Family-friendly vacation rentals in Santa Cruz

This is such an amazing house in the Potrero area. Just a quick drive up the hill from downtown, easy access to restaurants in the beach. The caretakers went above and beyond to make our stay special, and the hosts were really responsive when needed. As other reviewers have said the pictures don’t nearly capture how wonderful the view is from the property. We were surprised by the overall size in space in the house, it was much larger than we anticipated but very nice to have all of the room. I would recommend this property for an upscale getaway to anyone.

The place is very close to beautiful beaches, no unnecessary noise, accommodation as advertised on the page, clean, well equipped, very good service from Andrés for all the concerns we had, the facilities are very clean and safe. I would definitely come back in the future. It is advisable to have a high vehicle for these rainy dates, to be able to move within the area, since the entrance street is unpaved

Had a good vacation with family, close to beach and local restaurants. Friendly security in las Catalinas

We love going to Reserva Conchal and Daphne's place had everything we wanted, from plenty of bedrooms, to a great location and view overlooking the golf course. Once inside the reserve, we had access to both The Westin and The W and all the amenities they had to offer. Great place to spend a weekend.

Great location, our only wish is that the property would have an elevator. Everything about this condo was exactly as listed, great private beach to anyone that finds this place.

Great condo, plenty of space and easy access to the beach via shuttle! Comfy beds and all amenities you need ! I would love to stay again!

Our family absolutely loved our stay! The bedrooms were comfortable and we had plenty of room to spread out. The view from the pool was breathtaking! Lisa was super responsive and made us feel like welcomed guests as she gave us a personal tour of the house. We highly recommend renting with the Garrett group!

The villa is really well equipped, it has all the amenities to spend a few quiet and relaxing days!

It was an absolute pleasure staying at Casa Gecko. It was clean , comfortable , great location and was like a resort. It was a pleasure meeting Les, and we will definitely go back

We loved Drew’s place, everyone was so friendly and helpful, perfect place to bird watch and relax.

Everything was fine! It matches the description and the photos, the kitchen is fully equipped, a very quiet place and it's close to everything you need

Cabinas El Ceibo was a great place for our family group of seven (all adults) to stay--close to the beach, a kitchen to be able to make food, and our own space to be together. The kitchen had a blender, which we loved, as we bought fruit and made our own smoothies several times. It also had other necessary items (frying pans, spatulas, salt & pepper) to be able to cook breakfast. A sharper knife to cut fruit would have been nice, but we made do with the dull ones. The house is one of several in a small area with a gate that leads directly to the beach. Attached to the washer is a spinner to remove excess water before hanging clothes on the lines next to the house. Very convenient. The Spanish-speaking family (& friendly dog) that lives next door takes care of the place and gives you the keys when you check in. The monkeys throw mangos on the roof early in the morning. Startling the first time. Also, we left shoes on the beach without someone watching them and two pair went missing.

What a spot for a vacation! The location was prime and the room itself was well suited for everything you need. This is a hidden gem in the area. Things I appreciated the most: The ocean was steps away for a swim at anytime. The shop keepers and restaurant owners downstairs are great people and pleasant to talk to during your stay. Waffle monkey (breakfast) and Portofino are the best spots for breakfast, fresh seafood, low cost happy hours, and fire show at night during sunset. You can literally walk anywhere in minutes. There is 3 separate door with locks to get to your top floor rental so this spot is very safe! If you are lucky, you'll notice a 5 foot iguana that rests in the trees to your right off the porch, spending days in the trees. Alvaro is the mgmt person who helps you. He speaks great English and responds rapidly to questions. Can't wait to return and bring family. The two units next to each other would be an ideal joint rental for a group of 5-7 people. Highly recommend!!!

This is literally staying ON the beach in a casual, tranquil, local Tico neighborhood. If you love the beach and can imagine the convenience of having your house along with you as you enjoy the beach, then you’re likely to love this stay. You know what the tide is doing because you hear it and see it from the house 24/7. The peaceful sounds of the surf, rain and wildlife were our favorite part! Thanks!

Great location away from downtown, beautiful setting, very responsive and friendly hosts.

Super nice stay with amazing amenities available! Great food and coffee options really close by and the town and beach was only about a 15 minute walk down the main road. We also utilized the concierge services for all of our transportation and tourist activities which was super easy and helpful! Would definitely stay again!

