300 degree Views of Braulio Carrillo Cloud Forest and Birdwatching

About Steven Huffstutlar

I am 72, retired from overseas consulting work in agriculture and road projects. I grew up in California (BA from UC Berkeley 1968). I have managed my own rentals for 30+ years. I have lived in Costa Rica for 23 of the past 35 years, having come here in 1984 to manage an agricultural project for the US Embassy. I spend part of the year in California with the grandchildren. I have gone through all the residency requirements for Costa Rica and can offer general and residency advice about visiting and living in Costa Rica (I will e-mail you my personal Central Valley tourist guide on request). Since retiring in 2007 I built this passive solar teak-lined house surrounded by mountains, forest, and vast skies, with inside temperatures in the high 70's-F/23-26-C year round. No need for air conditioning or heat, inside temperatures are adjusted by opening and closing screened windows for cooling by mild natural breezes.

Steven Huffstutlar purchased this House in 2012

Why Steven Huffstutlar chose Para

I lived at the beach in Costa Rica (Manuel Antonio) and after a couple of years found the hot weather was uncomfortable and getting gradually worse. Then I moved to 900 meters altitude in San Antonio de Belen (Cariari) and found temperatures there were also uncomfortable. This house location at about 1150 meters altitude (3700 ft) has great weather and is close to San Jose area attractions, and is much less crowded, hot and congested than the other side of the valley such as Santana and Rohrmoser-Escazu. I left California's urban congestion to find an idyllic place like this. Located at the end of a paved quiet country lane between two rivers, the surrounding properties on three sides are undeveloped farms or private gardens. We are visited by flocks of noisy green parrots during parts of the year, along with occasional Montezuma's oropendulas, mot mots and orioles (see the full birds sighted list in the property description). This is the resident nesting territory of the Great Kiskadee, yellow flycatchers, brown and white jays, yiguirros (Clay Colored Robins, the Costa Rican national bird) and powder blue tanagers. Buzzards and hawks patrolling our two nearby rivers treat us to flying ballets all day long. To the north a 3-mile/5-km stretch of the mountains of the Braulio Carrillo Park is visible with its constantly changing crown of passing clouds coming and going. To the east we see the Irazu volcano and to the south the mountains behind San Jose. To the west we see sunsets from the second bedroom balcony. We have impressive rainbows often on all sides.

What makes this House unique

This house has amazing views from high panoramic windows and 3 roofed balconies. Please note there are 20 steps up to the house. The property's grounds below have lawns and a riot of colorful flowers year round. The house has 16 skylights, some in every room and the hot water is solar heated with electric backup for rainy days. The roomy master bedroom has its own colorfully tiled bathroom with skylight, Delta shower and granite-topped solid teak commode. The second bedroom has its own colorfully tiled bathroom with tub and Delta shower, skylight and granite topped solid teak commode. Each bedroom has a ceiling fan (seven ceiling fans total) and its own private, roofed balcony. The queen beds have teak frames, high count US cotton sheets and colorful handmade Guatemalan bedspreads. The all glass sunroom catches early morning sun and has a stationary exercise bike. Full set of new US appliances, including a new dishwasher, all cooking and kitchen utensils, espresso maker, coffee grinder, rice cooker, convection oven, and 49 inch smart TV and DVD player. We have Claro cable TV and two kinds of wi-fi internet working simultaneously to run all your devices. Wifi reaches every room. New curtains in bedrooms, 4 desks, three with great views. Covered parking for two cars. Has 20 steps up to front door. Sleeps 4 plus couch.