A wide sweep of glistening golden sand…lush jungle foliage that sparkles emerald-green in the sun…incredible waves that draw surfers from across the planet…
This is Tamarindo, one of the most iconic beach towns in nature-filled Costa Rica.
It also happens to be one of the most opportunity-filled places on the planet to buy real estate.
In my recently released RETA Index of the 25 best places to buy next year, I named it number four in the world for 2026.
Now, for the first time in the history of my Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA) group, I’ve found an off-market deal here for RETA members. And the RETA-only pricing is mind-blowing. More on that in a moment.
First, let me dig into the key attributes that make this one of the best places in the world to buy real estate as per the 2026 RETA index…
Tamarindo first become famous as a surf destination. That surf culture remains—but today the town is also home to a thriving international community and year-round visitor demand.
To evaluate destinations on the RETA Index, I scored them out of 10 across 10 categories.
These categories range from Relative Value and Quality of Life to Climate, Holding Costs, International Appeal, Stability, and more.
As you might expect of number four on the index, Tamarindo scores strongly across the board. For instance, it scores 9 out of 10 for Climate thanks to its year-round warm weather, and 9 out of 10 in Stability due to Costa Rica’s safety, security, and democracy.
But there are several key categories where Tamarindo is truly world-leading, starting with…
Quality of Life (score: 9.5 out of 10)
The Quality of Life category of the RETA Index considers the availability of dining, shopping, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment options. Also factored in are natural attractions such as beaches and hiking trails as well as public infrastructure. In all these areas, Tamarindo excels.
Costa Rica has been named the happiest country in the world multiple times. It has excellent airports and communications infrastructure. Foreign legal residents can take advantage of the nationwide network of clinics and hospitals for a low monthly fee based on income.
It’s also one of the most beautiful and biodiverse countries on Earth and generates almost 100% of its electricity from renewable resources (including hydroelectric, wind, and geothermal).
And nowhere do Costa Rica’s advantages come together more vividly than in Tamarindo—a place where the country’s natural beauty and excellent infrastructure meet a relaxed, coastal lifestyle.
Tamarindo is a walkable beach town with excellent restaurants, a safe, international vibe, and perfect weather.
Cafés spill onto the streets, surfboards lean against restaurant walls, kids run barefoot from ice-cream shop to the sand. The whole place carries a relaxed, cosmopolitan charm that draws people from all over the world.
In short, it offers a world-leading beach lifestyle…which also helps explain its massive score in the International Appeal category.
Costa Rica, the original eco-tourism pioneer, protects more than 25% of its land—keeping its beaches, forests, and wildlife among the purest in the world. It’s a major reason the country has become a juggernaut of international tourism.
International Appeal (score: 9.5 out of 10)
The International Appeal category on the RETA Index is a measure of how popular a destination is and also includes how internationalized and well-connected a market is.
As we’ve seen above, the quality of life in Tamarindo is mind-blowing…we’re literally talking about a tropical paradise.
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and home to some of Central America’s most beautiful beaches. It’s famed for its exotic wildlife, eco-friendly attitude, and laidback vibe.
This has made it a tourism powerhouse and the most visited country in Central America.
In 2023 the country welcomed over 2.4 million international visitors, a surge that pushed arrivals past pre-pandemic levels. In 2024 the number was 2.6 million. This is a country of just 5 million people!
And Tamarindo has become the first place most visitors see in Costa Rica.
When I first came to Tamarindo years ago, it was little more than a sleepy surf village—gravel roads, rustic restaurants, and a long, sweeping beach that caught perfect Pacific waves rolling in from the open ocean.
Today, it’s a thriving international community. The same qualities that once drew surfers and adventurers—warm water, consistent surf, walkability, and incredible sunsets—now attract remote workers, digital nomads, and investors from across the world, which is why Tamarindo scores a massive 9.5 for International Appeal.
That in turn, makes it a place where the right real estate can be a rental income machine…
Gold Coast towns like Tamarindo are noted for their striking sunsets. It’s not uncommon for folks to gather on the beach and watch as the sun slips below the horizon.