We had a lovely stay at the House of G. Favourite things about this place were the views of the ocean, the mix of fruit trees, hearing howler monkeys, bird watching (and listening), and the modern architecture. Air conditioning was only on the upper floor bedrooms, so the upper bathrm was hot and the lower level got pretty hot too. The ceiling fans helped and so did the breeze. On the plus side, it forced us to use the outdoor living space more than we probably would have if the lower level had a/c and the pool/outdoor shower offered a quick refresher when needed. The place required a key transfer from super friendly Luis. It would have been easier and more private if there was a lock box setup, but then we wouldn’t have met Luis, so key swapped worked out just fine. We found it easier to make the quick drive to Samara than walk, to avoid walking on the narrow main road. It was easy to find on street parking in Samara. Thank you Shannon for hosting & Luis for managing the property!

Casa Samara was described as family friendly, and it sure was! The kids *loved* the pool and we could walk right out the front gate to the beach. It was about a 25 minute walk (with kids) to downtown Samara. The hosts were so responsive when we extended our stay and needed some clean sheets. All of the rooms had fans and all of the beds had bug nets. 💜

Staying at Rancho De Linda was an unforgettable experience. Nestled in the lush Costa Rican jungle on the beach, it offers the perfect blend of natural charm to fully immerse yourself in the local ecosystem. The property is surrounded by vibrant wildlife — from colorful frogs, friendly iguanas, beautiful butterfly’s, hermit crabs and chirping birds. The views are breathtaking and the sounds of the ocean are mesmerizing — making it a true ecological retreat. Douglas and Irena were delightful hosts. We enjoyed visits from their sweet pup Bambi and loved the availability of the housekeeper. The place is very clean and well taken care of. We loved our Yoga class Irena taught under the palapa and enjoyed the delicious cooking of two local chefs. We drove into Tamarindo for the day and visited the Diamanté Eco Adventure Park for a thrilling zip line. If you are looking for an authentic Costa Rican adventure, book this place now and experience the meaning of Pura Vida!! 🌸🐸🏝️🦋🧘‍♀️🦀🦎

Steve’s compound of small (but perfectly sized for vacationing) hand built cabins are unique in Nosara. With so much development in the area being a cookie cutter faux luxury, the cabin felt real. Attention has been given to using natural materials, and respecting the natural surroundings. We visited in February of 2025, with our 3 year old and 8 year old, and had a fantastic time. The weather was perfect. The private walkway off the property directly to the best beach in town was something we used multiple times a day. Steve has the perfect set up for a family to use the beach, and the outdoor showers and plunge pool were a welcome way to get the sand off of everyone. I can’t stress enough how great the beach is, with gentle surf at low tide, tidal pools full of life, soft inviting sand, and for a bit more adventure, hike the beach north to caves in the cliffs. There are also restaurants directly accessible off the beach, just south, meaning you can spend an entire day without shoes.

Wow, what a beautiful spot. The views are breathtaking, surrounded by 180 degrees of jungle canopy and the ocean below. The pictures really don't do it justice. Torrie and Esthefan met us to personally take us to the villa upon arrival, which is a short 5 minute drive from the town and beaches of Samara and was a great jumping-off spot for adventures. We spent mornings in town, or exploring nearby waterfalls and beaches, and afternoons cooling down by the pool or relaxing in the shade with a book. The outdoor bbq and well equipped kitchen was perfect for making meals, and we had a local family of monkeys visit us daily, along with Coaties, lizards, frogs, crabs and a variety of birds. The villa was equipped with lots of fans, which were welcomed as there is no A/C in the villa, and with temps reaching 100 degrees the fans were very much needed at night. We had a great time and look forward to returning to this beautiful spot one day. Thanks for an amazing time!

Excellent location, a few minutes from downtown Tamarindo and places of interest, ideal for a group of friends or family. A whole complex for private enjoyment with friends or family

I absolutely loved Danny and Matt’s place! The location was perfect, within walking distance to everything. Check in was easy and the place was even better than in photos. They had lots of beach towels for us to use. We even saw some howler monkeys on the rooftop across from us!

Really great place, supportive and welcoming owner/staff, super convenient location. Great yoga and work out classes on property. Security guy was super nice and always helped with the gate. 10/10