We're so happy you've chosen to spend part of your Costa Rican adventure with us.
When we first discovered this property, it wasn't just the beautiful views that captured us — it was the feeling. The slower pace of life, the warmth of the people, the connection to the land and animals, and the peacefulness of the countryside reminded us how important it is to slow down and simply enjoy where you are.
Over time, Venado has become one of our favourite places in Costa Rica, and it's a privilege to be able to share it with others.
Whether you're exploring waterfalls, riding horses through the countryside, meeting local families, or simply relaxing on the patio listening to the birds, we hope you'll experience the authentic side of Costa Rica that makes this area so special.
Our wish is that your stay at Casa Venado leaves you feeling refreshed, inspired, and a little more connected — to nature, to your family, and to yourself.
Thank you for being our guests. We hope you enjoy Casa Venado as much as we do.
Unlike many of Costa Rica's popular tourist destinations, Venado offers something increasingly rare — a chance to experience everyday Costa Rican life.
This peaceful farming community is surrounded by rolling hills, rivers, forests, caves, and working family farms. Here you'll find friendly neighbours, locally owned restaurants, quiet country roads, and breathtaking scenery in every direction.
One of the things we love most about Venado is that nothing feels rushed. Spend a little extra time enjoying your morning coffee, stop at a roadside fruit stand, wave to the people you pass, and don't be afraid to take the scenic route. Some of our favourite memories here have come from the moments we never planned.
Although you'll feel worlds away from the crowds, Casa Venado is still perfectly located for exploring many of Costa Rica's most famous attractions, including Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna, Río Celeste, the Venado Caves, natural hot springs, and countless rivers and waterfalls.
We hope you'll come to love this beautiful area as much as we have.
One of the things we love most about Casa Venado is that getting here is part of the adventure. As you leave the larger towns behind, you'll travel through beautiful countryside filled with rolling farmland, forests, rivers, mountains, and small rural communities. No matter which route you choose, you'll experience a side of Costa Rica that many visitors never get to see. Take your time and enjoy the drive.
Route One — Bijagua & Guatuso (recommended): Liberia → Bijagua de Upala → Katira → Guatuso → Jicarito → Venado. About 2½–3 hours. This is one of our favourite routes — it winds through beautiful countryside, charming rural communities, and offers some spectacular scenery along the way.
Route Two — Nuevo Arenal: Liberia → Cañas → Nuevo Arenal → Tigra → Venado. About 3 hours. This route offers incredible mountain and lake scenery and is another wonderful way to arrive.
Route One — the direct route: San José → Palmares → Tanque → Jicarito → Venado. About 3½–4 hours — a scenic drive through Costa Rica's Central Valley before arriving in the peaceful northern countryside.
Route Two — coffee country: San José → Poás Volcano → San Miguel → La Tabla → Mirador → Jicarito → Venado. If you're not in a hurry, this is a wonderful route through Costa Rica's coffee-growing region, with beautiful mountain scenery, local cafés, coffee farms, and countless opportunities to stop and enjoy the drive.
Arriving from Guatuso / Jicarito: Drive through the town of Venado. Continue approximately 1 kilometre beyond town. Watch for the Venado Valley Ranch sign on your left and turn left. Cross the newly constructed bridge. Continue approximately 2 kilometres along the gravel road, passing several beautiful farms. You'll pass the entrance to Venado Valley Ranch — the very next driveway on the left is Casa Venado. Look for our sign.
Arriving from Tigra: About 1 kilometre before reaching Venado, you'll see the Venado Valley Ranch sign on your right. Turn right, cross the bridge, and continue approximately 2 kilometres along the gravel road. Pass the entrance to Venado Valley Ranch — the very next driveway on the left is Casa Venado.
Please open the gate, drive in, and close the gate behind you.
If you need anything during your stay, we're only a message away.
If you require medical assistance, feel free to contact us first if possible. We're always happy to help.
Casa Venado is a spacious 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom countryside home designed for families, couples, and friends looking to experience the authentic beauty of northern Costa Rica.
Whether you're spending the day exploring rivers and waterfalls or simply relaxing on the patio while listening to the sounds of nature, we hope you'll feel completely at home here.
Three comfortable bedrooms designed to provide a restful night's sleep after a day of adventure.
Two full bathrooms stocked with fresh towels for your stay.
The fully equipped kitchen includes everything you'll need to prepare meals during your stay: a full-size refrigerator, stove & oven, pots & pans, plates, bowls, glasses and mugs, cutlery and cooking utensils, and cooking oil, salt, pepper, and a selection of basic spices.
