CON MUCHO GUSTO

Nestled amidst Costa Rica’s lush tropical landscape and the Papagayo Peninsula’s black beaches is the Villa Avellana. The privately owned villa is buy-out only and is designed for multi-generational families, wellness retreats, or fun-filled vacations with friends. The property perfectly combines the service, quality, and scale of a boutique hotel with the intimacy of a single-family home.

Arriving at Liberia Guanacaste airport, we were greeted by Villa Avellana’s Guest Experience Manager Sergio Jaen who whisked us off in a brand-new SUV. After a scenic 45-minute drive, we entered the Papagayo Peninsula via a gorgeous gate bookended by three immense gleaming statues and a dramatic corridor of palms. As we drove along a curving road, howler monkeys greeted us from the trees and coatis nodded “hello” as they searched for hidden terrestrial treasures. Fun fact: Costa Rica is home to approximately half a million species, about 5 percent of the estimated species on Earth.

After a second gate granted us access to the Prieta Estates gated community, we found Villa Avellana sitting at the end of a long, secluded cul-de-sac on 3 acres of beachfront.

General Manager Thomas Freitag welcomed us into the newly built 10-bedroom, 33,000-square-foot, fully staffed villa, a space he noted as “one to be shared by loved ones creating treasured memories.” The winner of the International Property Award’s “Best Architecture Single Residence Americas 2022-2023,” the villa is stunning to behold. Ascending the grand staircase, you are greeted by an astonishing view of the jungle and ocean through floor-toceiling glass walls and doors. A vast yet inviting space contains a kitchen, indoor eating area, and the main living room. The villa’s game room is designed for fun while the garden-view bedrooms with outdoor showers and beautiful hillside views are utterly relaxing. Second-floor, ocean-view bedrooms feature gorgeous marble bathrooms and expansive terraces. Bedtime is an otherworldly experience as Villa Avellana uses 400 thread count cotton hemstitch sheets from the Costa Rican bedding company, Katé.

The Costa Rican design firm SENS carefully selected the villa’s color palette to reflect the coastal charm and tropical allure of Papagayo. Shades of blue, ranging from deep navy to serene aquamarine, create a sense of calm and tranquility while various shades of green are reminiscent of the vibrant jungle foliage. Natural textures and materials, such as wood and stone, enhance the organic feel of the spaces while an abundant inclusion of works from local artisans lends cultural authenticity.

Located just outside the main villa is the two-story yoga pavilion built of gleaming teak.

On the other end of the villa and outside the main building is a huge outdoor living area with kitchens, eating areas, pools, pool deck, and a bar, which is manned by an onsite mixologist.

FOOD

Outdoor dining is an essential part of the Costa Rican experience, and the villa offers various areas where groups of all sizes can savor a delightful, al fresco meal. Whether served as plated courses or buffet style, all meals are prepared with the freshest locally grown ingredients and Executive Chef David Moya caters to all dietary preferences.

Each morning, I eagerly awaited the “Menu of the Day.” Breakfasts offered the option of a classic Costa Rican dish (alternating daily) and/or a farm fresh egg station. In addition, there was a tempting display of pressed juices (my favorite was the “Green Juice” made of pineapple, cucumber, kale, celery, ginger, and peppermint), homemade bread and pastries, yogurts, fruit, and other goodies.

For one lunch, Chef Mona presented an endless array of choices beautifully displayed on the outdoor kitchen’s island. I particularly adored the multiple vegetable options. Whenever I vacation, I can never find enough vegetables—at Villa Avellana, this was not the case.

Another day, we returned from an excursion to a three-course lunch including a chèvre and apple salad with a coriander dressing followed by a delicate miso-cured sea bass prepared with a fennel puree and asparagus.

Dinners were elaborate affairs served in a relaxed atmosphere. One evening’s intoxicating theme featured tapas and wine pairings. Post-meal, the event’s team arranged a salsa dancing lesson—we danced the night away putting on quite a show for the monkeys.

