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Casa Única
Casa Única
Our small-scale South-side stay for guests who enjoy cooking, kayaking, walking and settling into the quieter rhythm of the Laguna.
Casa Única local guide
Swimming & kayaking from Casa Única
Casa Única opens directly onto the public beach of San Juan de Oriente. Walk through the lower gate and you are at the Laguna, with an easy sandy entry into water that stays around 26°C. Guests can also take one of three single kayaks, with life vests, for a paddle along the shore toward turquoise water and La Islita. Mornings are generally calmer; when the wind rises, conditions can change quickly.
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- Access
- Directly through Casa Única’s lower gate
- Water
- Around 26°C
- Entry
- Easy and mostly sandy
- Depth
- Shallow for about 2–3 m, then deepens quickly
- Best time
- Mornings are generally calmer
- Equipment
- 3 single kayaks, life jackets, noodles and beach chairs
- Remember
- Public beach — keep kayaks, paddles, life vests and belongings with you
Swimming & kayaking map
Use the map to locate Casa Única, the public-beach launch, the turquoise-water viewpoint and La Islita. The kayak points are navigation references only; no route line is drawn because wind and lake conditions vary.
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Viewpoint
Turquoise-water waypoint
Pass this point on the paddle toward La Islita for especially clear blue and turquoise water.
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Arrival
La Islita (Islita Blanca)
Suggested farther kayak turnaround from Casa Única; allow about two hours for the round trip.
From Casa Única to the water
Getting to the beach is simple. From Casa Única, walk down through the property and leave through the lower gate. The public beach of San Juan de Oriente begins immediately outside. There is no need to drive or organize transportation: the Laguna is part of the everyday experience of staying here.
- Walk down through the property to the lower gate.
- Public beach
- Begins immediately outside the lower gate.
- Access
- Direct pedestrian access; no transport needed.
- Entry
- Easy and mostly sandy.
- Water
- Around 26°C.
- Best time
- Mornings are generally calmer.
Swimming in the Laguna
The water entry in front of the beach is easy and mostly sandy. You can normally walk about two or three metres into the water before it begins to deepen more quickly. The water stays around 26°C, making swimming comfortable throughout the year.
Mornings are usually the calmest time on the water. On quiet days the surface of the Laguna can become almost completely still; when the wind picks up, waves can rise quickly. Pay attention to the conditions before swimming farther from shore.
Swim at your own comfort level
Life jackets are available at Casa Única in different sizes and can be used whenever you prefer. Because the water becomes deep relatively quickly after the first few metres, less-confident swimmers and children should stay within their comfort level and use a life jacket when appropriate.
There are no known dangerous aquatic animals in the swimming area. As with any natural lake, conditions can change with the wind, so stay aware of how far you are from shore when swimming in open water.
A public beach, shared with the community
The beach outside Casa Única is the public beach of San Juan de Oriente. It is not reserved for Casa Única guests, and that is part of its character. Local families and visitors also use the shore, with Sunday afternoons generally being one of the busier times.
The beach is a mix of sand and small rocks. There are trees along parts of the shore, including some with thorns, so wear footwear when moving around the vegetation rather than assuming every part of the beach is barefoot-friendly.
About 100 metres south of the public beach, you can reach one of Laguna de Apoyo’s natural thermal-water areas. You can either follow the shoreline south or take a short walk to find the hot water.
Look up as well as out
The water and shoreline attract plenty of birdlife. Depending on the day, you may see herons, frigatebirds, hawks, ducks and kingfishers around the Laguna. Some are fishing, some pass overhead and others use the trees and shoreline around the beach.
Kayaks and lake gear at Casa Única
Casa Única guests can take lake equipment down to the public beach. Three single kayaks are available, together with life vests in different sizes, a few noodle-style floaters and beach chairs.
Always wear a life vest in a kayak. Never drag a kayak on the ground: the surface can scratch and eventually perforate the hull. Ask for a hand and carry each kayak with two people, fully lifted from the ground.
Do not leave a kayak, paddle, life vest or personal belongings unattended on the public beach. For outings longer than about 30 minutes, take drinking water, a hat and sunscreen. When you finish, bring all Casa Única equipment back with you.
Follow the coast toward turquoise water
Launch from the public beach and paddle toward La Islita. On the outward leg, stay relatively close to the shoreline; it gives you changing views of the forested shore and can offer more shelter than crossing open water.
Around and beyond this point, the Laguna can show especially clear blue and turquoise tones. Treat it as a navigation reference rather than a required stop, and turn back earlier if the wind or waves begin to build.
- Start
- Public beach below Casa Única.
- Outbound
- Follow the shoreline toward La Islita.
- Water point
- Clear blue and turquoise tones around and beyond this point.
- Kayak
- Single kayak + life vest.
- Supplies
- Water, hat and sunscreen for outings over 30 min.
- Conditions
- Turn back if wind or waves begin to build.
Reach Islita Blanca
La Islita is the suggested farther turnaround for a kayak outing from Casa Única. Reaching it and returning can take about two hours, so leave enough daylight and turn around earlier whenever conditions call for it.
On the way out, following the coast can keep you closer to shelter. For the return, if the wind direction is favorable and the lake remains comfortable, a more direct line toward Casa Única can shorten the paddle. Do not assume the wind will always help; adjust your route to the conditions you actually find. This is a kayak destination from Casa Única, not a swimming destination.
- Destination
- La Islita (Islita Blanca).
- Round trip
- Allow about 2 hours.
- Outbound
- Follow the coast.
- Turnaround
- Turn around here or earlier.
- Return
- Go more directly toward Casa Única only when conditions permit.
- Safety
- Kayak outing — do not swim here from Casa Única.
Continue exploring
Guide
Natural thermal waters of Laguna de Apoyo
Walk south from the public beach to natural thermal waters emerging along the Laguna shoreline.
Read guide →
Guide
Walk to Diriá
Follow the quiet road south from Casa Única for an easy walk to Diriá beach through the lower Laguna landscape.
Read guide →
Guide
Hiking El Caballito Trail
A steep forest connection from the Laguna shore to upper San Juan de Oriente, with viewpoints and other stops once you reach the top.
Read guide →
Guide
Things to do around Laguna de Apoyo
Five nearby activities around the southern side of Laguna de Apoyo, all connected to Casa Única’s local setting.
Read guide →