Sitting approximately 230 meters above the ocean shores, the home is high enough to benefit from cooler temperatures, comfortable humidity and frequent & refreshing mountain and sea breezes.  

ACCESS 

Mystic Ballena is accessed via a prepared road which starts at the Costanera highway and steadily climbs through the Cinco Ventanas community. The home sits at the end of the road, where the towering jungles confidently take over. An electric gate and concrete driveway lead down to the parking area and a 2-car garage. The gate, garage and house all share common architectural elements & finish – your first glimpse of the impeccable attention to detail which defines this outstanding property. 

THE HOUSE 

The 2-level home is open, bright, airy, and designed to take full advantage of the picturesque surroundings and tropical lifestyle. Every room & space in the home is air-conditioned but also includes wall-to-ceiling windows and huge patio doors which dissolve the line between ‘outside’ and ‘inside’. An oversized, overhanging roof envelops the home, providing plenty of covered and shady patio areas that are protected from the rain – both upstairs and downstairs. This roof is peppered with lighting and ceiling fans – and the top is equally impressive with a solar water heater & a perfectly placed Starlink antenna. 

Downstairs, the large & sunny infinity salt-water pool steals the show – located just in front of the house, the pool stretches along the entire length of the patio. And the pool views are nothing short of spectacular – you are looking down at hills, rainforests and the Pacific Ocean while the coastal mountains take over to complete the flank of the vistas. But the integrated outdoor BBQ station, with a sink and plenty of counter & storage space, is not to be overlooked –  protected by the overhanging roof, I think it will often become a star of the show in its own right! 

The bottom floor of the home is dedicated to the shared kitchen / dining / living zone which takes up most of the area. Entire walls of this space are glazed and can be moved  aside to incorporate the ground floor into the outside patio – so whether you are cooking, eating or relaxing, the mountain breezes and stunning views reach you in their full splendor. Masterful finish and design permeates the home but is especially noticeable here – the rich and warm colors, lumber accents, designer furniture & luxurious fitout are straight out of the centerfold of an architectural digest magazine!  From the designer light fixtures & wall-mounted wine racks, to the lumber & glass dining table, tropical potted plants, stair accents, lumber-Tetris coffee table, and the sunny-colored lounges, your eyes will be pleased whether you look. The kitchen is fully equipped with ample counter, storage and dining areas while the floating lounges can be configured is many ways, as necessary. 

The bottom floor also includes a bedroom which is separated from the main area and has a separate entrance – this fully-wired space can also be utilized as a stand-alone home office. 

Upstairs, three bedrooms stretch along a verandah and a large, covered patio area. Each bedroom includes plentiful glazing that catches every inch of the majestic views. And if that was not enough, entire walls can be moved aside to integrate the bedrooms into the outside patio. The lumber beds are a work of art in themselves and the ensuites amaze with their brightness, lumber finish and brilliant blue tiling. And did you know that the master bedroom ensuite can be fully opened to the outside – as the patio doors slide away, you will feel like your bath or shower is taking place in the tree-tops of the surrounding jungles! 

THE GROUNDS 

Above the house, a large plantel makes for a perfect yoga deck – can you imagine starting your day with a yoga session, along splendid ocean & rainforest views, your only soundtrack being the awakening jungle critters and distant roar of the Pacific surf? Surrounded by hundreds of acres of rainforests and greenery, I can imagine no better place! This plantel can also be developed into another house, cabins, guest accommodation, or perhaps a serene and nature-infused jacuzzi? Tropical garden or fruit orchard? A gazebo for lazy afternoons and evening jungle wildlife concerts? 

Below the home, a large canvas of manicured lawns and tropical landscaping invite for a round of golf practice– yes, you’ve read that right! You can stay sharp by chipping & putting along this 1-hole golf practice area but beware the sand trap! 

THE VIEWS 

The views are nothing short of spectacular – and the majestic Pacific Ocean sunsets will be unforgettable. On your right, the famous Whale’s Tail sand & rock formation, star of Marino Ballena National Park, is in constant shift thanks to the ever-changing tides. To the left, you glimpse Isla Ballena and surrounding shoals – these near-shore outcroppings are a haven for snorkeling, SCUBA and spying for the migrating Humpback Whales. Last year a Humpback mother, father and calf cozied up among these rocks, to the delight of local whale-watchers. Glancing along, the ocean abruptly disappears behind a wall of a thriving tropical rainforest and the awe-inspiring coastal mountains which make a steep ascent towards 1,300 meters asl. These mountains are covered in a blanket of jungles and ancient cloud forests. In the dry season their tropical slopes stand in stark & beautiful contrast to the white fair-weather clouds which often dance along their peaks. In the green season numerous waterfalls – some hundreds of meters high – tumble down their nearly vertical slopes as mists descend down their steep-walled valleys. Many people have likened these mountains to the landscapes found on Hawaiian islands of Maui or Oahu – and we tend to agree.  

THE JUNGLE WILDLIFE 

The homes rainforest immersion, on 3 sides, will bring plenty of jungle wildlife to the property – monkeys (howler, capuchin, squirrel and spider), scarlet macaws, several species of toucans and toucanets, sloths, anteaters, poison dart frogs, tree frogs, giant moths, coatis, brilliant blue morpho butterflies and many other critters will be your new tropical neighbors. And perhaps you will catch a sight of the secretive jaguarundi – or maybe even a wandering tapir or jaguar? The lot is literally touching a huge swath of sprawling mountain jungles, so always  expect to be visited by curious creatures – your new neighbors. 

LOCAL AREA 

Just 10 minutes downhill, Plaza Ventanas brings modern conveniences on a silver platter – a gas station, small grocer, shops, restaurants, cafes, ice cream parlors, dental & medical offices, lawyers and real estate professionals, giant dinosaur statues and even a mini waterpark call Plaza Ventanas home. From here, a 5-minute drive will take you to Ojochal, a jungle village where you will find supermarkets, barbers, pickleball, fancy restaurants, bohemian cafes, a carwash, and many other conveniences. If you turn in the opposite direction, the tourist mecca of Uvita is under 15 minutes away – this is a large service town, home to the world-famous Marino Ballena National Park and the buzzing Envision music & lifestyle festival. Or perhaps you wish to visit the peaceful Playa Tortuga or the famous Playa Ventanas – these beaches are a quick 5-minute drive from Plaza Ventanas and twice a year attract the migrating Humpback Whales which can be seen (and heard) passing just offshore, close enough to touch!