Rooms

We stayed in stunning Villa Ebony (sleeps 8-10): a split-level house, with flowing indoor-outdoor spaces and soaring double-height ceilings. There are four bedrooms - all doubles - and the living room has a sofabed so 10 guests can stay in total. From almost every inch of the house, you can enjoy expansive ocean views. Outside, there's a shady wraparound balcony with an infinity pool beneath it.

Equally impressive is Villa Harmony (sleeps 6-8): a huge open-plan living space whose wraparound windows and big raised deck gaze out over leafy jungle views to the sea. There's a Fibonacci-shaped pool (to remind you about omnipresent connections to nature), a very spacious kitchen (the best of the lot), and three bedrooms, one of which has twin beds for kids.

Villa Ivy (sleeps 6) is a slightly smaller three-bedroom house with a similar wraparound terrace overhanging the jungle and looking out to a strip of ocean. Note that its pool is much smaller - just a plunge pool, really - and one of the bedrooms is open-plan with the living space. We liked the semi-outdoor bathrooms shielded by circular canebreaks.

Towards the bottom of the hill, Villa Guanacaste (sleeps 4-6) is made up of two topsy-turvy suites, joined together by a stunning infinity pool. The two bedrooms are on the lower floor, and above each is a living area - one with the kitchen. The setup would work well for two couples, as you each get your own lounge space.

At the top of the hill, Villa Ivory (sleeps 2) is a luxurious treehouse with a romantic open living space. With all-glass walls, it enjoys breathtaking views over the tree canopy on all sides - the bed looks straight out towards the coast. There's an alfresco kitchen and a wraparound balcony with hammocks and loungers, though be aware there is no pool. A perfect honeymoon choice.

Latest to be added, Studio 54 is a modern and minimalist suite with an open plan design. A kingsize bed looks out onto a private terrace and plunge pool, with views across the canopy towards the ocean, and there's a smart kitchenette and sleek ensuite.

All properties have large, comfortable beds, flat-screen TVs, rain showers, beautiful artwork and tropical bathrooms.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• DVD player
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

All villas have kitchens for self-catering, plus outdoor cooking areas too - great fun! You can stock up on supplies at the small local supermarket, Super Ronnie, on the main road just five minutes from the property. The owners can also arrange for a private chef to come to the villa if you fancy being treated.

For eating out, Santa Teresa has a wealth of options. We particularly loved The Bakery for mango smoothies, paninis and avocado toast, as well as Pronto for Italian street food served with a smile. Make sure you also sample freshly caught seafood and sushi - it's world-class.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Chef on request
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Toaster
• Self-catering (private chef on request)

Activities

• Santa Teresa is all about wellness, so a private yoga lesson or spa treatment on your balcony is a must. An in-house stylist can also be arranged for pedicures, manicures, haircuts and makeovers.
  
• Get picked up for a surf lesson by a laid-back local who will take you to the best spots to catch the waves. Playa Hermosa and Playa Carmen have calmer waters making them good beaches for beginners; Santa Teresa tends to have bigger, more powerful waves, so is best for more experienced surfers.
  
• Hurtle through the treetops like a superhero at the Mal Pais Canopy Tour.
  
• Visit the dramatic Montezuma Waterfalls and enjoy swimming in the natural jacuzzi pools.
  
• Gallop along the immense beaches on a sunset horseback riding adventure.
  
• Go scuba diving with a local guide - sharks, moray eels, lobsters, stingrays, crabs and schools of colourful fish are regular sightings.
  
• Visit the Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve, the oldest of its kind in Costa Rica, to see birds, animals and impressive flora. Only 40 visitors per day are allowed to enter the reserve so you'll pretty much have the place to yourselves!

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Horse riding
• Scuba diving
• Surfing
• Waterfalls
• Well being
• Wildlife
• Yoga
• Zip-wiring

Kids

In general, Costa Rica is paradise for adventurous, nature-loving children who will love ziplining, nature walks and all the watersports on offer. The Santa Teresa Luxury Villas range in size from 1-4 bedrooms, and if you're coming on a multi-family trip you could take two or three together.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

All villas except Ivory (the honeymoon suite) would work for families, and most have sofabeds for additional guests. Villas Ivy and Harmony each have one bedroom that can be set up as a twin.

Distances:

• Airport: 45-minute drive
• Hospital: 30-minute drive
• Supermarket: Five-minute walk

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Santa Teresa Luxury Villas are in Santa Teresa, on the Nicoya Peninsula. They're on the west coast of Costa Rica, a 30-minute flight from the capital city San José.

By Air:
Tambor (30km away) is your closest airport, but if you're coming from abroad you'll fly into San Jose (160km away) or Liberia (210km away). Most guests then take an internal flight to Tambor, which takes around 30 minutes.

By Car:
It’s useful to have a car or ATV here so that you can drive around to local sights, but you can rent one once you arrive. Think twice before doing the drive from San José: it takes six hours, via the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera (arrive 45 minutes to an hour before the ferry leaves to buy your ticket and get in line), and the last stretch is pretty rough. If you really want to drive it, see our car rental recommendations - we'd recommend getting a 4x4. There's private parking at all villas.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.