Costa Rica Land for Sale: Lots, Farms and Acreage in the Southern Pacific
Costa Rica land for sale on Costa Rica Playbook starts at about $150,000 for building lots in Ojochal and Uvita and runs to $8.3 million for a 205-acre ocean-view parcel near Manuel Antonio, at the time of writing. Most of it sits in the South Pacific: Uvita, Ojochal, Dominical and the valleys behind them. Land is where buyers make the most expensive mistakes, so this page covers what to check as much as what to buy.
Who buys land here
Land buyers usually fall into three groups: people building their own home on a view lot, people buying a farm or acreage to live on and grow food, and developers subdividing larger parcels. Each needs different checks. A home lot lives or dies on water and access. A farm needs usable topography and clear boundaries. A development needs zoning, road frontage and municipal approvals.
What land costs, area by area
Real examples from current listings:
Ojochal: 1.74 Acre Ocean View Lot, two building sites, US$150,000. 12+ Acre Development Land with public road frontage, US$150,000. 177-Acre Development Land with ocean views and river access, US$3,150,000.
Uvita: Mountain Lot with Ocean Views, 3 build sites, US$160,000. Walk-to-Beach Dual-Access Lot, 0.3 acres, US$179,000. 38-Acre Development Land with ocean and Whale's Tail views, US$1,950,000.
Dominical and inland: Build-Ready 2.5-Acre Land Near Dominical with legal water, US$175,000. 2-Acre Building Lot in Platanillo with legal water, US$169,000. 3-Waterfall Jungle Farm in Dominical, 21 acres, US$1,600,000.
Farms: Producing 2.47-Acre Rambutan Farm in Pérez Zeledón, US$200,000. River-Front 5.5 Acre Farm in San Buenas near Uvita, US$170,000. 598-Acre Ranch in Platanillo with ocean views and river frontage, US$1,700,000.
Beach-access land: 81-Acre Beach Access Land in Matapalo, listed as non-concession, US$1,300,000.
For area detail, see the Uvita, Dominical and Ojochal pages.
Land due diligence: what to check before you buy
1. Titled property or possession rights
Most land you'll see is titled and registered at the National Registry (Registro Nacional). Your lawyer can pull the record to confirm the owner, liens, easements and registered size. Some rural land is sold with possession rights (derechos de posesión) instead of a registered title. That is a different, riskier asset. Ask which one you are buying before you negotiate.
2. The maritime zone
The first 50 meters from the high-tide line are public. The next 150 meters are concession land, leased from the municipality, not owned outright, and foreign ownership of a concession is restricted. If a beach listing looks cheap, ask: "Is this titled or concession?"
3. The water letter
You need a water availability letter (carta de disponibilidad de agua) to get a building permit. No water letter, no build. Listings that say "legal water" are telling you this is handled. Get the document, not the promise.
4. Legal access
A lot needs registered access to a public road. A shared driveway on a neighbor's goodwill is not the same as a recorded easement. Your lawyer should confirm it.
5. Zoning, permits and topography
Check zoning with the municipality, then check the ground. Much of the Southern Zone is steep. Before you commit, have a builder or engineer walk the site and order a soil study and topographic survey if you plan to build. Permits realistically take three to six months inland and longer on the coast.
What you get from Mark on a land search
Video walks of the parcel, the build site and the access road.
A first pass on water, access and slope before you pay a lawyer.
Referrals to lawyers, surveyors, architects and builders.
A buyer-side read on asking price, since Costa Rica has no MLS.
How it works
Tell Mark what the land is for: a home, a farm or a project.
Review a shortlist and walk the parcels in person or on video.
Sign a purchase agreement drafted by your lawyer and fund escrow.
Run due diligence on title, water, access, zoning and the site itself.
Close before a notary and register the transfer.
Why buyers work with Mark Savoia
Mark Savoia has ten years of experience and has helped thousands of people buy property in Costa Rica. He lives in the Southern Zone and works for buyers only. From Google reviews:
"Mark has helped me out so much, buying a property in uvita, costa rica." (Google review)
"His expertise of the different areas of Costa Rica is unmatched." (Google review)
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners buy land in Costa Rica?
Yes. Foreigners can own titled land with the same rights as citizens. The exception is concession land inside the maritime zone, where foreign ownership is restricted.
How much does land cost in Costa Rica?
On Costa Rica Playbook, lots start around US$150,000 at the time of writing. Large farms and development parcels run into the millions.
What is a water letter?
A carta de disponibilidad de agua confirms water is available for the property. You need it for a building permit.
What are possession rights?
Derechos de posesión are rights to land that has not been registered as titled property. They carry more risk, so have a lawyer review them before you buy.
How long does it take to get a building permit?
Realistically three to six months inland and longer on the coast, and only once you have the water letter.
What does buying land cost on top of the price?
Budget a 1.5% transfer tax, about 1.5% in notary fees, plus legal, escrow and registry costs.
Related
Found a parcel you want checked? Talk to Mark about buying land in Costa Rica.