
1 / 64Perched at an elevation of 3,000 feet in the mountains of Perez Zeledon, this exceptional 14,164-square-meter estate offers a refreshing escape from the coastal heat, with daytime temperatures hovering comfortably in the seventies and evenings cooling down into the sixties. Listed at USD 375,000, the property features a total of 1,991 square meters of construction, which includes two independent studio villas that serve as the current living quarters. Each of these guest casitas provides approximately 860 square feet of functional living space, equipped with its own full bathroom and compact kitchen. This layout is ideal for hosting visitors or managing a dual-suite retreat while planning future developments on the expansive, ridge-top acreage.
The land itself is a fertile haven, rich with agricultural potential for orchards or gardens, and positioned to capture panoramic views of the Chirripo Mountain Range and the valley below. At night, the distant lights of the San Isidro district illuminate the landscape, creating a peaceful backdrop. While the property offers absolute privacy within a quiet farming community, it remains highly accessible, located just thirty minutes from the regional hub of San Isidro de El General and forty-five minutes from the Pacific surf at Playa Dominical. With ample space remaining on the estate, buyers have a prime opportunity to construct a larger main residence to complement the existing two-bedroom layout.
Acquiring this mountain retreat is a straightforward process for international buyers, as Costa Rican law grants foreign nationals the same fee simple ownership rights as local citizens. Because this property sits in the highlands of Pérez Zeledón rather than the restricted maritime zone, you can hold the title directly in your own name or through a local corporation.
At a purchase price of $375,000, this transaction comfortably exceeds the country's investment threshold, making you eligible to apply for investor residency status. During the acquisition, you should anticipate total closing expenses—which bundle notary fees, registry charges, legal services, and municipal stamps—to range between two and four percent of the purchase price. This includes a property transfer stamp tax that typically accounts for about one and a half percent of the declared transaction value. Once the purchase is complete, your ongoing carrying costs remain highly manageable, with annual property taxes calculated as a small fraction of the home's registered cadastral value.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
This mountain estate in the Perez Zeledon canton, located near the district of San Isidro, is positioned on a sprawling 14164 m² parcel of ridge-top land. Listed at USD 375000, the property features a total construction footprint of 1991 m², which currently accommodates 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms distributed across two independent studio villas. Each of these guest casitas provides approximately 860 square feet of functional living space, complete with its own full bathroom and a compact kitchen. The structures are designed to maximize the cool mountain climate at an elevation of 3,000 feet, where natural airflow eliminates the need for artificial air conditioning.
The outdoor spaces are defined by fertile, forested land with ample room for agricultural development, fruit orchards, or the construction of a larger primary residence. The ridge-line positioning offers panoramic views of the Chirripó Mountain Range and the valley below.
Purchasing this property involves standard Costa Rican closing costs, which generally include a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5% of the declared transaction value. The comprehensive closing bundle—covering notary fees, registry filings, legal services, and stamps—typically ranges from 2% to 4% of the purchase price, alongside a modest annual property tax assessed on the registered cadastral value.
Situated at a refreshing elevation of 3,000 feet within the canton of Perez Zeledon, San Jose, Costa Rica, this 3.5-acre mountain estate offers a distinct microclimate that serves as a major draw for North American buyers. At this altitude, daytime temperatures consistently hover in the comfortable seventies, while evenings cool down into the sixties. This natural climate control eliminates the need for air conditioning, creating an ideal environment for retirees, remote professionals, and investors looking to buy property in Costa Rica. The local landscape features rich, fertile soil suitable for private agriculture, and the property frequently welcomes native wildlife, such as the white-faced capuchin monkey and the vibrant fiery-billed aracari, which can be observed individually throughout the forested acreage.
This location balances secluded mountain living with convenient access to essential regional hubs. The bustling town center of San Isidro de El General is located just a thirty-minute drive away, providing residents with comprehensive medical facilities, modern hospitals, organic markets, and diverse dining options. For coastal recreation, the world-class surf breaks and sandy shores of Playa Dominical are reachable within approximately forty-five minutes. This positioning makes Perez Zeledon real estate highly desirable, as it bridges the gap between tranquil highland retreats and active coastal lifestyles.
When navigating the purchase of this San Isidro property Costa Rica, international buyers benefit from the country's favorable ownership laws, which grant foreigners the same fee-simple property rights as citizens. Buyers should anticipate standard transaction costs, including a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5% of the declared value, alongside a comprehensive closing bundle covering notary, registry, and legal fees that typically totals between 2% and 4% of the purchase price. Additionally, ownership of this asset may support eligibility for Costa Rica's residency-by-investment program, while ongoing holding costs remain low with annual property taxes calculated directly from the registered cadastral value. This estate represents a versatile opportunity within the broader Costa Rican property market, perfect for those seeking a peaceful mountain lifestyle with room to expand.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
Acquiring this 14,164-square-meter mountain estate in Perez Zeledon positions buyers advantageously within a highly competitive price-per-square-meter bracket for developed acreage in Southern Costa Rica. At a purchase price of $375,000, the property includes two independent 860-square-foot studio villas, offering immediate utility. This layout serves as an ideal setup for a primary buyer wishing to live in one villa while generating short-term rental income from the second unit, or utilizing both as a boutique multi-villa rental.
The expansive acreage provides a clear exit and expansion strategy, with dedicated ridge space available to construct a larger main residence or additional guest cabins. Transaction costs are transparent; buyers should budget approximately 1.5 percent of the declared value for the property transfer stamp tax, with the comprehensive closing bundle—covering notary fees, registry filings, and legal services—typically ranging between 2 and 4 percent of the purchase price. Annual property taxes are calculated based on the registered cadastral value. This property is highly suited for North American retirees, remote executives, or wellness investors seeking a cooler mountain climate close to San Isidro, with the security of fee-simple ownership.
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Living in the mountains of Pérez Zeledón offers a rare lifestyle that appeals to those seeking a deeper connection with nature without sacrificing modern conveniences. At an elevation of 3,000 feet, the daily rhythm of this region is defined by its extraordinary climate, where the refreshing daytime temperatures in the seventies and crisp evening breezes in the sixties create a comfortable, health-centric environment. This natural air conditioning fosters an active, outdoor-focused lifestyle where you can spend your mornings cultivating the estate's fertile soil, planting exotic fruit orchards, or tending to organic gardens, and your afternoons relaxing on the ridge as the shadow of the Chirripó Mountain Range stretches across the valley. It is a place where wellness is not a goal but a daily reality, supported by the clean mountain air, pure water, and the peaceful, slow-paced atmosphere of a welcoming, low-density farming community.
For the aspiring buyer, this property represents the ultimate canvas to design a life of purpose, privacy, and natural luxury in Costa Rica. Whether your dream is to establish a private family sanctuary, a wellness-focused mountain homestead, or a boutique retreat where guests can disconnect from the modern world, the expansive ridge-top acreage provides the space and freedom to bring that vision to life. Ownership here allows you to transition seamlessly between two distinct worlds: the quiet, reflective solitude of your mountain sanctuary and the vibrant, active lifestyle of the Southern Pacific coast. You can easily spend a morning surfing the world-class waves at Playa Dominical, enjoy a fresh seafood lunch by the ocean, and return home in time to watch the sunset over the valley and see the lights of San Isidro begin to twinkle below. This is an opportunity to invest in a legacy property that aligns with your aspirations for a balanced, sustainable, and deeply rewarding life in one of the most beautiful regions of Central America.
San Isidro, Perez Zeledon, San José
Perez Zeledon, San José
Principal broker

In Costa Rica since 2004