Family beach villas in Costa Rica, without the walls
BaliBala is four private stays in shared jungle gardens, steps from Playa Matapalo on Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast. Two of them take children of any age: the No-Footprint House, with a private pool inside a fully fenced garden, and the Safari Tent Hideaway, the tent without a pool. This page is about which of our family beach villas in Costa Rica fits which family, and what the beach is really like.
Children under 10 are not permitted in the two Safari Tents with Pool: the pool is deep and unfenced. Always confirm current house rules on Airbnb before booking.
The house with the fenced garden
The No-Footprint House is the stay we point families to first, for one reason: its private pool sits within a fully fenced garden. It is teak-built, from the No Footprint House series by architecture studio A-01, a sustainable prefab design recognised internationally, including a public-vote win at the Dezeen Awards and an International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum.
It sleeps up to 4 across two bedrooms, a king in the main bedroom and two single beds in the second, and each bedroom has its own bathroom. The kitchen is fully equipped, with stove, oven, and microwave, so early breakfasts and particular dinners are easy. The house has its own private entrance, a gate separate from the safari tents, and private parking.
A fenced garden is not the same as a childproof one. Like the rest of BaliBala the house sits in open jungle, and adults should supervise children, around the pool and generally.
The tent without a pool
The Safari Tent Hideaway is the second family option, and for some families the better one. It is the same two-bedroom luxury safari tent as the pool tents, shipped from South Africa and built from four layers of canvas, with no pool at all. Its living space opens straight onto a private garden with seating set among the green.
It sleeps up to 5: a king bed in the main bedroom, a queen and a high twin in the second. Both bedrooms lock, and each has a ceiling fan, mosquito net, and its own sink. The two hot-water showers are open-air, under the canopy, which is the part guests tend to write home about.
The Hideaway is a new listing and has no reviews yet. What it has is the deepest quiet of the three tents, and the beach a few steps away.
Why two of the four stays are not for young children
Children under 10 are not permitted in Safari Tent with Pool 1 or Safari Tent with Pool 2: the pool is deep and unfenced. Each plunge pool is built straight into the deck, a few steps from the living space: wonderful for couples and friends, unsuitable for small children.
Families with children aged 10 and over are welcome in the pool tents under the same rules as every other guest. Always confirm current house rules on Airbnb before booking.
What the beach is really like
Playa Matapalo is just steps from the property: a long, largely empty stretch of Pacific sand with plenty of natural shade, and guests regularly report having it almost to themselves. Beach towels and chairs are provided.
It is open Pacific, and the surf can be strong. This is a beach for walking, playing on the sand, and supervised paddling rather than confident swimming, and conditions change day to day. For gentler water, some spots around Uvita and Bahía Ballena, inside and around Marino Ballena National Park, can be more sheltered than the open coast, depending on tide, season, and daily conditions. Ask the hosts when you arrive; they can suggest options based on that week's conditions. Wherever you swim, children need constant supervision.
Sunsets here are the ones the hosts call Costa Rica's best, and two restaurants and a small supermarket are within walking distance.
Wildlife, sound, and open-air living
Monkeys cross the property daily, and macaws are frequently seen from the decks. Iguanas take the sun; sloths make slower appearances. Sightings are frequent, though never guaranteed, and for children that uncertainty is the whole game.
The buildings are open to the air by design. There is no air conditioning and no TV; ceiling fans, mosquito nets, shade, and ocean air do the work instead. Sound carries easily in open-air buildings and quiet gardens, so all guests, families included, are asked to help keep the place peaceful.
One guest, Marcia, put it this way in her review: "The house is spacious and puts you right in touch with the rhythms of nature."
Days out that work with children
Manuel Antonio National Park is about a 50-minute drive north along the coastal road: compact rainforest trails that end in beaches inside the park, with guides available at the entrance to point out the wildlife. South along the coast, Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park offer the Whale's Tail sandbar, walkable at low tide, and whale watching in season. A nearby wildlife rescue centre, where rescued animals are rehabilitated, makes a gentle morning.
A car is recommended: public transport is not available, and the national parks are worth the drive. Breakfast can be arranged if you ask ahead, and horseback riding, kayaking, and transport go through trusted local providers the hosts know.
The No-Footprint House sleeps up to 4 in two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and its private pool sits within a fully fenced garden.
The Safari Tent Hideaway sleeps up to 5 across a king, a queen, and a high twin bed, and has no pool.
Children under 10 are not permitted in the two Safari Tents with Pool: the pool is deep and unfenced.
Playa Matapalo is open Pacific with surf that can be strong: a beach for walking, playing on the sand, and supervised paddling.
The beach is just steps from the property, and beach towels and chairs are provided.
About a 50-minute drive to Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.
Every arrival is a personal welcome by Linda or Flory, our local host.
Linda is an Airbnb Superhost; across 37 Airbnb reviews the hosting averages 4.89 out of 5 (as of Aug 2026).
Both stays accept children of any age: the No-Footprint House pairs a private pool with a fully fenced garden, and the Hideaway has no pool at all.
No-Footprint House
4.78 · 18 reviews · Guest FavouriteA teak-built home from the internationally awarded No Footprint House series, open-air sustainable architecture with a private pool, steps from Playa Matapalo.
4 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths · Entire villa
See this stay
Safari Tent Hideaway
New listingThe quiet one: the same two-bedroom luxury glamping comfort, without a pool, a garden hideaway for guests who want nature at full volume.
5 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths · Safari tent
See this stayCan we bring children under 10?
Yes, to the No-Footprint House and the Safari Tent Hideaway, which have no age restriction. Children under 10 are not permitted in the two Safari Tents with Pool, because the pool is deep and unfenced. Always confirm current house rules on Airbnb before booking.
Is the pool at the No-Footprint House fenced?
The pool sits within a fully fenced garden, which is why we steer families there. It is still not a childproof environment, so adults need to supervise children around the pool and around the property.
Can our children swim at Playa Matapalo?
Treat it as a beach for walking, playing on the sand, and supervised paddling: the surf is open Pacific and can be strong, and conditions change day to day. For more sheltered water, ask the hosts about current options around Uvita and Bahía Ballena.
Is there air conditioning or a TV for the children?
No. The stays are designed for open-air living, with ceiling fans, mosquito nets, and deep shade instead.
We are a bigger family. Can we book more than one stay?
Yes. The stays sit in the same gardens, each fully private. Message the hosts with who is coming and the children's ages, and they will suggest which combination fits.
Where to stay
Tell us who is coming
Send the hosts your dates and your children's ages, and they will reply with honest advice on which stay fits best. Bookings are made on Airbnb, and each stay links straight to its listing.