My phone pings; WhatsApp illuminates with a message from the concierge.
“The monkey just woke up from its nap.”
For the past 15 minutes, we have been standing in the bougainvillea-laden garden at The Point Luxury Villa — a fabulously modern home overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Langosta Beach in Costa Rica — watching a black howler monkey slumbering high in the treetops. Moments after we return inside — pausing to nibble the fresh-cut watermelon and papaya discreetly left for us by our aptly named butler, Angel — we receive the monkey alert. Within seconds we are back in the garden, laughing and straining our necks upward to watch (and photograph) the playful howler swinging effortlessly from the branches.
We have come to this stunning villa by the sea — with its endless ocean views and private beach access — to relax, reconnect, and despite its impressive size (seven oceanfront suites), spend quality alone time together. But beneath the villa’s exquisite decor, private chef-prepared meals, dreamy water views, deep-soaking tubs, and infinity-edged pool stretching into sea and sky, there is a wellness side to the stay here. We are, after all, in the Blue Zone.
Pura Vida: The Long and Happy Life
Set on one of Tamarindo’s most coveted parcels of land (high on a cliff overlooking the sea), The Point Luxury Villa is located in the Guanacaste province, a recognized Blue Zone because of the high volume of centenarians living here. Other Blue Zone regions include Okinawa (Japan), Ikaria (Greece), and Sardinia (Italy). While the majority of Costa Rica’s centenarians reside in the town of Nicoya, the entire Guanacaste peninsula is home to the 100+ crowd.
“It’s the lifestyle,” Angel says, swiftly slicing fresh avocados to mix for guacamole. “People walk daily here, they work, eat fresh food and drink clean water. They are happy. They live a slow, relaxed lifestyle. Four people in my town, Cartagena, located between here and Nicoya, are over 100 years old; and one is 104. But anywhere in Guanacaste you will find at least one or two people over the age of 100. And more of course, in Nicoya.”
Over the next few days, I begin to understand how quietly integrated the wellness lifestyle is here. Starting with the moment my eyes open in the morning.
Wellness-Infused Days
“This view.”
It is not even 6 a.m. but I am already awake and mesmerized by the crashing waves outside the floor-to-ceiling window door in front of me. Quietly, I slip out from under the cushy white duvet and pad downstairs to the kitchen to brew coffee from fresh beans the staff (who arrive sharply at 7) thoughtfully left for early rising. I return with two cups in hand — my unknowing wellness protégé now awake too — and together we sip and watch the sea; a sense of blue calm enveloping us.
This sense of tranquility exudes throughout the villa: from the deep soaking tub and handmade vanity crafted from a reclaimed Costa Rican mango tree in our suite to the sleek gourmet kitchen and soothing water gardens. Breakfast, served on a long dining table carved from the Guanacaste tree (native to Costa Rica) and adorned with tropical flowers, is equally calming. Every morning, a private chef arrives to prepare our pre-selected menu choice: American (my partner’s choice), a fantasia of fresh fruit (papaya, mango, watermelon, pineapple), eggs, pancakes, toast, and juice. And a Costa Rican breakfast (my pick), overflowing with fruit, scrambled eggs, plantains, gallo pinto (rice and beans), tortillas, and hot sauce. Every meal, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, is fresh, organic, and artistically presented.
Massages follow. While there is no formal spa onsite (there is a beautiful gym with water views), therapists arrive at the villa and quietly set up a room, terrace, or private space in the gardens or by the pool to deliver their magic. As a couple, we are given the option to have side-by-side treatments but I quickly thwart the idea. When it comes to spa, my space is sacred. I selfishly don’t want to hear him (or anyone) chatting or even breathing.
We do come together afterward with a dip in the infinity pool overlooking the sea, and a golf cart ride into “town”(Tamarindo) known for its laidback surfing culture. Laughing, we maneuver along narrow bougainvillea-framed streets, unexpected sandy beach lanes, and past colorful boutiques and ramshackle restaurants serving fish tacos. But within an hour, we are ready to return to our sumptuous villa by the sea. He, to dip back into the pool or ocean, drive a few golf balls on the green, and I to soak (yet again) in the deep freestanding tub surrounded by mango wood.
Sprinkling of Romance
Every day, there are surprises, some — like the monkey — unfold naturally; while others involve the masterminds of the house staff sprinkling romance into our wellness script.
