Our Story

From vacation to home.

Chris and Jen, the owners of Hacienda Nosara, together at the villa at dusk. — Chris and Jen — the owners of Hacienda Nosara.

Our relationship with Costa Rica began long before Hacienda Nosara.

Chris and Jen first started visiting Costa Rica in the early 2000s and quickly fell in love with its people, incredible biodiversity, laid-back lifestyle, and natural beauty. Over the next 15 years, we returned again and again, exploring different parts of the country before discovering Playa Pelada — a place we simply couldn't stop coming back to.

Costa Rica became part of our own story. We were married here in 2007, and after years of returning for vacations and dreaming about living here full time, we made that dream a reality by moving to Nosara in 2017.

In 2018, we purchased the property that would become Hacienda Nosara. What started as a single villa has gradually grown into the private retreat it is today, welcoming guests since 2020.

We're intentionally different from a hotel. We host a limited number of guests, answer every inquiry personally, and genuinely enjoy helping people experience Nosara the way we've come to love it over the past two decades.

Chapter Two

Building Hacienda Nosara.

Chris and Chilo, the master builder, standing together on the pool deck at Hacienda Nosara with palms and the villa behind them. — Chris with Chilo, the master builder behind every structure on the property.

Before moving to Costa Rica, Chris renovated and flipped more than 20 homes in Charlotte, North Carolina. Those years of renovation experience became the foundation for Hacienda Nosara — not simply renovating a home, but creating a property that embraces Costa Rica's indoor-outdoor lifestyle while respecting its natural beauty and traditional architecture.

That vision came to life alongside Chilo, one of Nosara's most respected master builders. Together, we combined thoughtful planning with traditional Costa Rican craftsmanship to create a property that feels authentic, timeless, and built to last.

Hacienda Nosara is the result of that collaboration.

Chapter Three

Built by hand.

Every building at Hacienda Nosara was constructed by Chilo and his crew using traditional Costa Rican building techniques.

Casa Brisa and the studios are built with reinforced concrete block, while the treehouses and open-air rancho feature handcrafted hardwood timbers, hand-shaped rafters, bamboo details, and classic clay tile roofing.

The photographs below capture the years of planning, craftsmanship, and dedication that transformed an empty hillside into Hacienda Nosara.

Concrete-block shell of the studio building going up, wooden roof beams staged on top. — Studios Rey & Reina — reinforced block shell rising.

Studios building mid-construction with new red metal roof and fresh white plaster, wooden stair being framed. — Roof on, hardwood stair framed by hand.

Finished two-story studio building with wooden balcony and stair, workers on the upper porch. — The finished studios — Rey upstairs, Reina down.

A-frame skeleton of Treehouse Chilo — round timber posts and diagonal rafters rising from the jungle floor. — Treehouse Chilo — hand-shaped hardwood rafters going up.

Treehouse Chilo nearly complete, red clay-tile roof on the A-frame, two kids peeking out of the loft opening. — Traditional clay tile roof, laid piece by piece.

Fresh wooden deck of the rancho with peeled round-timber posts being set into place beside the pool. — Almendras rancho — hardwood deck down, round-timber posts set.

Rafters laid across the rancho posts before the thatch goes on, jungle behind. — Rafters across the rancho, thatch next.

Chilo, the master builder, standing on the framing of Treehouse Almendras, holding a piece of timber up to a rafter. — Chilo on the frame of Treehouse Almendras — craftsmanship you can feel in every beam.

Chapter Four

Before & after.

When we purchased Casa Brisa, it was a dated 1990s villa with tremendous potential.

Rather than simply remodeling the home, we reimagined the property around Costa Rica's indoor-outdoor lifestyle — opening the living spaces, enhancing natural airflow, adding handcrafted treehouses and the rancho, and creating the tropical retreat guests experience today.

The before-and-after photographs show just how dramatically Hacienda Nosara has evolved.

Casa Brisa before renovation — a peach-colored two-story villa with a red concrete roof behind an overgrown garden and a rock-lined path. — Casa Brisa — front and pool

Casa Brisa after renovation — pool at twilight framed by palms, thatched rancho roof overhead, warm balcony lights from the studios beyond. — Casa Brisa — front and pool

Casa Brisa side elevation before — plain white and green concrete facade, plain wood balcony, no rancho, dense unshaped garden. — Casa Brisa — the rancho and treehouse addition

Casa Brisa side after — thatched rancho and clay-tile treehouse addition above the pool with a long wooden dining table under the roof. — Casa Brisa — the rancho and treehouse addition

Casa Brisa kitchen before — dated wood cabinets, tile backsplash, white appliances, small barred window, terracotta floor. — Casa Brisa kitchen

Casa Brisa kitchen after — teak cabinetry, granite counters, subway-tile backsplash, teal accent wall, exposed teak-plank cathedral ceiling. — Casa Brisa kitchen

Chapter Five

Why we host.

Our goal has never been to create just another vacation rental.

We wanted to build a place where guests could slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience Nosara the way we have over the past two decades. Whether you're visiting for a family vacation, a wellness retreat, a long-term stay, or considering making Nosara your home, we're always happy to share our local knowledge and help make your stay unforgettable.

Building Hacienda Nosara.

Built by hand.

Before & after.

Why we host.

Ready to plan your stay?