Name: La Ecovilla - Cohli Family Coliving
Start: 2027-08-01
End: 2027-09-30
Location: La Ecovilla

Lauren & Tiago

Why La Ecovilla, and why now

The first time we heard about La Ecovilla, we were in San Jose, buying nuts from a Portuguese woman named Christian who told us, with the certainty only locals have: "you have to go, you'll love it." We never made the trip. The name stuck.

Years later, after our 3-month cohort in another part of Costa Rica taught us a hard lesson about choosing infrastructure carefully, we found ourselves on a call with Julianne, who founded La Ecovilla 15 years ago with her husband Marcelo. Within ten minutes we both knew. The alignment was obvious. The community is real (48 families, all owner-occupied, full-time). The infrastructure is the kind that doesn't get talked about because it just works (fiber-optic, well water, underground electricity). And the spirit, after 15 years of practice, is the one we've been building toward.

So: La Ecovilla, for two months, August through September 2027. Seven family slots across three homes. The kids learn together in the morning. The adults work, walk, cook, swim. In the afternoon, our kids run feral with the village kids who are already here. The local alternative school nearby (Real World School) is open to collaborations. There are workshops and yoga every day in the rancho, organized by neighbors as gifts to the community. We're going to be in the middle of it.

An honest note on where we are right now: we've drafted agreements with the three homeowners but we haven't signed yet. The cohort activates when 6 families commit by June 22. Until then, we're inviting families who feel called to show interest, share what you're hoping for, and we'll take it from there. Our hope is to confirm by mid-June so families can plan their summer.

If a 15-year-old eco-village in the Costa Rican mountains, surrounded by community that already knows how to live well together, sounds like the kind of two months your family wants, we'd love to hear from you.

With love,
Lauren & Tiago

Lauren and Tiago are the co-founders of Cohli and parents of two (Maya, 5, and Koa, 3). Over 40 years, they've lived and traveled through 30+ countries and have been designing family coliving experiences since 2024.

📅

2 months

Aug - Sep 2027

👪

7

Family slots max

🏠

3 homes

Maracuya, Brisa, Colibri

🌝

22-28°C

Year-round warmth

💻

Fiber

Reliable internet, all units

🌲

15 yrs

Community age

The Place

An established eco-village, all year long

La Ecovilla was started 15 years ago by Marcelo and Julianne Taza, in the lush hills of San Mateo, Costa Rica. It's home to about 48 families who own their houses and live there full-time. Common areas include a rancho for workshops, potlucks, and co-working; a movement platform for daily yoga, workouts, and circles; and a pool. The community organizes events as gifts (free to join, free to skip), so on any given day there's something happening if you want it. Marcelo and Julianne are currently building a new sister community nearby, La Ecovilla San Mateo, but our cohort happens in the original village, where the rhythms are mature.

A nearby alternative school called Real World School focuses on community and collaboration. Julianne has offered to introduce us to the school director once dates are confirmed, so the children's program can do shared activities with local kids during the residency.

The Surroundings

1 hour from San Jose airport. Surrounded by jungle and rivers. The Pacific coast is about 40 minutes away. Costa Rica's hurricane season runs May to November, with September and October the rainiest months. August through mid-September is still warm and lush, with afternoon showers some days, mornings typically clear.

What the village does for you

A rancho for workshops and co-working. Daily yoga and movement on a shared platform. A pool. Neighbors who organize events as gifts. Local kids playing outside every afternoon, who your kids will get pulled into. A 15-year-old culture of community living, mature and welcoming.

The Village

What a 15-year-old village actually looks like

La Ecovilla has been refining its common life for over a decade. Seven pools, six yoga shalas, six ranchos, six gardens, and the river ten minutes away. Every day there's something happening if you want it. Some days it's a sound bath in a bamboo dome. Some days it's kids climbing the same tree they'll climb tomorrow.

Infinity pool surrounded by jungle at La Ecovilla

Bamboo yoga shala interior with circular thatched roof at La Ecovilla

The rancho gathering space with long wooden tables and hanging lanterns

Children climbing a tree together in the La Ecovilla garden

People swimming in a natural river pool near La Ecovilla

Aerial view of La Ecovilla community houses surrounded by trees

The Homes

Three homes, seven family slots

Cohli families stay in three homes within the village, each with its own character and price. You pick the home that fits your family's shape, size, and budget. We confirm the assignment with you before deposit.

