Ever think of traveling with a group of friends or family and renting out an entire place, complete with a full-staff, including personal chef, a naturalist guide and a masseuse? If so, Villa Manzu in Guanacaste, Costa Rica is the ideal spot. This eight-suite villa has lots of little nooks and crannies, so the group is able to spread out, and yet there are a lot of comfortable common areas to lounge by the pool, eat a meal or just relax and take in the view.
Rooms are not rented individually (you need to rent out the whole villa), so it’s ideal for destination weddings, family reunions, or a group of friends celebrating a special occasion.
Located on the Papagayo Peninsula, in the northwest part of the country, neighboring resorts include the Four Seasons and the Andaz, but the Villa Manzu is the most exclusive because of its intimate size.
What we loved:
- The infinity pool. This might be the most picturesque infinity pool in Latin America; a great spot to while away the afternoon.
- Morning yoga at sunset point with Jennifer. For someone who is not a yogi (I’m lucky if I take a class once a year), the beauty of the location was the draw, but the class turned out to be surprisingly good (which for me, meant simple moves I could perform). Jennifer caters each session to the group’s activity level; for us it was beginner level.
- The delicious daily breakfasts made by Chef Sabrina; my favorite was the huevos rancheros. I also love the “typical” breakfast of rice and beans, plantains, avocados and eggs.
- Taking a bath in the oversize bathtub, while sipping champagne and taking in the views of the white-faced monkeys in the trees just outside my room.
- Rainforest hikes with Felipe, our naturalist guide.
- Stand-up paddle boarding and snorkeling.
- The one-touch electronics throughout the villa. Whether it’s turning on the music, opening the drapes, or turning on and off the lights, the digital control is easy (and fun) to use.
- Sunset cocktails at the point, a gorgeous viewpoint steps away from the villa, overlooking the jungle and Pacific Ocean.
- Spending the day sailing aboard Moonstone, a luxury charter yacht, while looking for dolphins and whales.
Uniquely designed rooms at the Villa Manzu
There are eight suites in the 30,000 foot estate and the overall villa can sleep up to 22 people.
Each suite has its own personality and luxe factor.
The Pacifico penthouse suite is the largest and most deluxe: highlights include an outdoor shower and the most amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and jungle beyond.
If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll love the Los Monos suite, which has custom-built bunk beds that transform the room into a tree-house style play land.
The Naciente poolside suite (where I stayed) opens directly into its own private plunge pool, which is a great way to start each morning (I also loved the adjoining hot tub). My favorite part of the room was the oversize bathtub which offered amazing views of the jungle (I took four baths in as many days; the scented candles was a nice touch of ambience).
The Arena garden suite, another gorgeous room, has a large sitting area and beautiful copper touches throughout. The Casita consists of two suites, one of which has a beautiful hanging bed on the balcony ideal for an afternoon siesta. While each room in the villa is custom designed to highlight a different aspect of the surroundings, what each spot has in common is that it offers a great deal of privacy and luxury, so even though you’re traveling with a group, it’s easy to maintain a level of intimacy in your own quarters.
Infinity pool and decadent spa at the Villa Manzu
One of the highlights of the property, if not the highlight, is the strategically-placed infinity pool. Jutting out from the villa into the jungle and offering amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and the Papagayo Peninsula, it’s quite easy to spend all day in the pool and leave the other activities’ to your guests. I’ve been in my share of infinity pools, but this one feels otherworldly. Listening to the songs of the exotic birds, while watching the forest come to life, all from the luxury of a private pool is really something special.
There’s also a plunge pool off the Naciente suite, which attaches to the Jacuzzi; it’s the ideal place to relax under the stars at night.
The spa is one of the most unique settings I’ve seen at a property. Located under the infinity pool, the sides are carved out of two 30 foot waterfalls, so the treatment room is tucked away under a shower of paradise (I loved hearing the sound of the waterfall while I was getting my treatment). Plus, there’s a cedar sauna and aromatherapy steam room. Request masseuse Nadia Cambronero. She offers a host of massages, scrubs and rubs, but I recommend letting her do what she thinks your body needs (per her suggestion). She did deep tissue for my shoulders, stretches for my legs and Swedish on my arms; this tailor-made treatment not only felt wonderful, but I knew I was in expert hands. The products used in all the therapies are locally-grown and 100% organic. Coffee, chocolate, rose, honey and lavender feature largely in treatments. Some of the unique treatments include the coffee scrub (which utilizes local coffee beans); the volcanic mud wrap; and the bamboo massage.
Jungle hikes and more at the Villa Manzu
As someone who enjoys active adventure, this region of Costa Rica is chock-full of options. We went sailing on our own private luxury charter yacht, Moonstone, where captain Judd Dunham entertained us with Champagne and a delicious charcuterie plate, while scouting the area of whales (we saw two) and dolphins. We also put down anchor to try our hand at paddle boarding and snorkeling (where we saw tons of spotted eagle rays).
Another day we went on a jungle hike with Felipe, our naturalist guide, and saw both the howler and the white-faced monkeys, giant and baby iguanas as well as a variety of birds, plus a diverse array of flowers and plants. Another day, we journeyed down to the villa’s secret beach where we vegged out in our private stretch of sand. Surf lessons was yet another day and zip lining, which originated in Costa Rica, capped off our week. Although it’s easy to get caught up in the all the activities the villa can arrange (golf, white-water rafting, ATV riding, diving, mountain biking, fishing and tennis), it’s good to allow for some down time to simple enjoy the beauty and views. At night, in addition to dinner and drinks under the stars, you can watch your favorite movie at the resort’s very own private theater (there’s even a popcorn machine).
One of the highlights of having your own personal chef is that you can tell him what you want (or simply what you don’t want and let him use his creative juices to prepare the rest). From freshly-caught Mahi Mahi, to goat-cheese infused watermelon salad, to octopus ceviche, Chef
Mariano, created a wonderful mix of flavors and tastes for our lunches and dinners. My favorite meal has always been breakfast, and Chef Sabrina didn’t disappoint me once.
From the “typical” breakfast to huevos rancheros, eggs benedicts, and made-to-order omelettes, she made each morning meal a delight. Plus, there was always fresh papaya, pineapple, cantaloupe, fruit juices and daily-made sweets (muffins, cookies, brownies and breads). Wine connoisseurs will be pleasantly surprised by the wine pairings at each meal, plus the selection of over 100 bottles in the wine cellar. There’s also a nice selection of scotch, aperitifs and, if you’re so inclined, Nicaraguan cigars.
Villa Manzu
Phone: 1-949-264-1509
Website: www.villamanzu.com
E-mail: reserve@villamanzu.com