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Villa Helena is a beautiful, spacious and very private one bedroom home situated
at about a thousand feet in elevation, half a mile inland on the south central
Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The hillside location is ideal for several reasons.
It allows for wonderful sunrise to sunset views of the expansive ocean below as
well as a clear , close, unobstructed treetop view of the myriad of birds, butterflies,
sloths, coati and monkeys cavorting below. While the night air right at the beach
level is often stagnant and can be oppressively humid, our mountainside retreat provides
wonderfully refreshing light breezes which make sleeping very comfortable.
This unique and beautiful one bedroom home covers over a thousand square feet of
tropical luxury. Sumptuous hardwoods accent the solid construction featuring an
expansive cathedral ceiling, terra cotta floor tiles, Costa Rican Indian artwork,
the rich and brilliant textiles of nearby Guatemala and locally crafted furniture
and fixtures. The light and airy home breathes a class of quiet, simple elegance
designed for the comfort and relaxation of all who enter.
The spacious bedroom offers a king sized bed, louvered and fully screened windows, writing table, roomy
closet and ample storage. The bathroom is highlighted by its generous size, blue and white
tiled shower and a large skylight. The kitchen is fully equipped for the preparation
any meal from the simplest to the most elegant. The freestanding hardwood bar separates
the kitchen from the living and dining areas both of which have views into the garden and pool
area as well as out to the ocean. A wide, comfortable locally made bamboo couch and an extra-cushiony
sleeping mat could easily accommodate two additional guests. The whole front of the house
facing the ocean, distant Cano Island and the Osa Peninsula is a large balcony on which
one can laze in one of the hammocks, enjoy breakfast with a view or use as a comfortable
wildlife observation area. There is a compact disc player with a large selection of music to add to the atmosphere and your enjoyment. The full sized washer and dryer are standard machines that are easy to use. Whether you stay three days or three months it is great to leave for your next destination with clean and dry clothes.
In addition to the spectacular views of the waters of the Pacific, Villa Helena features
a lovely deep pool with waterfall and two private sunning decks. The grounds closely
surrounding the house and pool are planted effusively with lush tropical plants and flowers which attract the neighborly hummingbirds, and butterflies.
Your private garden is filled with heliconias, orchids, palms, bougainvillea,
passionflowers, gingers, jasmine, cycads, plumeria and a host of other flowering and
tropical foliage plants. Additionally, the garden is well planted with the tropical fruits of cashew, sour orange, mango,
pineapple, papaya, tangerine, guava, coconut, star fruit, lime, key lime, sweet orange and banana. There is a lovely path along a stretch of the border creek to enjoy the inside of the jungle and watch the water tumble over rocks and into two natural pools, seasonally inhabited by freshwater shrimp!
Villa Helena is in the midst of an area rich in sights and activities when one chooses to
pry oneself from the privacy and tranquility of the home itself. The quiet town of
Dominical offers grocery and fruit stores, Costa Rican and Central American arts and crafts,
a small post office and Internet café service. Area restaurants are plentiful and varied
so one would never have to cook a meal if one so chose. Top notch Mexican, Italian, French, Thai
and Indonesian eateries mingle with restaurants offering local cuisine. Fresh caught local fish is the highlight of most of the menus. The nearby market
town of San Isidro offers guests the chance to shop for a variety of groceries and there is a
bountiful, picturesque weekly farmer’s market that should not be missed if you are staying a while.
Please see the ACTIVITIES section for a detailed description of
some of the options available. Your English speaking host, the ever charming Adriano, will be available to give you specific
suggestions and can make any reservations in advance for you.
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