THREE GORGEOUS VILLAS JUST STEPS FROM THE BEACH
The villas are located about 1km south of Dominical, Puntarenas, Costa Rica between the Costanera Sur (Southern Coast Highway) and the ocean. Our journey began in 2004, when our the Hawley family attended a Spanish Language School in Dominical. We fell in love with the town, and it’s close proximity to some of the most biodiverse places on Earth. While we didn’t find homes for sale that satisfied our desire to be on the beach, we were fortunate to find undeveloped property in the Maritime Zone, which allowed us to build close to the ocean, but with restrictions to protect the spectacular Costa Rican environment. The result is Caballitos del Mar: three lovely villas which are as close to the ocean as possible, yet nestled in the primary jungle.
The villas, owned by two close families, are virtually identical. This makes Caballitos del Mar ideal for multiple families that want to vacation together, yet have separate accommodations. It’s the ideal combination of privacy and community.
Each home has three bedrooms, either three or four bathrooms, two stories, and is approximately 2,200 sq.ft. (200 m^2) of living space. Each villa has a pool, laundry facilities, a full kitchen, and plenty of ceiling fans to keep the air moving. The bedrooms are air-conditioned, although it's not necessary for most of the year. (So-called zonal air conditioning is very common so that bedrooms can be kept cool with the expense of cooling the rest of the house.) The three bedrooms are arranged for maximum privacy, either for a large family or multiple couples or friends traveling together. Two of the bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms, and the other has a full bath just across a landing. The homes face the ocean and it's a 30 second walk to the semi-private beach.
A single family or group of friends can stay in one of the villas, but what really makes Caballitos del Mar special is the ability to host weddings, yoga retreats, family reunions, and anniversaries by reserving two or three of the homes simultaneously (schedule permitting). Up to 25 people can be accommodated, and everyone will have the same high quality of accommodations, regardless of which villa they call their own.
We’re often asked “which is the best of the three?” The main differences are the color of stone used in the floor and some decorating items, and also how the villas sit on the property. Villa Norte and Central tend to look more towards the breaking surf and have fewer trees between them and the ocean. Villa Sur is tucked away behind some vine covered trees that are easily 80’ tall, with lush flowering plants on three sides. The pools are identical, and lush gardens provide privacy naturally. While each villa has its advocates, no one has ever been disappointed by the proximity to the beach, and the mixture of jungle and luxury.
VILLA NORTE
Villa Norte
Caballitos Del Mar - Villa Norte
3 bedroom · 3 bath · 200 sqm/2200 SQFT
The sun shines on Villa Norte just a little earlier than the other villas, illuminating the secluded second-floor balconies which are ideal for that first cup of coffee or tea in the morning. The two second-floor bedrooms have masterful views of the Pacific surf, just a few meters away across the lawn. Or course, you'll have to look over the hibiscus hedge, past the giant ficus tree to see the Pacific.
The villa practically wraps around a green-blue tiled pool that always seems to be exactly the right temperature for a morning dip, or an afternoon cool-off. Lounge chairs allow comfortable tanning or wrapping around a good book, while the gourmet kitchen beckons if you want to rustle up some eggs and gallo pinto. Hey, it's all good, and there's no place you have to be.
On the ground floor, the bedroom features a new king bed, and a private door that leads right to the pool and outside dining. Or walk towards the sound of the surf, and you’re toes will be in the sand in less than a minute. That’s a key difference between our villas and most others in the area: easy access to a mostly-private beach.
Villa Central
Villa Central
Caballitos Del Mar - Villa Central
3 bedroom · 3 bath · 200 sqm/2200 SQFT
Our central villa has a lovely garden view with the monument rocks and crashing surf just meters beyond. The fully equipped kitchen can be used to whip up delicious meals when you've run the gamut of Dominical restaurants, or you can schedule a "guest chef" from the area to prepare a traditional Costa Rican dinner at a very reasonably price. Dine in, dine out; you're on vacation. Do what you want!
On the ground floor you enter into a room that spans almost the entire home, with a cozy living room on the left, a central dining room overlooking the pool, and an expansive kitchen to the right. A dramatic open staircase rises above the dining room, leading to the bedrooms on the second level. Forward to the right, the downstairs master bedroom, with ensuite bathroom, is easily accessed from the kitchen area. A nice treat for whoever stays in the downstairs bedroom is the instant access to the terrace and pool, for a midnight swim or early morning glance at email without disturbing the other guests.
Upstairs there are mirror image bedrooms with dramatic views and private balconies for that first mug of coffee in the morning, or that last nightcap in the evening. One room is set up for a couple or children, with two separate beds, while the other has a queen sized mattress. Both have private bathrooms, and both are air conditioned.
Which to choose? Presuming you have your choice of villas, there are literally no bad choices. Villa Central has more of a garden feel, with extensive landscaping, yet it's as close to the beach as its companions. No one who stays here wishes to be anyplace else.
