Mountain view
1 / 15This established mountain estate in the Varablanca district of Heredia represents a rare opportunity to acquire a fully operational, multi-income hospitality asset in a highly frequented highland corridor. Offered at USD 1,250,000, the property spans a generous 12,297 square meters of land, featuring 500 square meters of total construction. The estate is designed around a highly successful, restaurant-led business model that captures steady traffic from visitors heading to the nearby Poás Volcano. Unlike properties that rely solely on overnight guests, this enterprise thrives on diversified revenue streams, including a popular 70-seat destination restaurant, a scenic wedding and private event venue, and an active on-site strawberry farm that supplies the kitchen for a genuine farm-to-table culinary experience.
The lodging component consists of eight independent, chalet-style guest cabins nestled within professionally landscaped gardens filled with vibrant hydrangeas. These private accommodations provide a low-density, peaceful retreat for travelers, while remaining exceptionally efficient to operate with minimal staffing. For North American buyers, Costa Rica offers secure fee-simple ownership rights, allowing foreigners to hold title to real estate with the same legal protections as local citizens. When planning the acquisition, buyers should account for standard transaction costs, including a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent of the declared value, alongside a closing bundle for notary, registry, and legal fees that typically ranges from 2 to 4 percent of the purchase price. Annual property taxes are conveniently calculated based on the registered cadastral value of this exceptional mountain estate.
Purchasing this operational commercial asset in Varablanca is a straightforward process for international buyers. In Costa Rica, foreign investors enjoy the same constitutional rights to property ownership as local citizens, allowing you to hold this estate under fee simple title. Because this mountain property is located in the highlands of Heredia and not within the coastal maritime zone, it does not fall under concession restrictions, ensuring secure, outright ownership.
With an asking price of $1,250,000, this investment comfortably exceeds the minimum financial threshold required to qualify the buyer for Costa Rica’s residency-by-investment program. When budgeting for the transaction, buyers should anticipate a standard closing bundle that covers notary fees, legal services, registration costs, and stamps, which typically totals between two and four percent of the final purchase price. Additionally, the transfer stamp tax generally accounts for about one and a half percent of the declared transaction value. Ongoing ownership costs include an annual property tax calculated directly from the registered cadastral value of the land and structures.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
This turnkey commercial estate in Varablanca, Heredia, spans a generous land size of 12,297 m² and features 500 m² of high-quality construction. Offered at USD 1,250,000, the property is designed as a highly functional, diversified hospitality asset. The physical infrastructure centers around eight independent guest cabins built in a classic chalet style. These structures are distributed across the landscaped grounds to ensure privacy, surrounded by manicured gardens featuring vibrant hortensias.
The primary culinary hub is an established destination restaurant with a seating capacity for approximately 70 guests. This dining facility features a professional kitchen that directly utilizes fresh strawberries harvested from the on-site agricultural farm, creating an authentic farm-to-table experience. The estate also functions as an elegant venue for weddings and private events, supported by the restaurant's catering capabilities.
From an investment perspective, Costa Rica permits foreign buyers to hold fee-simple ownership of real estate. Buyers should note that property transfer stamp taxes generally amount to about 1.5% of the declared transaction value, with the total closing bundle—encompassing notary, registry, and legal fees—typically ranging between 2% and 4% of the purchase price. Annual property taxes are assessed based on the registered cadastral value of this mountain estate.
This unique property in Varablanca, Heredia, Costa Rica, offers a distinct microclimate and location advantages that set it apart within the Costa Rica real estate for Americans and Costa Rica homes for Canadians markets. Situated in the central highlands, the region provides a cool mountain climate year-round, offering a refreshing alternative to the coastal heat. This area is highly accessible, located less than one hour from the San José International Airport, making it an ideal hub for international travelers, remote business owners, and expatriates. The property sits directly along a heavily traveled tourist corridor, capturing steady traffic heading to major regional attractions such as the Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This positioning ensures a consistent flow of visitors, making it a highly strategic choice for those looking to buy property in Costa Rica with established commercial viability.
