
1 / 14This exceptional multi-unit estate in the Pavones district of the Golfito canton offers a rare combination of immediate cash flow and prime coastal positioning. Situated on a generous 1,660-square-meter parcel, the property features 500 square meters of total construction divided into four independent residential units. With a total of five bedrooms and five bathrooms, the layout is optimized for a high-yield vacation rental, surf camp, or boutique wellness retreat. Guests can rinse off in the swimming pool after a day on the water, then relax in the peaceful community of La Piña. The location is highly coveted, sitting just a five-minute walk or a two-minute drive from the legendary Pavones surf break, famous for its world-class left-hand wave. Additional premier surf destinations, including Pilón, Saleas, and Punta Banco, are reachable within fifteen minutes.
Offered at USD 480,000, this turnkey business asset is highly accessible for North American buyers. Costa Rica permits foreign investors to hold fee-simple ownership, meaning you enjoy the same property rights as local citizens. Ongoing holding costs are remarkably low, with the annual municipal property tax rate set at approximately one-quarter of one percent of the registered cadastral value. When finalizing the purchase, buyers should budget for standard closing expenses, which typically include a property transfer stamp tax of about one and a half percent of the declared transaction value, alongside notary and registry fees that generally run between two and four percent of the purchase price.
This fee simple property in Pavones offers secure ownership rights for international buyers, matching the legal protections enjoyed by local owners. Because this parcel sits outside the restricted maritime zone, you hold direct deeded ownership of the land. Acquiring this real estate at the $480,000 purchase price qualifies you to apply for Costa Rican residency under the investor category, which currently requires a minimum investment of $150,000.
During the transaction, buyers should budget for closing costs, which typically range from 2% to 4% of the purchase price to cover notary fees, legal services, registration stamps, and a transfer tax. Once you own the property, ongoing holding costs remain highly favorable. The annual municipal property tax is exceptionally low, calculated at just one-quarter of one percent of the registered cadastral value of the estate. This makes maintaining the multi-unit retreat highly cost-effective while you generate rental income.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
This multi-unit compound in the Pavones district of the Golfito canton is engineered for immediate rental operations. Spanning a 1660-square-meter land parcel, the property features 500 square meters of total construction divided into four independent residential units. In total, the estate offers 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, configured specifically to host multiple groups of travelers, surf tourists, or wellness retreat guests simultaneously. The layout preserves privacy between the quarters while centering around a shared outdoor swimming pool, which serves as the social anchor of the estate.
Constructed to withstand the tropical climate of the Southern Pacific coast, the buildings utilize durable materials suited for high-occupancy rental use. The structural layout maximizes natural ventilation, complemented by dedicated outdoor living areas that overlook the landscaped grounds.
Acquiring this USD 480000 property involves standard Costa Rican transaction costs. Buyers should budget for a transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent of the declared transaction 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 exceptionally low, with the annual municipal property tax rate set at roughly one-quarter of one percent of the registered cadastral value.
For North American buyers seeking to buy property in Costa Rica, the southern tip of the Puntarenas province offers an unmatched combination of raw natural beauty and world-class recreation. This specific property is situated in the peaceful, highly sought-after community of La Piña within Pavones, Golfito, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. This micro-location is internationally revered by surf enthusiasts because it sits just a five-minute walk or a quick two-minute drive from the legendary Pavones surf break, which is celebrated globally for producing one of the longest left-hand waves on earth. Beyond this primary break, residents and guests can access other premier surf destinations like Pilón, Saleas, and Punta Banco within a fifteen-minute drive. The surrounding region of Golfito, located in the South Pacific, has become an increasingly popular hub for Costa Rica real estate for Americans and Costa Rica homes for Canadians who want to transition to remote work, establish a wellness retreat, or secure a high-yield investment.
