An oceanview private lodge immersed in tropical vegetation and built of natural and locally sourced materials, this low-key, off-the-beaten-path jungle retreat is about living life purely and sustainably without scrimping on simple luxuries. This understated villa for rent in Costa Rica is as much lifestyle choice as it is a haven for rest and rejuvenation, created by its world-traveler owners to be an alternative to "urban madness" and the brash bling of boutique resorts.

Pura Vida envelops guests in abundant nature, showing that organic and stylish are synonymous. Catering to both ends of the tropical vacation spectrum, the deep jungle retreat offers guests both adrenaline-spiked adventures and lush, uninhibited spaces for relaxation. With a focus on natural luxury and indulgent self-care, the location combines serene, oceanview rooms with communal spaces, all swallowed by teeming jungle, alive with the screams of howler monkeys and calls of toucans. In keeping with the ethos of minimizing its impact on the environment, less than 2.5% of the ecolodge reserve is architectural, or a built environment, and all of furnishings are, as the retreat’s name indicates, pure—locally sourced and organic.

Having traveled the world extensively, the lodge’s owners handpicked Costa Rica’s Zona Sur to create a new kind of retreat, one where organic is just as important as stylish, and everything is designed to harmonize with the surrounding beauty without limiting creature comforts. In Pura Vida, they have created a self-proclaimed “guilt-free” travel zone, a lodge that makes the ideal base to explore some of the world’s most pristine beaches and charming coastal communities, as well as the country’s celebrated cloud forests and natural parks. The lodge operates according to a People & Planet philosophy, partnering with a selection of conservation projects to protect the natural world and reconnect with the planet in an understated way. They are also one of Costa Rica's first Certified Ecolodge Members of One Percent for the Planet.

The "eco" part of the ecolodge, designed by Franco Casalvolone of FCB Arquitectura, includes sycamore ceiling fans, organic bamboo bed linens, Cocomat bedding and solar-powered hot water. The kitchen and dining rooms overflow with teak and bamboo, all the fluffy bathroom towels and robes are also organic bamboo, and natural stone perlato forms the wash basins. The lodge is constructed primarily of locally sourced guadua bamboo with oven-roasted ornamental bamboo and teak creating the verandas and decks.

Rooms are designed to be cozy nests with private decks and walk-in rain showers, while the property’s common areas are more open-plan and airy, with multi-level decks for lounging and yoga, suspended balconies, and an infinity plunge pool and deck set under the papaya trees overlooking the jungle canopy. The lodge features a traditional palapa-style tiki roof inspired by the native tribe of Talamanca and built from a combination of bamboo and a recycled synthetic palm thatch for durability.

EXPERIENCES

The hosts of this villa for rent in Costa Rica can help with 4x4 car hire as well as recommending some fantastic snorkelling & diving 'experiences with a purpose'. They can help to organize tours, expeditions, trips and adventures, guest favourites being canyoning, zip-lining, and day trips to the world famous Isla del Caño & Corcovado National Park. Other experiences on tap include tours of nearby mangroves, as well as on-site yoga classes, couples' massages & facials, and the private chef experience and plant-based home-cooked meals (delivered up to the retreat). The lodge-offered tours include the Pura Vida Boat Adventure and Chasing Waterfalls Experience.

AROUND

The lodge is set within the greater Pura Vida Ecolodge Reserve, home to over 850 animal species and lush tropical vegetation. A number of private nature trails and hiking paths lead out into a reserve where creeks course under the thick tree canopy, cascades crash during green season, a rich blanket of exotic flora blooms silently, and multiple wildlife corridors zigzag the rainforest floor.

Located in Costa Rica’s Zona Sur, the lodge makes a great base from which to explore the country’s dazzling eco diversity. From the lodge, guests can view colorful toucans and macaws, the occasional sloth, howler monkeys, and even a rare panther or mountain leopard. The property is enclosed by the Pacific Ocean and mountainous rainforest in a region of Costa Rica that’s home to coconut palm-lined beaches, where miles of unspoiled volcanic sand are practically deserted. 

Playa Tortuga is the closet beach, and further north, Playas Piñuelas and Ventanas showcase cliffs and wild jungle as backdrops, and are favourites of surfers who also catch big waves at Dominical. The sleepy village of Ojochal, with its eclectic selection of fusion restaurants and cafes, artisan shops and delis is just 15 minutes' drive away, and four of Costa Rica's famed national parks are situated in proximity to the lodge, including Isla del Caño, Marino Ballena, Manuel Antonio and Corcovado.