Completely Fabulous
5/5 Stayed April 2022
Completely fabulous in every way.
We stayed at Casa Mariposa for a little over a week and by the time we had to go, we didn’t want to leave.
The home is situated in Playa Coco, a small beachside neighborhood about 30 minutes south of San Juan del Sur. The property is perched on the top of a hill, no more than a 6-7 minute walk to the beach (great bodysurfing btw), and offers beautiful views of the ocean and mountains to the south. The house itself is spotless, comfortable and well-appointed with nice furnishings, modern fixtures, A/C in every room, and a fully-stocked kitchen. Also, there are many areas both inside and outside to relax or remote work (internet is sufficient for zoom meetings).
Freddy and Norlan are the onsite caretakers for Casa Mariposa. Their hard work and gracious hospitality made our entire stay something to remember. We could not have done any of this without them. Norlan speaks English and helped us get around on a couple of our excursions into Rivas and Ometepe Island. He also shared so much of his culture and knowledge about Nicaragua while constantly translating and teaching me new words in Spanish. Freddy kept the house and grounds clean each day, and cooked the most excellent dinners for us every night. Freddy has true culinary talent — he operates with such wholehearted purpose — and does it all with a smile.
If you’re considering a trip to Nicaragua, come experience Casa Mariposa. It’s all that and way more!
Words Won’t Do This Place Justice
5/5 Stayed February 2022
Honestly, words won’t do this place justice… If you are looking for a tucked away, safe and oh-so-cozy getaway — Casa Mariposa offers everything you could possibly want. The house is incredibly comfortable and inviting. DJ and his family have thought of every modern convenience.
We fell in love from the moment of arrival. The pool overlooks one of the most beautiful views you could ask for, with the mountains of Costa off in the distance. Secluded and serene… An incredible beach is only a couple of minutes walk down the driveway. We spent our trip exploring the neighboring surf breaks, hiking and surfing right here at Playa El Coco. Imagine crystal clear water with butterflies coasting over the surface as we awaited the next set wave — really this place couldn’t be more picturesque.
From world class waves and a variety of breaks within a quick trip (Playa Hermosa, Playa Yankee, Playa Romanso to name a few…) to the comforts of the house… Oh! And have I mentioned Freddy yet? I could devote an entire post to his cooking and intentional care of the home. When considering other places to visit, we can’t possibly turn down the opportunity to have Freddy cook for us again! We loved the wood burning oven and coming home from a day out exploring all that Nica has to offer to home cooked meals and cold Toña!
Freddy and Norlan are accommodating and considerate. They are there when you need them and the house still feels like your own private paradise.
DJ is incredibly helpful with travel logistics and we’re looking forward to a return visit in a few months with our kiddos in tow! Highly recommend!
Tropical Paradise
5/5 Stayed November 2021
Looking for a tropical paradise get away? Look no further. Casa Mariposa is a Nica gem!
Situated on a hill overlooking the beautiful cove of Playa el Cocoa. The setting evokes feelings of luxury living in a jungle paradise. The infinity pool on the back porch becomes a landing place for the soul to take in the epic view of the pacific in all its green blue glory! The isolated beach at sunset is the stuff dreams are made of. The cliffs overlooking the ocean are rugged and ancient. You feel as if you have stepped back in time into the Jurassic world. I kept waiting to hear the sounds of dinosaurs in the jungle or King Kong to come into view.
The first day we arrived, the waves were super inviting and the ocean looked like a swimming pool. You could literally see the sand bottom….then when you put your head under water, you could hear whales singing!
There’s a wonderful resort style beach just up there road at playa Hermosa if you want to be served lunch and dinner under a hut canopy, or you could stay at home and have Freddy, the house chef, whip you up a meal to remember! Coming home to Freddys home cooked meals put an exclamation point on our days filled with exploration and adventures.
Casa Mariposa is the perfect get away for the avid surfer or the one who is just looking to escape the 9-5 grind and get back to the beauty of natural surroundings. Casa Mariposa gives you permission to slow down to take it all in!
I highly recommend casa Mariposa to any looking for that tropical paradise get away!
Casa Mariposa is Amazing
5/5 Stayed July 2021
Casa Mariposa is amazing! We enjoyed 5 wonderful days at Casa Mariposa while vacationing in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It is only a one hour and 20 minute drive from the Costa Rica border. The house is very well kept by the grounds keepers Freddy and Norlan. We opted to have Freddy cook lunch or dinner for our family each day (small charge) and the food was amazing! And we had Norlan, who speaks pretty good English, come along on some of our excursions (also a small charge) which was a huge help. Casa Mariposa has an amazing view of the Pacific. We sat for hours just sitting and starring out over the ocean. Playa El Coco, the beach, is about a 100 meter walk from the house. There are rocks on both ends of the beach and about 1/2 mile of soft sand in between. We’re not surfers but the waves looked amazing. My son and I caught fish off the rocks and our family went fishing with Wilbur in his boat which launched directly from the beach. It was so convenient to have excursion options so close. We also went horseback riding at Big Sky Ranch which is about 10 minutes away. San Juan Del Sur is the nearest “big” city…. About a 30 minute drive. It’s a beach town with lots of shops and restaurants on the water. We went to Vivians which was excellent at sunset. Nicaragua was amazing. If you’re looking for a “touristy” place that shelters you from the culture of the country you’re visiting… it may not be the place for you. But if you want to enjoy the natural beauty and authentic culture of Nicaragua… Casa Mariposa is the perfect place. One HUGE help with our stay was the information provided by the owners. They not only provided excursion ideas and local tips but also provided border crossing instructions that made the process so much simpler than it would have been otherwise.
Auwana Vacation 