Atenas, Costa Rica·Co-living space
Monthly creative living on a Costa Rican mountain
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Lara Young
Atenas, Costa Rica
Small arts community in a mountain paradise - studio space, forested trails, hot tub & infinity pool - 1 month + stays
Cost
$1,550–2,550 / month
Disciplines
All disciplines
Duration
1-5 months
Accommodation
Private Room
Availability
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Minimum stay: 30 days
About this opportunity
The space
Up to 6 artists can live across two hand-built Mediterranean-style houses at a time. The houses feature high ceilings and an open-air design that makes the fresh mountain breeze part of daily life. The main house features huge, arched windows to make the most of the view. There’s a freestanding art studio, a grand patio, and a gazebo shaded by banana leaves and lush greenery—plus an infinity pool, hot tub, and outdoor shower. Fourteen acres of forest surround the homes, with private trails winding through the property and abundant wildlife along the way. It’s a place designed for making art, slowing down, and feeling immersed in nature.
Surroundings
We're in a rural yet central setting, less than 1.5 hours from major tourist destinations on all sides and close to Costa Rica's main international airport. Fly into SJO. Once you go through the baggage scanner, you’ll see taxi drivers and a taxi stand. These are Costa Rica’s official orange airport taxis, which are regulated and safe. They use a meter to calculate the rate, which you can see while you’re riding. You’ll give them the exact location (which we will share privately), and they will drive you 35-50 minutes to the artist colony, depending on traffic.
Life during a stay
A typical week includes our weekly open studio, welcoming artists and neighbors from the local community, and a weekly arts cocktail/mocktail hour. In between, there are swims in the infinity pool, hikes along the private trails, dips in the hot tub, wildlife spotting, and walks through the picturesque surrounding neighborhood. There are also plenty of spontaneous adventures among friends, from visiting the local vineyard or wildlife rescue zoo to exploring farther afield with the help of our trusted local guide. We’ll keep track of nearby arts activities and events, too, so you can discover what’s happening and never feel out of the loop. Each guest has a beautifully decorated private room with a locking door, while the entire property—including the gardens, trails, studios, pool, and common spaces—is yours to enjoy.
House rules
We have a big team of gardeners blast through every two weeks, usually on Saturday mornings. They tend to work fewer than 3 hours. Private rooms are professionally cleaned once per week. Residents are responsible for their own dishes and laundry, and for cleaning their own towels and linens during their stay. There’s no need to clean linens or towels before returning home. Residents are expected to leave shared spaces the way they found them at all times. All indoor spaces and patios are non-smoking and non-vaping. We are a community, and that means guests are welcome! Feel free to invite friends & family over to enjoy the property and make art during the day. Because this is a shared space, guests may not stay overnight. We recommend Bungalows SanLaz or Barons Resort (both within walking distance) for overnight guests.
Good to know
We are actively involved with arts organizations, cultural institutions, and artists in the area, shortening the distance between you and local inspiration.
Practical details
Duration
1-5 months
Cost
Private room with a desk, access to all shared spaces and grounds including a freestanding art studio with some tools and supplies, Starlink wifi, weekly cleaning service, all utilities, parking.
Accommodation
Private Room
Program notes
A weekly cleaning service is included. Residents are responsible for their own laundry and dishes. We have a dishwasher, laundry machine, and dryer onsite. We are also connected to local grocery deliveries including an organic farm and a personal meal-prep chef. If artists order from them, it means less time running errands and more time relaxing and making art. Since we are built into a mountain, artists must be comfortable on steep terrain and climbing stairs.
What's offered
Accommodation
Studio Space
Kitchen Access
WiFi
Materials Provided
Equipment Access
Parking
Skills needed
Painting
Drawing
Illustration
Photography
Mixed Media
Calligraphy
Graphic Design
Fiction
Poetry
Non-fiction
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