Imagine a hideaway in the heart of the jungle, where cheeky monkeys swing through the branches and jewelled hummingbirds flit around the garden, sipping nectar from each flower. Now create a bespoke, four-bedroomed villa with plenty of character and charm, and you have Casa Solaz. This sun-drenched villa welcomes up to eight guests, providing them with an escape from the mundane and a chance to experience the extraordinary.

Casa Solaz takes contemporary design and gives it a natural home in the heart of the forest. Each element comes together to create a layer cake of delights, from the infinity lap pool to the glass balconies that give you uninterrupted views across the emerald canopy. Secluded and serene, it’s a place where you wake up to the music of birdsong and the distant sound of the ocean waves on a sandy shoreline.

The villa's interior is soothing and serene, where a neutral colour palette allows the brilliance of the forest to take precedence from every aspect. The clever use of glass walls allows the interior to merge with the exterior. The large bedrooms with their king-size beds open onto the sun terrace, encouraging you to rise early to capture that serene moment before the day starts.

Once you’ve eaten breakfast in the ultra-sleek kitchen, it’s time to plan your day. The beach may beckon, but Costa Rica has so much more to offer, from adventure trails and daring river rafting to indulgent spa treatments. If you’ve ever dreamed of taming the ocean waves on a surfboard, this is the place to do it. A visit to nearby Dominical takes you off the beaten track to a more laid-back surfer’s paradise, where the waves are gentle enough to allow even a complete novice to learn how to pop up.

For that magical moment, a visit to the Nauyaca Waterfalls is a must. This two-tiered fall plunges into a deep pool surrounded by lush jungle. It is the quintessential tropical waterfall and never fails to impress. Back at the villa, the day ends with a delicious meal eaten al fresco, and then a glass of wine and a pause to watch the sky burst with sunset colours. This is Costa Rica at its best, and there is no finer place to experience it than at Casa Solaz.