About our home

3 BR / 2.5 bath ocean front duplex in a private development called Hidden Lighthouse is built into the rainforest. The condo has a private Jacuzzi on the back patio that overlooks the sea. A group of over 20 scarlet macaws have been in residence lately sometimes only feet from the condo or in the tree outside the front door (email for pics, they were too large for the site). There is a world-class wave visible from the master bedroom pillow that one can only access by boat or through this community.

The homes are built into the side of a mountain rainforest and has its own private beach. Access is strictly limited to owners and guests and is highly sought after, especially for the wave. One can stay contained within the development and birdwatch, swim, snorkel, kayak, surf, hike, play tennis or just relax OR venture out to national parks, waterfalls, and beyond for day trips. The duplex is very centrally located. The closest town is a little fishing village called Herradura that is comprised of a couple of local restaurants along the bay front.

For those who want more action, the larger town of Jaco is about 20 minutes south and has an active nightlife as well as heaps of adventure activities like zip lining, motor cross, hiking, mountain biking and of course surfing. There are also rainforest trams, bus tours and casinos for those who prefer a more sedentary experience.

There are rarely people in the development during the week aside from the gardeners who are very helpful. Since it is a weekend getaway for the affluent city dwellers of San Jose, 1.5 hours away and when there are people around, they are typically Costa Rican although there are some non-locals around as well. The resort on the other side of the mountain can be a wealth of information for those who prefer more guidance, but you would never know it was there once you were on this side.

The community has four pools, a tennis court, a private beach, a club house and a gambling room and the condo comes with kayaks that can be used to access even more secluded beaches nearby.

To get to Faro Escondido you have to drive through a resort community called Los Sueños to the other side of the mountain where Faro is location. Los Sueños is not affiliated, but provides access to a world-class golf course and marina as well as shops, restaurants, spas, a tour office and specialty stores which are all accessible to the public.

Volcano Arenal is 3 hours to the north, Manuel Antonio National Park is 1.5 hours to the south, San Jose is less than 2 hours to the northeast and there are smaller national parks close by where one can hike, bird watch, see monkeys and walk to waterfalls.

A simultaneous exchange is not necessary.

Post-script: Our apologies as we do not have pictures of our bathrooms. These are photos we have, not ones we took for this purpose and since it is a second home, we are not there as we post this. There are 2.5 with the master having an ensuite. We will be honest that they are not sprawling bathrooms or made with materials that we would have chosen if we had built the place ourselves, but they are very, very clean; the vanities are made with local wood and toped with simple beige stone; the showers are enclosed by glass and the floors are made of the same tile that is throughout the whole house.