Home of the Week: A $16 Million Contemporary Jungle Compound Near One of Costa Rica’s Preeminent Surf Communities
Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula—one of the world’s five blue zones—is known for its dramatic Pacific coastline, national parks, sustainability practices, wellness retreats, and diverse wildlife. But one beach town in particular, Santa Teresa, has long lured both local and international surfers with its pristine shores and surf breaks, along with foodies, nature lovers, and wellness junkies.
The laid-back, boho-chic surfer’s paradise is not only popular as a holiday destination but also attracts an international crowd seeking a more holistic and meaningful home base. It offers a carefree lifestyle with a distinct element of barefoot luxury in the form of discreet five-star hotels and impressive real estate offerings. Those looking for a contemporary paradise that speaks to the beauty of Costa Rica can turn their attention to this stunning jungle-ensconced compound, christened Magna Pacific, that was recently listed for $16 million.
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Completed in 2023, the spec home was developed with vacationers in mind; however, the property is also perfect for use as a private home with plenty of room for visiting friends and family. The tropical hideaway seamlessly blends into the verdant landscape and honors Costa Rica’s common architectural feature where homes unite with their surroundings and seamlessly blend the indoors with the outdoors. In Costa Rica, where conservation is one of the most important national causes, the developers sought out the local cutting-edge architecture firm Instinto to design the home through a holistic lens while using natural and sustainable materials. Mexico-based Casa Moa was tapped to design the sumptuous interiors.
Overlooking popular Playa Hermosa, the one-acre estate features two conjoined villas that offer a total of 14,336 square feet of living space. In all, there are 10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and two infinity pools. The sustainably built turnkey villas feature rectilinear forms with soaring, double-height ceilings, tall columns, canopy-style roofs, shaded terraces, and incredible vistas over the ocean.
“The villas have distinct separation from each other with private entrances but can easily be used as one large home,” says listing agent Brian Bratton of Costa Rica Resort and Estate Properties, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate. “I have certain clients who don’t want anyone in their homes, and this allows the primary owner to have guests without inviting them into their direct personal space.” Alternatively, an owner could make use of one villa and rent out the other.
Bratton says that the design was inspired by both Brazilian and Costa Rican architecture, and materials include local reforested teak and hardwoods, lava stone, and tiger stone. Villa Nalani, with a crisp contemporary design, is shaded by a canopy-style roof and features tiger stone exterior walls and large wood beams. Inside, the bright space has high ceilings, walls of glass that open to the patio, and is accented by reclaimed wood detailing to connect to the surrounding environment. There are hand-carved teak and marble finishes and Italian leather furniture found throughout the six bedrooms and common living spaces. Nearly every bedroom has a private ocean-facing terrace, and there’s also an additional covered living area on the second floor.
Villa Nalani also has a gourmet chef’s kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances and an eat-in kitchen island, a formal dining area, and a large living room that is the central gathering place of the home. Walls of glass slide open to a terrace that’s hovering in the treetops with an 82-foot wraparound lap pool, a 12-seat al fresco dining table, a grill, and hidden alcoves protected by local trees and native foliage. There are five outdoor showers throughout the villa.
The adjacent Villa Enu, also with a canopy-style roof and situated a bit lower on the cliffside, has four en suite bedrooms, four outdoor showers, numerous terraces, and an infinity pool. It has a similar interior design, color palette, and materials as Villa Nalani.
The sale of the property comes with planning permission to add a 300-square-foot cliffside pavilion with beach access that could be employed as a guest cottage, office, or mediation studio. The property is controlled by a security gate, and there’s private covered parking. It’s a four-minute drive from the local helipad and a brief drive from Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa, and other renowned beaches. Besides deep relaxation, unspoiled natural beauty, and world-class surfing, the area also offers deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, horseback riding, ziplining, and hiking.
Click here for more photos of Magna Pacific.
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