OMG, I want to rent this home: Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

727 Airplane Jungle Fuselage, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica (vrbo): Many people make their way to Costa Rica for vacations, but few of them can say they’ve slept their nights 50 feet in the air in a converted Boeing 727 airplane. This plane is one of the most exceptional vacation homes we’ve seen in a while, and it deserves bonus points (can you say “high flyer”?) for its location over Manuel Antonio National Park. As if you needed any other excuse to fly to Costa Rica, it also at least gives you the appearance (a very, very thin veneer) of sustainability. Sure, you drove to the airport, boarded a plane, and flew hundreds of miles to reach your vacation destination, but at least your accommodation was repurposed from junk that would have been destined for transportation, right?

An early caveat: this rental is not for those afraid of heights. Make sure that holiday invitations to acrophobic friends get lost in the mail (you know the saying: little white lies keep friendships alive) as this plane sits 50 feet off the ground and brings new meaning to the concept of a treehouse.

We cannot guarantee a completely private experience here. Since you will live in the middle of the jungle, you can have as many neighbors as you like to visit. These include howler, spider and white-faced monkeys, as well as sloths and over 184 species of birds.

What do you do with a cockpit in a plane that no longer flies? They tile the floor with a large mosaic, turning it into a work of art that doubles as a prime jungle vantage point.

The aircraft’s long cabin has been converted into two bedrooms, one of which offers two queen-size beds with plenty of legroom between them. While these digs may be cozy, they accommodate up to six people for a comfortable night of beauty rest and sweet dreams of private planes.

The 727 also has full bathrooms, which fortunately have been extensively renovated. However, only this one has a first class cockpit position. Again, this room leaves you with the somewhat awkward decision: is it time for a shower or happy hour and some nature-watching from the flight deck?

This spacious bathroom is a little more private than the one sharing a space with a prime position on the plane. It’s also the perfect place to prepare for a night out in the nearby town of Manuel Antonio.

To enhance the old tin can, the walls and floors have been redesigned and clad in teak. The result is this master bedroom that looks like it couldn’t possibly fit in the body of one of those planes you’ve spent so much time on with 150 other people. It’s a wonder how open a space can feel when the seating army is ejected.

Just because you live in alternative housing doesn’t mean you have to live in slums. Props to the folks who embrace outhouses and camp stoves to stay in the middle of nature, but that’s just not our style. This plane manages to be in the middle of the jungle, but also has a full galley, central air conditioning, and a working TV.

We always like to be prepared by planning well in advance of our arrival at our destination where we will take a nap after a day at the beach. Bingo. Luckily, you don’t have to wait too long to flop into that lounge chair, because the white-sand beach is just a short walk from your plane’s front door.

Vacationing with your love in a remote jungle might sound like the most romantic vacation ever — or the start of a horror movie — but the isolation even in paradise has its downsides, what with lugging around all your supplies and the lack of a swimming pool. But the 727 hits exactly the right note for vacation: her feels like a cozy, secluded vacation home, but next door to a hotel that gives visitors full access to the restaurants and pools and — most importantly — housekeeping.

Wings are for flying, we all know that. But it turns out they also make nifty support structures that you can build a beautiful patio on top of, depending on your mood, with views of the Pacific Ocean or Manuel Antonio National Park.

You’re not the only one who saw this picture and that “Ah, vacation paradise!” The 727 has been recognized in a variety of travel publications including Travel + LeisureHGTV and Planet of the Animals. That means you should probably book your stationary flight well in advance to ensure you get a good spot on the calendar.

With such a unique place, we can’t imagine ever leaving our “hotel”. But you can’t forget that the whole point of this trip was to visit Costa Rica. If you can tear yourself away from your private jet, not only will you have the beautiful waters nearby (Pacific Ocean and pool), but also a variety of activities including surfing, ziplining, and—our favorite—waterfall viewing.

Is there such a thing as watching a summer sunset with a boozy tropical drink in hand from the deck of your own private plane? No – no, there isn’t.

Book your stay: 727 airplane jungle fuselageManuel Antonio, Costa Rica: $645/night via Vrbo