1 / 52This expansive mountain estate in Uvita offers a rare opportunity to secure a massive 161,874 square meters of pristine Costa Rican land for USD 450,000. Situated in the San Luis area, just a twenty-five-minute drive from the coastal hub of Uvita via a well-maintained gravel road, the property rises from lush valley pastures to high-altitude mountain ridges. A natural freshwater spring originates at the highest point of the mountain, cascading down the property boundary to form a private waterfall near the main entrance. The topography transitions from rolling cow pastures to dense tropical forest, culminating in a dramatic upper ridge. From this elevated vantage point, you are presented with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the famous Whales Tail reef formation, the Sierpe de Osa wetlands, and Caño Island.
The undeveloped acreage functions as a blank canvas, featuring at least six distinct natural building sites. The largest of these potential building footprints sits at the very top of the ridge, positioned to capture the most dramatic ocean and valley views. Electricity is already available at the public road entrance, simplifying the development process. Buyers have the freedom to design a private family compound, construct a main house alongside independent guest casitas, engineer interior access roads, or cultivate the fertile soil for agricultural use. Under Costa Rican law, international buyers enjoy the security of fee-simple ownership, meaning you hold the same property rights as a local citizen. When purchasing this titled land, buyers should anticipate standard closing costs, including the property transfer stamp tax and legal registry fees, while annual property taxes are calculated directly from the registered cadastral value.
Positioned in the tranquil mountain range of San Luis, this expansive 161,874-square-meter farm offers a rare opportunity to buy property in Costa Rica that balances absolute privacy with proximity to the coast. Located just a 25-minute drive from the town center of Uvita on a well-maintained gravel road, the property places you within easy reach of the essential amenities of the Costa Ballena region. Uvita anchors this famous stretch of the southern Pacific coast, renowned for its dramatic jungle ridgelines, the iconic Whale Tail sandbar formation, and a rapidly growing, wellness-oriented expat community. Living here allows you to enjoy a peaceful, rural mountain climate while remaining close to the active coastal hubs of Dominical and Uvita. Whether your goal is to establish a private family estate, design a multi-structure retreat, or cultivate an active agricultural homestead, this acreage supports a variety of long-term investment paths.
The local microclimate in the San Luis mountains is notably cooler than the immediate beach level, with refreshing breezes moving across the high-altitude pastures and forested areas. From the highest points of the property, the panoramic views stretch across the valley to the southern horizon, capturing the Sierpe de Osa wetlands, Caño Island, and the Pacific Ocean. Because the land has functioned strictly as an undeveloped farm, it presents a blank canvas. Investors can utilize the natural spring water source at the top of the mountain—which flows down the property boundary to create a waterfall at the entrance—to support off-grid living, reforestation, or diverse crop cultivation.
For international buyers exploring real estate Dominical Costa Rica options, purchasing this property Uvita offers a secure path to ownership. Costa Rican law permits foreign buyers to hold fee-simple title to land outside of the maritime concession zones, granting the same ownership rights as citizens. Acquiring these Costa Ballena homesites involves standard transaction costs, including a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent of the declared value, alongside a closing bundle for notary, registry, and legal fees that typically ranges from 2 to 4 percent of the purchase price. Annual property taxes are calculated directly from the registered cadastral value of the land. At this price point, the investment may also help buyers qualify for the country's residency-by-investment program, making it an ideal foundation for a retirement destination or a multi-generational family legacy in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
Situated in the scenic mountain range of Uvita, this expansive farm spans 161,874 square meters of raw, undeveloped land, offered at USD 450,000. The topography transitions from rolling cow pastures to dense tropical forest, providing an authentic canvas for a private estate or a multi-dwelling project. At the highest elevation, the property reveals panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the Sierpe de Osa wetlands, Caño Island, and the famous Whale Tail coastline.
