Costa Rica’s national saying, “pura vida,” refers to a shared identity of optimism and a relaxed lifestyle of gratitude, hospitality, and joy. And nowhere across the Central American country’s stunning landscape of majestic volcanoes, dense rainforests, and unspoiled beaches is perhaps more emblematic of that ethos than the Bahía Ballena district, part of the Puntarenas province along the Pacific Ocean.
Here, in the lush mountains above the tiny village of Uvita, with its unique whale’s tail-shaped beach, a contemporary, glass-walled retreat within an exclusive guard-gated enclave offers total seclusion and tranquility in a design-forward setting with an intimate, up-close connection to the natural surroundings and the spectacular jungle and ocean views. The residence, known as The Sanctuary, is available for $3.25 million via Wijbrand Tuinstra of Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty.
The home’s mosaic-tiled pool is positioned to take in the view of the ocean.
Ana Lucía Rodríguez/Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty
Throughout the 7,825-square-foot contemporary villa, sliding walls of glass blur distinctions between indoor and outdoor spaces. However, privacy is not an issue; the densely jungled five-acre parcel ensures total solitude. Uvita is a winding, four-hour drive through the mountainous Parque Nacional Los Quetzales from the nation’s capital, San José, so, in a country where roads can be pockmarked with potholes or serve as a thoroughfare for livestock, a helipad makes getting to the tropical paradise easy, not to mention thrilling.
There are two side-by-side living rooms, one encased in glass with a built-in media cabinet and the other open to the elements. The modern kitchen and spacious dining area also flow out to the alfresco living room. There are four bedrooms, each with direct access to the outdoors and an ensuite bathroom.
Sliding walls of glass allow for an intimate relationship to the unspoiled natural surroundings.
Ana Lucía Rodríguez/Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty
A single, wood-clad roof stretches over the two pavilions that comprise the residence. Between the two pavilions is a meditation deck that floats above a reflecting pool. A series of steppingstones connect the deck to the mosaic-tiled zero-edge swimming pool that, like the house, is positioned to take in the view. Next to the pool is a sunken patio with a firepit and cushioned banquette seating.
Marketing materials indicate there’s room for additional development that might include an addition to the existing residence or building a separate structure to create a one-of-a-kind compound immersed in the unspoiled jungle. Down below, Uvita offers low-key restaurants and basic conveniences, while the surrounding area offers miles of pristine beaches, numerous picturesque waterfalls, and, in the winter and spring, excellent whale-watching opportunities.
Click here for more photos of The Sanctuary.
Ana Lucía Rodríguez/Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty
