1 / 33Perched high above the coastal canopy in the Bahía Ballena district of the Osa canton, this premium parcel offers a rare opportunity to secure a commanding view of the Pacific Ocean and the iconic Ballena Rock. Priced at USD 375,000, the 4,866-square-meter property provides a generous 1.2-acre canvas, perfectly sized for a custom luxury residence that balances privacy with manageable maintenance. The land features a flat, fully prepared building footprint, allowing you to bypass the extensive site preparation often associated with hillside parcels. Legal water is already secured on-site, removing a major developmental hurdle and streamlining your transition from architectural concept to physical construction. Gentle ocean breezes sweep across the elevated terrain, naturally cooling the building site while the surrounding jungle canopy hosts vibrant local fauna, including the scarlet macaw flying overhead and the white-faced capuchin monkey moving through the branches. Ownership of this real estate is secure, as foreign buyers in Costa Rica enjoy fee-simple property rights identical to those of citizens. When planning your acquisition, anticipate a closing cost bundle encompassing notary, registry, and legal fees that typically ranges from two to four percent of the purchase price, alongside a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent of the declared transaction value. Furthermore, ongoing holding costs remain highly favorable, as the annual property tax is calculated based on the registered cadastral value of the land.
Acquiring this premium Uvita property is a straightforward process for international buyers, as Costa Rican law grants foreign nationals the same fee simple ownership rights as local citizens. Located outside the restricted maritime zone, this parcel offers secure, absolute ownership. Because the purchase price of $375,000 exceeds the national investment threshold, purchasing this land also positions you to apply for official residency-by-investment status.
During the acquisition, you can expect total closing costs—which bundle notary fees, registry charges, legal services, and stamps—to range between two and four percent of the purchase price, with the property transfer stamp tax specifically accounting for approximately one and a half percent of the declared transaction value. Once owned, your ongoing holding costs remain highly manageable, as the annual property tax is calculated directly from the registered cadastral value of the land rather than its market purchase price, ensuring a financially predictable asset for your portfolio.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
This premium parcel in the Bahía Ballena district of the Osa canton is offered at USD 375000. Spanning a generous land size of 4866 m², the property features a spacious, flat, build-ready home site. This prepared building footprint sits at an elevated vantage point, positioning your future residence to capture direct views of the Pacific Ocean and the iconic Ballena Rock. The surrounding terrain provides a natural buffer of tropical forest, ensuring privacy and a quiet atmosphere while keeping the physical maintenance of the acreage highly manageable.
Practical infrastructure is already established to facilitate a smooth construction process. The property is sold with legal water access, securing a critical utility requirement for municipal building permits.
From a financial perspective, ownership of this real estate is secured through fee-simple title. Ongoing holding costs are highly favorable, as the annual property tax is calculated directly from the registered cadastral value of the land. Buyers should plan for standard closing costs, which encompass notary fees, registry charges, and legal stamps, typically averaging between two and four percent of the final purchase price.
The elevated hills of Uvita, situated within the district of Bahía Ballena, Osa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, offer a distinct microclimate where cooler mountain breezes meet the warm air of the Pacific coast. This specific location provides an ideal setting for buyers looking to buy property in Costa Rica, combining the tranquility of the rainforest canopy with convenient access to the coastal highway. Residents here enjoy a lifestyle defined by natural beauty and modern convenience, positioned just minutes from the pristine beaches of the Costa Ballena region, local surf breaks, organic markets, and essential services in the town centers of Uvita and Dominical. The regional hospital and domestic airports are also within a reasonable driving distance, ensuring that while the property feels entirely secluded, it remains highly connected.
For those exploring real estate Dominical Costa Rica or searching for premium property Uvita options, this area represents one of the most desirable coastal corridors in the country. The Southern Pacific zone, particularly the Costa Ballena homes market, attracts a sophisticated demographic of remote workers, retirees, and conservation-minded investors. This region of Osa stands out within the broader Costa Rica real estate landscape for its strict environmental protections and low-density development, preserving the natural migration corridors of local wildlife like the scarlet macaw and the white-faced capuchin monkey.
Acquiring this parcel is a straightforward process, as foreign buyers enjoy the same fee-simple ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens for registered titled land outside of restricted maritime concession zones. When purchasing, buyers should account for local transaction costs, which include a property transfer stamp tax calculated at approximately one and a half percent of the declared transaction value, alongside a closing bundle covering notary, registry, and legal fees that typically ranges from two to four percent of the purchase price. Ongoing holding costs are remarkably favorable, with the annual property tax assessed as a modest fraction of the registered cadastral value. Additionally, the purchase price of this property meets the investment threshold that allows qualified buyers to apply for the national residency-by-investment program, making it an exceptional long-term asset.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
Acquiring this 4,866-square-meter parcel in Bahía Ballena offers a strategic entry point into the Southern Pacific zone at approximately $77 per square meter, a highly competitive rate for ocean-view land in the Dominical-Uvita corridor. This price point provides an attractive foundation for investors planning to build a high-end single-family residence. While this lot is sold as a single-home retreat rather than a multi-dwelling compound, a custom-built luxury villa here holds strong potential for the premium short-term rental market, driven by travelers seeking views of Ballena Rock. Alternatively, a long-term rental strategy appeals to remote executives relocating to Costa Rica.
The ideal buyer is an investor or expat seeking fee-simple ownership, which Costa Rica fully grants to foreign buyers. Current market timing is highly favorable as infrastructure in Uvita continues to mature, driving long-term appreciation for finished homes. For your financial planning, the annual property tax is calculated directly from the registered cadastral value, keeping ongoing holding costs predictable. Buyers should also budget for a closing bundle—encompassing notary, registry, legal fees, and stamps—which typically totals between 2% and 4% of the purchase price, alongside a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5% of the declared transaction value. This clear cost structure supports a clean future exit strategy, as completed, modern ocean-view homes in this immediate area remain in high demand among North American buyers.
Model rental income for this property with our rental income calculator.
Living in the prestigious Bahía Ballena region of Costa Rica offers a lifestyle defined by a rare harmony between raw natural beauty and modern convenience. This coastal enclave in the Osa canton of Puntarenas is celebrated worldwide for its dramatic landscapes, where steep, emerald-draped mountains plunge directly into the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. For the discerning buyer, acquiring a property in the Uvita Hills is not merely a real estate transaction; it is an entry into a highly coveted way of life. Here, your daily rhythm is dictated by the gentle rise of the sun over the canopy, the soothing sounds of tropical birds, and the cool breezes that sweep up from the ocean. This location appeals directly to those who aspire to disconnect from the frantic pace of metropolitan life without sacrificing the comforts of high-end living. The surrounding community of Uvita has evolved into a vibrant hub of international culture, wellness, and eco-conscious living, attracting individuals who value sustainability, physical well-being, and outdoor adventure. Whether your dream is to start your mornings with yoga on a private deck overlooking the ocean, explore the rich biodiversity of the nearby national park, or simply enjoy the peace of a secluded jungle sanctuary, this region delivers an unparalleled quality of life. Owning a home in this tropical paradise fulfills a deep-seated aspiration for personal freedom, privacy, and a profound connection to the natural world, making it the ultimate destination for those seeking to build a legacy estate or a private sanctuary in one of the most biodiverse places on earth.
Bahía Ballena, Osa, Puntarenas
Osa, Puntarenas
Principal broker
In Costa Rica since 2004
