
1 / 41Commanding a front-row vantage point over the iconic Whale’s Tail formation of Marino Ballena National Park, this expansive 13,897 m² parcel in the hills of Uvita represents one of the most exceptional land offerings in Costa Rica's Southern Zone. Priced at USD 545,000, the prime acreage delivers uninterrupted 180-degree ocean views and year-round golden sunsets over the Pacific. The land has been meticulously prepared for development, featuring an engineered, flat building pad that is fully ready for immediate construction. This versatile canvas easily accommodates a sprawling luxury estate, a multi-structure retreat, or a high-end rental villa. While the property does not currently contain a physical 5-bedroom home, the generous building footprint is ideal for a custom design of five or more bedrooms, allowing you to construct a primary residence alongside private guest casitas. North American buyers will appreciate that Costa Rica permits fee-simple ownership for foreigners, ensuring your title registration is secure outside of restricted maritime concession zones. Acquiring this premium lot involves standard closing costs, registry fees, and legal stamps that typically total between two and four percent of the purchase price, alongside a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent. Annual property taxes are conveniently calculated based on the registered cadastral value of the land.
This expansive 13,897 m² parcel in Uvita offers a fully engineered, flat building pad designed to support immediate construction. The property is ideally suited for a multi-structure estate. Buyers can build a primary residence alongside detached guest casitas, maximizing the sweeping 180-degree ocean views that showcase the iconic Whale’s Tail formation. The prepared terrain accommodates custom architectural designs, allowing for expansive outdoor terraces, a private infinity pool, and landscaped gardens overlooking the Pacific sunset.
Priced at USD 545,000, this ocean-view lot provides fee-simple ownership, a right fully guaranteed to foreign buyers under Costa Rican law. Because this property sits outside the restricted maritime concession zone, you receive secure, registered title ownership.
When planning your purchase, expect closing costs—including notary fees, registry stamps, and legal transfers—to total between two and four percent of the purchase price, alongside a standard property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5 percent. Additionally, this investment level qualifies buyers to apply for the national residency-by-investment program. Ongoing ownership costs are highly manageable, with annual municipal property taxes calculated directly from the registered cadastral value.
This 13,897-square-meter parcel in Uvita presents a highly strategic acquisition for North American buyers seeking to capitalize on Costa Rica’s robust luxury market. Priced at $545,000, the land cost breaks down to approximately $39 per square meter. This represents exceptional value for a fully prepared, ocean-view building pad in the Dominical-Uvita corridor, where premium view lots frequently command much higher premiums. The property is ideal for an investor looking to construct a high-end rental villa or a multi-structure estate. Because Costa Rica permits foreign nationals to hold fee-simple land ownership with the same constitutional protections as citizens, your investment is fully secure outside of the restricted maritime zones.
An incoming buyer should budget approximately 2% to 4% of the purchase price for the complete closing bundle, which covers notary fees, registry filings, and legal services, alongside the standard property transfer stamp tax of about 1.5%. Under current regulations, this purchase price also positions the buyer well above the minimum threshold required to apply for the country's residency-by-investment program. Whether your exit strategy involves selling a completed architectural estate to the luxury second-home market or generating consistent short-term rental income from travelers visiting the nearby national park, this parcel offers a secure, high-upside foundation in a rapidly appreciating region.
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This premium 13,897-square-meter parcel is situated in the hills above Uvita, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, a region that anchors the stunning Costa Ballena. Known as the whale-watching coast of the Southern Zone, this area is defined by dramatic jungle ridgelines, pristine beaches, and a growing wellness-oriented expat community. When you buy property in Costa Rica, particularly within the Dominical and Uvita corridor, you gain access to a unique microclimate where cool mountain breezes meet warm ocean air. This specific location offers a front-row seat to the iconic Whale’s Tail formation at Marino Ballena National Park, providing sweeping 180-degree ocean views and year-round sunsets. The property is positioned to offer a private, natural retreat while remaining highly accessible to the essential amenities of Uvita, including local organic markets, dining, professional medical clinics, and regional transport links.
