In January 2022, we sold everything we owned in the Netherlands, packed four suitcases, gathered our pets, and took the leap to start a new life in Costa Rica — with the dream of creating a small, boutique place to stay on the beautiful Nicoya Peninsula.

After just two holidays, we had fallen deeply in love with the country’s endless beauty and way of life, and decided to follow our hearts.

 

We chose Playa Naranjo for a reason. This is still a place where Costa Rica feels truly local — where Spanish is spoken everywhere, where you preferably pay in colones instead of dollars, and where beaches and nature reserves are mostly shared with locals rather than crowds of tourists. It’s quiet, authentic, and a little off the beaten path… exactly what drew us in from the beginning.

Playa Naranjo stole our hearts with its warm, welcoming community, the peaceful beaches nearby, and the incredible reserves that make you wonder why more people haven’t discovered this part of the country yet.

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The name La Casa del Conde often sparks curiosity. While we don’t come from noble blood, the name is inspired by our family name: de Graaff — a Dutch surname that can be translated as “the count.”
A small personal story that became part of this place.

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Our journey was also featured on Dutch television in the program Ik Vertrek (December 2022), where the first steps of our new life in Costa Rica were documented. We completely renovated the existing buildings, and to this day we continue working with care and passion to turn this place into the paradise we once dreamed of — a place we would love to book ourselves. We truly enjoy welcoming guests from all over the world and sharing our little piece of paradise with those looking for a unique and more authentic stay in Costa Rica.

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Curious to see how it all began?