Villa Atacaya

Villa Atacaya is a riverside retreat in south-west Bali, where you will find contemporary architecture, five spacious bedrooms, and an abundance of natural beauty, just 13 kilometres from the bright lights, shops, restaurants and nightlife of Seminyak, and only a few minutes’ drive from one of the best golf courses in Asia.

The Villa is built into the contours of the valley, and it is blessed with a spellbinding view of the jungle-fringed river. This is a nature lovers’ paradise; a place where you will see kingfishers, enjoy birdsong during the day and be lulled to sleep at night by the sounds of running water. You will appreciate the choice of indoor and outdoor living and dining areas, the glamorous bathrooms, the alfresco bar and the splendid 15-metre swimming pool, which appears to overflow into the river valley. The architectural design integrates natural water features including a pond fed by a holy spring and a creek that flows into the river. Sleek structures, ironwood-shingle roofs and eye-catching stone fittings and finishes – such as the bright white acid-marble terrace, the metallic slate bathrooms, and the river-rock bathtubs – reflect the ambiance of the location and the purity of the gorgeous surroundings.

Villa Atacaya shares a dedicated 400-square-metre wedding space, a driveway, parking area and staff service facilities with its neighbour Villa Iskandar. When the two villas are rented together they offer a 9-bedroom option for large groups of friends, extended families.

LIVING AND DINING AREAS

Atacaya’s main living and dining room is on the villa’s uppermost tier, flanked by a watergarden and a rock wall festooned with orchids and tree ferns. This room also provides guests with their first glimpse of the beautiful river valley view. With open sides and a lofty alang-alang thatched roof, this fan-cooled space offers a semi-indoor dining option with a table for 12 conveniently situated next to a self-contained kitchen, and a small sitting area to one side of the dining table.

Down at ground level is a covered, open-air sitting space with a bar at one end and an air-conditioned TV room at the other. Wide sliding doors to the TV room can be opened onto the sitting area to create one big sociable space on this floor. Outside in the garden, a glass-topped table set on white marble paving stones, provides dining for 12 under the stars. As night falls, staff light a firebowl at the edge of the lawn, which throws dancing shadows around the courtyard.

At the far side of the garden courtyard, the 15-metre swimming pool appears to overflow into the river valley. As you cool off at the pool’s edge you might just see the iridescent blue flash of a kingfisher as it swoops over the water.

A spiral staircase winds down to a riverside deck, open to the sky and situated next to the studio bedroom. This is the perfect place to practice yoga or meditate to the murmur of the river. Also on this level is a bale relaxation pavilion – an ideal spot for a massage.

ACCOMMODATION

The three-tiered Villa Atacaya is entered on its top level via an open-sided living and dining room that lies adjacent to a self-contained kitchen. On the middle tier is a pretty garden courtyard with an outdoor dining area and covered lounge flanked by a bar and a small, air-conditioned TV room. The courtyard is bordered by a 15-metre pool overlooking the river, and four of the five bedrooms are also housed on this level. From here, a spiral staircase winds down to a riverside yoga deck, a bale, and the studio bedroom.

BEDROOMS

- Master bedroom
The queen-bedded, orange-hued master bedroom is large and airy, with soaring wood ceilings. Two sets of sliding glass doors lead out to the pool and the garden courtyard with its jungle views. Colourful carved Balinese doors open to a private water garden where a huge river-rock bathtub rests under the sky alongside a rushing creek fed by a holy spring.

- Guest bedroom one
Themed in a deep red, this ground floor room, with its queen-size bed and ensuite bathroom, opens out onto the pool terrace. What gives this room its edge is its access to a pond fed by a holy spring and backed by a plant-strewn wall, which creates the magical feel of a forest stream.

- Guest bedroom two and three
These two bedrooms are almost identical, with hardwood floors, queen-sized beds and ensuite bathrooms that exude class and comfort. Where they differ is in their colour schemes and their views. One room is themed in blue and looks out to the grotto-like holy pond, while the second is aquamarine-themed with a delightful window seat and a stunning river and jungle view from the bed. Both are accessed from the pool terrace.

- Studio Room
Resting riverside, directly below guest bedroom three, this yellow-themed room is the most private of all and arguably has the best view. Glass doors at the front open out to a waterside garden overlooking the river and the towering trees on its far bank.

STAFF

One of the greatest advantages of staying in a villa is the personalised service provided by dedicated staff. Villa Atacaya’s staff have been professionally trained and will do their utmost to please with their warm and friendly Balinese hospitality.

- Villa manager
Villa Atacaya’s friendly manager is responsible for the overall operation of the villa. His job is to oversee and coordinate the staff and property and to assist guests during their stay. Sharing his time between Atacaya and two other nearby villas, he makes sure all guests’ needs are taken care of each morning, and is on call should any problems arise.

- Chef
The villa’s skilled private chef will happily prepare anything from the Western, Asian, vegetarian and children’s suggestion menus, as well as discuss special requests and dietary requirements.

- Butlers
The butlers are highly trained professionals who are dedicated to making sure their guests experience great five-star service and are left wanting for nothing. They also look after the daily housekeeping and domestic duties.

- Gardener
Two gardeners maintain Villa Atacaya’s lush gardens, ponds and swimming pool.

- Security
Three guards provide night-time security.

DINING

The personal chef at Villa Atacaya is at your service to prepare daily breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The villa offers an extensive suggestion price menu of delicious home-style meals featuring Asian and international dishes to cater to all tastes, with an excellent selection of vegetarian and children’s options. The chef is also more than happy to tailor meals to accommodate any special dietary requirements. A stay is not complete without sampling some local dishes such as pepes ikan (fish steamed in banana leaf), satay ayam (chicken satay on bamboo skewers) or pisang goreng (fried banana) served with ice cream.

Groceries and beverages are charged at cost price with a 20% ++ service charge. Guests will be requested to provide grocery money in advance, and the staff will do the shopping and keep the receipts for reference. To make the most of the kitchen and give staff time to shop, it is a good idea to plan meals the evening before or with a minimum of five hours in advance.

SPA

They can recommend deluxe treatments carried out in the privacy of your own room, or ideally in the riverside bale pavilion, by fully trained therapists from a reputable local spa (extra charges will apply).