Villa Muza

Santa Teresa is really one long dirt road on the Nicoya Peninsula, with jungle on one side and the Pacific on the other. La Lora sits near the middle of it, the beach and surf point most of town reads the swell by. The house is about 150 metres back from the sand at the end of a quiet stone-paved lane lined only with private homes. You’re close enough to hear the sets come in, and far enough back that the street goes still at night.

The architecture is modern and clean-lined, softened by a roof of woven palm fronds and gardens dense with tropical planting. It’s 300 square metres over three levels that follow the slope, and most of the day happens on the middle floor. Living areas sit behind floor-to-ceiling glass that opens onto furnished terraces and a saltwater pool, all of it looking over the treetops to the ocean. Inside and outside are hard to tell apart here. The kitchen is set up for someone who actually cooks, with an espresso machine for the mornings and an outdoor kitchen, barbecue and dining table for long lunches that run into the evening. The upper terrace and the private rancho take the sunset. An outdoor shower rinses off the salt after the walk back from the beach.

The bedrooms are spread across floors, which suits groups who want some distance from each other. The first master suite takes the lower level on its own, with a king bed, ensuite bathroom and private terrace. Upstairs there’s a second king master with its own ensuite, a bedroom set up as either a king or two singles, and a fourth room with a king plus a single that has a pull-out bed underneath. Those last two share a bathroom, and a powder room sits on the living level. Ten people fit without anyone feeling cramped, and a cot and high chair are available for families with small children. Three levels of stairs make the house a poor fit for anyone with limited mobility.

The care shows in the details. Rooms are generous and designed with an artist’s eye, the linens are cotton, and the soaps are natural. There’s air conditioning throughout, wifi, a dedicated workspace for anyone who can’t fully switch off, and a washer and dryer for longer stays. A night guard and concierge are part of the stay, and concierge can arrange the transfer from Tambor, about half an hour away by road, or the longer drive from San José. Private parking is on site, which helps in a town where finding a space near the beach is its own small project.