The Villa

The Villa’s name is La Gaviota (which means “seagull”) and is part of a 25-unit, gated community complex entirely owned by Americans and Canadians. The complex features a restaurant serving traditional meals and snacks as well as local cuisine. Just a few hundred feet from the spectacular pool is a private beach buttressed by towering, lush cliffs on either side, which provides extremely calm water perfect for snorkeling. As you will notice from the photographs, Costa Rica’s Pacific beaches are famous for their black sand. The sand has the consistency of talc and, surprisingly, remains cool to the touch even on the hottest days.

La Gaviota's two stories are well-appointed and several pieces of local of artwork. Extremely spacious with three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, La Gaviota comfortably sleeps up to six people.

Enjoy the patio and veranda while seated at the teak tables and chairs or while resting in the dual hammocks. If you wish to dine in, take advantage of the gas grill and fully-outfitted kitchen. For the true vacationer, however, we advise you to eat out every evening as restaurant prices are modest and the owners and staffs are extremely accommodating.

La Gaviota is perfect for just relaxing and being pampered as spa treatments are available in the privacy of the villa or on the beach. Daily maid, nanny and chef services are available and groceries can be delivered upon your request. The water is pure and safe to drink. The fruit is wonderfully fresh and plentiful at many roadside stands and the market. Local hot spots include a casino, a disco, many bars and restaurants (especially the Monkey Bar, an enormous thatched hut housing a large restaurant and bar with live music). There are many shops in the area to purchase souvenirs.

Surfing is a short drive away at Tamarindo Beach with scuba diving and fishing around the hillside at Ocatal Beach. There are also many rainforest activities including guided tours; the canopy zip line ride is a fan favorite.

Costa Rica is second only to Hawaii for surfing. There is world-class surfing nearby in Tamarindo which is a short 40 minute drive away. Rental surf and boogie boards are available at the beach. If you want smaller waves, you may wish to go to Flamingo Beach which is only a half hour drive away. The local beaches, Jurel, Hermosa, Ocatal, Coco have far more placid water.

La Gaviota features the following amenities:

• Central air conditioning and Hampton Bay fans (don’t underestimate how many hotels in Costa Rica do not have this)

• Full kitchen with stove/oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, blender plus eating and cooking utensils

• All linens, including bath and beach towels

• Washing machine and dryer

• Double bed in master bedroom suite which has a balcony

• 4 single beds

• Pull out double bed

• Cable TV and VCR in living room with a second TV in master bedroom

• Dining room with elegant long table

• Teak patio furniture and a gas grill

• Spectacular view of Papagayo Peninsula, the Four Seasons property and Michael Jordan’s home

• Only steps away from Pool with Club House, restaurant, and full-service bar and private beach (open 7 days a week)

• Gated community with 24 hour security and in-home lockbox