VILLA SUR
Watch the sunset from your gorgeous private pool
Villa Sur
Caballitos Del Mar - Villa Sur
3 bedroom · 3.5 bath · 200 sqm/2200 SQFT
As we looked for property in the Dominical area, we realized that virtually all available land was up in the mountains, away from the ocean, which didn't allow kids (or adults) to go for an impromptu beach walk without getting in the car. At the very least, it required crossing the coastal highway. Then we found Caballitos del Mar. Nestled on a narrow piece of land along the beach, it provided enough room for three homes of moderate size, with pools, and it combined the gorgeous trees of Costa Rica with the crashing surf of the Pacific. Truly an ideal combination.
We ended up with three identical homes, owned by three compatible partner-families. While the homes are relatively close, there's lush landscaping that provides privacy without resorting to fences or walls. An 8,000 sq ft "Zona Proteccion" lies to the south, filled with lush jungle plants, that can never be built upon. Every effort has been made to lessen the impact on the environment, since sea turtles create their nests within 100m of the homes and lights and noise can disturb them.
Villa Sur is slightly different than the other homes, as it has 3 1/2 bathrooms, allowing access to a bathroom without entering a bedroom. Otherwise, it's identical, with slate floors, wonderful stone "tile" bathrooms, gorgeous wooden-framed windows, and a gourmet kitchen. There's a sense of airiness, since the second floor is only partial and allows 20' ceilings over the kitchen and dining area (as with the other villas). Fans are located in key locations, and the windows slide open to allow the tradewinds to flow through. At night, zone air conditioners can make bedrooms more comfortable, or leave the sliding glass doors open and let the sound of the surf lull you to sleep.
Villa Sur
GREAT FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT
Book all three for your event
The three villas at Caballitos del Mar can be rented at the same time for family reunions, weddings, yoga retreats, or any large group that desires beachfront convenience and excellent accommodations. Since the villas are virtually identical, no one in the party will feel short-changed. The maximum capacity is 25, in nine bedrooms and two open-air lofts, but it’s best for up to 18 adults. Each of the villas has its own tiled pool, and each as a short, private path down to Playa Dominical.
To ease the burden of playing host to a large group, various vendors offer services to take the load off. One of our favorites is The Private Chef, a local company that can cater your event, or even just provide catering for a family that wants to take the night off. We’ve used them several times and everyone thought the food was “¡muy bien!” They can also provide a bartender, and everyone who has selected the bartender has enjoyed the freedom from making everyone else’s drinks!
We can also arrange for additional cleaning, excursions to the popular eco-tourism locations, and other services that will make your stay pleasurable and memorable.
A single family or group of friends can stay in one of the villas, but what really makes Caballitos del Mar special is the ability to host weddings, yoga retreats, family reunions, and anniversaries by reserving two or three of the homes simultaneously (schedule permitting). Up to 25 people can be accommodated, and everyone will have the same high quality of accommodations, regardless of which villa they call their own.
We’re often asked “which is the best of the three?” The main differences are the color of stone used in the floor and some decorating items, and also how the villas sit on the property. Villa Norte and Central tend to look more towards the breaking surf and have fewer trees between them and the ocean. Villa Sur is tucked away behind some vine covered trees that are easily 80’ tall, with lush flowering plants on three sides. The pools are identical, and lush gardens provide privacy naturally. While each villa has its advocates, no one has ever been disappointed by the proximity to the beach, and the mixture of jungle and luxury.
Weddings at Caballitos del Mar
This photo shows you what’s possible when you have your wedding at Caballitos del Mar. Timing is everything, because there are only so many hours of low tide, but what a gorgeous place to say your vows!
There are destination weddings, and then there’s Caballitos del Mar!
What if you could find a place where your wedding party of up to 21 could be housed in three gorgeous homes, right on the beach? What if you could work with an excellent caterer who’s only located a few km away? We work with a superb wedding planner who can make it all come together! Contact our property manager for more details. The villas book up quickly, so contact us early for the best choice of dates.
Discover Dominical, Costa Rica
This site is intended to provide information for visitors who would like to stay (or are already staying) at our villas in Dominical, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, or for anyone traveling to that area. Our property management company is YouGetHere, which is a wonderful resource when planning a trip to the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Please feel free to visit our listing on YouGetHere where you can rent one villa, or two, or all three. Ideal for family reunions, yoga retreats, weddings, or getting the band back together. Since there are three identical homes, Caballitos del Mar allows up to 25 guests to be accommodated. The villas are one km south of Dominical, right on a semi-private beach, and owned by the Hutchings and Hawley families.
We hope you enjoy the site. Comments are welcome. You can contact me, Chuck Hawley, at hawley.chuck@gmail.com.