One of our favourite places to spend time. Relax on the covered patio, enjoy the rocking chairs or hammock, watch the birds, and take in the peaceful valley views — the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring.
Fast, reliable Starlink internet is available throughout the home, making it easy to stay connected whenever you need to.
Complimentary parking is available directly in front of the house.
A few simple guidelines to help everyone enjoy Casa Venado and preserve this special place for future guests.
Casa Venado uses a septic system. Please flush toilet paper only. Baby wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and other items should be placed in the garbage bins provided.
The home is supplied by a natural underground spring, providing exceptionally clean drinking water. Please use water thoughtfully, especially during the dry season.
Please turn off the air conditioning whenever you leave the house for extended periods. Keeping the doors and windows closed while it's running helps keep the home comfortable and energy efficient.
Before heading out for the day, please lock all doors, close all windows, turn off lights and air conditioning, and keep valuables out of sight.
While it's not required, we'd really appreciate it if you could remove your shoes when entering the house. It helps keep the floors clean and comfortable for everyone throughout their stay.
One of the joys of staying at Casa Venado is being surrounded by nature. You may see colourful birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, frogs, geckos, iguanas, and other native wildlife around the property. Please enjoy them from a respectful distance and avoid feeding any wildlife.
Please place garbage in the designated bins. If you're staying for an extended visit, we're happy to let you know the local garbage collection schedule.
Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the house or on the property. Thank you for helping us keep Casa Venado clean and enjoyable for all guests.
You're welcome to use the BBQ during your stay. Please make sure the propane tank is turned off when the BBQ is not in use.
White bath towels are for use inside the house only. We've provided blue adventure towels for rivers and waterfalls — please return them before you leave. They can be expensive to replace, and a replacement fee may apply if they're lost or taken home.
One of the things we love most about Casa Venado is its peaceful setting. We simply ask that guests be respectful of our neighbours and keep noise to a minimum during the evening so everyone can enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside.
If anything isn't working as expected or something is accidentally damaged during your stay, please let us know as soon as possible. Most issues are easy to resolve, and we'd much rather have the opportunity to help than have you spend your vacation worrying about them.
Drive time: 3 minutes
A wonderful local family offers a few different ways to experience their farm and the surrounding countryside — from a full guided adventure to simply spending the day by the river.
Horseback ride to a secluded waterfall for a swim, then ride on to the Venado Caves for a full day of adventure in one outing.
Horseback ride to the waterfall for a swim and a visit to the farm, enjoying scenic views through the Venado Valley along the way.
A hands-on farm tour, including how local cheese is made, and a chance to meet the farm pigs and piglets, horses, and cows.
Bring your own food for a picnic and spend the day at a beautiful spot right on the river, with amenities on-site — swim, relax, and enjoy the ranch grounds at your own pace, no guided tour included.
Experience Costa Rican hospitality by preparing traditional family recipes with local hosts Damaris and Rosi. Learn how authentic dishes are made using fresh local ingredients before sitting down together to enjoy the meal you've created together.
One of our favourite things about this area is how many beautiful places there are to swim.
Located just across the road from Casa Venado, this beautiful river and waterfall is part of the Ganadera La Nacha property — one of the area's hidden gems. Bring your own food for a picnic and spend the day swimming, relaxing, or simply enjoying the peaceful surroundings, with amenities on-site. No guided tour included.
Open in Maps →A beautiful little waterfall with a natural swimming area and a restaurant overlooking the river. It's a wonderful place to spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying lunch and a swim.
Catarata Cascajitas is typically open on weekends and may occasionally open during the week. We recommend checking their hours before making the trip.
Open in Maps →Just beyond the large Venado bridge at the entrance to town, you'll find free public access to the river. It's a favourite place for locals to cool off on warm afternoons.
River conditions can change quickly after heavy rain. If you're unsure whether it's safe to swim, don't hesitate to ask a local or send us a message.
Open in Maps →Drive time: 10 minutes
One of Costa Rica's most unique adventures awaits just minutes from Casa Venado. Join an experienced local guide as you explore ancient limestone caves filled with underground rivers, fascinating rock formations, and thousands of years of natural history. Along the way you'll climb, crawl, and wade through shallow water while discovering one of the country's most impressive natural wonders.
Drive time: 25-40 minutes
Google Maps doesn't always show the fastest or nicest way to La Fortuna. For a quicker, more scenic drive, go through Linda Vista — just past Chicharronera y Grill, turn right onto the road that leads toward The Springs Resort. This route connects through to La Fortuna and tends to be both faster and prettier than the standard route Google suggests.