For North American buyers looking at Costa Ballena homes, the local real estate market operates under favorable ownership laws. In Costa Rica, foreign buyers enjoy the same fee-simple ownership rights as citizens, meaning you can hold registered title to this property in your own name or through a local corporation. This fee-simple status applies fully to this mountain-view lot, avoiding the restrictive concession rules associated with maritime zones located right on the shoreline. Acquiring this property Uvita offers potential pathways for residency-by-investment programs, which are accessible at this purchase price threshold. During the acquisition of this real estate Dominical Costa Rica, buyers should anticipate standard closing costs, which include a property transfer stamp tax of approximately 1.5% of the declared transaction value, alongside a closing bundle covering notary, registry, and legal fees that typically ranges from 2% to 4% of the purchase price. Ongoing holding costs are highly manageable, with annual property taxes calculated directly from the registered cadastral value. This land provides the ultimate foundation for a custom estate, luxury rental, or multi-structure compound in one of the country's most coveted coastal regions.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
Purchasing this premium Uvita parcel is a straightforward process for international buyers, as Costa Rican law grants foreigners the same fee-simple property ownership rights as citizens. Because this 3.5-acre property sits high in the hills overlooking the coast rather than directly on the shoreline, it is held under secure fee-simple title rather than the restrictive concession terms of the Maritime Zone.
Acquiring this land at the $545,000 purchase price comfortably exceeds the financial threshold required to apply for Costa Rican residency through the government's investment program. During the transaction, buyers should anticipate closing expenses—encompassing notary fees, legal services, registration stamps, and transfer taxes—to total between two and four percent of the purchase price. Once ownership is registered, the ongoing holding costs are remarkably low, with annual municipal property taxes calculated as a small fraction of the property's registered cadastral value.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
Living in the hills above Uvita represents the pinnacle of the Southern Zone lifestyle, where the raw, untamed beauty of Costa Rica’s rainforest meets the sophisticated comforts of a growing coastal community. For the discerning buyer, this 3.5-acre parcel is not just a piece of premium real estate; it is the foundation for a life of profound wellness, privacy, and natural connection. Imagine waking up each morning to the gentle chorus of howler monkeys and exotic birds, stepping out onto the veranda of your custom-designed estate to watch the morning mist rise off the jungle canopy, and looking down to see the Pacific Ocean glistening in the early light. The daily rhythm here is dictated by the tides and the sun, offering a peaceful antidote to the frantic pace of modern metropolitan life. Whether you are an avid surfer wanting to catch the early morning breaks at Playa Chaman, an adventurer eager to explore the nearby waterfalls, or someone who simply seeks the solace of watching the sun sink below the horizon in a blaze of gold and purple, this location accommodates every aspiration.
The local community of Uvita seamlessly blends international sophistication with authentic Costa Rican warmth. Living here means having immediate access to high-end amenities, from artisanal farmers' markets stocked with organic tropical fruits to upscale dining establishments where world-class chefs utilize fresh, locally caught seafood. It is a place where wellness is a way of life, supported by local yoga studios, holistic healing centers, and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. The aspirational buyer of this property is someone who values environmental stewardship and wishes to integrate their home into the surrounding landscape without sacrificing luxury. Building on this expansive ridge allows you to design an architectural masterpiece that utilizes sustainable materials, passive cooling, and open-concept spaces that blur the line between indoor luxury and outdoor majesty. By securing this rare vantage point overlooking the Marino Ballena National Park, you are not just purchasing land; you are investing in a legacy of health, tranquility, and unparalleled natural beauty that will inspire your family and guests for generations to come. This is your opportunity to carve out a private sanctuary where the majestic Pacific Ocean is your daily backdrop and the vibrant jungle is your backyard.
Uvita, Puntarenas
Uvita, Puntarenas
Principal broker

In Costa Rica since 2004