Shana and I have traveled through out Costa Rica — the Caribbean coast, Guanacaste, the Central Valley, the Nicoya Peninsula. We kept coming back to the Southern Pacific. And within the Southern Pacific, we kept coming back to the Osa.
The Osa gives you something the rest of Costa Rica can’t quite match — ocean and mountain together, in a place that hasn’t been smoothed out for tourism. Ojochal specifically has everything you actually need: stores, access to a hospital, a genuine community. But it’s still a small town. No traffic. No crowding. No endless strip of chain hotels and souvenir shops. It hasn’t lost what makes Costa Rica, Costa Rica — the way some of the more developed areas can.
Vista Bendita was built to maximize this. The house is oriented west so the open kitchen, dining room, and living area all face the Pacific. There is always a view. There is always a sunset. The terrace, the pool, the seating — all of it faces the same direction. You come here to watch the ocean and the light change over it all day.
The view from Vista Bendita — Ojochal jungle and the Pacific
The First Hour
New guest have the same experience the first hour. You pull into the garage and you can already see out over the hills of Ojochal and the Pacific below. You walk inside and the wall of windows stops you. Most people just stand there for a moment and study the view.
Then you unpack, figure out what switches go where, explore the fully stocked kitchen cabinets, and eventually — inevitably — end up outside with a drink. That’s the first hour. That’s what the house is for.
Mornings
I’m up earlier at Vista Bendita than I am anywhere else. There’s something about the place. By 5:30 AM I’m on the front terrace with coffee, watching the hill wake up — listening to the parrots moving through the canopy, the colibríes working the heliconias and the sounds of a jungle morning coming to life.
It’s peaceful. I feel centered in a way that is hare to describe. It is a feeling that takes a few days at home to achieve, if I get there at all.
We’ve confirmed almost 70 bird species at Vista Bendita — trogons, motmots, toucans, three hummingbird species, raptors, antbirds. Sloths move through the trees on the property. The monkeys mostly stay lower on the hill but you hear them in the morning. The fruit trees — mango, mangosteen, banana, pineapple — bring wildlife throughout the day.
None of this was an accident. We opened up the front of the property to give access to the fruit trees on the hill. We planted heliconias and flowering plants in the courtyard specifically to draw hummingbirds. The goal was never a manicured vacation home sitting on top of a hill — it was to merge into the hill. To be part of it rather than imposed on it.
Evenings
The afternoon light on the Pacific turns everything gold around 4PM. By the time the sun drops behind the horizon the sky is usually doing something remarkable — pinks, purples, the silhouette of Caño Island in the distance on clear days. Sit on the terrace with a glass of wine and watch it happen. It’s not a bad way to end a day.
End the day with spectacular sunsets while enjoying a glass of wine
Nights
Away from town lights, Vista Bendita sits high enough on the mountain that on a clear night the sky is extraordinary. Float in the pool after dark and look up. The Milky Way is visible on clear nights. Shooting stars are common. The sounds of the jungle after dark — the frogs, the insects, the occasional howler — make it a completely different place from the morning.
It’s worth staying up for at least once.
Marvel at the stars while floating in the infinity pool
The Power Question
Vista Bendita runs on solar. Costa Rica’s grid in this area is good but not perfectly stable — the solar keeps power consistent and reduces what we draw from the grid. It wasn’t a statement. It was practical. But it fits the philosophy of the place — take what you need, leave as small a footprint as possible, work with the environment rather than against it.
What’s Around You
Remote on purpose, but not remote in a way that cuts you off from anything important. That was the design.
Walk down the hill to La Pala for dinner — the best patacones on the mountain, an open kitchen, and the Pacific spread out below you. Drive five minutes to Tagua Café Raíz, the little coffee shop in Ojochal that makes you feel like a local the moment you walk in. Ten minutes to Playa Ventanas, our favorite beach on the coast — sea caves, surf, vendors who know your name by the second visit.
Twenty-five minutes to Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park. Whale watching in season. The Whale’s Tail sandbar at low tide. The waterfalls above the coast. The best snorkeling in the region at Caño Island. All within reach of Vista Bendita, none of it crowded.
Ojochal has an extraordinary restaurant scene for a village its size — French, Belgian, Italian, fresh seafood, traditional Costa Rican. The Wednesday morning market behind the Asada. The beach at Ventanas. The wildlife outside your window every morning. All the special parts of Costa Rica in one location.
Is It Worth It?
The flight to San José. The drive south along the coast. The crocodiles at Tarcoles Bridge — worth stopping for every time. The Costanera through Jacó and Quepos and Dominical. The turn at the hardware store in Ojochal. The drive up the hill.
Yes. It is worth it.
Every time we make that drive, by the time we pull into the garage and see the Pacific below, the answer is obvious. The effort is part of it — the distance from everything else is exactly what you came for.
Vista Bendita is more remote on purpose. The peace and calm away from the noise and the bustle. The feeling of being part of something special — the community, the landscape, the wildlife, the light over the ocean at the end of the day.
That’s what we built it for. We hope you feel it too.
— Ben & Shana
Stay at Vista Bendita
After a day exploring waterfalls, beaches, whale watching tours, restaurants, and rainforest adventures, relax in the peaceful mountain setting of Vista Bendita overlooking Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast.
Enjoy ocean views, tropical wildlife, a private pool, and easy access to some of the region’s best experiences near Ojochal and Uvita.
More Details & Local Travel Tips
We’ve created a growing collection of travel guides, local recommendations, and insider tips to help you make the most of your stay at Vista Bendita and your time exploring Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast.
Browse our blog for information on:
- Restaurants and cafes in Ojochal & Uvita
- Beaches, waterfalls, and national parks
- Whale watching, snorkeling, and outdoor adventures
- Shopping, grocery stores, and local markets
- Travel tips, driving advice, and packing recommendations
- Wellness, relaxation, and hidden local gems
Whether you’re planning your itinerary or simply looking for inspiration after you arrive, our guides are designed to help you experience the region like a local.
Explore the Vista Bendita Travel Blog
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