Meet your host.
Mariel, founder. Superhost · 10 years hosting.
Hi, I'm Mariel, a designer, artist, surfer, and longtime lover of Costa Rica's slower rhythm of life. I created Casa Calyx as a place that feels connected to nature, creative, and calm. Tucked into the jungle hills of Santa Teresa, the house was designed to blend indoor and outdoor living, with ocean breezes, lush greenery, and sunsets that never get old.
The name “Casa Calyx” comes from the calyx of a flower, the part that protects and supports growth before a bloom opens. That idea inspired the feeling I wanted the home to have: grounding, restorative, and quietly beautiful.
When I'm here, my days usually revolve around surfing, painting, and gathering with friends over simple meals and wine at sunset. I've poured a lot of love into making the space feel thoughtful, relaxed, and personal, while still keeping the raw magic of the jungle intact.
Whether you're here to surf, work remotely, explore, rest, or reconnect with yourself a little, I hope Casa Calyx gives you the kind of stay that lingers with you long after you leave.
Mariel
In conversation
Five questions, answered.
- 01
What inspired Casa Calyx?
I wanted a place that felt like an exhale, somewhere connected to nature, creative, and calm. The name comes from the calyx of a flower, the part that protects and supports growth before a bloom opens. That idea shaped everything: a home that's grounding, restorative, and quietly beautiful, designed for the kind of trip that lingers with you long after you leave.
- 02
Why this town?
Because it earns its reputation slowly. Santa Teresa isn't trying to be discovered. The surf is real, the food is honest, and the locals are kind. We wanted a home in a place that didn't need to perform.
- 03
How involved are you, day-to-day?
Mariel handles all guest communication personally and replies within an hour on Airbnb. Jairo is on the ground for anything in person: ATV rentals, restaurant recs, a tile that needs fixing. We're proud of how present we are without being in your way.
- 04
What's the long-stay story?
We added fiber wifi, then Starlink as backup, then a backup battery that holds through outages. We hand-picked the desk so two people could work from the office at the same time. The 28+ night long-stay rate makes a month feel reasonable.
- 05
What do you wish more guests knew?
Plan less. The first day, do nothing. By day three you'll know which chair is yours. That's the trip.
Mariel's Letters
Slow writingfrom the jungle.
Three editorial essays, on naming the house, on a week of slow mornings, on what dawn patrol teaches you.
April 22, 2026 · 5 min
The Calyx
On the small green cup that holds a flower together, and the house we named after it.
Read
March 14, 2026 · 7 min
A week of mornings at Casa Calyx
Seven dawns at a jungle house above the surf. A photo essay in seven small acts.
Read
February 8, 2026 · 6 min
Dawn patrol at Playa Carmen
Notes from a season of mornings at one of Costa Rica's best beach breaks.
Read