A visit to Costa Rica wouldn't be complete without experiencing the natural hot springs surrounding Arenal Volcano. Here are three excellent options depending on the type of experience you're looking for.
The closest hot springs to Casa Venado and one of the most spectacular in Costa Rica. Beautiful thermal pools, waterfalls, lush gardens, restaurants, and incredible views of Arenal Volcano make this an unforgettable experience.
Open in Maps →A fun choice for families with numerous thermal pools, waterslides, and plenty of space for children to explore.
Open in Maps →A quieter, more intimate hot springs experience that's perfect for couples or anyone looking to relax in a peaceful natural setting.
Open in Maps →Drive time: approximately 30 minutes
The Arenal area offers countless adventures including Mistico Hanging Bridges, Arenal Waterfall, ziplining, ATV & 4x4 tours, whitewater rafting, wildlife tours, and volcano hiking.
Drive time: approximately 1 hour
Famous for its brilliant turquoise-blue water, Río Celeste is one of Costa Rica's most breathtaking natural attractions. Walk through Tenorio Volcano National Park to discover the famous waterfall, rainforest trails, and one of the country's most photographed destinations. For those looking for a little more adventure, we also highly recommend tubing with Onca Tours, a fun, family-friendly experience on the beautiful Río Celeste.
One of the best ways to experience Costa Rica is through its food. From traditional sodas to scenic restaurants overlooking the valley, here are a few places we recommend during your stay.
Enjoy delicious Costa Rican meals, fresh coffee, homemade desserts, and breathtaking panoramic views over the valley.
Great for families — the owners are incredibly friendly, the prices are very reasonable, and children will enjoy exploring the small hanging bridges and riding the chair zipline while taking in the beautiful scenery.
Open in Maps →Located right in the heart of Venado, Soda Jireh serves simple, authentic Costa Rican meals at very reasonable prices — a wonderful place to experience traditional home-style cooking and everyday life in the community.
Open in Maps →A true farm-to-table experience. The owner raises his own pigs right on the property and prepares many of the meats himself, including his delicious house-smoked pork — a wonderful place to experience authentic Costa Rican flavours made with locally raised ingredients.
Open in Maps →Located right along the main road through Venado, La Taverna is a comfortable place to enjoy lunch, dinner, or simply relax while watching everyday life in the village go by.
Open in Maps →You'll find everything you need just a few minutes from Casa Venado. The local Venado Grocery Store carries most everyday essentials: fresh fruit and vegetables (available on delivery days), milk and dairy products, eggs, snacks, ice cream and frozen treats, pantry staples, household items, and basic toiletries.
Grocery Store →A small family-owned butcher shop in Venado also carries fresh meats and locally made products raised and prepared right here in town — it's a separate stop, not right next to the grocery store.
Butcher Shop →For a larger shop, you'll find supermarkets in Guatuso, Monterrey, La Fortuna, and Cañas.
There are no gas stations or ATMs in Venado. The closest are in Guatuso, Monterrey, and La Fortuna — if you're planning a full day of exploring, it's a good idea to fuel up before heading back to Casa Venado.
One of the joys of exploring this part of Costa Rica is stopping at the small roadside stands along the highways and country roads. Depending on the season, you may find fresh pineapple, mangoes, watermelon, cold coconut (pipa fría), local honey, fresh cheese, and other seasonal fruits and vegetables — a wonderful way to support local families. Many stands are cash only, so it's a good idea to carry a few Colones or small U.S. bills.
Cell service is generally very good, but downloading offline maps before you arrive can be helpful when exploring the countryside.
Although many people speak some English, Google Translate can be helpful in smaller rural communities.
The people of Venado are incredibly kind and patient, and they genuinely appreciate it when visitors make an effort to speak a little Spanish — even if it's just "Hola," "Buenos días," or "Gracias."
One of the best parts of staying at Casa Venado isn't rushing from attraction to attraction. Take the scenic road. Stop at a fruit stand. Spend a little extra time enjoying the view from the patio. Some of the best memories are often the ones you never planned.
One of the greatest joys of staying at Casa Venado is simply spending time outdoors. Whether you're relaxing on the patio, walking along the quiet country road, or exploring the nearby rivers and forests, you'll likely encounter some of Costa Rica's incredible wildlife along the way. Every season brings something a little different, so keep your eyes — and your camera — ready.
Here are a couple of ideas to help you make the most of your stay.
We hope you've had an unforgettable stay at Casa Venado. Before heading off on your next adventure, we'd appreciate it if you could take a few moments to help us prepare for our next guests.