Living in this part of the Golfito canton means embracing a coastal climate where the rainforest meets the ocean. The daily lifestyle here revolves around the water, with opportunities for world-class surfing, swimming in the on-site pool, and observing the local fauna. You can regularly spot a scarlet macaw flying overhead or watch a white-faced capuchin monkey moving through the canopy. This region represents an ideal destination for expat real estate Costa Rica buyers looking for long-term appreciation potential. From a financial perspective, purchasing this USD 480,000 property is highly accessible. The annual property tax in Costa Rica is remarkably low, hovering around just one-quarter of one percent of the registered cadastral value each year. Additionally, buyers should plan for closing fees, registry stamps, and notary services, which typically bundle to between two and four percent of the final transaction price, making this an incredibly cost-effective market for international investors.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
This 1,660-square-meter property in La Piña represents a strategic acquisition for buyers targeting the high-yield surf tourism market. Priced at $480,000, the estate features 500 square meters of construction divided into four independent residential units, allowing owners to run a multi-unit vacation rental business, a surf lodge, or a wellness retreat. The configuration supports a flexible rental strategy, where an owner can reside in one unit while generating short-term income from the other three, or lease the entire compound to groups.
At approximately $960 per square meter of construction, the entry point is highly competitive for fully operational, income-generating real estate situated just a five-minute walk from the world-famous Pavones left-hand surf break. The ideal buyer is an lifestyle investor or an expat entrepreneur looking to capitalize on the steady influx of international surfers visiting the Southern Pacific coast. From a financial perspective, ownership costs remain low, with annual municipal property taxes set at approximately a quarter of a percent of the registered cadastral value. Buyers should budget between two and four percent of the purchase price to cover the standard closing bundle, which includes legal fees, notary services, and registry stamps. This asset offers a clear exit strategy, as titled, multi-unit properties near world-class surf breaks retain strong resale demand from international buyers.
Model rental income for this property with our rental income calculator.
Embracing the lifestyle of Playa Pavones means aligning your daily rhythm with the rise and fall of the Pacific tides and the gentle rustle of the surrounding tropical canopy. This southern corner of the Puntarenas province remains one of Costa Rica’s most coveted secrets, drawing surf purists, wellness seekers, and intentional travelers who crave an authentic connection to the natural world. Here, the day begins not with an alarm, but with the distant rumble of the ocean and the morning call of scarlet macaws passing overhead. Living in the peaceful enclave of La Piña offers an increasingly rare luxury: the ability to walk to the beach in mere minutes, feel the warm sand beneath your feet, and paddle out into some of the most legendary, long-peeling waves on the planet. This is a place where the modern rush dissolves into a slower, more deliberate pace of life, where community is forged over shared sunsets on the shoreline, and where wellness is a natural byproduct of your environment. It is an idyllic setting that appeals directly to the modern traveler’s desire for simplicity, adventure, and raw coastal beauty.
For the visionary buyer, this property represents the ultimate realization of a sought-after tropical aspiration: the seamless fusion of a personal sanctuary and a thriving, income-generating business. Acquiring this multi-unit compound allows you to step directly into the role of a curated host, welcoming a global community of digital nomads, surf enthusiasts, and wellness retreat guests who are actively searching for an escape from the conventional. The unique layout of the estate empowers you to live comfortably in one residence while managing a boutique hospitality venture right outside your door, or to operate the entire five-bedroom property as a highly profitable, cohesive retreat center. Investors are increasingly drawn to this region because it offers the perfect balance of off-the-grid charm and reliable modern infrastructure, allowing guests to stay connected to their global pursuits while fully immersing themselves in the Costa Rican jungle. Owning a piece of this paradise is more than a sound financial decision; it is a profound lifestyle upgrade that grants you the freedom to design your days around the ocean, cultivate a sustainable business, and secure a legacy asset in one of the world's most vibrant coastal ecosystems.
Pavones, Golfito, Puntarenas
Golfito, Puntarenas
Principal broker

In Costa Rica since 2004