For buyers exploring expat real estate Costa Rica, this location supports a lifestyle of mountain tranquility, agricultural connection, and active business management. The surrounding region of Heredia is part of Costa Rica's diverse property landscape, blending rural charm with proximity to urban conveniences, medical facilities, and administrative services in the central valley. Under Costa Rican law, foreign buyers enjoy fee-simple ownership rights identical to those of citizens, allowing secure title registration for this mountain estate. While coastal properties often involve concession land subject to specific maritime zone laws, this highland property offers direct, unrestricted ownership. Investors should note that transaction costs include a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5% of the declared value, with the total closing bundle—covering notary, registry, legal fees, and stamps—typically ranging from 2% to 4% of the purchase price, while annual property taxes are calculated based on the registered cadastral value.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
This diversified hospitality asset in Varablanca, Heredia, is listed at USD 1,250,000, presenting a strategic entry point into Costa Rica’s mountain tourism sector. With 500 square meters of construction situated on a generous 12,297 square meters of land, the acquisition cost reflects a highly competitive valuation for a turnkey commercial property in a high-traffic corridor. The ideal buyer is an owner-operator or an investment group seeking a multi-income business model that does not rely solely on lodging. Because the primary revenue driver is the established 70-seat destination restaurant, supplemented by eight independent chalet-style cabins, a strawberry farm, and a private event venue, the property is insulated from the seasonal fluctuations that often impact coastal, room-only hotels.
For North American buyers, Costa Rica permits straightforward fee-simple ownership, meaning foreign investors enjoy the same secure property rights as local citizens. When planning the acquisition, buyers should anticipate closing costs—covering notary services, registry filings, legal fees, and stamps—to range between 2% and 4% of the purchase price, alongside a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5% of the declared transaction value. Ongoing annual property taxes are calculated directly from the registered cadastral value. This established business benefits from a strong domestic and regional clientele alongside international tour groups visiting the nearby Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This dual-market demand provides a stable, year-round revenue base and a clear exit strategy centered on a proven, operating commercial tract.
Model rental income for this property with our rental income calculator.
Nestled in the emerald highlands of Varablanca, Heredia, this exceptional estate offers an unparalleled lifestyle defined by the crisp, invigorating mountain air and the dramatic natural beauty of Costa Rica’s volcanic corridor. For the visionary investor, this property represents more than just a commercial acquisition; it is an invitation to step into a prestigious role as a curator of authentic Costa Rican hospitality. The surrounding region is a sanctuary of mist-shrouded peaks, lush cloud forests, and vibrant flora, where the daily rhythm is set by the gentle whisper of the mountain breeze and the rich scent of volcanic soil. Owning this turnkey estate allows you to immerse yourself in a sophisticated highland lifestyle, hosting international travelers, regional weekenders, and local families who seek solace and celebration in these cooler climates. It is an aspirational haven for those who dream of escaping the tropical heat of the coast to embrace a refined, European-style chalet aesthetic, where crackling fireplaces, fresh-picked strawberries, and manicured gardens of blooming hydrangeas create an atmosphere of timeless romance and rustic luxury.
This location caters to a highly desirable demographic of travelers and diners, positioning the owner at the center of a thriving, culturally rich community. The aspiration of operating a successful, multi-faceted business is fully realized here, where your daily life is enriched by the satisfaction of cultivating your own agricultural land, hosting elegant destination weddings, and serving farm-to-table culinary creations to a steady stream of appreciative guests. You become a key custodian of the region's tourism legacy, situated along a prestigious route that connects bustling San José to world-renowned natural wonders. This is an opportunity to achieve the ultimate work-life balance: managing a profitable, diversified hospitality asset while enjoying the peace, security, and prestige of one of Costa Rica's most celebrated mountain destinations, all within an hour of the capital's modern conveniences.
Principal broker

In Costa Rica since 2004
Principal broker

In Costa Rica since 2004
Varablanca, San José, Heredia