ACTIVITIES

Luckily Costa Rica is a vacationer’s playground with myriad activities to help burn off those delicious calories. Villa guests have exclusive access to all the Peninsula’s offerings, including golf, tennis, private beach clubs, tours, wilderness trails, beautiful beaches, and a two-story fitness facility. Chauffeured SUVs, a fleet of golf carts, and a 2023 Boston Whaler yacht transport guests to and from a multitude of adventures.

One morning we zipped over to a beach favored by white-faced monkeys for an early morning paddle board excursion with Thomas, the villa’s general manager. As we glided along, Thomas pointed out different varieties of trees in the “floating” forest. Directing our gaze beneath the water, we saw an assortment of wildlife including rays and schools of fish. Arriving back at the beach we were welcomed by a band of white-faced monkeys who, with infants in tow, leaped, climbed, and swung to our absolute delight. I joked with Thomas that it was so kind of him to cue the monkeys—these kinds of moments happen so often at Villa Avellana that you can’t believe they aren’t orchestrated. We hopped back in our golf cart knowing our boards and towels would magically reappear at the villa, thoroughly cleaned and carefully stowed.

Another day I opted for a yoga class. As I climbed a sweeping staircase that seemed to float over the villa’s lush gardens to the hillside yoga pavilion, I felt filled with peace and gratitude. The session was a delight with the howler monkeys cheering on my downward dog, a gorgeous breeze keeping me cool, and the ocean’s roar inviting me to a variety of afternoon activities.

One favorite activity was a day on the ocean aboard the villa’s yacht. Captain expertly maneuvered our vessel, pointing out all the best sights and then stopping so we could partake in a bit of snorkeling and cave exploration.

Upon returning, we met in the spacious living room for a chocolate- making class with the owner of a cacao farm. We journeyed through the chocolate-making process from start to finish—we learned how cacao is pollinated, harvested, and how its need for excessive amounts of water means that it flourishes in the rainforest. We opened our own pod to find the fleshy white “seeds” that hold the cacao nubs. We roasted the nubs, removed the husks, and finally ground them into a delicious chocolate paste. Our host allowed us to add milk powder, sugar, and nuts but reminded us that in its pure form, chocolate is the most nutritious food in the world. It is high in antioxidants, magnesium, and rich in flavanols which help protect cells from inflammation, improve brain function, and boost immune health.

On another glorious morning, we headed off for the Private Palmares Aerial Adventure where we zipped through the jungle tethered to a steel cable and followed that thrill by tackling a ropes challenge course. I was quite proud of myself on the ropes course—my trick is speed. If you go too slow, it’s harder to keep your balance as you sway high above the jungle floor. Our last challenge of the day was a three-story free fall. Luckily, the cable attached to our harness slowed just before our feet hit the ground. To toast our athletic abilities and quench our thirst, our guide gathered some coconuts, pulled out a machete, and, with a few “taps” across their tops, produced the sweetest of treats.

Located on the second floor of the yoga pavilion is a little slice of heaven Villa Avellana refers to as the “Wellness Studio.” My open-air hot stone massage was one of the top spa experiences of my many travels. The breeze, essential oils, toasty stones, masseuse’s expertise, and the ocean’s orchestra elevated the experience from pleasant to glorious.

STAFF

The villa and its location’s beauty are an enormous draw for the discerning traveler but what truly makes Villa Avellana unforgettable is the team in front of and behind the scenes. With Thomas at the helm as general manager and a personal concierge team, logistics are easily juggled and activities and itineraries are effortlessly planned. All things are possible at all times. If it’s a rainy afternoon when the yacht excursion is planned, the staff replaces boating with spa appointments or chocolate making. No ask is too big or too small for this talented team who replies “con mucho gusto” to every request.

Looking for ultra-luxurious accommodations, world-class cuisine, and stress-free, adventurous itineraries planned by detail-oriented staff? Villa Avellana is waiting (and so are the monkeys).

For more information, visit villaavellana.com.