El Arbol Jungle Houses

Imagine staying in an almost all glass house elevated above the ground in a 16 acre tropical jungle setting! These truly concept casitas were designed for you to be able to see the natural beauty of Costa Rica’s Caribbean forest surrounding you from anywhere within the house.

Limited landscaping provides plenty of access between the houses as well as to the owner’s home where you can safely walk, the rest of the property remains primarily in its natural state. The soft outdoor lighting is kept to a minimum but enough for you to feel safe and secure at night. WIFI is available only near the owner’s house or you can reserve a portable internet usb thumb drive by making arrangements ahead of time. It is also possible to purchase a rechargeable phone card from various companies that provides internet use.

Intentionally designed by the owners to create an opportunity to commune with Nature’s essential rhythms, these two eco friendly elevated jungle houses, as they are called, provide a unique glimpse into the biodiversity living within the rainforest.

A well maintained trail winds through the jungle and crosses a stream on the property where you can sit and enjoy the shade of the giant tree canopy. You might find the old stone pathway where people once walked to Panama long ago. There are numerous reasons to have your camera always ready.

This peaceful paradise is located only 2 miles from a beautiful white sand beach, Playa Manzanilla, and an easy walk to the picturesque seaside community of Manzanilla. Here you can find restaurants for breakfast, lunch or dinner as well as a nice bar according to the owners.

There are many things to do within the local area including visiting the Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, horseback riding, zip line adventures, botanical and butterfly gardens, snorkeling and fishing tours as well as guided hikes to waterfalls. On the premises the proprietors can arrange for you to take private yoga lessons, hire a personal trainer, enjoy a massage and even offer professional counseling services for a fee.

You may want to stock up on groceries if you want to eat in. The jungle houses both include a fully equipped kitchen and with the spacious deck and view, you’ll want to spend time “at home” enjoying the amazing nature that surrounds you. There are no meals available on the premises.

The two uniquely built houses sit side by side in the middle of the forest canopy and feature the same amenities. Built with mostly natural materials in a rustic style to reflect the elements of nature, the walls of the common areas are made of glass, one floor a mosaic of natural stone, another of polished renewable local wood, wood furnishings and whole tree trunks gracefully supporting the upper loft.

There are steps leading to the elevated main floor featuring a fully equipped kitchen, table for four, open plan living and dining area, safe, and sofa bed that can be used as an extra bed. In addition there is an expansive tiled bathroom with modern fixtures, hot water and built in Jacuzzi encircled by windows looking out into the forest.

The huge burnished wooden deck and woven balcony wraps around two sides of the house with hanging wicker chairs and hammocks where you can fully relax for hours in the fresh outdoor air.

Up the spiral staircase to the loft is found the master bedroom with a 4 poster king size bed surrounded by quality mosquito netting suspended from the ceiling and fully closeable. The master bedroom also contains an air conditioner if needed and windows on all four sides.

There is nothing ordinary about El Arbol’s two jungle houses; they are a unique expression of a nature lover’s dream house nestled in the midst of a tropical forest with all the modern conveniences for comfort. This may be the best idea for a tree house ever!