Sonia's house is on the beach front portion of the Amaya family property but faces the rainforest and a small private spring fed waterfall. You can see three of the four species of monkeys that reside in Costa Rica from the front porch or private covered gazebo (they come to eat the fruits from the palm next to the house and often look in from the skylight to see what you are doing-they cannot get in however). It is a wonderful experience for families and if you are interested in this special area of Costa Rica it is the best deal on lodging around.
The home sleeps up to 10. There is a master bedroom with a king size bed, a loft with a double bed, a small bedroom with a twin size bed and two queen size beds in the main room/kitchen area. Everything in the home was made by hand including hand hewed timbers and decorative carved doors. The home took 4 years to complete and was constructed by Carlos Amaya. It is floor to ceiling all varnished tropical hardwoods (seven types) purchased from local subsistence farmers/neighbors under limited sustainable harvest permits (mostly brought in by horseback and dried on site).
The Amaya family homestead along remote Playa Ricon on the Peninsula de Osa. This is the last frontier of Costa Rica. Accessible reliably only by horseback or boat this is the world of generations past. The house is next to one of the most biologically important spots on the planet, Corcovado National Park. Playa Ricon itself is virtually uninhabited where the only traffic seen is occasionally on horseback. Many of the local inhabitants on and behind the beach are related to the Amaya family, who were pioneers in this special corner of Costa Rica.
Sonia uses the home when visiting but otherwise now lives in St Paul Mn with her husband and four children.
The Beach
The Playa Ricon has one of the largest concentrations of scarlet macaws in Costa Rica, and are seen daily snacking on the almond trees along the beach. The Pacific ocean out front looks out directly toward Cano Island providing some amazing sunsets. A favorite activity is just hanging out at the beach; swimming, boogie boarding, walking or just reading a book in a hammock. This portion of Pacific ocean is the perfect spot for deep sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, whale and dolphin watching and has an amazing number of endangered sea turtles. Playa Ricon is also very active protected sea turtle nesting site. Turtle releases are common during the nesting season.
The Rainforest
The resort and cabins back into into rainforest and the still partially working Amaya family farm, A specialty of the family are the horseback tours through the farmland and rainforest along the edge of Corcovado National Park, or take the horses to one of the best Canopy Tours in Costa Rica or just tour along the beach. No one knows this area better. Tours of Corcovado National Park are available with Consuelo Amaya (who speaks English, German and Spanish) who is one of the most experienced guides in this area of Costa Rica as well as from Samuel Amaya. Consuelo and her brother Samuel also give birding tours and have identified over 80 species of birds on the resort property itself.
The normal way to reach Sonia's house is by boat from either Drake Bay or Sierpe. The Sierpe trip is itself a tour as you will pass through the mangroves of the tidal Sierpe River, then across Drake Bay and then along the Pacific Coast.
The rental fee includes three meals a day at Dona Carmen's restaurant, which is part of the Amaya Family Cabins.
Breakfast offers a variety of fresh, local fruits, juice, coffee, teas and your choice of made to order breakfasts. You can have a typical Costa Rican breakfast of gallo pinto, eggs and fruit, or choose pancakes, omelets, or eggs to order and toast.
Lunch depends on how you plan your day. If you are taking a tour lunch is provided as a picnic. If you want to take off on your own and explore the nearby snorkeling beach Playa San Josecito or walk to the wonderful swimming hole Rio Claro lunch can be packed to go. If you just want to hang out at the resort a hot lunch will be prepared for you at the restaurant.
Dinners are always a special event; everyone gathers to share stories of the day while enjoying a plentiful and delicious meal. The dinner frequently includes fresh fish, often from guests who decide to take the fishing tours(there is always enough to share), chicken or pork, with rice, beans, vegetables, a salad and a freshly made dessert.
Vegetarian options are always available.
Coffee and tea are available all day
