The Hive Papagayo

The Hive sits on a hillside on Peninsula Papagayo, in Costa Rica's Guanacaste province, where tropical dry forest tumbles down to the Pacific. Seen from the water it seems to float between sea and sky, a sleek, modern house conceived by its original owners as a showcase for the architecture, furniture and art they loved.

Inside, some 17,500 square feet unfold in an open plan that moves easily between indoors, the jungle canopy and the ocean. Furnishings were gathered from more than ten countries, and the dining spaces are washed in turquoise, blue and green, echoing the infinity pool and the sea beyond.

Six en-suite bedrooms, each styled differently, sleep up to 16 guests, and three open onto private terraces above the treetops. The house is built for gathering, whether that means friends, couples travelling together or several generations of one family, with a cocktail lounge, screening room, fitness and games areas, and a spa room and hammam for slower days.

A full-time chef cooks breakfast and dinner using fresh Costa Rican seafood and produce, served from a show kitchen, with an open premium bar alongside. Down the hill there is water and beach access, a golf cart for getting around, and access to Prieta Beach Club and the peninsula's golf.

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