
1 / 52This elevated 4,856-square-meter parcel of land in the Ojochal region offers a rare opportunity to secure a premium building site in the southern zone of Costa Rica for USD 119,000. Situated in the peaceful community of Tres Rios, the property features two distinct, flat building areas, or plantels, connected by a prepared internal driveway that ascends from a paved public road. The lower plantel sits halfway up the hillside, while the upper plantel occupies the hilltop, providing sweeping views of the surrounding jungle and coastal mountains that rise up to 1,300 meters. The sounds of a nearby river drift across the property year-round, creating a tranquil backdrop. This dual-plantel layout is ideal for a compound-style development, allowing a buyer to construct a main residential house with a large swimming pool on the upper level, while dedicating the lower plantel to guest casitas or a private rental villa. Located just a ten-minute drive from the expat hub of Ojochal, local beaches like Playa Ventanas, and essential shopping centers, the location balances absolute privacy with convenient access. Scarlet macaws fly overhead, and howler monkeys move through the neighboring canopy, offering a daily connection to the local ecosystem. For those looking to build a custom estate, this land provides the space, infrastructure, and natural beauty to realize that vision.
Acquiring this 4,856-square-meter parcel in Tres Rios provides North American buyers with the same secure fee-simple ownership rights enjoyed by Costa Rican citizens. Because this property sits in the mountains of the Costa Ballena rather than along the immediate shoreline, it avoids the restrictive leasehold terms of the maritime concession zone, granting you outright deeded ownership.
The transaction process is highly structured, with closing costs—encompassing notary fees, registry charges, legal services, and government stamps—typically totaling between two and four percent of the purchase price. Additionally, the property transfer stamp tax generally accounts for about one and a half percent of the declared transaction value. Once your purchase is finalized, your deed is registered directly in the National Registry, securing your investment. Furthermore, while the purchase price of this specific lot is one hundred and nineteen thousand dollars, buyers looking to establish residency can utilize their total real estate investment toward the country's investor residency program threshold.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
This premium 4,856 m² parcel in the Ojochal region offers a rare layout featuring two distinct, flat building plantels connected by a prepared internal driveway. The lower plantel sits halfway up the gentle hill, while the upper plantel stretches across the hilltop. This dual-tier topography is ideal for a compound-property design, allowing you to construct a primary estate with a swimming pool on the upper level and private guest casitas on the lower section. Alternatively, the public road frontage permits commercial integration, such as a boutique rental venture or yoga studio on the lower tier, while preserving the crest for a private residence.
Priced at USD 119,000, the property provides a solid foundation for construction. The elevated building sites look out over the surrounding jungle canopy toward coastal mountains rising 1,300 meters above the Pacific. From these building pads, you can hear the sound of a nearby river and observe local wildlife. Scarlet macaws fly through the valley, while howler monkeys travel the forest canopy.
For international buyers, Costa Rica permits straightforward fee-simple land ownership, ensuring your title is fully registered and protected. Standard transaction costs include a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent of the declared value, with the total closing bundle—covering notary, registry, and legal fees—typically ranging from 2 to 4 percent of the purchase price. Annual property taxes are calculated directly from the registered cadastral value.
This exceptional 4,856-square-meter property is situated in the peaceful community of Tres Rios, directly adjacent to the renowned expat and tourism hub of Ojochal, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Located in the highly desirable South Pacific region, this area represents a sought-after Costa Rica market for US and Canadian buyers seeking lifestyle, value, and long-term appreciation potential. The microclimate here is defined by the dramatic coastal mountains rising up to 1,300 meters above the Pacific, which channel refreshing breezes and generate mystical mists. Residents enjoy a tranquil, nature-focused lifestyle where the soothing sound of a nearby river echoes across the land year-round. Scarlet macaws fly overhead, while howler monkeys and toucans frequent the surrounding canopy, offering an authentic connection to the local ecosystem.
