
1 / 44This expansive 10,999-square-meter parcel in the Platanillo area near Dominical represents a rare, build-ready canvas for buyers seeking a custom estate with both mountain vistas and a distinct ocean window view. Priced at USD 195,000, the property spans over 2.72 acres of lush terrain, offering an ideal balance of coastal proximity and elevated mountain tranquility. The land sits along a public road, which means you face no restrictive building regulations, allowing for absolute architectural freedom. Whether you envision a grand main estate paired with private guest casitas, or a terraced tropical retreat, the generous acreage easily accommodates multiple structures, a custom swimming pool, and private walking paths. Essential infrastructure is already secured, including a legal ASADA water meter and connection to the ICE electrical grid.
Positioned just a fifteen-minute drive from the surf of Dominical and thirty minutes from the commercial hub of San Isidro, the location ensures seamless convenience. From a purchasing perspective, international buyers enjoy the security of fee-simple ownership rights, identical to those of local residents. When planning your acquisition, anticipate a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent of the declared transaction value. The comprehensive closing bundle—which encompasses notary fees, land registry filings, legal services, and documentary stamps—typically totals between 2 and 4 percent of the final purchase price. Additionally, ongoing ownership costs are highly manageable, with annual property taxes calculated directly from the registered cadastral value of the land.
This premium parcel in the Dominical area spans 10,999 square meters of build-ready land, offered at USD 195,000. Situated in the peaceful mountains of Platanillo, the property sits on a public road, which eliminates development restrictions and permits flexible construction configurations. Buyers can design a custom estate featuring a primary residence alongside independent guest casitas to maximize the dramatic mountain vistas and the dedicated ocean window view.
The site is fully prepared for immediate development, featuring an active legal ASADA water meter and connection to the ICE electrical grid. High-speed internet options are available to support remote work. The natural topography provides ideal building sites for a custom home, a private swimming pool, and expansive outdoor terraces positioned to capture the cool mountain breezes.
From a legal perspective, foreign buyers enjoy secure, fee-simple ownership rights. Acquiring this property involves standard closing costs, which typically range from 2% to 4% of the purchase price to cover notary services, registry filings, and legal fees. Additionally, buyers should budget for the property transfer stamp tax, which generally equals about 1.5% of the declared transaction value, alongside the standard annual property tax calculated on the registered cadastral value.
Acquiring this 10,999-square-meter parcel in Platanillo for $195,000 presents a highly strategic entry point into the Dominical-Uvita corridor, where finished ocean-view homes command premium rental rates. At under $18 per square meter, this acreage offers a significant cost advantage compared to fully developed coastal ridges nearby. The property is uniquely positioned for a multi-dwelling compound, allowing an investor to build a primary residence alongside independent guest casitas. This layout maximizes short-term rental income potential from eco-tourists seeking mountain breezes near Dominical, while preserving long-term rental flexibility for expatriates relocating to the San Isidro area.
The ideal buyer is a developer or private investor looking to capitalize on Costa Rica's favorable fee-simple ownership laws for foreigners. From a transaction perspective, buyers should budget for a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5% of the declared value, with total closing costs—encompassing notary fees, registry filings, and legal stamps—typically ranging between 2% and 4% of the purchase price. Ongoing holding costs remain exceptionally low, as annual property taxes are calculated directly from the registered cadastral value. With no building restrictions on this public road frontage, the path to construction is immediate, offering a clear exit strategy to sell the completed compound to the growing market of North American buyers demanding turnkey, multi-structure estates.
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This premium 2.72-acre land parcel is situated in Platanillo, a tranquil mountain community positioned along the paved corridor connecting the coastal hub of Dominical, Puntarenas, Costa Rica with the commercial city of San Isidro. This microclimate offers cooler mountain breezes while maintaining rapid access to the coast. The property sits just a fifteen-minute drive from the world-class surf breaks and authentic coastal culture of Dominical, where the rainforest meets the Pacific Ocean. For comprehensive amenities, modern medical facilities, and organic markets, the bustling city of San Isidro is accessible within a thirty-minute drive. This strategic positioning makes the location highly desirable for North American buyers looking to buy property in Costa Rica, offering a peaceful mountain retreat without sacrificing proximity to the vibrant beach lifestyle of the Costa Ballena region.
The 10,999-square-meter lot features a public road frontage with no building restrictions, providing a versatile canvas for a primary residence, a multi-structure compound, or rental casitas. The elevated terrain delivers expansive views of the surrounding mountain ridges alongside a distinct window view of the Pacific Ocean. The property is fully build-ready, equipped with a legal ASADA water meter and connection to the ICE electricity grid.
For international buyers exploring real estate Dominical Costa Rica, the purchasing process is straightforward. Foreign investors enjoy the same fee-simple ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens for this titled property. When securing property Uvita or Dominical buyers should budget for transaction costs, which include a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent of the declared value, alongside notary, registry, and legal fees that typically bring the total closing bundle to between 2 and 4 percent of the purchase price. Ongoing holding costs are low, with annual property taxes calculated directly from the registered cadastral value. This ready-to-build acreage represents an exceptional entry point into the Costa Ballena homes market.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
Purchasing this 2.72-acre parcel in Platanillo is a straightforward process for international buyers. In Costa Rica, foreign nationals enjoy the same fee-simple ownership rights as local citizens, meaning you will own this titled mountain-view land outright. Because this property sits outside the restricted maritime concession zone, you can secure the deed directly in your own name or through a local corporation.
The transaction involves standard closing costs, which typically range between two and four percent of the purchase price. This bundle covers essential legal services, notary fees, registration filings, and the property transfer stamp tax, which itself generally accounts for about one and a half percent of the transaction value. Once you hold the deed, you will be responsible for a modest annual property tax calculated from the registered municipal value of the land. Furthermore, because the purchase price of $195,000 exceeds the established national threshold for real estate investments, acquiring this property positions you to apply for official residency in Costa Rica.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
Living in the hills above Dominical offers a rare lifestyle that perfectly balances the raw energy of the Pacific Ocean with the soothing tranquility of the Costa Rican highlands. For those who aspire to escape the frantic pace of modern metropolitan life, this region represents the ultimate sanctuary for wellness, adventure, and self-discovery. Imagine waking up each morning to the gentle chorus of toucans and howler monkeys, stepping out onto your future veranda to watch the morning mist rise off the emerald canopy, and catching that sparkling window view of the distant ocean. Here, the days are dictated by the rhythms of nature rather than the demands of a calendar. You can spend your mornings surfing the world-class breaks of Dominical beach, your afternoons hiking through cool mountain rivers, and your evenings dining on fresh, locally sourced organic cuisine in a community that values sustainability and mindful living. This is a place where expatriates and locals alike share a deep reverence for the land, creating a welcoming, diverse neighborhood bound by the shared philosophy of Pura Vida. Buying this property is not merely an investment in real estate; it is a conscious decision to elevate your quality of life, to prioritize your physical and mental well-being, and to build a legacy home that serves as a private sanctuary for generations to come. Whether your dream is to design an architectural masterpiece that blends seamlessly into the tropical landscape, establish a private permaculture estate, or simply secure a peaceful retreat where you can unplug and recharge, this land provides the ideal canvas. The surrounding mountains inspire a sense of freedom and perspective that is hard to find anywhere else in the world, offering a life of quiet luxury defined by clean air, pure water, and endless natural beauty.
Dominical, Puntarenas
Dominical, Puntarenas
Principal broker

In Costa Rica since 2004