Home 1

Pura Maracuya

3 family studios · daily breakfast delivered

Five spacious studios run by Michaela, each equipped with a king bed plus 2 queen sofa beds, a kitchenette, and 1.5 bathrooms (one with a tub). Daily breakfast is delivered to your door. Cleaning 3x per week is included. The smallest, coziest tier of the three homes, perfect for a family who wants their own private space and the breakfast-included rhythm.

$5,960 / family / month 3 family slots Studio per family

Gravel path through tropical jungle leading to Pura Maracuya

Sunrise over green Costa Rican mountains seen from Pura Maracuya

Pura Maracuya buildings nestled in tropical forest

Aerial view of Pura Maracuya buildings surrounded by trees

Aerial of Pura Maracuya with pyramid-style rooftops in the jungle

Pura Maracuya main building exterior with mountain backdrop

Studio interior photos coming soon. The shots above are exterior and aerial views of the property.

Home 2

Casa Brisa

Shared villa · 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms · self-cater

Your family gets 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms of your own inside a 4BR/4BA villa shared with one other Cohli family. Full chef's kitchen, large open living and dining space, jungle-view balcony. The most space per family of any of our homes. Best for families with multiple kids, two-parent work setups, or anyone who wants room to spread out, with one other family at the long table for breakfast.

Ideal if you have a close family friend you'd like to live with. Apply together and we'll place you in the same villa. Two families who already know each other in a shared home is one of the best setups we've seen.

Includes: weekly grocery starter kit ($300/mo), 2x weekly cleaning, full utilities, and the shared community programming. Self-cater your daily meals; join the 2x weekly community dinners and weekend brunch at the rancho.

$6,160 / family / month 2 family slots Shared 4BR/4BA

Casa Brisa open-plan living and dining space with high wood ceilings

View from Casa Brisa balcony overlooking jungle and mountains

Casa Brisa full kitchen with island stovetop open to the dining area

Casa Brisa bedroom with king bed and red shelves

Casa Brisa bedroom with wooden bed and colorful Guatemalan textile

Map of La Ecovilla village layout showing lots and the Rio Machuca river

More photos coming soon as we finalize with the host.

Home 3

Casa Colibri

Shared luxury villa · 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms · daily domestic help

A brand-new luxury villa with 4 bedrooms (each with oversized desk and ensuite), a chef's kitchen with oversized island, projection home theater, and a master spa suite with indoor/outdoor soaking tub. Includes 4 hours per day of domestic help (cooking and cleaning), 500mbps internet, central dehumidification, security, and split AC throughout. Shared between 2 families. The most luxurious and lowest-friction tier, ideal for families who want help with the daily logistics so they can be fully present.

Also ideal if you have a close family friend you'd like to live with. Apply together and we'll place you in the same villa. The shared luxury setup makes it especially worth it when you're the ones choosing your housemates.

$7,260 / family / month 2 family slots Shared 4BR/4BA + help

Casa Colibri modern two-level exterior with wraparound balcony and tropical garden

Front view of Casa Colibri showing modern architecture with full-height windows

Casa Colibri projection home theater with screen showing streaming services

Casa Colibri kids bedroom with loft bed and sofa nook

Casa Colibri kids bedroom with loft bed, study desk, and reading nook

Casa Colibri upstairs landing with high ceilings and natural light

More photos of the master spa suite, kitchen, and home theater coming soon.

What's Included

Everything your family needs

All-inclusive pricing covers accommodation, kids program, communal meals, and Cohli ops support. Specifics vary by home.

🏠

Your home in the village

Maracuya studio, Casa Brisa, or Casa Colibri, depending on your fit. Each home is part of an established 48-family eco-village. Cleaning is included (3x/week at Maracuya, schedule varies elsewhere). Domestic help included at Colibri (4hr/day).

