Casa Miguel

Casa Miguel is an architect-designed retreat in Sámara Reefs, a gated hillside community at the east end of Playa Sámara, where the day starts with birdsong and the jungle canopy. Across two levels, teak walls and full-height glass panels that fold away completely blur the line between inside and out.

An open-tread teak staircase rises through the double-height cathedral ceiling of the main floor, with a lush indoor garden growing beneath it. The dining area seats six to eight at a solid-wood table and opens straight onto the pool terrace. The kitchen has stainless-steel appliances, including a French-door fridge, a dishwasher and an electric range, and a breakfast bar separates it from the living room, which opens to the canopy on two sides and has a ceiling fan and a smart TV.

Upstairs, the master bedroom has a king bed with an artisan woven headboard, a teak cathedral ceiling, a private balcony into the treetops and its own bathroom with a walk-in mosaic shower. Downstairs, the second bedroom has a queen bed framed by glass on three sides and an adjoining bathroom. Both bedrooms are air-conditioned. A half bath with washer and dryer, an office area with two ergonomic workstations and 100/100 Mbps fiber, a freshwater pool on a travertine terrace with two sun loungers, and a shaded upper balcony with a gas grill and a teak dining set complete the house.

The walk back from Playa Sámara and downtown Sámara is uphill and part of the route runs along the main road, which has no sidewalk, so after dark a car or taxi is the better choice. A regular car is fine, you don't need a 4x4, and there is ample free parking at the house.