Nido del Mar

Pacific Viewpoint

A residential observation point into Costa Rica’s teeming natural world, this sharp villa offers a palapa-punctuated pool and a field of positive energy, only 200 meters from the beach in the gated community of Mar a Mar.

Its sharp vertices pointing out of the jungle canopy only minutes from Santa Teresa’s world-class surf beach, this open-air view villa feels origami-inspired with its sharp folds and angling white steel rafters soaring overhead. With an interior awash in sea glass colors and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and windows on both stories of its facade, this residence offers a viewpoint into the treetops teeming with monkeys, iguanas, squirrels and birds, plus big views out to the ocean.

Located on the outskirts of the surfing destination Santa Teresa, in the gated community of Mar a Mar, the angular outpost offers Pacific views and is backed into the region’s trademark tropical vegetation, with howler monkeys sounding at night and vivid birds perched nearby. It shares a pool with the rest of the Mar a Mar community, and is walking distance to the beach and many local restaurants. 

AROUND

Santa Teresa’s lively beach community is a world-class surf destination known for its laid-back vibes and big waves. Once a quiet, if industrious fishing village, Santa Teresa now offers a happening tropical scene and is a favorite destination of wave runners. Family-run cafes and beach taverns are joined by creative restaurants and cocktail bars on unpopulated sands along colorful, cabana-lined streets. Shops range from the designer to the low-key and kitsch, and the town is home to a thriving alternative lifestyle and wellness community of yogis, seekers, athletes, expats and sun worshippers who come to soak up the pura vida local life and also open up smoothie shacks and poke bowl shops. 

Santa Teresa’s beaches attract expert surfers and beginners too, with warm tropical waters and constant waves ideal for learning. Beyond wave catching, the area is a great place for hikers, who can explore the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, where guided tours lead through the lush rainforest to discover a dizzying variety of flora and fauna. A rainforest canopy tour to the Montezuma Waterfalls is the spot to grab a post-tour swim and visit of the village of Montezuma. Kayaking is available in the Curu Wildlife Refuge, a mangrove ecosystem of calm bays filled with vegetation and wildlife.

LOCATION

Mar a Mar (gated community), Santa Teresa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Nearest airport: San Jose or Liberia, both accessible by 25-minute flight to Tambor and a connecting 45-minute drive.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year-round, with October the rainiest month