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Communal meals

2 community dinners per week and 1 weekend brunch at the rancho, prepared by a local cook with adaptable dietary preferences. Daily breakfast delivered at Maracuya. Brisa families self-cater. The dinner table is the village engine.

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Kids program (Mon - Fri)

Educator-led mornings for ~11 children across age pods. Bilingual (English and Spanish). Built around the 6 Cohli capabilities, anchored in place. Activities outdoors, in the village, and via shared sessions with the local Real World School.

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Village access & rituals

Use of the rancho (workshops, co-working), movement platform (daily yoga, neighbor-led classes), pool, and walking trails. You're not a guest, you're part of the rhythm for two months.

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Cultural integration

Cohli helps connect your family with the local context: the Real World School, optional excursions, community events, and the rhythms long-term residents already follow. We don't curate every minute, we open the doors.

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Cohli ops & community holding

Our team is on the ground throughout. Pre-arrival calls (3), buddy family pairings, opening circle, weekly Friday Showcases, and the village rhythm Cohli is known for. We hold the container so you can be present.

Not included (you'll arrange separately):

Flights to San Jose · Airport transfer · Personal travel insurance · Visa fees (if applicable) · Self-catering groceries (Brisa) · Most lunches and weekday dinners · Optional weekend excursions

The Team

Who's holding this with you

A small, intentional team. One confirmed bilingual lead so far, plus open roles we're recruiting for now. Educators speak both Spanish and English so the kids program flows in both languages.

Confirmed

Keyla Mejía

Bilingual Lead Educator

Keyla anchors our bilingual program in Latin America. She holds the rhythm in both Spanish and English, so kids who speak either language land at home from day one. She's been part of Cohli's educator core across multiple cohorts.

Open Role

Lead Educator (co-lead with Keyla)

2-month residency, ~11 kids ages 2-12

We're looking for an experienced lead with a child-led, place-based practice. Bilingual (Spanish + English) preferred. Salary, accommodation, and meals included.

Apply for this role

Open Role

Assistant Educator

2-month residency, support across pods

Support the lead across age pods, hold the calm-down corner, help shape the daily rhythm. Bilingual preferred. Salary, accommodation, and meals included.

Apply for this role

Daily Rhythm

What a Tuesday looks like

There's a rhythm, not a rigid schedule. Some days flow differently. This is the shape of a typical midweek day.

7:00 AM

Slow morning

Coffee, fruit, the village waking up. Daily breakfast delivered at Maracuya. Self-prepared at Brisa and Colibri (with help at Colibri).

8:45 AM

Morning bell

Cue families. Kids head to the rancho for opening circle.

9:00 AM

Opening circle & kids program

Same songs every day, mixed-age opening, then split into pods. Bilingual rhythm in Spanish and English. Outdoors when weather allows.

9:00 AM

Parent work time

Co-working from the rancho or your home. Fiber-optic internet across all units.

12:30 PM

Family lunch

Families eat at home or together. Multi-age kid lunches some days at the rancho.

1:00 PM

Quiet hour

Non-negotiable for educator and parent sustainability. Toddlers nap, older kids self-direct.

2:00 PM

Inquiry / creative block

Kids continue with the rhythm: nature walks, project work, garden, or a visiting expert.

3:30 PM

Village kids time

Local kids start to come outside. Cohli kids merge into the wider pack. Rancho, pool, or kids' games. This is when the village does its thing.

5:00 PM

Yoga / movement

Daily neighbor-led sessions on the movement platform. Free to join, free to skip. Some are kid-friendly.

6:30 PM

Dinner

2x per week, communal village dinner at the rancho. Other nights, family dinner at home (with help at Colibri).

Weekends

Pacific coast or village rest

Beaches are 40 min away. Some families head out, others stay for slow Saturdays in the village. Weekend brunch at the rancho on either Saturday or Sunday.

Investment

Transparent pricing, by home

All-inclusive: lodging + kids program + 2 communal dinners per week + weekend brunch. Pricing varies by home (Maracuya is the most modest, Colibri the most luxurious). Subject to confirmation when host agreements finalize.

How long do you stay?

One month minimum. Two months is where it really opens up.

