Casa Cocobolo

A Clifftop Architectural Gem

Perched high above the beach and woven into the trees, this clifftop architect’s home angles breathtakingly from its lush jungle perch. Trees twist through rooflines, a dark-bottomed infinity pool and gently cascading wet deck give the sense of lounging riverside, panoramic glass walls are only occasionally broken by stucco divisions (meaning sunrise views from bed each morning), plus outdoor view decks jut and cantilever into a void over the Pacific sands far below.

A cool, contemporary jungle home created with plenty of moxie by architects for an architect, this clifftop glass house offers unexpected luxury deep in a jungle canopy alive with monkeys, tropical birds, and slow-moving iguanas. The house is set on top of a 40-meter cliff that the owner remembers scaling as a child, and was brought to life in 2016 with the help of multi-award-winning Cañas Arquictectos, who describe the project as a "logistical nightmare" but one very much worth the effort. As they say, "Few can say they get to enjoy the sea breeze from a literal cliffhanger."

With walls of glass and daring decks that cantilever out over the ocean, it’s a stunning showpiece on its own, before we even get to the Pacific views over Montezuma Bay, the velvety waters of the infinity pool that stretches right along the house, or the cool, Japanese mid-century-mod-inspired entry with its textured concrete and floating wood stairs suspended over a manicured river stone garden.

Bedrooms and baths enclosed by walls of glass mean you can watch the sun rise or set from the fluffy beds or the deep soaking tub, and indoor living areas are also glass-fronted, facing the ocean. The home stands as a true indoor/outdoor living pavilion. Teak decks are set with patio chairs and dining tables, concrete terraces stretch poolside, shaded by the angled roof, a sitting area overlooks the infinity pool stretching like a river into the trees, and a sleek catwalk extends outward from the bedrooms upstairs, a wood plank walkway out into the void, entangled with the cocobolo tree that gives the home its name.

AROUND

This villa for rent in Costa Rica is named for the cocobolo trees that surround it, covering a 30-hectare private reserve adjacent to a national refuge. This deep jungle location makes it a wildlife bridge, with iguanas, monkeys, butterflies and boldly colored tropical birds residing in the canopy surrounding the home. Montezuma Beach curves brightly below the property, and the home has a private river with numerous waterfalls and natural swimming pools accessible via a hike from the home. 

Montezuma is known as a hippie/yogi outpost at the furthest tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Each Saturday, the town hosts an open-air beachside market known as the Feria Organica, and there’s also an artisan’s market in town, famous for its macrame artists. The town focuses on sustainable tourism, marking businesses with turtle icons that represent particular strides made, such as the responsible handling of organic and inorganic waste or minimizing energy consumption. Montezuma’s white sand beach is home to all water sports and beach lounging pursuits, and a trail through the jungle and around some coves leads to Playa Grande, a surfing destination. The Romelia Wildlife Reserve is a turtle sanctuary and hatchery, and the town boasts its own iconic waterfall and a series of cascading pools.

LOCATION

Montezuma, Costa Rica. Nearest airports: Tambor (11km), San Jose (102km)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Costa Rica has two clear seasons, each of which offers unique advantages: dry season (December to April) and green/rainy season (May to November). The temperature remains fairly consistent year round.