On a coast where almost everything is bought ready-made, Villa Hermes was made by hand. That, perhaps, is the most honest reason behind the Luxury Lifestyle Awards' recognition of it as Best Architecture in Costa Rica 2026: not the façade, but the way it was imagined, drawn and built by the same people who welcome its guests today.
A villa built by hand
Patrick and Valérie Rey arrived in Costa Rica with an uncommon idea: not to buy a house, but to create one. They learned the country first and, when they were ready, built it themselves. Their working rule is simple and radical — make everything, buy as little as possible — so much of what you see in Hermes came out of their own workshop, with materials from the region.
Hermes was the family's second work, conceived with years of experience hosting travelers and knowing this stretch of the Pacific intimately. It isn't a villa with art added on top: the art is part of the structure.
Architecture that grows out of the landscape
The shape of Hermes is not a decorative gesture. It grows from what you see from the site: the horizon, the sea and the sun. Clean lines frame the view instead of interrupting it, and the house is designed around the sunset. It's what we at Odisea Retreats describe as a gallery you live in — a space to be inhabited, not just admired.
Its five private bedrooms are not alike. Each has its own orientation, its own light and its own relationship with the outside: the open sea in some, the tropical garden in others. The project works like a small village organized around water and landscape, not like a building with a sea view.
Where it is, and why that matters
Villa Hermes sits in Playa Junquillal, Guanacaste — beachfront, on a deliberately quiet and private stretch of coast, far from the noise. Liberia airport (LIR) is just over an hour away, and the village of Junquillal five minutes. This is one of the most serene coastlines in the country, and that calm is as much a part of the design as the wood or the concrete.
One of two
Hermes has a sister villa next door, Villa Diosa del Mar, also created by Patrick and Valérie. They can be booked separately or together, as the full estate Odisea Retreats: ten beachfront bedrooms for large groups, weddings and retreats. Two different architectures, two different atmospheres, in one place.
Discover the villa
- Villa Hermes — architectural beachfront villa →
- Villa Diosa del Mar — beachfront art retreat →
- Book the whole estate — talk to a concierge →
Frequently asked questions
What award did Villa Hermes receive in 2026?
Villa Hermes was named Best Architecture in Costa Rica 2026 by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards, for its beachfront design and its integration with the natural setting of Playa Junquillal.
Who designed and built Villa Hermes?
French artists and architects Patrick and Valérie Rey, who built it with their own hands using local materials. Their son Luca is the on-site concierge.
How many bedrooms does it have?
Five private bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom and air conditioning, and each with its own orientation and light.
Can it be rented together with Villa Diosa del Mar?
Yes. Together they form Odisea Retreats, a ten-bedroom estate ideal for groups, weddings and beachfront retreats.
Where is Villa Hermes located?
In Playa Junquillal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica — beachfront, in a quiet area just over an hour from Liberia airport.
