About the Owners:

David and Evelyn have had a lifelong passion for endangered primates. They worked with Dr. Biruté Galdikas on the Orangutan Project in Borneo where they photographed and videotaped the red apes, gathered data, and helped rehabilitate former pet orangutans back to the wild. They later produced a documentary, "Orangutans: Grasping the Last Branch," for the Orangutan Foundation International. Evelyn is the author of a children's book, Among the Orangutans, and has spoken at more than 500 schools around the world about saving critically endangered primates and their threatened habitats.

In 1985 they worked with Dr. Dian Fossey in Rwanda photographing and videotaping endangered mountain gorillas. Evelyn’s gorilla photo appeared on the cover of Jane Goodall's Animal World: Gorillas. It was a natural progression that their interest in endangered primates would bring them to Manuel Antonio where the small community is striving to save the Red-backed Squirrel Monkey, the most endangered primate in Central America. Evelyn and David are  representatives of the International Primate Protection League, and members of Orangutan Foundation International and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

How The Discovery Beach House Got its Name:

When community members in Manuel Antonio heard about David and Evelyn's plans to install underground cables, a waste treatment plant, a gray water recycling system, and to enrich the monkey corridor by planting more than 60 varieties of fruit trees on their property, the concept reminded locals of documentaries they'd seen on the Discovery Channel. People began referring to the project as "The Discovery Beach House." The nickname stuck because it worked on so many levels. It not only described the attention to creating an environmentally conscious home, it also referred to the many eclectic details to be discovered throughout their home. Every bathroom has unusual handpainted art tile niches and sinks that are sure to surprise. But there's even more.  

Manuel Antonio has an everyday-is-an-adventure sense of place. You never know what each day will bring. How many species of monkeys will you see? Will a three-toed sloth appear carrying a newborn baby? Will a small reptile run across the pool on its hind legs and demonstrate how it got its nickname, "Jesus Christ Lizard"? Discover for yourself what awaits you at the Discovery Beach House.

Description:

Great Room
Kitchen
Bathroom

Great Room Description

Beamed, vaulted ceilings give the Great Room an expansive feel, yet the décor bathes you in its warmth. Guests feel as if they are in a cozy home, not in a cold-built-to-rent-vacation-house. Masks from Java, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Costa Rica caress a crescent wall.  

A polished almond wood staircase floats out of a stunning stone wall. Niches carved into the wall display Indonesian puppets and other artifacts collected by the owners during their world travels. There are two living room areas, one focused around a cozy window seat, the other a casual setting next to the kitchen where guests can visit with the cook. A round coffee table from India doubles as a display for a collection of Maasai jewelry. The dining room table was handcrafted by a local artisan and is lit by an elegant Mission-style chandelier. It expands to seat from 8-12 people. The French doors open to an expansive terrace where tables may be added making this room perfect for parties or wedding receptions.

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Kitchen Description

This spacious Mexican-style kitchen was inspired by Frida Kahlo’s kitchen in Coyocan, Mexico. Cobalt blue and gold tiles are accented with brightly colored hand-painted art tile reproductions of some of Frida’s food themes, “Still Life with Parrot, and “Naturaleza Viva.” The kitchen island is adorned with her famous self-portraits, “Roots,” and “Frida and Diego.” This professional kitchen boasts a breakfast bar with an ocean view, and a 6-burner stove with an oven ample enough to prepare any event or holiday meal, An air conditioner provides cool comfort for the family cook, event chef or wedding caterer. Open shelves adorned with multi-colored dishes complete the feeling of cooking in Frida’s kitchen.

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Bathroom Descriptions

Each bathroom was designed around a gorgeous hand-painted sink, each with a story of its own.

Master Garden Bathroom

Although Mexican artist Diego Rivera was best known for his public historical murals, another favorite subject of his was callalillies. This flower sets the theme for the Master Garden Bathroom featuring inlaid wall tiles and twin sinks of reproductions of paintings by Diego and his wife Frida Kahlo. During the couple’s lifetime Diego’s historical themes overshadowed Frida’s deeply personal self-portraits. Now, Frida’s paintings are renowned world-wide and sought after for their surrealistic and universal themes.

The oversized green-tiled bath tub is big enough for two and the perfect romantic setting from which to appreciate the lush tropical bathroom garden set outside large French windows.

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Guest Bathroom

A dramatic pedestal sink highlights local red-backed squirrel monkeys seen almost daily on the property. The hand-painted monkeys were inspired by photos taken by local photographer Marianne Coates. The shower niche features a hand-painted orangutan from a photo taken by owner Evelyn Gallardo and featured on the cover of her book, Among the Orangutans. This singular touch was inspired by an experience while working on the Orangutan Project in Borneo with Dr. Biruté Galdikas in 1987. One day while bathing in the camp shower, Evelyn noticed two precocious orphaned orangutans peaking at her through the spaces in the wooden floor.

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Apartment Bathroom

The sink in this bathroom is a reproduction of owner David Root’s favorite T-shirt purchased in Uganda. It features two African women in brightly colored garb. The shower niche was painted from one of Evelyn’s photos of a mountain gorilla when she and her husband worked with Dr. Dian Fossey at Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda in 1985.

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