Jungle Hub

Geometry in the Jungle

Built on a vivid slash of green tucked between jungle and ocean, this linear villa with architecture and interior design by Claudia Montevecchi traverses dense rainforest terrain rich in biodiversity. Placing nature firmly center stage, the property stands as a sleek, multilevel geometric form crossed by stairs, walkways and narrow passages, facing a swimming pool and platform that places you eye level with the lush, teeming tree canopy.

With its rich wood finishes and design focus on geometry, this generous jungle home gives off a mid-century modern vibe layered within a contemporary architectural context. The Venetian blinds all around the structure make for a dashing design statement plus offer great variations of natural light. Immediate jungle surrounds the property, and more distant sea views are available upstairs and from the pool deck. Polished concrete and glass give the place a sophisticated urban feeling, yet the villa floats in the rainforest like a luxe outpost in a clearing within the dense wilds.

AROUND

Located in the small village of Montezuma on the eastern shore of Costa Rica’s Nicoya peninsula, the home occupies a tangled jungle rise overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Maintaining the "pura vida” vibe that draws visitors to Costa Rica, the area is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground, abundant with watersports (snorkeling, surfing, fishing, bioluminescence tours, whale watching) and land adventures (hiking in Cabo Blanco National Park or Play Grande, ziplining, beachcombing and jungle safari-ing) plus requisite jungle wildlife (monkeys, tropical birds, iguanas…). The village has all necessary services and a sweet beachy vibe along the coastline, where live music outlets, surf-shack-styled cafes, galleries, and restaurants overlook the water.

Montezuma is known as a hippie/yogi outpost at the furthest tip of the Nicoya peninsula. Each Saturday the town hosts an open-air beachside market known as the Feria Organica, and there’s an artisan’s market in town, too, famous for its macrame. The town focuses on sustainable tourism, marking businesses with turtle icons that represent particular eco strides made, such as the responsible handling of organic and inorganic waste or minimizing energy consumption. Montezuma’s white sand beach is the stuff of postcard dreams, and a trail from it leads through the jungle and around some coves leads to Playa Grande, a world-class surfing destination. The Romelia Wildlife Reserve is a turtle sanctuary and hatchery, and the town boasts its own iconic waterfall and a series of cascading pools.

LOCATION

Las Delicias de Cobano, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Nearest airports: Cobano (half-hour charter flight via San Jose); Liberia (4 hours)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: December to April