractions. Don't miss the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge or the many tours offered by the Talamancan Association of Ecotourism and Conservation (ATEC). Pamela and Carter are the quintessential hosts. Pamela treated a group of us to a hike down to the waterfall adjacent to the farm after a night's heavy rain. Great way to get wet! I enjoyed Loco Natural, the restaurant... a very vegetarian friendly place to eat. Check out my photos and comments at http://www.stephenbstarrdesign.com/no_blog_3.htm
Hey you guys! What can we add to a perfect 10? We knew the restaurant first in 2004, and when we were looking for a place to rent for a month in 2007, Loco Natural popped out of the greencoast webpage. What better hint did we need. The Ranchito is our favorite, spacious and funky. but the best of all values to be had are the friendships of Carter and Pamela and the dogs. We love you all and we will be back after Alaska.
Puerto Viejo was absolutely amazing! Warm people, blue skies, perfect beaches, and great food! Pamela and Carter were wonderful to us- answered any questions we had before the journey and once we arrived continued to make our stay as awesome as it could possibly be. They were super helpful and kind neighbors and we really enjoyed hanging out at their restaurant at night too (the food was delightful to say the least)!! The price was completely fair and the house was clean, practical, and secluded, but just a 5 min. bike ride to the beach which was also private (you might run into a couple of people). We had too much fun to describe while we were there and can't wait to come back!! Loco Natural was the first place we found during our search and there was no need to look any further! Nothing will beat the hospitality, kindness, and adventure you will experience at Loco Natural in Puerto Viejo! Pura Vida!!
Loco Natural is wonderful. I spent three weeks there during July and found Pamela, Carter, and the dogs to be great hosts. The sloth in the tree above me was fun to watch (slowly, of course) and the Casita was great. I actually read 7 books on the front porch, delighted in the functionality of the kitchen, and enjoyed the short bike ride to the beach every day. Perfect place, perfect hosts, and perfect in every way!
Our week here was amazing. Met with delicious organic bananas, a warm smile and some happy dogs we knew it would be a good stay! We stayed in the Casita and it was perfect- clean and cozy with easy access to Playa Negra and a quick bike into town. The Loco Natural restaurant was amazing as well- if you get a chance go check out Carter's mad percussion skills when they have live music! Gracias por todo Pamela y Carter!
My wife and I spent our honeymoon in the casita. Our days consisted of waking up drinking coffee, reading, eating, hanging out with the dogs (we had a hard time leaving the dogs), heading into town on bikes, going to the beach or going for long bike rides, and then getting back to the casita for supper and relaxing. I thought we would eat more in town, but we enjoyed being at loco natural sooo much we ate a lot of meals there. My wife walked around the grounds numerous times taking pictures and exploring. Pamela was very friendly and helpful to us and Carter was always working hard on their new house and willing to stop and talk or help out if needed. We were also able to get bikes from Pamela and Carter which was most convenient. We will be back!
Well, Being a city girl, I was a bit apprehensive about my stay in Costa Rica. Pamela and Carter are wonderful, warm, knowledgable and gracious hosts. It is amazing to me that Carter and Pamela build these rancitas.They are comfortable safe and as modern as can be and yet still get the feeling that you are living with the land and in the rain forest. I have a feeling I will be returning!!
great time last december and going again this december!!!great place to stay,Pam and Carter wonderful hosts and make you very welcome.For peace and quiet it's the place to be!!
Carter & Pamela are true hosts! Lee booked all of our stays via the internet before we spent a month in Costa Rica in 2007. We wish we could have stayed longer than the 12 days we stayed in the Ranchita. Every morning was a new experience and the fact that we could walk, ride our bikes, etc. to the beach was a true plus. Then we could wander back into the jungle for the evening and be in a totally different world. The restaurant has moved and we look forward to visiting the new one upon our return...hopefully soon!
You will not regret getting to know Carter & Pamela and their pups. A stay there will change you for life. The music and food at the restaurant will make your hometown restaurants want to pack up and close down.
This is all true to my heart and we have made friends for life.
Pura Vida is not just a saying in Costa Rica...it is life there and we'll be back.
Amigos from Texas,
Lee and Terri
The first time I was in Puerto Viejo I was lucky enough to be introduced to Carter & Pamela and their wonderful houses at Loco Natural. I spent 2 wonderfull weeks in the Ranchita and have since returned 4 times. Basically every chance I get. All the houses are unique with their own personalities. The grounds are truly magnificent and there is nothing quite like waking up in the morning to a great cup of Costa Rican coffee and being surrounded by Toucans, Hummingbirds and dragonflys. I have recommended Loco to many of my friends from around the world and they have all had exceptional experiences.
Carter and Pamela make great hosts and are so knowledgeable about their adopted country. Any question you may have re the fauna, flora or wildlife they will be able to answer.
I look forward to my next visit.
Eric
Hi guys!
We have some more photos and videos that we are going to send you guys. Glad you enjoyed these ones!
I just wanted to thank you both again for being such wonderful people! Thank you so much for all the kindness you showed to me...I ended the trip feeling like I had known you guys forever. Your graditude with the casita, and the bikes...everything was so so nice! You guys totally hooked us up...and we appreciate it so much. I can't wait for us to return! I am already counting down the days....
I was just with these folks for a month. It was very affordable and the DSL worked great. I was able to keep up on all of my company communications, enjoy the warmth and beaches, and spend time with Pamela and Carter - two great people. I am very thankful to them for welcoming me and for making my stay so enjoyable. - Dan Ross The Jungle Executive
hey we are coming there and we were wanting to take care of some of the dogs for you!!!-thank u!!
Thanks so much for graciously hosting us at the Bird House--you were such helpful and informative hosts! Your property is lovely and The Birdhouse is just great. It really gave us the feeling of jungle privacy, yet was only a quick walk to the beach. We felt completely comfortable there with our 11 month old daughter. She had a fantastic time as well, mimicking the jungle noises, looking at the plants, and bathing in the sink. We will definitely recommend Loco Natural Jungle Houses to our friends!