At 7 Paseo Punta Penca, known as Villa Sympatheia, the house is organized around the view. Set on the hillside of Punta Penca, Las Catalinas’ oceanside neighborhood of estate homes, the residence steps down its lot across four levels, each looking out to the bay and the islands offshore. White stucco, a clay tile roof, wrought-iron railings and cobalt-blue accents give the home its Mediterranean character, and deep covered terraces follow the town’s principle that outdoor living belongs under a roof.
The main living level sits at the top of the house, where the views are widest. Steel-framed glass doors line the living room and open directly to the pool terrace. In the kitchen, a long wood-topped island with a mint-green base sits beneath a brass ring chandelier and exposed beams. A professional stainless range is set against a hand-painted blue and white tile backsplash, and a walk-in pantry and built-in stainless refrigerator complete the space. Outside, nearly 1,065 square feet of covered living extends under a timber ceiling. There is a wood dining table for ten, a built-in grill, lounge seating and an infinity-edge pool with an adjoining hot tub, all facing the water. Above, a private roof terrace has a built-in sofa and a bar counter with seating. A sculptural spiral stair, with green walls, a wrought-iron rail and capiz globe pendants, connects the levels. Patterned cement tile floors and arched doorways carry through the halls. One level down, the primary suite occupies its own floor. The bedroom has a beamed ceiling, an upholstered headboard and a separate sitting area, with views of the beach and the islands. The bath pairs a warm wood vanity and brass fixtures with a patterned tile backsplash. The walk-in shower has a brass rain head, a hand shower and a built-in niche. A dedicated closet, a wine closet and laundry complete the floor.
The bedroom floor holds two guest bedrooms, each with its own bath and a view of the beach, along with a media room. On the lowest level, a second living room opens through arched French doors to a balcony. This level also has a fourth bedroom with a private bath, a laundry room and a walled bocce court, the natural place for afternoons that run into evening.
A separate guest house adds a garage, storage and a covered entry. Above them, a king suite reached by its own bridge has a private bath, a balcony and an upper patio, giving visitors full independence. A tile-roofed outdoor pavilion adds a second kitchen with a grill, sink and wood cabinetry, a dining counter, hanging egg chairs and views across the hills. Nearby, a curved built-in sofa sits beneath a pergola.
Punta Penca sits at the edge of Las Catalinas, about a five-minute walk from the town center. Paseo Punta Penca was designed primarily for walking, and lush garden terraces line both sides of the street. Las Catalinas is a car-free beach town on Costa Rica’s Guanacaste coast.