Supersized Me

Private, exclusive, and packed with amenities, a new class of supervillas is drawing travellers away from even the plushest of hotels and resorts.

- Words: Mark Ellwood Photography: Andres Garcia Lachner and Daniel Stewart

HIGH IN THE Costa Rican hills, a short drive from the surf mecca of Dominical, sits the new Lamangata estate. The 1,115sqm villa has six ocean-facing suites, a teakwood yoga studio, a spa, an infinity pool with an Olympic-sized swim lane, and even a grove of fruit trees to supply its kitchens.

This oversized, over-the-top property—yours for US$80,000 a week—is emblematic of a growing travel trend: the supervilla. These lavish lodges are larger and more amenity-rich than a typical luxury vacation rental but smaller than a boutique hotel. “It’s your own resort that you never have to leave,” says Jason Squatriglia, an affiliate travel adviser with Embark Beyond. “You don’t have to venture out if you don’t want to.”

The emergence of this category is driven by a newfound focus on ‘celebration travel’: trips organised for milestone birthdays, family reunions, and the like. Accordingly, most supervillas have at least six bedrooms and sit on ample plots of privacy-enhancing land—which also makes it easier to outfit them with hotel-style facilities. “They’re built for hospitality, not necessarily as homes,” says Kevin Jackson, CEO and founder of EXP Journeys, who has booked five supervilla vacations for clients this year. The appeal is understandable: “There’s just something about being on your own timetable and doing whatever you want,” he adds. “For the luxury traveller, that’s gold.”