For those looking to buy property in Costa Rica, this location balances absolute privacy with exceptional convenience. Positioned along a paved public road, the land sits just a ten-minute drive from the heart of Ojochal Costa Rica real estate and the bustling Plaza Ventanas shopping center. This proximity grants effortless access to essential amenities, including supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, medical and dental offices, legal services, and hardware stores. The spectacular sands of Playa Ventanas are also just a ten-minute drive away, as are local attractions like the Pavones Waterfall.
This Costa Ballena property is ideal for establishing a multi-dwelling family compound, featuring a main house on the expansive upper hilltop plantel and private guest casitas on the lower plantel. North American buyers will appreciate that Costa Rica permits full fee-simple ownership for foreign investors outside of restricted maritime concession zones. When purchasing this property, buyers should anticipate standard closing costs—including notary, registry, and legal fees—ranging from two to four percent of the purchase price, alongside a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent and annual property taxes calculated on the registered cadastral value.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
This $119,000 property, spanning 4,856 square meters in the Tres Rios community near Ojochal, presents a highly competitive entry point of approximately $24.50 per square meter. This pricing sits well below the averages of fully developed coastal parcels in the red-hot Costa Ballena region. For the ideal buyer—whether an individual investor seeking a private family compound or an entrepreneur looking to capitalize on the shifting demand toward quieter settlements—the dual-plantel layout provides a versatile exit strategy. A buyer can construct a primary residence on the upper hilltop plantel while developing a secondary guest casita or a commercial venture, such as a yoga studio or rental accommodation, on the lower plantel.
The local market is experiencing rapid timing dynamics as buyers seek tranquility just ten minutes from the amenities of Ojochal and Plaza Ventanas. From a legal standpoint, foreign buyers enjoy the security of fee-simple ownership, as this property sits outside the restrictive maritime concession zones. Buyers should budget for standard closing costs, which typically range from 2% to 4% of the purchase price to cover notary, registry, and legal fees, alongside a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5%. Ongoing holding costs remain low, with annual property taxes calculated directly from the registered cadastral value. This structure allows investors to hold the land with minimal overhead while capitalizing on regional appreciation.
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For the discerning buyer, this property is not just a parcel of land; it is an invitation to step into a lifestyle defined by the harmonious balance of raw natural beauty and refined coastal living. Nestled in the quiet, emerging sanctuary of Tres Rios, just moments from the vibrant heart of Ojochal, this location captures the very essence of what draws visionaries and seekers to the Southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica. Here, your morning soundtrack is composed of the rushing melodies of a nearby river and the exotic calls of toucans and howler monkeys echoing through the canopy. This is a place where the air is clean, the jungle is alive, and the pace of life slows down to match the gentle rhythm of the tides. Living here means embracing a wellness-oriented lifestyle where you can start your day with a yoga session on your private deck overlooking mist-shrouded peaks, spend the afternoon exploring the sea caves of Playa Ventanas, and wind down with a world-class culinary experience in Ojochal, celebrated as the gastronomic capital of the region.
The aspirations of those who seek out this unique corridor are rooted in a desire for authenticity, privacy, and connection. Buyers are no longer just looking for a holiday home; they are looking to curate a legacy, build a sanctuary for personal rejuvenation, or establish a sustainable venture that aligns with the eco-conscious spirit of the Costa Ballena. Whether your dream is to construct a multi-generational family compound where children can chase blue morpho butterflies through tropical gardens, or to design a boutique wellness retreat that offers guests an escape from the frantic energy of modern life, this dual-plantel acreage provides the ultimate canvas. It appeals directly to the adventurous entrepreneur and the peace-seeking expatriate alike, offering a rare opportunity to secure a foothold in a highly desirable, rapidly appreciating market while maintaining an uncompromising commitment to tranquility, pristine nature, and personal freedom.
Ojochal, Puntarenas
Ojochal, Puntarenas
Principal broker

In Costa Rica since 2004