Canto de Gavilanes, Sámara, Costa Rica
This is our home. We built it because we love Sámara. We think you’ll love it here too.
Casa Lagartija (“little lizard”) is our family’s house in Canto de Gavilanes, about a 15-minute walk from the beach. It’s in town, but at the end of a dead-end road, so it feels private.
We had been coming to Sámara for years before we decided to build here. We wanted a family-friendly place surrounded by nature, where we could work, get to know a real community, and share it all with friends and family. When we’re not here, we’d love for you to stay.
Room to gather, room to retreat
The heart of the house is one open room: kitchen, long dining table and living space, all opening onto the pool terrace. It’s where the days happen.
Away from it, every bedroom has its own quiet corner, the guest rooms open onto their own patios, and upstairs the bunk room gives kids a space of their own.
Inside and out, without much in between
The living room opens straight onto the terrace, the pool and the outdoor kitchen, so cooking on the grill, eating outside and swimming all run together.
The pool has a shallow Baja-style ledge, just a few inches deep: somewhere to read with your feet in the water, an easy way in for older guests, and a place for little ones to splash while someone keeps an eye on them.
Made by people from here
We built Casa Lagartija with people from the area, and much of the furniture was made by hand, locally or nearby, including the live-edge Guanacaste dining table.
Solar panels supply most of the house’s electricity, and we use the grid only when we need it.
A horse pasture out back, Sámara down the road
The house backs onto a pasture with mountains behind it. Horses and cows come up to the fence (we keep vegetables for them), and monkeys visit often.
Sámara is a real town, not a resort: gentle waves for learning to surf, breakfast and a swim, the Saturday Feria for fresh vegetables and fish, and dinner on the beach.
A look around
See all photos
From our guests
“Great location! Loved how close to town it was but with a country feel with the horses, cows and howler monkeys in the backyard.”
“Loved this modern and very thoughtful home. Felt very safe and private outside of town. The home was designed with everything you need and cooking here and using the space was great. The pool was so nice and the layout and rooms were perfect!”
“Perfect. I loved every minute in this beautiful house, perfect location, amazing hosts. Definitely will recommend this place.”
Come and stay
We hope Casa Lagartija becomes your place in Sámara too. If you have questions before booking, just email us.