Pura Vida is Easy to Find in This Costa Rica Artist Haven

Simply translated, the Spanish phrase “pura vida” means “pure life.” Yet in Costa Rica, the saying takes on additional meaning. It not only connotes a laid-back lifestyle, but eternal optimism.

And isn’t that just what we need during a pandemic?

The good news is, we’ve found the house that epitomizes that feeling. This multi-story oasis is built into the hillside of Pico Blanco, Escazú, an affluent suburb of Costa Rica’s capital city of San Jose. The owner, a painter, designed the property around the guiding “pillars” of his life: nature, arts and meditation.

Check, check, and check. This place is utopian. Everything about it exudes luxury, style, and serenity.

“You feel like you’re in a forest,” says listing agent Alejandra Ibarra with Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s very inspiring.”

For culture, there’s a 500-square-foot art studio and gallery with built-in lighting. Wellness amenities include a heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, hydromassage, tiled fitness area, and steam room. The home sits on 3.4 sloping acres with a garden and pond. On-premise walking trails sport an abundance of native plants. A natural spring provides water for the home.  

Two huge wooden front doors, imported from India, open up to an expansive marble foyer. Your eye goes immediately to the expansive glass-walled main living area. Intriguing features abound, including an intricately-patterned brick dome built into the ceiling.

“The owner likes to give parties with live music, and this dome enhances the sound,” according to Ibarra.

Behind a curved wall, there’s a seating area with bamboo laminate flooring. An open floor plan provides ample space for multiple dining areas. A fully-equipped kitchen has hardwood cabinets, a small island, and a breakfast bar facing the windows.

Panoramic views will blow you away, no matter which way you turn. They’re especially breathtaking from the outdoor covered terrace. The house looks out onto Costa Rica’s San Antonio and Cerro Pico Blanco mountains.

A stairway off the foyer ascends to the third floor, which has a media room and two master bedrooms. One of the masters sports a second terrace that leads to a platform deck for lounging.

Expect guest with a house this spectacular. They’ll be more than comfortable in the property’s two-bedroom guesthouse.

If you care to venture out, the canton of Escazú is known for its fine dining and high-end shopping. For socializing, there’s the Costa Rica Country Club, popular with Americans and Europeans who live and work in the area.

Two must-see tourist destinations are within a 90-minute drive.

Tapanti-Macizo de la Muerte National Park is a protected rain forest. Poas Volcano National Park sports an 8,860-foot volcano.

According to the New York Times, the housing market in the San Jose region is strongly tilted in favor of buyers. Yet demand appears to picking up as the global pandemic recedes.

By the numbers: the 22,345-square-foot house has six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and four partial bathrooms. It’s listed for $4.1. million by Alejandra Ibarra with Sotheby’s International Realty.