Natural water resources define the landscape, highlighted by a freshwater spring originating at the mountain summit. This spring flows along the property boundary, culminating in a natural waterfall near the main entrance. Infrastructure starts with direct public road access and electrical connectivity available at the property line. Because the land has served exclusively as a farm, it remains free of existing structures, allowing buyers to design custom interior roads and establish over six distinct building sites.
International buyers enjoy the security of fee-simple ownership rights in Costa Rica, which apply fully to this mountain property. Standard transaction costs include a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent, with total closing fees, notary services, and registry filings averaging between 2 and 4 percent of the purchase price. Annual property taxes are calculated directly from the registered cadastral value.
Acquiring this expansive 40-acre Uvita mountain property is a straightforward process for international buyers. In Costa Rica, foreign investors enjoy the same constitutional rights to land ownership as local citizens. Because this farm sits high in the San Luis mountains rather than on the immediate shoreline, it is held under secure fee simple title rather than maritime zone concession laws. This allows you to own the land outright.
With a purchase price of $450,000, this transaction comfortably exceeds the financial threshold required to apply for Costa Rica’s investor residency program, offering a direct path to legal residency for you and your family. During the acquisition, you should anticipate closing costs—which bundle notary fees, registration fees, legal services, and transfer stamps—to total between two and four percent of the purchase price. Once owned, your ongoing carrying costs remain highly manageable, as the annual municipal property tax is calculated as a small fraction of the property's registered cadastral value.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
Priced at $450,000 for over 16 hectares (161,874 square meters) of land, this expansive property in the Uvita mountains presents a highly competitive entry point of under three dollars per square meter. This valuation sits well below the regional average for ocean-view parcels in the Dominical-Uvita corridor, offering substantial equity upside for the right buyer. The ideal investor is a developer seeking to establish an eco-lodge or a private family looking to build a multi-structure compound.
Because the land has only ever functioned as a working farm, it remains an undeveloped canvas. Investors can maximize returns by subdividing the tract into at least six distinct building sites, taking advantage of the natural spring, waterfall, and panoramic ocean views that stretch toward the Whale Tail and Caño Island.
From a legal perspective, Costa Rica permits foreign buyers to secure fee-simple ownership of this property, as it lies outside the restricted maritime concession zones. Buyers should budget approximately 2% to 4% of the purchase price for the closing bundle, which covers notary, registry, and legal fees, alongside a property transfer stamp tax of roughly 1.5%. Ongoing holding costs are exceptionally low, with annual property taxes calculated directly from the registered cadastral value. With the southern zone experiencing steady infrastructure improvements, acquiring large-acreage parcels with natural water sources represents a timely, defensive land-banking play.
Model rental income for this property with our rental income calculator.
This exceptional acreage in San Luis offers more than just a premier real estate investment; it delivers a gateway to a highly coveted tropical lifestyle where the vibrant energy of Uvita meets the serene majesty of the Costa Rican rainforest. For those aspiring to transition from the relentless pace of modern city life to a more intentional, nature-centric existence, this property represents the ultimate canvas for a legacy estate or a private family compound. Imagine waking up to the gentle calls of toucans and howler monkeys, sipping estate-grown coffee on your veranda as the morning mist rises off the Sierpe de Osa wetlands, and spending your afternoons exploring the pristine beaches of Marino Ballena National Park. This region of Puntarenas is celebrated for its unique microclimate, where cool mountain breezes from the high ridges temper the tropical warmth of the coast, creating an ideal environment for outdoor living and sustainable agricultural pursuits. Whether your vision involves cultivating a private organic orchard, establishing a holistic wellness retreat, or simply preserving the lush forest canopy for personal enjoyment, this land allows you to align your daily life with the rhythms of nature. It is an unparalleled opportunity for forward-thinking buyers to secure a sanctuary where luxury is defined by space, privacy, and breathtaking panoramic ocean views.
Uvita, Puntarenas
Uvita, Puntarenas
Principal broker
In Costa Rica since 2004
