San Jose-based Studio Saxe just announced The GIlded Iguana, a world-class resort for surfers, by surfers that was commissioned to restore an existing lodge. But you don’t have to be a surfer to find something to love at this modern jungle enclave: it also attracts mountain bikers, yogis and beach bums galore.
The resort, which is located in the beach town of Nosara, began with a single A-frame house constructed in 1988. But the property has grown and morphed over the decades since to become the lush, tropical retreat that exists today. Furniture and accents of teak, palm and jute fill the open-air spaces, referencing the language of the regional architecture, as do the thatched, gabled roofs and the emphasis on landscaping and abundance of plant life.
Most of the newly added 30 rooms feature private terraces, and the property at large has plenty of water stations, surfboard racks and areas for relaxing throughout the site. Also on the grounds of the nearly 60,000-square-foot resort: a spa, store, pool and restaurant (the longest-operating resto in town). Weekly music nights are always on the calendar as well.
Surfers looking for reliable waves 365 days a year will find them here, and when they get the keys for the room, they’ll also get one for their dedicated surf locker, so the only thing to worry about is … well, nothing.
Rooms start at a super-reasonable $125 a night, and if you book through their site, you’re guaranteed the best rate.
Photography by Andrés García Lachner
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