Designer Villa in Tamarindo

Above Tamarindo, the house looks out over the beach on one side and the estuary on the other, where the river meets the Pacific and the mangroves turn dark at dusk. The days here follow the light. Mornings are bright and still, the afternoon breeze comes in off the water, and by evening the Guanacaste sunset fills the whole western sky.

The house was designed by Steve Adams, built by Jeff Hutton of Flor de Pacífico and furnished by Mu Design, and the three hands show in how it moves between inside and out. Its centre is an open-fronted pavilion under a thatched roof, where the breeze passes over a long built-in sofa, a live-edge table that seats ten and a full kitchen whose counter opens straight onto a bar on the terrace. Woven dining chairs, mid-century lounge seats and squared-off sconces keep the tropical materials from tipping into rustic.

From the main living area, a wide terrace with sun loungers faces the beach and the estuary. Steps lead down to a second terrace and the pool. There’s a hammock for the slow hours, a massage table, a barbecue for dinner as the sun goes down, and an outdoor gym, sauna and ice bath for those who’d rather keep moving (the ice bath is charged separately). The outdoor spaces are treated with a botanical, all-natural insecticide, so evenings outside stay comfortable without anything harsh.

Five bedrooms each have their own bathroom with a rain shower and air conditioning. Three open onto private terraces with ocean views, and one of them adds an outdoor shower. The fifth room is set up for children, with two sets of bunks and two trundle beds, which makes the house an easy fit for families travelling together.

A housekeeper, caretaker and property manager look after the house, with laundry included. Breakfast is prepared each morning, with groceries billed at cost, and a private chef can be arranged for other meals on the same basis. Drinking water, still and sparkling, runs through a natural filtration system. The team can also organise excursions and activities around Guanacaste at an additional cost.

Tamarindo Beach is a five-minute walk down the hill, and the town’s restaurants and shops are about ten minute