This was our 3rd stay at Villa Encantada and our 7th at Paradise Breezes. What can I say... we love it there! The accommodations are superb, the staff is attentive and wildlife is truly amazing. If you go in the rainy season and book an extended period of time, it's a good deal too. We've been going to Costa Rica for over 10 years now, on over 15 trips, and I'm so glad Ivannia turned us on to PB.
What made this stay so special is that Carla and I we able to just relax. We've found that we're always playing tour guide for our friends and family when we're down there. This time, we were able to spend a lot of time at the house and observe the wildlife.
This year we had a sloth that appeared in the patio tree on 4 or 5 days and a plethora of frogs, toucans, and araucarias. I was hiking the road frequently (in case you wonder, it's 1.2 miles to the main gates at the highway) and saw quite a few packs of white-faced Monkies on numerous occasions. On a prior stay, we had 100's of parrots in the trees each day. You never know what to expect - every day is an adventure.
The location of PB is ideal, just off the main highway and only 10 minutes from Dominical for restaurants, bars, and of course the beach. Close enough to Manuel Antonio, yet far enough away that you don't feel you're surrounded by thousands of tourists like you do there. One of the reasons Villa Encantada is our favorite is that it's tucked away in the jungle, you literally cannot see another building from anywhere on the property. The sounds of the jungle are amazing, birds, crickets and frogs. So soothing and relaxing - that Pura Vida thing again.
I also surprised Carla for her birthday, with a visit from her daughter Amy. Oscar took care of all the details and made that happen with little effort on my part. We didn't go on many excursions this year but did go on the ATV tour through the mountains over Uvita in the rain and mud. At first, we were not happy campers. But once we stopped for some hot coffee (and had a few sips of the owner's private moonshine), it turned into the highlight of the trip.
If this is your first visit to Costa Rica, I recommend a week on the Pacific Coast and a week in the Arenal area, if you can. Villa Encantada at Paradise Breezes is my first choice. Villa Pacifico is a good 2nd choice with amazing sunset views. In Arenal, I recommend Arenal Springs Resort (not "The Springs").