The back patio to Leo's House—a stunning work of art

Our structures are built using contemporary and traditional natural building methods and include the use of bamboo, cob, light clay and fallen trees found in the surrounding forest. Our building methods strive to minimize the impact on the surrounding environment.  Each of our structures is unique, comfortable and beautiful. 

Leo's House
$40 per night per person for private single with shared bathroom including all meals

$75 per night per couple for private double with shared bathroom including all meals

$175 per night for entire house (sleeps up to 6 people) including all meals

The interior of Leo's House

This is a breathtaking structure showcasing an assortment of natural construction techniques. The house was built using locally procured materials, including wood milled on site, bamboo, clay and even coconut shells. It is a stunning work of art, with bamboo molding, poured adobe floors, cedar siding, custom built furniture, bamboo walls with cob infill, beautiful views out the front and back porches, and much more. The property features 250 acres of protected forest, 5 kilometers of trails, fruits trees, views to the Pacific Ocean, waterfalls and swimming holes. Leo's comes equipped with a refrigerator, stove, running water, electricity, an indoor shower and one flush toilet.  It has four bedrooms, one with a queen bed, one with a double bed, and two with single beds. Guests generally dine at Leo’s though can opt for communal dinners at the main house with advance notice. Leo’s is approximately 1.5 kilometers from the main house.  Mario, the property's groundskeeper, is available to act as your guide in the forest. 

The main house, fronted by patio and organic garden

The Main House
$25 per night per person for shared room with shared bathroom includes all meals

$30 per night per person for private single with shared bathroom includes all meals

$45 per night per couple for shared room with shared bathroom includes all meals

$50 per night per couple for private double with shared bathroom includes all meals

The main house is set on our 235-acre private wildlife refuge and features 7 kilometers of trails, abundant wildlife, waterfalls, rivers, swimming holes and beautiful forests that border the La Cangreja National Park.

The magic of evenings at Jeanne's House

Jeanne's House
$25 per night per person for single bed in shared house including all meals

$45 per night per couple for double bed in shared house including all meals

Jeanne's house is an attractive structure set amongst mango, banana, pejibaye, cashew, startfruit and other tropical fruit trees and sits on the edge of the rainforest. The house is outfitted with seven beautiful bamboo bunkbeds, one double bed, five Mayan hammocks, running water, electricity, a flush toilet, a gorgeous bamboo composting toilet, two beautiful and private passively solar heated showers and an indoor shower. The house accompanies 65 acres of protected forest, six kilometers of trails, a 60-foot cascade, views to the national park, and beautiful swimming holes. Jeanne’s is also home to our native hardwood nursery.

Through the trees, the Hooch

The Hooch
$30 per night per person for shared room with shared bathroom including all meals

$35 per night per person for private single with shared bathroom including all meals

$55 per night per couple for shared room with shared bathroom including all meals

$60 per night per couple for private double with shared bathroom including all meals

This is one of Rancho Mastatal’s most interesting structures and is built almost entirely out of bamboo.

Beds on first floor of Hooch

This magnificent private building sits high amongst the trees with dramatic vistas out towards the forest. The Hooch is outfitted with one double bed and three single beds and sleeps up to five people. Guests staying in the Hooch share showers and bathrooms with guests staing at Jeanne's House though we will be breaking ground soon to build another composting toilet and shower that will service the Hooch. This option is appropriate for those guests looking for a unique experience. As with all of our other accommodations, the Hooch has perfect access to many of our trails, swimming holes and waterfalls.

La Choza through the bananas

La Choza
Currently not available for rent

This beautiful house and Tim and Robin's current home was designed by Robin and built using cob, wattle and daub, lime plasters, bamboo and locally milled wood. The site is also home to a beautiful earthen and bamboo composting toilet and outdoor shower, the Ranch's Elmer Hohl Campo de Pitching (horseshoe pit), and fabulous views to the highest point in the La Cangreja National Park.  The front yard space is the site for most of the Ranch's bonfires. 

Inside of La Casucha

This is the newest accommodation at the Ranch and our first timberframe structure.

We used locally harvested pine and pilon for the frame, cedar for the floor and teak for the deck frame. The walls are made of a combination of wattle and daub, cedar and bamboo. It's an awesome structure. This building is still under construction though has already been home to a number of guests. This extremely private cabin is on the edge of the rainforest on Jeanne's side of the property and provides an amazing space to view wildlife, meditate, do yoga, or to simply enjoy the company of others. This space is for the more adventurous as it cannot boast either water or electricity though we plan on installing a small solar array in the coming weeks. The pure beauty and tranquility more than make up for its lack in modern comforts. We already have people lining up for this space so get your requests in early. The closest composting toilet and shower to the cabin is a 2-3 minute walk, for now. More to come soon.

