Uvita de Osa, South Pacific Costa Rica

Villa Kazda sits above Uvita, on the South Pacific coast, a three-hour drive from San Jose or twenty minutes by small turboprop to the local airport in Quepos. The South Pacific region holds Costa Rica's greatest biodiversity, with fewer crowds and less tourist traffic than the north.

Uvita is home to Marino Ballena National Park and its Whale's Tail beach, along with stretches of coastline that remain largely untouched. Calle Bejuco, the mountain road connecting Uvita to the Central Valley, cuts through forest and hillside with views of the Pacific along the way. A true 4x4 is required.

The dry season runs from December through April. Rain, when it falls between June and November, arrives in the late afternoon and disappears quickly. Temperatures stay warm year-round, and the nature and weather will impress you 12 months a year.