1 / 22Perched at an elevation of 700 meters in the San Rafael de Cortes area of the Sierpe district, within the Osa canton, this premium parcel offers a temperate climate cooled by daily mountain breezes. Priced at USD 145000, the expansive 7,967 m² property features a generous, ready-to-build main homesite measuring 774 square meters. This primary building pad is complemented by pre-cleared secondary areas, perfectly suited for constructing independent guest casitas or private cabins. The layout provides ample space for cultivating tropical gardens and establishing private fruit orchards. The land is fully equipped with essential infrastructure, including on-site electricity and reliable well water, allowing for immediate development.
From this high-altitude vantage point, buyers enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding mountain ranges. Under Costa Rican law, foreign buyers benefit from secure, fee-simple ownership rights, identical to those of local citizens, as this property sits outside the restricted maritime concession zones. Purchasing this land involves standard closing costs, which typically encompass notary fees, registry charges, and legal stamps totaling between two and four percent of the transaction value. Additionally, a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent of the declared value applies. Annual property taxes are calculated directly from the registered cadastral value of the land.
At USD 145,000 for a 7,967-square-meter parcel, this property represents an entry-point land cost of approximately USD 18 per square meter. This positioning is highly competitive for the Osa region, especially given the dual ocean and mountain views at a cool 700-meter elevation. The investment structure is highly favorable for North American buyers, as Costa Rica permits fee-simple land ownership for foreigners, ensuring your title is registered directly in your name without the restrictions found in maritime concession zones.
The physical layout supports a strategic compound-property design. Investors can maximize short-term rental income by constructing a primary residence on the main 774-square-meter building site while utilizing the pre-cleared secondary areas for independent guest casitas. This multi-dwelling configuration allows owners to target high-yield vacation rentals in the growing South Pacific eco-tourism market, or secure stable long-term tenants seeking a temperate climate.
When planning your exit strategy or development budget, anticipate a closing bundle—including notary, registry, and legal fees—of roughly 2% to 4% of the purchase price, alongside a property transfer stamp tax of about 1.5%. This asset is ideal for a preservation-minded developer or an expat seeking a private estate with built-in rental flexibility.
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This expansive parcel in San Rafael de Cortes, within the Sierpe district of the Osa canton, offers a distinct microclimate that sets it apart from typical coastal holdings. Situated at an elevation of 700 meters, the property escapes the intense lowland heat, benefiting instead from a temperate mountain climate and consistent daily breezes. This elevation provides a cool, comfortable environment for those looking to buy property in Costa Rica, while still maintaining clear views of the Pacific Ocean. The location balances secluded mountain living with accessibility to the regional hubs of the southern zone. Residents can easily reach the nearby town of Sierpe, known as the gateway to the Corcovado National Park and the mangrove canals, as well as the dining and commercial center of Ojochal. This positioning makes the tract highly desirable for buyers exploring Costa Ballena property options who want a cooler, high-elevation retreat without sacrificing proximity to the beaches, regional medical clinics, and local airstrips.
The Osa Peninsula and its surrounding highlands represent a unique segment of Ojochal Costa Rica real estate, attracting buyers focused on off-grid luxury, small-scale farming, or remote work. With 7,967 square meters of land, the property features a primary building site of 774 square meters alongside cleared areas designated for secondary guest cabins, gardens, and fruit trees. This layout accommodates a compound-property structure, allowing owners to construct a main residence while keeping guest quarters entirely independent. The local landscape is rich in biodiversity; you may regularly spot the scarlet macaw flying overhead or observe the white-faced capuchin monkey moving through the surrounding canopy.
For international buyers navigating the Sierpe, Osa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica market, the country offers a favorable legal framework. Foreign nationals enjoy the same fee-simple ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens for registered titled land, meaning your investment is fully protected outside of the restricted maritime concession zones. When purchasing this property, buyers should account for standard transaction costs, which include a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent of the declared value, alongside a closing bundle covering notary, registry, and legal fees that typically ranges from 2 to 4 percent of the purchase price. Ongoing holding costs are highly manageable, with annual property taxes calculated directly from the registered cadastral value of the land. This combination of secure ownership, a temperate highland microclimate, and a versatile building footprint makes the estate a standout choice in the diverse Costa Rican property landscape.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
This premium parcel in the Sierpe district of the Osa canton is priced at USD 145000 and spans a generous land size of 7967 m². Situated at an elevation of 700 meters in the San Rafael de Cortes area, the property benefits from a temperate mountain climate and consistent daily breezes. The land features a large, pre-cleared building site of 774 square meters, which is perfectly positioned to capture expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding mountain ranges. Additional cleared areas across the acreage are ideal for constructing independent guest casitas, cultivating private gardens, or planting tropical fruit trees.
Practical infrastructure is already established on-site, with electricity and reliable well water readily available to facilitate immediate development. Under Costa Rican law, foreign buyers enjoy the security of fee-simple ownership rights for this titled property, which sits safely outside the restrictive maritime concession zones. Buyers should anticipate standard closing costs, including a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5% of the declared transaction value, alongside registry and notary fees that typically total between 2% and 4% of the purchase price. Annual property taxes are calculated directly from the registered cadastral value.
Purchasing this 7,967-square-meter property in the Osa region is a straightforward process for international buyers. In Costa Rica, foreign investors enjoy the same fee-simple ownership rights as local citizens, allowing you to hold the deed to your land directly in your own name or through a domestic corporation. Because this parcel sits at a high elevation of 700 meters in San Rafael de Cortes, it lies well outside the restricted maritime concession zones, ensuring secure, outright ownership.
During the acquisition, buyers should budget for closing costs, which typically encompass notary fees, registration stamps, and legal transfers totaling between two and four percent of the transaction value. Additionally, purchasing this lot at its current price point positions you well on the path toward securing legal residency in Costa Rica under the country's established investment programs. Ongoing ownership costs remain highly manageable, with annual municipal property taxes calculated as a small fraction of the registered cadastral value.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
Living in the southern reaches of Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province, particularly within the majestic embrace of the Osa region near Sierpe, is an experience reserved for those who seek a profound connection with the natural world. This is a landscape where the rhythm of your day is dictated by the rising sun reflecting off the Pacific Ocean and the cool, mountain breezes that sweep through the towering canopy. For the discerning buyer, purchasing land in this pristine corridor is not merely an acquisition of real estate; it is a conscious transition into a lifestyle of wellness, privacy, and quiet luxury. The unique geography of the area allows residents to enjoy the ultimate coastal counterpoint: the ability to gaze out over the vast ocean and the winding waterways of the Diquís delta from a cool, high-elevation sanctuary, while remaining just a short drive from the untamed beaches, world-class mangrove forests, and rich marine life that define the South Pacific coast.
For those aspiring to build a legacy estate or a private eco-retreat, this location satisfies a deep yearning for authenticity and space. Far from the crowded, overdeveloped tourist hubs, Sierpe and its surrounding highlands offer an enclave of tranquility where you can cultivate your own organic gardens, harvest tropical fruits from your own soil, and design a custom architectural masterpiece that blends seamlessly with the environment. The local lifestyle encourages outdoor exploration, from navigating the serene river channels to hosting intimate gatherings under stars that seem brighter at this elevation. It is a place where creative minds, retirees, and forward-thinking families come to disconnect from the noise of modern urban centers and reconnect with what truly matters, establishing a permanent foothold in one of the most biodiverse and enchanting regions on Earth.
Sierpe, Osa, Puntarenas
Osa, Puntarenas
Principal broker
In Costa Rica since 2004
