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With wide sand beaches extending for miles in either direction, Casa Playa Lapa is a privately owned beach front residence in remote Carate, Costa Rica, only two miles from the crown jewel of the national park system, Corcovado National Park. Tucked deep in a grove of lowland palms facing the Pacific Ocean and insulated from the rest of the world by jungle on either side, Playa Lapa is arguably the most remote vacation rental in all of Costa Rica, yet fully equipped for your family's comfort and convenience.
Completed in the summer of 2007, the house is constructed of tropical hardwoods, including teak interior, purple heart (nazareno) beams and accents, and cara de tigre posts. A magnificent spiral staircase of purple heart is the central architectural feature; the furniture, which has been custom built by a local craftsman, is fabricated from zebra wood. An open-design living area, loft bedroom suite, fully screened windows on both levels, and extended roof encourage free flow of air throughout the structure, supplemented by a continuous offshore ocean breeze.
Playa Lapa is about one kilometer from the end of the road in Carate, the most distant point from San Jose on the national highway system. The beach stretches pristine and vast toward Salsipuedes Point in Corcovado National Park to the northwest, and Cabo Matapalo to the southeast.
The Pacific Ocean pounds relentlessly against a prime turtle nesting beach--giant olive Ridleys have been observed laying their eggs on the path from the beach to the house itself. The thundering surf creates a continuous and exciting background upon which the cacophony of parrots and shore birds is orchestrated. This is no casual swimming beach--the costal bathemetry of the Osa Peninsula creates a typically strong undertow and large, often overpowering waves. The magnificence of this wild surf on a vast and undeveloped beach is one of Playa Lapa's most alluring natural attractions.
A resident flock of Scarlet Macaws feeds in the almond trees at the edge of the dunes, hence the name "Playa Lapa," meaning "Scarlet Macaw Beach." There is a migratory path through the canopy above Playa Lapa frequented by large troops of squirrel monkeys, and white faced capuchins can be seen daily feeding in the palm trees surrounding the house. Flocks of Amazon parrots are usually observed from the master balcony in the early morning and again at dusk. A variety of herons and egrets are found regularly feeding in the slough on small fish and lizards, while the shy and peaceable coatimundis play at the edge of the forest, occasionally lumbering from one side of the clearing to the other just off the back deck.
Casa Playa Lapa is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream of its owners. Designed by engineer daughter, it is very comfortable, convenient, eco-friendly, and is situated in a remote part of Costa Rica that is well "off the grid." Power is supplied by a hybrid solar / hydroelectric alternative energy system, providing conventional 110V 60-cycle American-ready electrical power. A unique solar hot water system in the roof ensures comfortable bathing. We also boast broadband satellite Internet and a wireless router to enable our guests to stay in touch with friends and family, as well as our office manager in town for emergencies. Full laundry facilities and high quality cookware, glassware, flatware and linens ensure that all your needs are accommodated. Typical Spanish architectural style security grills have been installed on all the windows and doors to enhance our guest's safety. In addition, bi-fold wooden shutters on the ten windows surrounding the living room permit the exclusion of ocean mist and rain as needed. A marine band radio connected to a circuit of local residents is available for emergency communication.
A remote getaway, Playa Lapa is truly a unique destination in and of itself. Its proximity to Corcovado National Park, while enhancing its attraction, also ensures its preservation from the tourist development occurring in the beach communities all along Costa Rica's shoreline. For a memorable experience of intimacy with nature, plus personal comfort and convenience, there is really nothing quite like Casa Playa Lapa. |
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