About Cerro Coyote

Coyote Mountain provides a unique location to discover authentic, rural Costa Rica, far from the maddening crowds of contemporary life.

Setting

The property sits astride "Coyote Mountain", 10 degrees north of the equator overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Nicoya Peninsula to the west, and the Central Valley to the east. It consists of 70 acres of mountainside trails in scented air winding through a variety of landscapes, from rainforest, pastureland, coffee plantation and a large terraced garden(with orchid house). It is the "Tuscany of the Americas". A great variety of flora, many birds, butterflies and various creatures inhabit the property. The villa is a hacienda-styled courtyard with fountain, surrounded by five bedrooms with ensuite baths, reading and dining rooms, a large kitchen and terraces overlooking the land, valleys, villages and ocean. It was built in 2004 by the owners of the highly rated Trout Point Lodge in Nova Scotia as a cooking school and eco-lodge, and found its current owners in August, 2010.

The property is high, and therefore pleasantly warm (78F) in the sunny, sometimes misty, breezy months of the dry season (December through March), and cool at night (63F when we tend to light the fireplace). It lies 60 kilometers west of the International Airport in San Jose, and approximately 90 minutes from the Pacific Ocean far below via the Pan American Highway. The closest large town is San Ramon, about 12 kilometres away (with a regional hospital and the country's finest farmers market). The local village is Piedades Sur, just around the corner down the hill. The beaches of the west coast of Guanacaste are three to four hours drive and the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest is about 90 minutes away.

The roads to Cerro Coyote are paved, except for the last two beautiful kilometres along the Pacific mountainside, which is gravel and graded.

On the property and vicinity, there are ample opportunities for hiking, swimming, reading, painting, photography and biking. Horseback riding through the dramatic countryside can be arranged for a fee. There is a television for movie-watching, and sound system for music playing. Day trips by car bring the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Arenal Volcano Hot Springs, Pacific Ocean or San Jose itself within easy reach. There are places to explore within one hour of Cerro Coyote that could be the cover photo of an adventure travel brochure. Along the Pacific below are numerous beach resorts stretching south through Jaco and down to Manuel Antonio Park. There are also interesting smaller resorts on the Nicoya Peninsula.

The Salon

Life in residence is informal and unstructured with daylight ending on the Swallow Deck to watch the dramatic and spiritually uplifting sunset. The large professional kitchen is headquarters for superb meals prepared by guests or our hospitality trained employees who are attentive, friendly and courteous.

Honorarium and Logistics

The weekly price for renting Cerro Coyote is $5,000 U.S. This "whole house rental" includes five bedrooms with ensuite, and a mid-week change of linens etc. Internet access is included. Food, beverage, cooking and clean-up are the responsibility of guests, though these services can be included for an additional fee. Rental includes a waiver of owner liability while guests are on the property.

Rental vehicles are available at the airport, with advance bookings recommended. Most travelers in Costa Rica choose a four-wheel drive option, which we recommend for access on the final two kilometres to Coyote Mountain, as well as other interesting locales. We can also arrange for pick-up at the airport and transport to Coyote Mountain for a fee.

Costa Rica offers a tremendous variety of landscapes and natural wonders, as well as interesting cities and towns. Many North Americans and Europeans call it home, scattered across the countryside in houses and developments. Costa Rica is among the most developed countries in Latin America. This democratic country has universal health care and education, and no standing army. Its well-educated people are family-centred, warm and friendly, of Spanish, Italian, and French backgrounds.

We trust you will thoroughly enjoy Cerro Coyote and Costa Rica.

Bill and Melody Duron
William Thorsell