Income Potential (score: 9.5 out of 10)
The Income Potential category measures the amount you can expect to earn from renting out a property short or long term, relative to the amount invested.
Given Tamarindo’s mind-blowing Quality of Life and International Appeal, it’s no wonder that it scores exceptionally in the Income Potential category.
People flock here for the beaches, the waves, the jungles, and the laid-back vibe. It attracts vacationers, remote workers, long-stay visitors, and high-net-worth families wanting lifestyle, walkability, and reliable infrastructure.
Yet Costa Rica’s devotion to eco-tourism has led to lots of restrictions on development. Permitting here is tight. As a result, supply of best-in-class real estate is low and rentals are thin on the ground. So by owning the right condo or home here you can do very well.
In high season, occupancy rates soar here and travelers pay $400+ per night for top-quality two-bed ocean-view condos.
Even in what used to be considered “low” months, visitors now come for surf camps, wellness retreats, and extended remote-work stays. This blend of short-term tourism and long-term residency is driving big rental demand and explains its Income Potential score of 9.5.
But of course, key to getting a big rental yield is buying at the right price…
Tamarindo is a top-tier destination for generating rental income. Demand here is constant—families, surfers, wellness travelers, snowbirds, digital nomads…
Relative Value (score: 9 out of 10…unless you’re a RETA member)
Another key category where Tamarindo excels is Relative Value. This category can be summarized as “bang for your buck,” or what does your money buy you in this market relative to back home.
Tamarindo is not a cheap market. Limited supply and soaring demand mean prices here are high, particularly for those rare ocean-view properties within walking distance of the beach and town.
For instance, for a three-bed condo in a community called Tamarindo 360, you’ll pay over a million. Over $2 million for the penthouse. In the same neighborhood is Air Homes, where you’ll find condos without ocean views in the region of $700,000.
These are the prices folks are paying today in this iconic beach town. But given the incredible lifestyle, the soaring international demand, and the limits on new development in Tamarindo, the value proposition is still incredible. And there’s a way to boost it further…
That’s by buying here at exclusive, off-market pricing…
Tamarindo has an upmarket bohemian vibe, with outstanding dining and entertainment options.
My RETA group uses our group-buying power to negotiate exclusive, off-market deals with developers. That means our members get in first on best-in-class communities…at prices ordinary investors never see.
That’s the case with the new RETA opportunity in Tamarindo.
After at least 16 years of scouting this coast, I’m about to bring RETA members our first-ever members-only deal here. This deal puts us in the perfect location in Tamarindo, with stunning ocean views and within the true golden circle of walkability. We’ll own a stroll to the beach…a stroll to the town…and with outstanding ocean-view amenities.
And yet, thanks to RETA’s group-buying power, the exclusive RETA-only pricing is incredible—starting from just $392,400 ranging to just $612,800 for the penthouse.
With this exclusive pricing and the incredible moats on development here, I expect gigantic capital appreciation—gains of $307,600 three years after delivery.
And there’s income…
RETA members are about to get the chance to own in a boutique community perched on an elevated plateau above the famed beach town of Tamarindo. And the members-only pricing is mind-blowing. (Renders should not be considered final but give us a great idea what to expect.)
As I say, premium condos like these rent like hotcakes here, and I expect—with just a modest occupancy—gross rental yields of 16.2%.
But this is an exclusive, boutique community. And there will be only 31 condos available to RETA members.
My full briefing on this deal drops exclusively to RETA members tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET.
If you’re a RETA member, stay tuned…you won’t want to miss this.
If you’re not a RETA member, join now to access this off-market deal and others in the world’s most desirable locations. When this deal opens on December 10, reservations are on a first-come, first-served…so you’ll need to act fast…
Wishing you good real estate investing,
P.S. My team put together this video giving you an overview of the incredible lifestyle on offer on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast.
Here’s a short video that gives you a feel for Tamarindo and Costa Rica’s wider Gold Coast. It shows the beaches, the landscapes, the walkable town, and the natural beauty that make this part of the world so special.
