Dawn breaks slowly on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. The air is warm, soft, and salty. Scarlet macaws skim the treetops. A howler monkey announces the morning. Standing on a terrace here—coffee in hand, jungle all around—you feel something settle in your bones.
This is what Costa Ricans call “pura vida”…the pure life…
With long stretches of deserted and undeveloped beaches…dense jungles teeming with exotic wildlife…towering volcanoes, lush green valleys, and hundreds of crystal-clear lakes and rivers, the country’s natural beauty is breathtaking.
And wildlife is everywhere—scarlet macaws, sloths, toucans, and sea turtles are common sights. Costa Rica is the originator of eco-tourism.
Over 40 years ago, the authorities recognized and invested in the incredible biodiversity and natural splendor of the country, setting aside vast swathes of land as national parks and protecting more with various laws and restrictions on development.
It’s one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth and generates almost 100% of its electricity from renewable resources (including hydroelectric, wind, and geothermal).
And it’s a place that’s been on my beat for many years. The opportunities here are incredible when you know where and how to buy.
Tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 20) at 1 p.m. ET, we’re hosting a special live online event for Lifetime members of my Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA) group.
RETA senior researcher Margaret Summerfield will sit down with one of my top Costa Rica insiders, attorney Gonzalo Viquez Jr to talk all things Costa Rica, from the best ways to buy here to residency, banking and more. More on that in a moment.
First, an overview of this incredible country…
The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is the perfect place to watch the sun set.
Costa Rica consistently ranks in the top five countries in the International Living Retirement Index, and it’s no surprise why.
The country entices many people because of its long-established democracy, stable political scene, pristine natural environment, friendly Ticos, and easy access to U.S. airports.
The easy-going pura vida vibe offers the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the good life, which for many here includes spending time outdoors, relishing the beauty of nature, and sharing in community with locals and other expats.
Costa Rica abolished their military in 1948 and pledged that budget to education and healthcare, which has resulted in the country becoming one of the region’s great success stories in terms of development, the economy, and foreign investment. It is overall a peace-loving nation and is often referred to as the “Switzerland of Central America.” Many expats report that they feel safer in Costa Rica than they do back in the U.S.
From colorful toucans to sleepy sloths and playful monkeys, Costa Rica is a paradise for wildlife lovers.
Real estate options range from beach homes to mountain retreats. Areas like the Gold Coast in the north, the Southern Zone, Lake Arenal, and the Central Valley all offer something different.
In Costa Rica, foreigners are given virtually the same real estate ownership rights as Costa Ricans, with only a few very exceptions.
First, only Costa Ricans can purchase land within two kilometers of a national border. Foreigners cannot buy in these zones. This really isn’t hard to comply with—the vast majority of expats do not settle this close to the border.
And no one can own property within 50 meters (164 feet) of the ocean (to allow public access to beaches), and the next 150 meters (492 feet) is classed as a Restricted Zone. (Though there are some exceptions to this.)
Take a deeper dive on this and other topics in a special report we’ve prepared for you as a Your Overseas Dream Home reader: The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to Costa Rica.
In this report you can learn about healthcare, visas, residency, and much more. Discover why Costa Rica is an expat haven and learn the best places to buy. This special report is yours for free. Click here to read.
Arenal Volcano is one of the many natural wonders that make Costa Rica feel unlike anywhere else.
Costa Rica has a way of getting under your skin. The slower pace…the warmth of the people…the presence of nature all around you. It’s a place where many come for a visit and end up imagining a life here—simpler, sunnier, more connected.
And with the right real estate, you can anchor yourself to that dream.
There’s one destination here that I’m really interested in, and that’s Tamarindo.
Once a sleepy surf village, it has transformed into a thriving international community that draws high-earning remote workers, well-heeled vacationers, and wealthy expats and second home owners.
Tamarindo lies along Costa Rica’s “Gold Coast,” in the province of Guanacaste. This is one of the world’s true up-and-coming high-end havens. Explore it in this video my team put together:
My team put together this video exploring Costa Rica’s breathtaking Gold Coast, a natural paradise and emerging high-end haven. Click to view…
Costa Rica is one of the most desirable places in the world to own real estate. And buying here is safe and easy when you have the right team.
As I say, tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET, RETA is hosting a special Rolodex Live online event for RETA Lifetime members with one of my top Costa Rica insiders, attorney Gonzalo Viquez Jr.
Rolodex Live events are closed-door briefings where RETA Lifetime members hear directly from top contacts from my personal network and can ask their questions live. Gonzalo has helped me personally with purchasing in Costa Rica. He understands ownership structures, banking, tax rules, and more. Plus he’s a real estate investor and RETA member who’s bought in several of our off-market deals.
I caught up with Gonzalo in person a while back when I was scouting along Costa Rica’s Gold Coast. Gonzalo will be taking part in a Rolodex Live for RETA Lifetime members tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET.
If you’re not a RETA Lifetime member, and would like to attend, there’s still time to join.
When you join RETA Lifetime, you get:
- Rolodex Live access—regular live sessions with my trusted global contacts. Ask them your questions in real time.
- The Gathering—RETA’s annual, closed-door club event where my scouts, top developers, and insiders come together. Lifetime members are always invited.
- Legacy Advantage—gift a RETA membership to your family, at no cost, so they can build wealth and opportunity alongside you.
- Never miss a deal—you’ll always have access to RETA, with no risk of lapses, renewals, or missing out on a deal.
- Best-value membership—all the benefits of RETA for life, locked in.
If you’ve ever thought about joining RETA, or upgrading your membership, now’s the time. Lifetime is the ultimate RETA experience.
Become a RETA Lifetime member now.
Tomorrow, I’ll share a few of the stunning properties you can find on the Costa Rican market right now. Stay tuned.
Wishing you good real estate investing,
P.S. As I say, my team and I have put together a special report on Costa Rica called The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to Costa Rica. This is a perfect primer before tomorrow’s event with Gonzalo.
Inside you’ll learn about:
- The Costa Rican regions where I see the biggest upside for international buyers …
- A little-known “Path of Progress” that cut travel times to the sought-after Southern Zone of Costa Rica by more than half—and what that means for property values today…
- Why Costa Rica’s residency programs are among the most flexible in the Americas—and how one route lets you qualify with a surprisingly small investment…
All this and more in your special report.
