Villa Ayla

Holy Natural Haven

Constructed according to the rules  of sacred geometry, this inspired home gives off great energy. Its sharp angles softened by tropical vegetation and the rolling Pacific, the geometric villa features a high-ceilinged, open-concept common room at its center, with four independent sleep quarters and outdoor baths filling the remaining proportion equally.

With its rafters soaring high above its living spaces and sharp, contrasting edges dominating its facade, this geometric getaway angles boldly from its lush, rain forested lot. Pacific views extend from walls of glass, and the villa’s energy is pure tropics—an open-air, ebony-on-ivory series of rectangles, crisscrossed by striking structural framing that pops off the warm, golden wood covering its ceilings. Three independent structures are joined by organic decking and double infinity pools, and the jungle vegetation near the villa is manicured and tidy for great views onto the lush mountain landscape beyond.

AROUND

This home is located in Playa Carmen, just outside of surfing destination Santa Teresa. A world-class surf community known for its laid-back vibes and big waves, Santa Teresa was once a quiet, if industrious, fishing village. Now a happening tropical outpost and favorite destination of wave runners, the town offers family-run cafes and beach taverns, 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 the village of Montezuma. Kayaking is available in the Curu Wildlife Refuge, a mangrove ecosystem of calm bays teeming with vegetation and wildlife.

LOCATION

Santa Teresa, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. Nearest airport: San Jose or Liberia, both accessible by a 25-minute flights to Tambor and a connecting 45-minute drive.

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