
1 / 18Perched at a refreshing elevation of 2,000 feet, this exceptional 2,266 m² parcel in the Osa canton offers a rare opportunity to build a custom mountain retreat overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Priced at USD 99,000, the property is situated in the scenic district of Ciudad Cortés, where cool highland breezes temper the tropical warmth. The land provides a dramatic vantage point featuring panoramic marine vistas, dense canopy views, and sweeping mountain ridges. Future owners will enjoy access to the shared amenities of the Toucan Valley Community Center, which features a swimming pool, a dining pavilion, a social bar, and recreational spaces including billiards and ping pong tables. Residents also benefit from community gardens where staff harvest fresh local produce twice a week.
Located just thirty minutes from the beaches of the southern coast and the culinary hub of Ojochal, this homesite balances secluded natural beauty with convenient infrastructure. Essential services are nearby, including a local hospital just fifteen minutes away, while the town of Palmar Sur sits twenty minutes from the property. The surrounding forest is home to a rich variety of avian species, including the local toucan, which frequent the tree canopy. For North American buyers, Costa Rica permits straightforward fee-simple land ownership for foreigners. Purchasing this property involves standard closing costs, registry fees, and transfer taxes, with the legal water registration process already underway to secure the homesite for immediate development.
Purchasing this premium parcel in Ciudad Cortés offers North American investors a secure entry into the Costa Rican real estate market. In this region, properties located outside the restricted maritime zone are held under fee simple title, granting foreign buyers the exact same constitutional ownership rights as local citizens. You can hold the deed directly in your own name or through a Costa Rican corporation for added privacy.
During the acquisition, buyers should anticipate closing costs—which encompass notary fees, registration fees, legal services, and transfer stamps—to total between two and four percent of the purchase price. Additionally, the property transfer stamp tax alone generally accounts for about one and a half percent of the declared transaction value. Ongoing ownership carries a modest annual property tax calculated directly from the registered cadastral value of the land. While this specific ninety-nine thousand dollar investment sits below the current threshold required to fast-track residency through investment, the purchase establishes a clear, legal footprint in a rapidly growing community.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
This prime parcel of land, priced at USD 99000, spans 2266 m² in the elevated mountains of Ciudad Cortés, within the Osa canton. Situated at an elevation of 2000 feet, the property enjoys a cooler climate than the lowlands, along with panoramic views of the ocean, jungle, and mountains. Buyers can secure fee simple ownership under Costa Rican law, which grants foreign investors the same property rights as citizens. Future owners should plan for standard closing costs, which typically include a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5% of the transaction value, plus notary and registry fees that generally total between 2% and 4% of the purchase price. Ongoing holding costs include an annual property tax calculated on the registered cadastral value.
The property is situated within a welcoming expat neighborhood that provides exclusive access to the Toucan Valley Community Center. This shared hub features an inviting swimming pool, a dining area, a bar, a pool table, a ping pong table, and a laundry facility. Residents also benefit from community gardens abundant with fruit trees and fresh greens, where staff harvest produce twice a week for neighbors. For practical infrastructure, the process of securing legal water is already underway to ensure a reliable utility connection. This homesite sits just 30 minutes from pristine beaches, 15 minutes from a hospital, and 20 minutes from Palmar Sur, where discussions regarding a future international airport are ongoing.
Situated at an elevation of 2,000 feet within the scenic mountains of Ciudad Cortés, Osa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, this property offers a cooler, refreshing microclimate that serves as a peaceful mountain retreat. Located just 30 minutes south of Ojochal and 30 minutes from pristine Pacific beaches, the location provides an ideal balance of high-elevation tranquility and coastal convenience. Essential services are nearby, with a local hospital situated just 15 minutes away, while the prospect of a future international airport in Palmar Sur, only a 20-minute drive from the property, promises to enhance long-term accessibility.
For those looking to buy property in Costa Rica, this location delivers an active, community-oriented lifestyle. Residents enjoy exclusive access to the Toucan Valley Community Center, which features a swimming pool, pool table, ping pong table, dining area, bar, and laundry facilities. The surrounding community gardens provide fresh, locally grown produce, with staff harvesting baskets of fruit and greens twice a week for residents. The area is also a haven for diverse bird species, particularly toucans, making it highly attractive for nature enthusiasts and positioning the property for vacation rental success.
As part of the diverse Costa Rica real estate landscape, this Ojochal Costa Rica real estate opportunity highlights the benefits of the Osa region. Under national laws, foreign buyers enjoy fee-simple ownership rights identical to those of citizens, though coastal concession zones follow separate regulations. When acquiring Costa Ballena property, buyers should anticipate closing costs, including notary, registry, and legal stamps, totaling approximately two to four percent of the purchase price, alongside a transfer stamp tax of about 1.5 percent and annual property taxes calculated on the registered cadastral value.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
This 2,266-square-meter lot in Ciudad Cortés, priced at $99,000, offers an entry point of under $44 per square meter, which sits well below the averages of nearby premium coastal enclaves. The property is suited for an investor looking to build a custom residence with a guest casita. This compound structure maximizes short-term rental income from travelers seeking the cooler 2,000-foot elevation, while preserving a private main house.
Foreign buyers can secure fee-simple ownership of this parcel, which is located outside of restricted maritime concession zones. Buyers should budget approximately 2% to 4% of the purchase price for the closing bundle, which covers notary fees, registry filings, and legal stamps, alongside a transfer stamp tax of roughly 1.5% of the declared transaction value. Ongoing holding costs remain low, with annual property taxes calculated directly from the registered cadastral value.
The regional market timing is driven by the pending legal water certification for the lot and the proposed international airport in Palmar Sur, located 20 minutes away. Securing the land now allows buyers to build before these infrastructure milestones potentially alter local valuations. An exit strategy is supported by the property's location near Ojochal and its deeded access to the Toucan Valley Community Center amenities and managed community gardens.
Model rental income for this property with our rental income calculator.
To understand the true allure of this property, one must look beyond the physical boundaries of the land and step into the extraordinary lifestyle that defines Ciudad Cortés and the greater Osa region. This is a place where the concept of luxury is redefined not by gold leaf and marble, but by the purity of the air, the richness of the soil, and the profound sense of peace that comes from living in harmony with one of the most biodiverse places on earth. At an elevation of 2,000 feet, you are positioned in a privileged microclimate where the intense heat of the coast softens into a refreshing mountain breeze, allowing you to enjoy an indoor-outdoor lifestyle without the need for constant air conditioning. For the aspiring expatriate, this location represents the ultimate realization of a dream: a sanctuary where you can escape the relentless pace of modern metropolitan life and reconnect with what truly matters. The surrounding community is a warm, welcoming tapestry of international global citizens and friendly locals who share a mutual appreciation for natural beauty, sustainable living, and a slower, more intentional pace of life. Here, your mornings begin with a cup of locally grown coffee on your future veranda, serenaded by the legendary jungle symphony of Toucan Valley, while your afternoons are spent exploring the pristine, uncrowded beaches of the southern Pacific coast or dining at world-class culinary establishments in nearby Ojochal. This is a region that attracts visionary buyers—those who seek a legacy property where they can build a custom-designed retreat that serves as a private haven for family and friends, as well as a high-performing asset in a growing eco-tourism market. Living here means embracing a lifestyle of wellness, adventure, and deep tranquility, where the majesty of the mountains and the grandeur of the ocean become the backdrop to your daily life.
Ciudad Cortés, Osa, Puntarenas
Osa, Puntarenas
Principal broker

In Costa Rica since 2004