Casa Laureles

Waking up to howler monkeys was such a treat. Ernesto and Verena went out of their way to make our honeymoon special, and they were lovely hosts. There are secluded beaches and great places to eat a short drive away. Just be aware that the roads are easier to handle in a larger vehicle. We loved staying here.

The drive to the nearest beach was under 20 minutes, and hearing howler monkeys early in the morning was wonderful. We had a 4x4, which helped on the bumpy dirt road: it took about 45 minutes from the last paved stretch. Fill up in Samara before heading up, since there aren’t gas stations nearby. The trip is beautiful and worth it, and I really hope I get to come back. Breakfast is absolutely worth getting. Homemade bread and jam, plenty of fruit, fresh coffee and juice, and eggs, all for $9 per person. The infinity pool was so lovely we squeezed in one last swim before checkout. The room was fantastic, with a safe, fridge, lots of outlets, a very comfortable bed, and good mosquito netting. Keep it closed over the terrace door to keep noisy geckos out. The bathroom is spacious and nice, though it has no door, which is fine for a couple but useful to know if friends are sharing. The owners were incredibly friendly, and so was their dog, Chilly.

The beach below was so quiet, with soft sand, it felt almost like having it to ourselves. The couple running the place were lovely, everything was sparkling clean, and the breakfast was generous, with European-style bread. They also shared lots of useful tips. Just go, you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Three nights here somehow felt like three weeks of holiday. It’s a little paradise, and the owners are incredibly kind and helpful. Such a great place to stay.