My family of 4 (two boys ages 6 and 9) have just returned from 3 weeks in this property and loved every minute of our stay. The house is simple yet complete with everything we needed. It feels like a very sleek tree house, nestled into the mountainside. It is indoor/outdoor living at its best with every room having large glass sliding doors that open to the breezes coming up off the water. We were there in the Green Season so after a 3-4 day rain respite at the beginning, we had showers most afternoons or evenings. They were great reminders to take naps or turn in early to the sound of the rain.
Many mornings we awoke to the howler monkeys and most evenings we went to sleep to the croaking frogs. The showers are private but have an open ceiling so even showering is an experience. The pool was a great size for swimming with ledges for sitting and relaxing poolside. The water was cool due to the cooler temps up on the hill.
The house manager Loren is absolutely wonderful. He is a kind, gentle soul and, like all great superheroes, has a trusty sidekick named Bita. An adorable white pup who my kids adored. He was a fabulous resource for restaurant and excursion suggestions, questions and concerns during our stay. He and his wife even invited us down to his beautiful home to show us his banana trees, sugar cane and other indigenous flora.
As most before have shared, a 4x4 is a necessity for this property and the car is important for everyday excursions to the beaches, nearby towns and waterfalls. The house is about a 10 minute drive up the hill from the town and beaches but the drive up and down was an adventure in its own right -passing waterfalls, monkeys and iguana perching in trees. There was no shortage of creatures, great and small and one should expect (and appreciate) nature inside and outside the home at times. It reminded us that we are mere visitors and charged with protecting this great gift of a planet we have.
Many thanks to Andrea for all her correspondence with me prior to our visit. We began communicating with her back in the fall and she responded the same day every time - within minutes most of the time! Her warmth and her generosity with information was why we selected this property but the property itself will call us back.
We share many more reflections on our time in Uvita and Pura Uvita in a blog @ www.photosandfootnotes.com. Take a look and leave me a message if you go to visit!