You can join for just the first month if that's what fits your year. That said, we prioritize families staying the full two months. The rhythms settle in week three, the friendships kids form deepen in week five, the conversations between parents that actually change something usually happen in week seven. Longer is when the depth Cohli is built for actually happens.

From $5,960/mo

per family / 2-month cohort

Pricing varies by

home tier

The "from" price reflects a Maracuya studio (most modest tier). Most families land between $11,920 and $14,520 for the full 2-month residency, depending on home tier. Kids program is included in the base price for the first child; additional children add $450/mo per child. We'll confirm your exact total before you commit.

*This page is in planning mode. Pricing is from our latest financial model and subject to minor adjustments when host agreements finalize.

Maracuya Studio (1 family, breakfast included) ~$5,960/mo

Casa Brisa (shared, self-cater) ~$6,160/mo

Casa Colibri (shared, with daily help) ~$7,260/mo

Additional child in kids program +$450/mo per child

Reality Check

A few honest things to know

We'd rather you self-select out before deposit than feel surprised once you're here. So:

Planning mode

We're finalizing host agreements with the three homeowners. The cohort activates when 6 families commit. If we don't hit 6, deposits are refunded and the cohort doesn't run. No survival cohorts.

Rainy season

August and September are within Costa Rica's hurricane season. Expect afternoon rain on some days, often brief. Mornings are typically clear. October would be heavier, which is why we're not extending into it.

An owner-occupied village

La Ecovilla is not a retreat center, it's where 48 families live full-time. We're guests in their community for two months. Expect rhythms set by them, not us. That's a feature, not a bug.

Travel isn't covered

Flights to San Jose, airport transfer, travel insurance, and visa fees are on you. Costa Rica is generally easy for most passports, but check yours.

Self-catering at Brisa

Casa Brisa families cook their own breakfasts and most meals. Maracuya has daily breakfast delivered. Colibri has 4hr/day domestic help. Pick the home that matches the daily friction you're up for.

Two months is two months

This is not a holiday. Around week three families typically settle deeply into the village. Around week five, kids and parents have a real community of belonging. It compounds. That depth is the point.

Common Questions

What you might be wondering

We've drafted host agreements with all three homeowners but haven't yet signed. The cohort confirms when 6 families commit. Showing interest puts you in the conversation as we move toward activation. If we don't hit 6, deposits are refunded and the cohort doesn't run.

You can express a preference when you show interest, and we'll confirm the assignment with you before any deposit. Maracuya is most economical with breakfast included, Brisa is mid-tier with self-catering, Colibri is the most luxurious with daily help. We work with you to match the home to your family's shape, budget, and rhythm.

We welcome families with children ages 2-12. The Cohli Kids program adapts by pod (under 3, 3-7, 8-12). Younger children have their own slower-paced container. Older kids have project-based work and more autonomy. Bilingual Spanish/English flow throughout.

Yes. Most parents are remote workers. The kids program runs 9am-12:30pm and 2pm-3:30pm, with quiet hour from 1pm-2pm. Fiber-optic internet across all units. Co-working in the rancho or your home.

22-28°C year-round. August and September are warm and lush, in Costa Rica's green season. Mornings typically clear, afternoon rain some days (sometimes brief, sometimes longer). October would be heavier rain, which is why we close September 30.

Fly to San Jose international airport (SJO). La Ecovilla is about 1 hour by car. We'll send a logistics guide before arrival, including airport transfer options. Costa Rica's tourist visa is 90 days for most passports.

Yes, in two ways. First, La Ecovilla has children of resident families who play outside every afternoon, and your kids will naturally merge into the wider pack. Second, there's a nearby alternative school (Real World School) focused on community and collaboration. Julianne is connecting us with the director once we confirm dates, so the kids program can do shared activities during the residency.

Refunded in full (less Stripe processing fees). Cohli's policy: we don't run cohorts that haven't reached the activation threshold of 6 families. We notify all families and homeowners within 48 hours of the deadline.

Show Interest

Be among the first when applications open

Tell us about your family, your preferred home, and what's drawing you to two months in Costa Rica. We'll be in touch with details as we move toward activation.

Show Interest

~3 minutes. We'll let you know as soon as Block 1 applications open.