One of our favorite experiences comes at lunch when Angel leads us down the cliffside staircase to the beach where a low, ocean-facing table anchored by a Moroccan-inspired rug, awaits. Cushy pillows serve as seating; the table is laden with fresh fruit, cheese, charcuterie, bread, citrus-infused water, and a bottle of chilled rosé — The Beach by Whispering Angel.
“Enjoy.”
Angel smiles and discreetly disappears as we toast our wine, nibble our small plates, and dip toes and ankles into the turquoise sea. In time Angel reappears, offering to show us the nearby tidal pools (a.k.a. hot pots); during low tide, warm pools form between the now-exposed rocks making it possible to soak in the fresh sea water. Most people, he assures, don’t know about the pools.
Wearing water shoes (highly recommended), we follow Angel along the beach and across the craggy dark rocks protruding into the sea (the villa still in sight). One other couple, “locals,” Angel tells us, has already slipped into “the warmest sea pool.” But Angel continues past them to a more hidden spot, this pool much larger in size, and framed by rocks lined with tiny mussel shells and scurrying red-hued crabs. “I will return long before the tide changes,” he laughs. And after positioning our towels in the sun, and ensuring we are comfortable, he leaves us to soak quietly in the warm sea water — the Pacific Ocean surf pounding wildly around us.
True to his word, he doesn’t go far. And when we finally emerge from the ‘hot pot’ to dry off on the rocks, he signals from the shore and quickly makes his way back to us, leading us through the crevices, onto the sand, and up the staircase to the villa. Our afternoon ends with yet another staff-arranged wellness experience: a sound bath.
Seated on cushions in the living room, Andrea Delmar, a lithe, dark-haired, therapist, has created a special couples experience just for us that focuses on our masculine and feminine energies. We begin by clasping hands and steadily breathing in deeply and exhaling. She moves us next into a lie-down, side-by-side position, where for the next 60 minutes, she bathes us in pitch-perfect sound: crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, rattles and drums — the high-frequency vibration working to release any ‘stuck’ chi (or energy) we may be holding. The ceremony is beautiful, calming, and we leave feeling airy and light, and too relaxed to do anything.
Our plan for the evening was to dress and take the golf cart ‘downtown’ to dine alfresco at one of the vibey, lantern-strung, toes-in-the-sand restaurants. Instead, we curl onto the terrace to watch the sunset, slip into the pool for a post-dusk swim, and later, when finally hungry, gleefully raid our own gourmet kitchen, pouring the last of The Beach rosé and devouring our leftovers.
The night before, two chefs had prepared a delectable feast: margaritas and tapas (crispy yucca plantains, fresh-made salsa and heart of palm dip), coco del mar (seafood with coconut milk, fresh basil, and lime served in a coconut), and for the main course, red snapper (me), surf and turf (him). Dessert came in a perfectly prepared and decadent chocolate-oozing lava cake. When we couldn’t finish our meals, the chefs discreetly wrapped our leftover lobster, red snapper, and veggies into glass containers. “For lunch,” they smiled. Now, under an inky star-filled Costa Rica sky, we enjoy them again, this time wearing swimsuits.
On our very last day, we wake up early for one more ocean view and coffee in bed; one last languishing walk on the secluded beach. Birds and butterflies flit past us, ocean flowers and sea grapes wave in greeting. And when our transport arrives — the staff gathered to see us off — neither of us are ready to say goodbye to this storied, truly spectacular oceanfront villa.
“We will be back.” my partner promises. “And next time, with our family and friends.”
Certainly, the villa — reimagined in 2022 by co-founders Todd Dane and Lindsey Gaston following a $1 million remodel — is ideal for family and friend gatherings, smaller weddings (up to 100 guests), and special occasions. While our sea-facing, primary suite is beyond exquisite, each of the remaining suites open to a private patio and ocean view, and many of them have both indoor and outdoor showers. Our adult children and extended family members would love it here and I can easily picture deep-sea fishing trips and outdoor yoga on the decks overlooking the sea.
But still, I pause on the idea of filling the house with even those closest to me. As with my spa time, I’m hesitant to share this luxuriously romantic, wellness-focused space. There is something sacred in being here, just the two of us, spending quality alone time together.
Feature image, courtesy of The Point Luxury Villa