Starboard Cork, the Ranch's newest timberframe structure, under construction

Starboard Cork
Under Construction

In early 2008, we began construction on a timberframe structure called Starboard Cork, named after a song that Alan Smith wrote.  This structure will be the future part-time home of long-time friends Alan and Geoff Kinder.  When not in Mastatal, we will use this striking building, poised in front of some of the most breathtaking views of La Cangreja, for visitors.  Until its completion, the now covered area will second as a space for campers.  We'll keep you updated in our newsletter on its progress.

Our wattle and daub and bamboo classroom

The Classroom

Our delightful classroom, located behind Jeanne's House, provides an awesome space for lectures, presentations, yoga, meditation, studying, reading and hanging out after hours.  This bamboo framed structure also built using cob, wattle and daub and wood, comes equipped with a secured storage area for educational equipment, hammocks, two large tables with benches, a lab space and rocking chairs. It's built on the edge of the rainforest and offers wonderful access to Jeanne's trails and house.  It also boasts water and electricity.

The vista from the Rancho Mastatal campsite of the peaks of La Cangrega National Park

We recommend a high-quality tent and a ground sheet and a tarp, the latter to protect your tent from both UV rays and very heavy rains. There is no electricity or water at the site, though those camping will have full access to the facilities at the houses and elsewhere.

Our Zapatón neighbors provide simple and culturally rewarding homestay

We offer a unique opportunity for visitors who would like to fully immerse themselves in the community of Mastatal. We work with a number of local families to offer homestay opportunities for those that want to see, firsthand, how the wonderful people of Mastatal live.

Visitors staying with families have the chance to work on their Spanish, eat traditional Tico cuisine, and work side by side with the family members. Guests lodging with families still have full access to the Ranch, and often times eat lunch with us. Breakfast and dinner is generally shared with the family. This is incredible opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange, while helping a local family to generate some additional income. Accommodations are comfortable, yet a bit more rustic than at the Ranch.

Cob, wattle and daub composting toilet and shower photo by Tim O'Hara

Composting Toilets and Showers
The Ranch has four  composting toilets and an equal number of outdoor showers, all constructed with the same amount of care, craft, and beauty as the living structures found throughout the premises.  Rancho Mastatal successfully composts almost all of the human waste generated by its inhabitants and guests and uses the rich compost throughout the Ranch on ornamentals and bamboos.  The use of composting toilets saves an enormous amount of precious water, provides the Ranch with valuable fertilizer and greatly reduces the stress on the Ranch's septic systems.  Composting toilets are new to many people that visit the Ranch and take a little getting used to but most people leave the Ranch with a newfound love for the technolgy and a curiousity for how to build one at home. 

Our bounty

Food
We provide visitors with three wholesome, delicious meals each day. Incredible, healthy and scrumptious food is one our trademarks and generates more positive comments than almost any other aspect of the “Ranch Experience”. Meals are generally vegetarian though we sometimes serve fish (fresh from the Pacific). We encourage anyone who enjoys the culinary arts to help out if they would like. For snacks, participants are welcome to harvest whatever might be in season, and there is frequently homemade bread available, often times cooked in our earthen oven, and usually bananas.

Laundry
A local woman and our close friend, Kattia, is available to do laundry at a reasonable cost or folks can do their own in one of the outdoor sinks/basins or in our hand-cranked washing machine. Bring biodegradable laundry soap with you if you plan on doing your own.

Phone and Internet
There is a public telephone in the center of town which only accepts calls from within Costa Rica--the number is 2-410-6085. The Ranch and the local store sometimes sell phone cards but we recommend that if you plan on making a call while in Mastatal that you purchase a phone card or two prior to arriving to the Ranch. We also have a cell phone though it does not work right in town. The closest Internet services are in Puriscál, a two-hour bus ride from the Ranch.

Special Transportation
We can arrange airport pickups for visitors who do not want to rent a car or take public transportation. Please contact us directly for more information or if you would like us to set up a shuttle. You can also contact our friend and driver Fernando Arias, 011 (506) 2-416-7961, to set up a shuttle on your own. For more information go to our Directions page.