Casa Barbara

We loved the location except for the inconvenience of needing transportation to get drinking water and other supplies. It is much quieter than being in town and a comfortable spot to hang out. Beds were comfortable, plenty of good quality cooking pots, a nice sized refrigerator and plenty of storage containers for leftovers. We got weekly house cleaning and one day when we left a few rinsed off dishes in the sink, we came back to our dishes washed and put away!! Sunrises and sunsets were amazing from the rooftop terrace and it is a very private, a lovely piece of property, fans kept it comfortable. Birds were present and we loved it, also the dark skies and ability to see the millions of stars in the sky! The local kitty loved hanging out in the chairs. Barbara was very good at communication.

The lack of battery storage for power surprised us when there was minimal sun due to a storm the day we arrived, so consequently, on day four, we lost power. Energy is stored in two 200 w batteries, a minimal amount of energy for a house of its size. So it is necessary to conserve energy, as there is only 400 w of storage. As long as there is sunshine, it's no problem, but as we discovered, a lack of sun means you can't run a lot of fans and lights. We were able to get the issue solved quickly, but still were without power for 24 hours. We did enjoy a nice candle light dinner though. Unless you want to pay for someone to bring you drinking water, it is necessary to have a vehicle of some sort to get the big 5 gallon water bottles filled. Between three people, we went through 10 gallons in a few days. Unless you are younger and fit, it might not be a good choice for you. My party and I are in our late '60s to 70 years old, and it was hard on my knees to walk, so we quickly realized a golf cart was a necessity to get around, especially to get water and other needed supplies. Being off grid was great except for the inconvenience.

My wife and I enjoyed our 3 week stay at Casa Barbara. The house was clean and comfortable with high brick ceilings and fans in all areas. Barbara has put a lot of effort into equipping the casa with everything you might need. She is a great host and communicator. She responded quickly and clearly to all of our questions during the booking process and while we were staying in Lo de Marcos. The terrace is a lovely place to sit back and unwind. The solar power system and Wi-Fi worked without issue.

The water pressure in the shower was not the best but got the job done.

My family and I spent 10 days at Casa Barbara and loved it! The house is brand new and has all you need, equipped kitchen, fridge/freezer and oven. Having two bathrooms with showers was definitely a plus! We loved the outdoor space with hammocks and the quiet around us. The house is 15 minutes walk from the beach through a nice path in the jungle, you can also walk to town in about the same time. We would definitely go back!