Room with a View: Casa Paloma

Inspired by the African safari tradition yet rooted in the tropical vernacular of Costa Rica, Nayara Tented Camp has always operated at the intersection of adventure and ease. Casa Paloma translated that to its most personal expression. The private residence within Nayara Tented Camp, perched above the Costa Rican rainforest, combines stillness and presence. Named after owner Ruthy Ghitis's granddaughter, Casa Paloma is personal. "It reflects our sense of aesthetics and what we like to do on vacation with our family," she says.

The vision, Ghitis explains, was rooted in a single idea: genuine privacy, without isolation. "The idea behind Casa Paloma was to create a private place where guests can experience the rainforest and each other's company without having to see other guests." A larger pool, separate indoor and outdoor dining areas, and an expansive living space give the residence a feeling of its own. 

Designed entirely in-house, the interiors speak a language of conscious restraint. Three local woods, including Corteza, which lines the ceilings, bring warmth without heaviness. Doors, cabinetry and closets were crafted by a local carpenter; the entrance door, carved by an artisan from the town of Sarchí, depicts the iconic wheels of its celebrated ox carts. "We procured all the interiors based on the idea of creating a sanctuary for the senses," says Ghitis. "The design is very calm." White orchids punctuate a corner. A large dish of tropical fruit anchors the main table.  

The windows, however, are the residence's defining gesture. Floor-to-ceiling, they dissolve the boundary between interior and landscape with such conviction that the team eventually had to etch a subtle pattern onto the glass. "The difference between being inside and being outside is blurred," Ghitis says. "That was our intention." Where art might typically hang, the rainforest performs instead, framed and ever-changing. In the main tent, a collection of birds and orchids by a Costa Rican artist offers the only concession to the conventional; green tiles sourced from Nicaragua line the indoor shower, adding a regional thread. 

The experience Ghitis hopes guests take with them is equally unforced. A private chef and mixologist are on hand; local musicians can be arranged for evenings. "We hope guests experience each other's company in harmony with nature," she says. "They sleep in our tents but congregate outside with visuals of the Arenal Volcano and the rainforest."