Sola Vista
Surfer and wildlife lover’s paradise
BWRAG certified
The surf
Punta Banco beach offers 5 still uncrowded and different surf spots (beach & point breaks). The best months to surf here in front of the lodge are December-April (summer), but there are waves all year around. Punta Banco is still relatively unknown or underrated as most tourist surfers only come to the area in the green season when Pavones is working.
Pavones hosts one of the world’s surfing wonders. It has been categorized as one of the world’s longest left-hand point breaks. It can go on from 400 to 900 meters, maybe longer if you’re lucky. The best months to surf Pavones are May-September. There are more great waves in the neighborhood that we‘ll show you!
From December through March.
Best spot: Punta Banco
Good for: Beginner, intermediate & advanced surfers.
As of March/April we get the first south swells and Pavones starts breaking.
From April through September.
Spot: Punta Banco
Good for: intermediate & advanced surfers.
Spots: Pavones (and further inside de Golfo Dulce)
Good for: Beginner, intermediate & advanced surfers.
Breaks
The lodge
Sola Vista is in the pristine tropical rainforest of Punta Banco on the South Pacific Coast, where the lush green jungle meets the blue pacific ocean. This is a region in Costa Rica that is regarded as one of the most biologically diverse places in the world. Guests can look forward to a unique and incredible indoor-outdoor living experience, wildlife encounters, private yoga with a breathtaking 360° ocean & jungle panorama, great surfing, and incredible sunsets.
Our lodge is perched on a ridge within a National Rainforest Reserve less than 200m (3min walking) from the spectacular surfing beach and charming original “Pura Vida” tico village. There is a small grocery store and a small restaurant serving delicious local dishes, both just 3 minutes walking from the bungalows.
We have two open-air bungalows in different heights of the property; Casa Ola (higher up) and Casa Sol (lower), right next to each other. Both with two stories. The lower level includes the bedroom, a separate bathroom and the outdoor shower. The rooms have very big mosquito screens, no glass windows. The upper floor features a fully-equipped kitchen and a multi-purpose relax, observation and yoga deck.
There is no wifi in our bungalows, so you can disconnect and immerse yourself in nature. However, if you need to check your e-mails or message, you can connect to the wifi of the hosts close by, which may or may not work all the time. There is Kölbi cell phone connection if you want to purchase a SIM card.
At Sola Vista Eco Lodge, you‘ll most likely encounter daily visits from various animals, including white faced, howler and titi monkeys, agoutis, iguanas, scarlet macaws, pizotes and toucans, to name a few.
Sustainability/responsibility
Our bungalows at Sola Vista are built with minimal to zero impact on the surrounding rainforest. No trees were cut off during the building's construction and only certified wood was used. All buildings are built on pillars to preserve the ground and allow animals free movement underneath it. We fully commit to keep an environmentally low-impact business operation ecologically sustainable and sensitive to conservation and community issues. All garbage is recycled and electricity is only used where/when required. The open concept allows the natural breeze from the ocean to cool down the bungalows, so no AC is needed. And our guests enjoy their outdoor showers with fresh spring water gravity fed directly from the jungle. The tap water is fresh spring water with no chemicals added and safe to drink. You will enjoy the noticeably fresh taste.
We actively engage in local projects such as the Tortuga Conservation Commission of Punta Banco to study and conserve the wildlife in the area. Sola Vista Eco Lodge partners with the local community of Punta Banco to further raise environmental awareness. Our ultimate goal is to establish a local recycling collection center in the village.
Rooms
Location
Getting there
Sola Vista
Renato Müller
After many years working in the corporate world, we both concluded that there must be something else than just working 10 hours a day behind the computer or sitting in endless meetings. We wanted a drastic change from "treadmill-like" office life. Break free and have more time to do things we truly love!
We always had that one shared dream - to live by the ocean, “simple” life in nature, practicing yoga, and surfing every day. After some time thinking and planning, we found our paradise in the very Pacific South of Costa Rica. The incredible nature and PURA VIDA lifestyle convinced us to take a leap. The first step was the most difficult and then everything was just flowing right. We sold everything we had in Switzerland and moved to Costa Rica with just two bags and surfboards. The first year we rented a place and got more familiar with the community, Spanish, and the climate, while looking at properties for sale. We fell in love with a piece of land that had some ruins from a house that burned down. That's where we decided to start our project and soon after we bought it, we started to build our little lodge with the help of great workers from the village.
Our goal was to create a space where other adventurous nature lovers, surfers & yogis (mainly couples or close friends) can enjoy unforgettable holidays in a private, exclusive, setting.
In November 2019 we finally opened Sola Vista Eco Lodge and we are grateful to be able to share our little paradise with many interesting guests from all around the world!
